The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, August 18, 1893, Image 1
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.