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f ■"T mmm ('ll mwx m i>- #*• 4 Tie Clinton ChMinide Voi. 66 — No. 4 Clinton, S. C., Thursday, January 28, 1965 At TB The annual meeting of the Tubercu- losia and Health Association of Green wood and Laurens Counties was held at the Mary Musgrove Hotel in Clinton. Shown above, left to right, are Henry Faria of Laurens, president of the As sociation; Dr. W. W. Pryor 6f Green- viFe, guest speaker; Carroll Sexton 6f< Greenwood, chairman of the 1964 seal sale campaign; and Dr. M. M. Teague of Laurens, who introduced the speaker.— Photo by Paul Quinton. _ Mothers March of Dimes „ < " inl, f TB 4ssn ; Hears Causes of EmjImj limfi nicAatA riiAfl * wdhe James Bell didn t change expression as he hears Laurens Coun- ion; Clinton Chief of Police B. B. Ballard, Magistrate Sam McCrary; 3191611 I onion 1a rnOflY- LUnCJ Uisease UieQ ^ sheriff R. Eugene Johnson read the charges against him in a murder Chief J. P. Strom of the Law Enforcement Division; Solicitor William T. ” * " * I Dr W W Pryor of Greenville warrant here Friday. Others in the photo (left to right) are Lt. S. F. Jones, and Asst. Chief W. B. Blakelv of Clinton.—Photo hv Dan YaiW- A veritable army of woman- power will “march” on Clinton Thursday and Friday of this week in the interest of the IMS March of Dimes. Known as the “Mothers'- March,” the effort will be headed by Mrs. Marc Weersing as chairman. . With the added incentive of ex panded research in the fields of birth defects and arthritis, the workers have been recruited from all parts of the community to call on their neighbors and collect contributions for a nation wide drive begun over 25 years ago to combat polio. Through its support thousands of people stricken by polio before the pre ventive was discovered are now cared for in their varying de grees of handicap. Special interest for South Carolinians is focused on the Special Treatment Center for 4 Birth Defects located in Charles- f ton, which was established in IMS, and miantained by March of Dimes funds. It is hoped that through tpiis year’s campaign similar facilities may be opened in Columbia and in the Pee Dee area for both birth defects and arthritis. nett, Mrs. Charles Oakley, Mrs. Jimmy Martin, Mrs. Sheryl Young, Mrs. Wallace Patterson, Mrs. Weldon Jackaon, Mss. FraUk Gurley, Mrs. Claude Howe, Mrs. Robert Spencer, Mrs. John Franklin, Mrs. Andy B. Young, Mrs. Tommy Wind-, sor, Miss Essie Davidson, Mrs. Hack Cheek, Mrs. Audrey Mc- Croskey, Mrs. Ralph Tedards, Mrs. Irving Seigler, Mrs. Fran cis Nichols. Serving as chairman in the different sections of town are. Mrs. Irby Ferguson, Mrs. Gary Holcomb, Mrs. Earl Rice, Mrs. Avery Smith, Mrs. R. M. Fuller, Mrs. Ed Campbell, Mrs. Fuller Reese, Mrs. Harry Bolick, Mrs. Lynn Cooper, Jr., Mrs. W. P. Ja cobs, III, Mrs. Bailey Dixon, Mrs. Jack Red, Mrs. Clyde We. hunt, and Mrs. David Word. Helping Mrs. Word and Miss Nellie Osborne in their canvas in the Lydia Mill community on Friday night will be Mrs. Fred Bodie, Mrs. E. W. Mitchell, Mrs. J. T. Lanford, Mrs. Glenn Gaskin, Miss Marie Weir, Mrs. Audrey Moore, Mrs. E. C. Bur dette, Mrs. Alice O’Shields, Mrs. M. J^Sanders, Mrs. B. P. Lark, Mrs. J. B. Patterson, Mrs. Verna Dees, Mrs. Keith McGee, Mrs. A. M. Shumate, Mrs. Ellis Huff- stetler, Mrs. Claude Gilstrap, Mrs. George Tucker, Miss Iris Hughes, Mrs. W. L. Motte, Mrs. Jimmie South, Mrs. Clyde Tram mell, Mrs. Doris Estes, Mrs. Ralph Riddle, Mrs. B. F. Har vey, Mrs. Joan Reese, Mrs. Gay- nor Phillips, and Miss Roberta Prince. Others will be collecting whose names were not available at press time. Firestone Service Awards Presented 1 Mrs. Lois Davis is heading the negro division and working with her will be Mrs. Lucille Goggins, Mrs. Augustus Long, Mrs. Eliza beth Young, Mrs. Helen Bobo, Mrs. Mary Emma Ferguson, Miss Estelle Burton, Mrs. Ella Lee Adams, Mrs. Adam Smith, Mrs. Jessie Frank Watts, Miss Clara Williams, Mrs. Johnnie M. Carter, Mrs. Clara E. Wil liams and others. Assisting Mrs. Wehunt in the Clinton Mills area on Thursday, a evening will be members of the Clinton Mills Woman's Club: Mrs. Edna Osborne, Mrs. Willie Norris, Mrs. Sadie Power, Mrs. Eva Land, Mrs. Betty Webb, Mrs. Gertrude Fowler, Mrs. El la Harvey, Miss Peggy Duna way, Mrs. Ellen Freeman, Mrs. Pauline Proffitt, Mrs. Janie Freeman, Mrs. Margaret Blake ly, Mrs. Lucille Taylor, and Bliss Nell Haggart. Also working with Bfrs. Wehunt will be a group of Horizon Girts, including Misses Ann Webb, Priscilla Williams, Lois Peay, Daphne Peay, Ermae McCall, Dianne Lydia, and Me India Smith. Neighborhood workers assist ing other captains will indude: Mrs. Frank Miller, Bfrs. Joe Gbttys, Bfrs. R. E. Wysor, m, Mrs. Carlisle Neely, Bfrs. R. M. Turner, Bfrs. W. G. King, Bfrs. Roy Casque, Bfrs. Marvin Gault, Bfrs. Judson Davis, Bfrs. M«v 0 ris Seymour, Mrs. Frank Sher rill, Bfrs. Charles Waldron, Mrs. Prod Burnett, Jr., Bfrs. Ernest Ouzts, Mrs. Troy Bentley, Bfrs. George Corley, Mrs. E. L. Hol land, Mrs. L. L. King, Mrs. Charles Pitts, Bfrs. Thomas Pra ther, Bfrs. W. O. Holland, Btipi Nancy Katherine DuBois, Miss Betty DuBois, Bfrs. Harold Cole, mm, Bfrs. V. Parks Adair, Bfrs. John Mason, Miss Nannie Young Tfibble, and Bfrs. R. L. Plaxico. Also Mrs. D. H. Martin, Bfrs. George King, Mrs. Harold Colle, Bfrs. Joint Danfluk, Mrs. Tal- madge Simmons, Bfrs. J. F. Ja- - cube, Jr., Mbs. John Young, BOss Louise Cox, Bliss Nancy Owens, Bfrs. M. E. Bethea, Bfrs. Claude Cooler, Bfrs. Rufus Bad- j ler, Mrs. J. Thornton Stewart, f Bfrs. AMt Alexander, Mrs. Rob ert Owens, BOss Margaret Bell, Mrs. Claude Crocker, Bfrs. C. W. Anderson, Mrs. C. W. Cooper, Mrs. A1m Trammell, Mrs. H. W. Clslind, Bfrs. M. D. Milam, Jr., and J. Rob ert Cox, both of Clinton, recent ly received awards from the Firestone Tire & Rubber Com pany, Akron, Ohio, denoting long service as representative of Firestone. spoke Tuesday night on the pres ent day management of chronic respirartory diseases at the an nual dinner meeting of the Tu berculosis and Health Associa tion of Greenwood and Laurens counties. Dr. Pryor, an associate direc tor of the cardio-pulmonary lab oratory at Greenville Gengral Hospital, used slides to illustrate chronic lung disorder treatment methods. “Undoubtedly,” he said, “the increase in longevity, smoking and air pollution are among the factors causing lung diseases.” aTid said extensive studies are being made to determine what part they play. Henry Faris, president of th£ association, presided at the meeting at the Mary Musgrove Hotel. Among special guests recognized was Mrs. Claude Hughes Jr., president of the Ab beville association. Faris commended the associa tion staff composed of Mrs. M. M. Teague, executive director and Mrs. Henry W. Milam and Mrs. Frank B. Roper. He also praised the 543 volunteer work ers who contributed to the suc cess of this year’s Christmas Seal campaign, which to date has collected more than $19,000. Carroll Sexton of Greenwood field campaign chairman, .re cognized his two Laurens County co-chairmen, Mrs. George R. Blalock of Clinton and Co^ warrant here Friday. Others in the photo (left to right) are Lt. S. F. Jones, and Asst. Chief W. B. Blakely of Clinton.—Photo by Dan Yarbor- Wyndham and Lt. Harold Fortson of the S. C. Law Enforcement Divis- ough. 31-Year-Old Man Charged With Murder of Mrs. Bridges in 1963 Whtiten Village Volunteers To Meet The Whitten Village Volunteers will meet Tuesday morning, February 2, at the Vocational Rehabilitation Building at 10 o’clock. Staff members will take the group on a tour of the facilities and coffee will be served by the home economics department. Boy Stands On Track; Train Halts Vickers, End Coach, Leaves PC for Post An unidentified boy about thfl-* teen years old, dressed in a brown sweater or coat, caused Seaboard Air Line Railroad pas senger train No. 6 to come to an emergency stop at Lydia Tues day evening. Engineer George H. Seigler and Fireman Tom Finley stated Willie James Bell Stands Passively As He Is Accused In City Hall Friday At S. C. University Milam, manager of H. D. Payne & Co., received a 20-year award, and Cox, of Cox Home and Auto Supply, received a 15- year award. Charles G. Cboper of Laurens. New directors named, to the 48-member board were . David Meyers, David Boland, Mrs. J. K. Waits, Mrs. W. C. Dobbins of Joanna and Mrs. R. F. Alexan der of Greenwood. Jimmy Vickers, end coach at Presbyterian College for the past three years, has accepted a simi lar position on the coaching staff of the University of South Caro lina. He is scheduled to report for duty there next Monday, in time to help with preparations for the Gamecocks’ spring practice. An All-Southern Conference end and alternate captain of the University of Georgia’s 1960 Orange Bowl team, Vickers came to PC in 1962 to serve under the late Coach Clyde Ehrhardt. He rendered outstanding service as a football assistant and also as head track coach during the spring. Vickers is a native of Moultrie, Ga., and an 1960 graduate of Georgia. He came to Presbyter ian from a high school coaching position in Jacksonville, Fla. Willie James Bell, 31-year-old Greenville Negro, last Friday was charged with the brutal saying of Mrs. Beaufort Campbell Bridges, 46, wife of Justin A. Bridges, Lau rens attorney, in a Clinton office on Aug. 23, 1963. This dramatic development in the long-delayed case that shocked all of Laurens County came shortly before noon Friday at the Clinton city hall when Bell, surrounded that the boy was standing on the hy city, county and .state officers, heard the charges read to him by Sheriff R. Eugene rail Just east of the Lydia Mill Johnson of Laurens County. spur switch as the train ap- Bell showed no reaction as he heard himself accused of a murder that occurred about a block awajr 17 months ago.*^ The warrant, issued Friday Bell has been a prime suspect, morning by Clinton Magistrate officers said, since shortly after proached Clinton around 6:25 p. m. Seigler said that the child was facing the train, standing up right, waving his anus at the engine. The engineer blew the whistle at him but the boy did not move from the track, and the train was thrown into an emer gency stop by Mr. Seigler. The child ran into a nearby house. Local police authorities were no tified of the incident. Bowling Leaders For Week (High Game. High Series) Cllnton-Lydia Joe Spillers Wayne Templeton Buck Gilstrap Gholdie Simmons .. James McElhanon Harold Sanders Textile 242-606 206-579 221-579 210-569 188-545 196-541 George Thompson 192-539 Donald McGinnis 199-536 Clemson Club Slates Meeting In Laurens The fifth annual observance of “Clemson Night Around the World” will be held Tuesday, Feb. 2. Former students of Clemson University who live in Laurens County will meet at the Toastee Grill in Laurens at 7 p. m. A dutch supper will be served and no formal program is plan ned. Clemson Clubs throughout the world will meet that night to en joy a tradition of fellowship that is repeated annually on the first Tuesday in February. Industrial League Willjam Bowling James McEihannon Buck Gilstrap David Mann Frank Danbeck Wayne Templeton — Pat Lowe J. B. Vanderford Sam Wilson — 245-618 237-608 206-572 224-563 190-556 212-555 197-547 212-551 210-541 Southern Rollers Bill Smith 192-559 Harry Foster 191-534 Bobby Wooten 204-542 Pat Lowe Claude Hartline Otis Tripp - B. Cox 201-530 211-590 190-526 184-535 Mounhrille Grange In Monthly Meet Dixon Averages Over Three Bales W. P. Dixon (left) of the Hopewell Community south of Clinton, is the champion cotton fanner in Laurens County. Entering the five-acre contest in 1964, he had a yield of 1,544 pounds of lint per acre -•—-just over three bales. County Agent M. L. Ouzts, shown at right looking over the field, said it is prob ably the highest cotton yield ever attained in the coun- The Mountville Grange held Its regular meeting last Thursday evening with 31 members pres ent. A memorial service was con ducted for a deceased member, Mrs. W. H. (Beatrice Kay) Fin ley. Those^taking part were Mrs. L. R. Adams, a former lecturer; J.’H. J^iealy, chaplain; Mrs. J. M. Wham and Alex Simpson. Music Was furnished by Mrs. Roy Miller. The flowers were supplied by Mrs. B. P. Watts and included pink gladiolus, pink and red snapdragons. Hosts for the month were Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Crouch and Wal ter Dunlap, who served refresh ments during the social hour. Aching Back James McEihannon Claude Hartline Earl Sineath — Bud Fuller Delmar Lawson Doyle Bailey — Kerry Riser Pat Garret ... _ 222-648 211- 577 ... 204-565 _ 203-554 223-551 212- 550 _ 182-538 ... 196-535 Sam McCrary and signed by Clinton Police Chief B. B. Bal lard, alleged that Bell, an ex-GI with military service in Ger many, “did hit, beat, cut, stab, mutilate, assault and kill” Mrs. Bridges. The warrant listed as witness es in the case Chief J. P. Strom of the State Law Enforcement Division, Sheriff Johnson, Chief Ballard, Assistant Clinton Police Chief W. B. Blakely, SLED Lt. Harold Fortson and Lt. S. F. Wyndham, all of whom surround ed Bell as the charges were read. Bell, who is serving a term in the state penitentiary on another charge, had been brought to Clinton on the previous Tuesday and held in the local jail. He was returned to the peni tentiary in Columbia imfifediate- ly after the Friday proceedings. Mrs. Bridges was assisting her husband in a Clinton branch law office on the second floor of the Utopia Building on Musgrove Street. Bridges, whose main office was in Laurens^ formerly served two terms in the State House of Representatives. Bridges himself found his wife’s body about 9:30 p. m., Friday, Aug. 23, 1963, in the bloody office. He went in search for her when she failed to re turn to their Laurens home earl ier that evening. The investigation has been al most continuously since the mur der, but few clues have been revealed. One of the strongest clues and one that determined the direction of the investigation was developed from laboratory analysis which showed that hair found at the scene was of “Neg roid origin.” the intensive investigation be gan. He was employed at the time with a construction crew working on an enlargement of the Clinton Junior High School. At the request of local officers, he was arrested two weeks later by Greenville city police. He has since been questioned repeated ly. Bell was kept in custody, how ever, on another charge. latter occurring 11 yeart earlier, when he shot a Greenville man in the leg, and was fined $250 or sentenced to 90 days in jail, in July 1952. He later was sentenced to a 10-year term for the May 26, 1956, slaying of another Negro in Greenville with a shotgun. He was released in March, 1963, after serving about six years and four months of the JO-year term, with time off for good behavior in prison. „ . , il Circuit Solicitor W. T. Jones He was charged with pointing ^ Greenwood declined any com- a firearm at Arthur Davis at Suber’s Cafe in Clinton Aug. 24, the day after Mrs. Bridges’ body was found. At a November, 1963, court term in Laurens, he attempted to plead guilty to the firearms- pointing charge but told Circuit Judge G. Cadger Baker he really was not guilty. He then came forth with an emotional outburst that startled the court, yelling and loudly proclaiming he did not want to be returned to the Clinton jail. Judge Baker refused to accept the plea and ordered a 30-day sanity examination at the State Hospital in Columbia. The hos pital staff found him “not in sane” and gave testimony at his subsequent trial and conviction that Bell had the capacity to know right from wrong. The trial was held in February, 1964, and Bell drew the stiff sentence of four years from Judge T. B. merit on what new evidence might have resulted in flling of the charges. He said Bell’s case would follow, the “normal course” In coming up for trial. The next term of court at Laurens is scheduled to begin Feb. 15. It appeared unlikely, however, that the case could then be docketed for trial be cause Bell was thought certain again to need court appointed attorneys. The next court term after February will be in June, Grand Jury indictment, however, will be sought in February, the solicitor said. In the 12 months since Mrs. Bridges body was found savage ly slain after an obvious struggle in the office at Clinton, numbers of suspects were questioned — while officers centered their at tention on Bell. He was a suspect, Sheriff John son said, “ever since shortly after the murder.” But Solicitor Jones said, “Any Greiieker. Bell was represented reason for not charging Mm bere- at this trial by court-appointed attorneys, W. H. Harley and T. David Sloan. Bell was no stranger to court appearances, for he was involved in a murder and a shooting, the Tournament Play A& er the first week-end of the tournament The Leaping Lilleys and a team from Union are tied for the lead with 3024 pins. James McEihannon and Dick Sanders are the Doubles Leaders, Bootsie Fuller is leading the Singles, and Brent Gossett is leading the All- EveMs. New Record Is Set In 1964 For College Giving Fund A total df $77,518.18 contribut- ed receiving major emphasis in ed in 1964 set another record for 1959, it has produced a total of tofore will come out at the trial.” Throughout investigation of the slaying, attorney Bridges has maintained a constant close as sociation with developments in the case. He was in the court room when Bell was tried, con victed and sentenced in the pis tol-pointing case, and at the in quest he was a silent witness. He was present briefly Friday when the formal charges were preferred here. The attorney lunched with his wife in Clinton on the fatal Fri day, then returned to his Laur- the Presbyterian College Annual for PC. The last fivp of ens 0 ffi ce Mrs. Bridges did some ,. . _ _ these six years, this source has Giving program, President Marc 5 rou gi,t in more income anntial- C. Weersing stated yesterday. ty. Dixon, energetic and progressive in his operations, used treflon for control of gross. fertilized heavily and _ The operation was almost wholly mechanized, with only • brediig to eradkMa ■ some Attending Institute .Miss Carol Senn and PMUp Harris, caseworkers with the Laurens County Welfare Depart ment, are attending a fire week In-service training institute at State Department of Public elfare In WaRerboro. & ly for the College than the return TMs figure represents an in- on the permanent endowment in- Reoublicon Women .-j V crea9e 0{ more 111111116 vestment. * a • £ over the 1963 high of $66,478.20. A breakdown of the $77^518.18 To-Meet Tonight Other records fell in various given in 1964 shows the Living categories: Endowment division accounting 1—1,345 total donors compared $56,327.88, of wMch $7,888.50 to 1,173 in 1963. whs designated for the Walter 2 964 alumni contributing $48,- Johnson Club. Another $21,190.32 682.68. 3— 364 friends contributing $28, 835.50. 4— 30.5 percent alumni partici pation among 3,225 solicited. The Laurens County Republi can Women’s Club win meet at 7:30 tonight, January 28, at the home of Mrs. Mary Anderson on Orerbrook Drive in Laurens. Each member is urged to at tend and bring with them their by-laws. Members of the Clinton area who can be present may contact Mrs. Randall Smith for to shopping and was back in the Clinton office at least' at 2:01 p. m. It was then she called her husband in Laurens to say a prospective client wanted to ass him. Bridges told officers he Mrs. Bridges to have the see him in Laurens, one ever came in the office. Bridges left to other business. Later, Bridges home, he wife was not thaw. was contributed directly to the Johnson Club, making the total for this division reach $29,078.82. Annual Giving income at PC phone calls trying to Is used mainly to help under- then drove to Dr. Weening said that since write scholarship aid for worthy covered her dead the Annual Giving program start- students and faculty salaries. here L'