University of South Carolina Libraries
GOD AND OUR NATIVE LAND. CAMDEN, S. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 ESbAGt ht Due to Oiier# The ful President at 12.45 lited States: iruiiog and ?ituatioD, in broaperity of rained me to fiflon of the ia Congress, wise and le legislative \y solely are ? . .? ay be miti teniug the fu ancial plight is rard fvents nor our natural re ,ble to any of the lently check nat ?osperity. With abundant prom production and usual invitation id with satistac business ente prise, distrust and fear every side. Num tntaons have sus ndaiit assets were ilable to meet the ted depositors; sur ma and individuals in hand the money ixious to loan, and legitimate business j nd that the secori loans, though here-* , are no longer ac- 1 ipposed to be fixed conjectural, and loss e in varied every * LAW TO BLAME. things are principal > Congressional legia the purchase and coin y the general govern legislation is embodied on the 14th dayot hich was the culmina agitation on the snbject which may be consid after a'long struggle be ad vocates of free silver those intending to be "ve. Undoubtedly the by the government ounces of silver, enforced te, were regarded by in silver production guaranty of its increase The result, however, has y different, for immediate as spasmodic - and slight price of silver began to the passage of the act, and icted to the lowest point This disappointing re to renewed ard persistent the direction of free silver Meanwhile, not only are effects of the operation of the law constantly accumulating, result, to which its execution nevitably lea/1, is becoming to all who give the least heed 1 subjects. law provides that in payment 4;500,000 ounces of silver bt& hich thf; Secretary of the Treas comma ided to purchase month 1 be issuer] treasury notes emand in gold or sil i, at th^ discretion of the Seo ofthe Treasury and that said may be reissued. It is, how declared in the act to be the es 1 policy of the United States the two metals on a pari each other upon the present ratio, or^uch ratio as may be Tided by law. This declaration so the action of the Secretary of b Treasury as to- prevent his exer the discretion nominally -tested ? if-by suchj action the parity fold and silver may be dis Manifestly, a refusal by the to pay these treasury notes goid would necessarily result in their d^credit and depreciation as no ligations payable only in silver, and would destroy the. parity between the two metals by establishing a discrimi nation in favor of gold. up tQktbe 15th day of July, 1893, these notes had been issued in payment of stiver bullion purchases to the amount of $147,000,000, while all but a very small quantity of this bullion remains uncoined and without, usefulness in the Treasury. Many of the notes given in its purchase have been paid iu gold. This is illustrated by the statement that between the 1st day of May, 189*2, and the 15th day of July, 1893, the notes of this kind issued in payment for silver bullion amounted to * ; little more *than $54,000,000 and thai during the same period about $49,000,000 were paid by the Twawry in gold for the redemption of sodi notes. The policy necessari ly adopted o?>J*aying these notes in gold has no^spared the gold reserve of $100,000,000 long ago set aside by the government ior the redemption of other notes, for this fund has already been subject to the payment of new obligations, amounting to about $150, 1 - 000,000, on account of silver pur i chases, and baa, as a consequence, for the first time since its creation, been j encn^ached upon. | FEPLETION OF iioLD MADE EASY. We have thus made the depletion of oar gold easy, and hav^ tempted other and more appreciative nations to add it to their stock. That the op portunity we have ottered has not been neglected, is shown by the large amounts of gold which have been re cently drawn from our treasury and exported to increase the financial strength of foreign nations. The ex cess of exports of gold over the im ports for the year ending June 30, 1803, amounted to more than eighty seven and a half millions of dollars Between the 1st day of July, 1800, and the 15th day of July, 1803, the gold coin and bulli<m in our Treasury decreased more than one hundred and thirty-two millions of dollars, while during the same period the silver coin and bullion in the Treasq/y increased more than one hundred afid forty -seven millions of dollars. Unless govern ment bonds are to be constantly issues and sold to replenish our exhausted gold, only to be again exhausted, it it apparent that the operation of the sil ver purchase law, now in force, leads in the direction of the entire sub* stitution of silver for gold in the gov ernment treasury, and this must be followed by the payment otall govern ment obligations in silver. At this stage gold and silver must part company and the goverament raust fail in its established policy to main tain the two metals on a parity /with each other. Given over to the ex clusive use of a currency /greatly depreciated, according to the standard of the commercial world, we could no longer claim a place among the nations of the first class, nor could our govern ment claim a performance of its obli gation, so far as such obligation has been imposed upon it, to provide for the use of the people the best and safest money. j If, as many of its friends claim, sil ver ought to occupy a larger place in our currency and the currency of the world through general international co-operation and agreement, it is ob vious that the United States will not be in a position to gain a hearing in favor of such an arrangement so long as we are willing to continue our at tempt to accomplish the result single handed. v M THE 8 ITU ATI ON IN A NUTSHELL. The knowledge in business circles among our own ,people that our gov ernment cannot make its fiat equivalent to intrinsic value, nor keep inferior money on a parity with superior money by its own independent effort, has resulted in such a lack of confi dence at home in the stability of cur rency values that capital refuses its aid to new enterorises, while millions are actually withdrawn from the channels of trade and commerce to become idle and unproductive in the hands of timid owners. Foreign investors are especially alert, and not only decline to purchase American securities, but make haste to sacrifice those which they already have. It does not meet the situation to say that the apprehension in regard to the future of our finances is groundless, and that there is no reason for lack of confidence in the purposes or power of the government in the premises. The very existence of this apprehension and lack of confidence, however caused, is a menace which ought not for a moment to be disregarded. Possibly, if the undertaking we have in hand were the maintenance of a specific and known quantity of silver at a parity with gold, our ability to do so might -be estimated an<fcgauged, and perhaps, in view of our unparalleled growth and resources, might be favorably passed upon. But when our avowed endeavor is to maintain stJ?h a parity in regard to an amount of siTvwr in creasing at the rate of $50,000,060^ yearly, with no fixed termination to such increase, it can hardly be said that a problem is presented whose solution is free from doabjt. The people of the United States are entitled to a sound and stable currency, and to money, recognized as such on every exchange and in every market of the world. Their government has no right to injure them by financial experiments opposed to the policy and practice of other civillized states, nor it it justified in permitting i an exaggerated and unreasonable reliance on our national strength and ability to jeopardize the soundness of the peo ple's money. This matter rises above the plane of politics. It vitally concerns every bus iness and calling and enters every household in the land. There is one important aspect of the subject which especially should never be overlooked at times like the present HOW THE LABORER BUFFERS. When the evils of unsound finance threatens ua-the speculator may antici pate a harvest gathered from the misfortune of otlbers, The capitalist may protect himself by hoarding, pr may even find profit in the fluctuation of values: but the wage earner ? the first to be injured by a depreciated currency and the last to receive the benefit of its correction ? is practically defenceless. He replies for work upon the venture of confidence and conten ded capital. This failing him, his condition is without alleviation, for he can neither prey on the misfortunes of others nor hoard his labgr. One of- the greatest statesmen our country has known, speaking more than fifty years ago, when a derange ment of the currency had caused commerical distress, said: "The very man of all others who hats the deepest interest in a sound currency, and who suffers most by mischievous legislation in money matters, is the man who earns his daily bread by his daily toil." These words are as pertinent now as on the day they were uttered, and ought to impressively remind us that a failure in the discharge of our duty at this time must especiaUy injure those of our country, the men who la bor, and who, because of their num ber and condition, are entitled to the most watchful care of their govepi ment. < IMMEDIATE RELIEF DEMANDED. It is of the utmost importance ? that such relie?jw Congress can afford in the existing situation be afforded at once. ppre maxim, "He gives twice wSp gives quickly," is directly appli- 1 cable. It may be true that the em barrassment from which the business of the country is suffering arises as much from evils apprehended as fjroip those actually existing. We may hope, too, that calm counsels will pre-' vail, and that neither the capitalists nor the wage darners will give way to unreasoning panic and sacrifice their property or their inter ests under the influence of exaggerated fears. Nevertheless, every day's de lay in removing one of the plain and principal causes of the present state of things enlarges the mischief already done and increases the responsibility of the government for its existence. Whatever else the people have a right to expect from Congress, they may certainly demand that legislation con demned by the ordeal of three years as a disastrous experience shall be re moved from the books as soon as their representatives can legitimately deal with it . v.. AS TO TARIFF REFORM. It was my purpose to summon Oon pgress in special session early in Sep tember, that we might eni?r promptly upon the work of tariff refcrm, which the true interests or the country clears ly demand, which so large a majority of the the people, as shown -by their suffrages, desire and expect, and to the accomplishment of which every effort- of the present administration is pledged. But while tariff reform has lost nothing of its immediate and per manent importance, and must in the near future engage the attention of Congress, it Nhaa seemed to me that the financial condition of the country should at oncfeand before all other subjects, be coiiwidered by your honor able body. x I earnestly recommend the prompt repeal of the provisions of the act passed July 14, 1890, authorizing the purchase of silver bullion, and that other legislative action may put be yond all doubt or mistake the inten tion and the ability of the government to fulfill its pecuniary obligations in money universally recognized by all civilized countries. Grover Cleveland. Executive Mansion, August 7,1893. CLEMSON COLLEGE. Everything B*ing Rapidly Put In Ship Shape. Fort Hill, August 8. ? The exe cutive committee will meet here on the 9th. No matters of great impor tance are to be discussed, but a num ber of minor matters will be brought before the-eotrfmittee. Steps are beingj&ken to have a plot of the campus made, so that walks and drives can be constructed. The drill ground has been surveyed, and the boys will be at work in a few days leveling it in shape before/wet weather sets in. Lieutenant Donaldson is drilling the boys on temporary grounds, to the satisfaction ot ^very one. Professor Tompkins, who is now at the World's Fair acting as one of the judges of electricity, will return in a few days and put the mechanical de partment in order. The boys have an abundant supply of fresh water-mellons, which are raised on the farm. The gardens are suffering severely for rain. There has been no substan tial rain here for two months. The number of boys enrolled has now reached 425. Twenty- five more are expected, then the doors will close to admission until the beginning of February session. From an Unknown World. A Meteor of extraordinary size shot down across the Southwestern skies 5? ?' ' about 9 15 o'clock last night It had the appearance of being the size of the full moon and remained visible for an unusual length of time. In falling, a peculiar effort was given by the me teor passing behind several cloud drifts. When unobstructed by cloud its light made the country bright, the clouds would then cast a shaddow, followed instantly by the light The effect wa8 like the flicking of a gi gantic electric $rc lamp. STRUCK NEAR SAVANNAH.. savannah, August 10. ? A meteor the size of a barrel passed over the city at 9 o'clock tonight and struck in the marsh near the Isle of Hope, a suburb of Savannah, six miles out The shock was felt in the city, and created great excitement in the sect ion near where the meteor fell. ? State. \ Shocking Death of a P?!nt?r in Sp&rt&n ? burg. Spartanburg, August 11. ? This morning, Charles Dericott, a young white man, while painting the front of Carlisle & Cannon's store, fell from the ladder scaffold, and, striking on his head on the stone pavement, was instantly killed. His skull was crashed in several places. THE GOVERNOR IN REftfc. I r * /l"a : WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT Mfl. SPRINGS REMOVAL. i. y * \U He Gives Some Addittouijt Correspon denee and Talks Freely A boat the ' Lancaster Dispensary Matter- .A Governor Tillman read with deem ing calm interest the expose of the situation in regard to the Lancaster county board of control which ap peared exclusively in The State of yes terday. ' The Governor voluntarily spoke about the matter. He had a^ood deal to say about it, and gave to the press the correspondence between Mr. Springs and himself previous to that quoted in the dispatch published, jrhich he says he is surprised Mr. Springs did not give to the press along with the other letters in the/jcaBe. The Governor says these letters ex plain his action quite fully. Here is the first letter that the Gov ernor wrote: Columbia, S. C., June 27th, 1893. Messers. LeRoy Springs, P. C. Caut hen, H. J. Gardner, Board of Con trol, Lancaster County. Information has reached me that your 'board lias not organized or given any notice as required by law, that you would receive applications for a | dispensary in Lancaster county. I I am farther informed that a petition jluly signed by a majority of the free hold voters of* the incorporated town -of Pleasant Hill has been filed with the clerk of cdfcrt and ready to present to the board. Now, while you may not consider it desirable to have a dis pensary at that place, you have no right, nor was it! expected that you would obstruct the law or neglect your duty. I must therefore beg that you will promptly give the notice required after organization or give me an ex planation. I hope there will be jno further trouble in the matter. Yours respectfully. * B. R. Tillman, j Governor MR SPRING'S REPLY. The following is the reply of Mr. Springs: j Lancaster, S. Cv July 8, 1893. His Excellency, B. R. Tillman, Colwn . bia, S. C. ?IR: ^ our valued favor j of the 27th just to hand contents noted. I In reply would beg to state that I have been unavoidably absent from Lancaster, with the exception of two I 'Bays, for the past three weeks, which accounts for the board of control not I having been organized ere this time. A large cotton mill failed on us for a large sum of money, and I have been busy up in North Carolina trying to get its matters in shape, and also to have a receiver appointed %r same, which will explain to you my unavpi* I dable absence and seeming disregard I of the law in getting the board organ* I ized. I would beg to state that libel board of control would have been j organized the first of June, except! that Mr. Cauthen stated that he would be compelled to be absent until court week and that he could be here theu, which would be in ample time, and I consented to wait on him, arid since that time I have been absent, akabove stated, myself. I had my partner write Messrs. Cauthen and Gard ner to meet here a certain day to orgauize, but was detained than . I expected, however, j They met here on Friday last, in my absence, and organized, and advertised to receive applications on the 17th of this month, all of which I trust is in order. I would beg to state that there has been on desire on my part, nor do I think there ha9 been on the part of either of the other members of the board of control, to obstruct the law or neglect our duty, though you may have been informed to the contrary. On the contrary I am in thorough accord with the bill, and perhap* one of its strongest advocates, and have been trying to influence our people to sign the petifion. One.of the parties here who is getting up a petition for this town claims that he only needs three or four names, and no doubt he will get them in a very short time. I think the sentiment in favor of the bill is increasing, the opposition com ing chiefly from prohibitionists and politicial opponents of the admin istration. My business "is such that I do not think I will have time to give the matter the attention it should have. My desire has been to act on the board of control until the dispen sary should be opened and proper men selected as dispensers I should like to see the bill have a fair trial. In regard to the Pleasant Hill matter! I would beg to state that there is a great deal of excitement and talk anion c the people in regard to the application from that place for a dispensary. There are only four real estate owners in the place, and perhaps not over twelve or fifteen people living in the Itown, including male and female, and .fcje question is raised among the peo ple tliat they think it would be very unreasonable to allow a dispensary to go there at the request of four men, when the towns ofKershaw, Lancaster and Heath Springs, which control a large number of votes, are opposed to the dispensary. Every one seems to think that four men should have no right to put a dispensary on the county when the balance of the county is opposed to same. 4 Iam told that the people around Pleasant Hill are also opposed to a dispensary going there. I only write for this information. I think it would hurt the cause and embitter the people to allow' ibur men to dictate a> to a dispensary .in as small a place as this, there bong really no house of business there outside of a bar, which is of course now no longer in exis tence. If the matter is not agitated I feel satisfied that dispensaries will be established both at Kershaw and Lancaster in a very short time. Please let me know what your ideq is as to our establishing a dispensary at Pleasant Hill. Should it be granted under the circumstances or not? Very respectfully, Le Rot Springs. It seems to me would be bad idea to let a place with lour freeholders and no place of business dictate to balance of couuty THE GOVERNOR AGAIN. Governor Tillman's reply to Mr. Springs is as follows Columbia, S. C., July 8th, 1893. A LeRoy Springs, Lancaster, S. C. Bear Sir: Replying to your letter of the 3rd instant, Governor Tillman directs me to say it will be no morj unreasonable Jor lour men at Pleasant Hill to bring a dispensary there, thi a it . would be to allow thirty or ?ren fifty at Lancaster and Kershaw, to keep, a -dispensary out of the county. The only w&y to keep a dispensary from Pleasant Qill is to have one at Lancaster or Kershaw, or at both places. Very respectfully, D. H. Tompkws, Private Secretary. THE GOVERNOR TALKS. Governor Tillman said that the cause of all the trouble could be seen irom the foregoing letters. The board removed MivSpringa he said, because he refused to comply with the law, ignored the Pleasant Bill petition, disobeyed instructions, etc. He said: " I think it is sufficient reason for the removal of any man when" that man obstructs the law and refuses to obey it ? We, the members of the State board of control, are responsible to the State Legislature for our actions and to no one else. If Mr. Springs or anybody else thinks he can get any thing out of the courts let him go ahead. The only and best means that I have to keep down blind tigers is to establish# dispensaries. Again, the revenue irom them is absolutely neces sary \^o maintain the force of con stables, for without the constables this law is nothing. I have never posed as a prohibitionist or as aq anti-pro hibitionist This is a law and I don't propose to allow Mr. Springs or any body else to prevent me from enforc ing it> MR. SPRING8' SUCCESSOR. Governor Tillman says that he has appointed Mr. G. M. Fitzpatrick as Mr. Springs' successor. When he was in^.Rock Hill the other members of the board and the new member called on him and made an explanation of their conduct "They said that Springs had never shown them any of these letters of mine, and misled Ihem." The Governor said that Mr. Springs could not be considered as having anything further to do wi$h the matter now. He expected that the board had already met and car ried out the instructions of the State board. The Governor says he knew that Mr. Springs was a Conservative when he appointed him. He thought he would act square and appointed him because of his business propensities. It seemed to him, however, that Mr. Springs, so complaints filed with him showed, had allowed his own business interests to influence him in the mat ter of the location of the dispensaries. Tfcus the matter stlads. RAILROAD VS. DISPENSARY. The Cases of the Arrested Agents in the Federal Court*. Greenville, August 10. ? The defiant 4). M. Langford, the Rich mond and Danville railroad agent at Prosperity, in company with Agent Ward of Ward's station, arrived in town this evening in the strong hands of the Federal law, and the fight be tween the State and the Richmond and Danville Railway will begin to morrow night before Judge Simonton. Langford is the bone of contention. He is nominally a prisoner supposed to be in jail, while in fact he is regis tered at the Mansion House, and is less concerned about his position and environments than any one of the score of candidates for aldermen in the city. The decision in his case will virtually solve a part of the dispensary dispute. He will appear before the United States court under the habeas copus writ tomorrow evening, when argument in the case will begin. Yellow Ferer at Pensacola, Fla. Pensacola, Aug. 9. ? The Escam bia County Board of Health issued the following official paper: The Board of Health regrets to an nounce that two deaths occurred in this city, that of Rev. C, E. Alte, and Ellen Wood, both pronounced yellow fever. The houses nave been isolated, bedding and clothing destroyed, and all necessary precautions taken to pre vent the spread of the same. The public will be notified immediately if any new cases develop; and- at pre sent we see no use for undue alarm. Robebt W. Harris, M. D., President Board of Health. Attest; D. G. Brest. Secretary. -This created almost a panic and at least 1,500 people will leave the city on tonight's train. | IT WOULDN'T WORK. THE RICHMOND AND DANVILLE CHECKMATES THE STATE. ! . ? ? A Sharp Scheme to Keep the Dlnpenaary Law Oat of the United State* Court r ? ? | * I / , . Clereriy Frustrated. Oreenville, 8. C., August 9. ? There web a double-twisted turn in the dispensary case in the United States Court today, in the matter of habeas corpus in the case of J. W. Ward, agent for the Richmond and Danville Railroad at Ward's Station, Edgefield county, who was arrested for receiving and delivering whiskey in violation of the dispensary act. Today the State tried to evade bringing {tie matter into the United States Court by hav ing the grand jury of Edgefield fail to bring in a bill of iudictmen^ against Ward. The Richmond and Danville people were, howevef, prepared for this move, and completely checkmated the Statej D. M. Langford, agent of the same road at Prosperity* in Newberry county, had been, arrested upon the same charge, as was Ward, and was under bond lor appearance before the Stale court As soon as the State showed its hand in &e Ward case, he wis discharged from custody. The railway anthorities directed Langford to releaafe his bondsmen, and he sur rendered himself to the sheriff of New berry county. The attorneys for the railway secured a writ of habeas cort pus today in the case of Langford, and he will be brought here tomorrow under the writ, and the case will be heard by JuAge Simonton. The Whisker Rate Case. Greenville, August 9.? This evening the United States Court re sumed the conside ration of the Rich mond and Danrille Railway case against the railroid commission on the question of rates on whiskey in glass, Judge Cothran argued the case in favor of the railroad. He spoke very plainly, giving it as his opinion that the railrodd had ceased ^to plead for its rights, and now proposed to act on the aggressive. His argument was able and made * deep impression. i -y ? i / VALUABLE SCHOLARSHIPS. An Important Circular Isaued by Superin tendent Mayfield. Superintendent ot Education May field yesterday issued the following cir cular to the School Commissioners of this State: Dear Sir: The Charleston College offers three scholarships to the young men of the State. Each scholarship is worth $200 per annum, and is goo^ for four years, or graduation, if the holder graduates in less than four years. These scholarships are to be awarded on competitive examinations, and are open to the .young men of every cotmty if we will consent to hold the examination free of cost to the college for our services. The college will furnish the questions and bear the ex pense of advertising. The examination will embrace three days, five hours per day. The schedule will be thus: October 3d, English and mathe matics, from 9:30 a. m. to 2:30 p. m. iach day. October 4th, Latin rttnd Greek, from 9:30 a. m. to 2:3j> p. m. each day. October 5th, French and German, from 9:30 a. m. to 2:30 p. m. each day. The axamining board will not have to pass on the merits of the papers; they will be sent to the faculty, who will criticise all the papers and award the scholarships to the three who put up the best papers of all the appli cants in the State. Will your board consent to conduct the examination for your county? Please see the other members and let me know at once, and if for any reason your board cannot do 90, please get the consent of three reliable gen tlemen who will, and furui&b me with their names. You will also oblige me by indicat ing what paper or j>apers in which it would be most advisable to insert the notice that I may make up a list from which the college may choose. Your prompt attention will greatly oblige* yours, very truly, W. D. Mayfield, Superintendent of Education. DESPERATE CONVICTS. A Drftrlng Attempt to Blow Up a IN-niU'n tiHry'* WaU Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 9. ? Another daring attempt among the convicts to blow up the Penitentiary walls and escape, was discovered by Warden Norman last night, and the details were made public this morn ing. The principals in the conspiracy j were the two Reeves brothers, and a fellow named Millard, all desperate men who are serving terms of thirty one years each for blowing up a bank and attempting to burn the town of Tompkinsville a few yearn ago. They had acted suspiciously for some days, and upon investigation the Warden found in their jjossessipn two pistols, a huge quantity of dynamite, nitroglycerine and other combustibles and they evidently intended to make a death struggle for liberty after blow ing up the prison walls. They refused to talk, but some of the other prisoners, who claim to have been in the con spiracy, gave away the plan of the at I tempting escape. BAD OUTLOOK FOR BARRETT. Damaging Evidence Against the burg Swindler* Spartanburg, August vestigation of the caw agi Barrett et al., for violation 5440 and 5480 8. U. 8. r. tion 211 of the United States ? laws was resumed Wore Commissioner Calvert this mon^og. Fouri wilp nessess testified in behalf of the govern ment, and, as wasex] some disclosures of a I nature. . The evidence disclosed/* l, and organized conspiracy- on, the part of Barrett and a nunjfer of Ibnrth class postmasters to. defraud not only the government by the falsification of the returns of the cancellation of post age stamps and the illegal saw { and disposition of the same, but to defraud business houses alt over the country by the fraudulent* Use of tpe mads. Postoffices were established where not needed, through the instrumentality of Barrett, for the sole purpose of defrauding the government and busi ness firms in all parts of the ooun try. ? ? ' % ; ! ?!;! . ? This band of swindlers have opera ted for several years, and the firms victimised run up into the hundreds. Their scheme was to order goods through the mails, with no hope or. intention of paying for them J j All? manner of merchandise, from j. saw mills, steam engines and carriages to typewriters, crockery ware and school , books, were obtained in this way, and upon arrival sold, the conspirators pocketing proceeds and the victimised firms left no possible way of getting tfieir money. By some wiay ' these men secured a rating in Brad street's, when they were not worth $10. Often the goods were' mortgaged before being remOted from the pepot' , In all this Barrett was . the power behind the throne, and furnished the brains and the shrewdness for the band of robbers. ? j Postoffice Inspector Fred D. Peers came here about a month ago aod be gan to investigate, and as a result \ several fourth class postmasters !. have* 1 been arrested. The big haul, however, was Barrett, and his case is exciting wide interest all over this States and even in Washington, where he is well known. - J! Today's investigation showed np ? the scheme in all its details, both as to robbing the government and business houses. The testimony of Mr. W. C. Elrath, an ex-postmaster,' deposed on account of fraud, developed the ^fact , that after getting these offices estab lished the postmasters would every quarter give Barrett litrge amounts of stamps, envelopes and cards, and* he would show them how to doctor .their returns so as to deceive the postal au thorities. This was characterised as "taking a poseum^b town;" Barrett paid most of his bills here with stamps, and it has often been a matter of con? jecture where he got them. , !It is known now. ,j The evidence also showed tlu?t Bar rett received some of the goods gotten fraudulently and got his part oi the proceeds. A KNOCK DOWN IN EDGEFIELD. W. J. Shelton Laid Out by Capt. Jim Tillman. Edgefield, August, 9. ? Yesterday ? afternoon Capt. James H. Tillman and W. J. Shelton, traveling agent of the Tillman organ at Columbia met on the street, and had some words about the voluminous Fartov-Irbjr Tillman correspondence. The He was passed, and Tillman knocked Sheltod down and straddled him. They are well matched in size. Shelton had an iron stick in his hand. It is said that Shelton, while down acknowledged that Irby dictated to Tighe the dispatch which so abiind antly convicts himself (Irby), and that Tighe translated his stenograph* ic notes to Shelton, and that Irby and Tighe themselves filed the dispatch in the Washington telegraph office. ? State. Car<l from Mr. Shelton. Editor Register: My attention has just been called to an article in to-day's Augusta Chronicle taken from The State and sent in, I suppose, by their Edgefield' correspondent, "That while Shelton was down he acknowledged that Irby dictated to Tighe, his secretary, the Washington dispatch, which so abundantly con victs himself (Irby) aud that Tighe translated his stenographic reports to Shelton, and that Irby and Tighe themselves filed the dispatch at the telegraph office." I made no such statement at any time, but on the contrary, 1 told Mr. J. H. Tillman before the fight that > Tighe and I arrange*] the report, and I 3eut the telegram oil* Mr. Tighe introduced me to the operator as the general traveling agent and corres pondent of The Register. W. J. Shelton. flraniteville, S. C., Aug. & j / Liquor to be Released. Thfe barrel of corn whiskey seized recently at Pendleton, Anderson coun ty, is to be returned to the consignor at Marion, N. C. It was shipped in to the State before the dispensary laW^ went into effect When seized af Pendleton it was shipped to the sheriff of Anderson, but the agent at Ander son declined to deliver it unless a Traxler certificate was put on it. At torney General Townsend, being satis fied that no violation of law was in tended, decided to furnish the certifi cate and allow the barrel to be ship ped back to its owner. ? Greenville News.