The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, July 15, 1921, Image 1
CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY. JULY 15, 1921. NUMBER 15.
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT
AND REPORT OF AUDITORS
The jrand Jur.v | resent incut wan
I, iiinl.it in i?? ? ???? court on Thursday
l?sl and it together with t he report
of (|,e audit from tUe Comptroller
(Joneral's ofUoe will be found below,
'II, e report was so voluminous that it
t,.uhl not lie rend b.v tbo clerk and tho
n.(|iicst was made by , the jury that Jt
1M> published in the county i?apers.
(?n)y the comments on the various of
ficers tfivon, t lie iiiass of figures be
\l]i: )a rue for us to handle:
ikeskntmknt Of grand jury
To his Honor Judge Win. II. Town
send, Presiding .(jidgo at the Njun
juer Term of Court for Kershaw
County. A. 1>. UUil :
We desire to say t ha t we have .pass
od en all bills handed us by the. Solid
tor.
NY )?"/ t.. call nttentlen of the
C, uut v Commissioners to certain
tvads .and bridges, us follows:
Chariest oi#' road south of Camden
i> in ;:o<'d shape for about seven (71
Mi' lev. last three (.'tl mihss to Itoykin's
mill i< very bad.
(in Camden wire road at Jordan's
mill, i lie bill and road reported in n
lad and dangerous condition.
The crossings' on the S. A. I>. R'ftll
. way north, of Broad and I.ytllctoii
Streets need attention.
Flat Hock road 'from (Jum Swamp to
Flat Hock reported in bad condition.
Tiller's Ferry road near (iilliam
M\?selt\v's place reported in had con
?lition, and small bridge is badly in
need of repairs.
The road from Ho th tine to Hough's
Bridge on Little Lynches Creek re
ported in had condition.
We have been informed that T. W.
MeNoally has obstructed the highway
in front of Ids place by ditches across
the road. We have appointed a eom
? niittee requesting him to fill up said
<!iteh??s.
We call attention to the Commis
sioners that there are very bad leaks
en roof of Court House, causing the
plastering to fall in several office
rooms; also the toilets' are in bad
order.
We call .it lent ion to the County.
Commissioners that plumbitur and
toilets in the jail are in very had
rrder. and we again recommend that
shower hath be installed.
We approve of the electric fans be
ing installed in the Court Koom by
the Commissioners..
We have had two expert a<<co.imt
iints from the Comptroller funeral's
office in audit all books of County of
ficials. without cost to the County, and
we herewith submit their report as
cart of i. ur .presentment, and request
taat said report be published in the
< entity papers for the benefit of the
HlJ'lii- *
N ? 1 1 ; i ? k . \ ? > 1 1 the Judire, Solicitor
ar.d other County officials for' all !
' "Urtesi, ,v s| it >vv ii us.
^ w hi.-h we res>;iect full v submit. J
J. J. (iOODALR
Foreman of ft rand Jtirv. i
?' ?? 7- i i i'_* i . . .
Ii i. Wither K. Duncan. Comptroller
'on ral. *<>f Soutli Carolina. Coluni
' ? i : l , S ('
Iie.ir Sir: Pursuant to your in
imiv, v\r have made an audit of
''?< Co. ii. < vouchers and accounts of
.1 .1 ? offji-i'i's of Kershaw <"? unty.
v !"? ? ir-'LLiui
Hi - audit covers a period of two
.. .?? pi.-p.-r, s,.| t lenient s ending June
"' I'iIm and lirjo. and in some
-:i Ilie Clivers a iK.Tiod of five
v i.1; : .1 line .10th. 10115 to J line
1 inciusive.
^ ti-d ir necessary to audit the
: ' Hu nt sheets for five years
i wi!l note the adjustments
" ; '? >i- in this report on the cre
- .Io n l?y County Treasurer of the
!? ! < .:iiin? bi-tli county and school.
I.M\e iii<lu<led also an audit of
: !i :i. .1,nnt-> to the ? l<?s?. ,.f hu-d
- N' teli ::ist. 1021.
NV. I Itusselt, County Auditor.
i * ''fully audited the books and
- i ?- 1 1 1 m il ? * 1 1 1 > l?y this officer for
\ ? ' r T.?l> :i Mil 1l>l?.\ mill with the
t i ? ..f :i very few minor errors
?r i ? . 1 1 iimlcr .charge, those
' ? *d- w ? :>? in excellent condition.
?I II ( l>hurn, Clerk of Court.
> r< < r,l> in ihis office were also
? ' V i\ I inilicl ;i ml found t<> 1'?
'i' i -ii.: 11 y ,i< 'curate and neat. All
? ? . ? and forfeiture- were
: m riv r?-t-.-.rd?-d and same paid over
' 'y Treasurer promptly.
W I.. McDowell, .Judge of Probate
? ? I : !^<> of Probate i? keeping all
?t? r 1 records required by law. all
? : mule neat and accurate.
' >J. Mrlv?>it/ie, Sup. of Education.
' v ;? !ff ? jj:x t i on (if the records in
*ff '' was also made, and we
*'? M''* fairly well kept. The
m Itool claims were nor filed
? ' '!? i- < . i reful v a^ they mitfht
i- k!t:^ the paid school order*
ir.ty treasurer ?<> found quite !t
' ? t dup.leate claims, and also
?r - il. lx.;h registered as j>old
? .in- W o are unable to state how
, -urer pot in possession of
M" elnlms. ?ireat care
? taken by this office to
? f i ?- away the duplicate school
- o. ? rdc r that they may not fall
T.prnpfr hands and presented to
.n r f..r payment.
^ C. West. Supervisor.
^ hacked the records In this office
*"?1 found same to be fairly well kept.
!a.rns wrre on file for warrants
???" 1 \\\. reeonciled the warrants i*
f'\ "lis officer as against the
same | mi id by Comity Treasurer fur a
period pf iwo vcars, viz; July 1st,
15H s. Jim,. nOfll, 19JJ0.
Mr. West was legislated out of of
fice during 1920, although ttS e..ntinu
*m1 to net In souio degree until January
1921, A Hoard of Commissioners was
SUbStitUtcUt therefore, there is no Su
IHjrvlsQr in thin county at this tloie.
For several years this officer operated
anil colluetei) tho fees or furetit for ipas
sagos of automobiles vehicles, etc.%
over the \ferry or flat used In cross
ing tho river near Camden, ufter the
bridge wns destroyed in 1910. For
sonui reason these funds were never
paid over to tho county treasurer, Mr.
West says the Treasurer refused to
haudle same. Upon arrival In Camden
S, <3., we learned that It was desired
by quite a number of citizens that this
officer he cheeked up and a close audit
made of the collections from the ferry
jn order to ascertain if he had ac
counted for all of these funds. The
manner In which the ferry funds were
kept, . we found it absolutely iinpos
si'ldo to check same with any degree of
accuracy. The foreman and his com
mittee from, the grand jury, t lie Comp
troller and his chief clerk, were all
(?ailed together for the purpose of dis-|
cussing the possibility of making this
audit of the ferry funds, and the result
was that same could not 'ho .checked
satisfactorily, and the matter was left
in the hands of the grand jury for dis
position.
G. C. Welsh, Sheriff.
Upon examination of the records in
this office we found the condition very
unsatisfactory, and especlaly in the
manner the delinquent tax executions
had been handled during the past few
years. This county lias been unfortu
nate in necessarily having three
sheriffs in office during the ipast three1
or four years. W. \V. Hueknbeo.
sheriff, died in l!?x7. I. C. Hough,
sheriff, filled the unexpired term to
January 1919 (i. C. Welsh, the present
sheriff from January 1919 to date. The j
present sheriff seems to "be doing
everything in his power to clear up
these delinquent tax executions, and
promises to speed the collections mitil
all of themSw-e cleared up. At the
time the present sheriff went into of
fice there was five years executions
piled up for collection. The 1915
1916-1917-1918-1919 amounted to $43.
637.92. The collections from the 1915
and 191(1, $2,010.90 deducted,' leaves a
balance in hands of sheriff, uncollect
ed at the time of this audit $-H?020t90.
The sheriff informed us that he had
about completed the collections on the
year 1917 and settlement would be
made with treasurer within the next
few days. The 1918 and 1919 are in
process of collection and (possibly vflll
be' completed and settlement made
with treasurer and included In the
next annual settlement on June 30th>
1921. ?
I). AL McCaskill, County Treasurer
We carefully examined and audited
the records in this office for a period
of two years, July 1st. 1918 to June 30,
1920. We found it necessary also to
inqke a partial audit of the annual
settlement sheets for years ending
June 30th. 1910, 1917. 1918, 1919, and
1920, for the reason that we found 'er
rors in tin1 amount of county and
school warrants credited in the same.
We found it very difficult in some
respects to audit the records in this
office, it 'IxMng impossible to reconcile
some of his accounts. This officer
does not keep a cash book showing the
daily collections and ox i>endi hires. We
checked the county and school cl-iim
register book against the claims, found
several school claims entered twice,
several corrections in addition was
made. ami various other adjustments.
This officer explains the cause of
the existing irregularities due : > bis
absence from his office while making
the State Campaign for raiirea 1 Com
missioner.
The total charges due to these ir
regularities amounted to $2,707.51 ..ml
the credits amounted to $580.71 leav
ing a net balance to charge treasurer
$2. 120. NO on March :il<t. 1921 the treas
urer's cash was counted, a cash state
ment of receipts and disbursements
and all charges from adjustments
made in tbi< audit was included in
the charges against the treasurer, and
sufficient funds was found on hand
to rover the charges.
We instructed the treasurer that it
was very essential that he install at
once a cash hook in which all daily col-,
lections and disbursement* he entered'
and balanced daily in order that at
any time the -ame could he rcconcil- ;
ed readily.
We also n?-k that lie keep an account ?
with each dejM>sitory, m i > ? 1 balance ;
these accounts with hanks at the end
Qf each month, making n note of out- 1
standing checks, etc.
.Magistrates of Kershaw County, S. C.
We regret t<> report that some of i
these officers are extremely careless
in making the proper entries on their i
Criminal l>ocket.s and in many cases ir 1
is a matter of impossibllty to arrive!
at the true collections made by thnm. |
S. N. Nicholson. .Magistrate, Camden.
This officer keeps a complete re- ,
cord of all transactions, and makes j
promp remittance to County Treasurer.!
This officer is very highly commended j
for Ids efficient services. ?
B. F. Roberts, Magistrate, Kershaw.
The records kept by this officer arc J
only fair, and in future more care'
should 4h- taken t?? make complete en
tries.
L. H. Thompson. Magistrate, Liberty
Hiii
The records kept by this officer are
so incomplete that it was impossible
to makv> an audit of the same intelli
gently. We urge that in future this
officer keep a complete record of col
lections. dates and also keep >-o?''<lpt?
attached secure!#* to the Criminal
Docket.
C. IJ. Nettles. Magistrate, Logoff.
This officer should use more rare
in making complete antries in hit
iw.vril or MK. <?KRGOKY.
!?
Ifylft a (Vomineiit and Beloved fitisen
of Kei hliaw .
! ? It was indeed a slnn-k to the eom
I inuult.v when it was learned last
Thursday afternoon that Xoulo O.
Gregory hail passed away at the Fen
nell Infirmary in Hook llill, where he
had been taken only that .morning
for special treatment. lie weiu home
from the store of tl.ic Kershaw Mer
cantile & Banking Co., where he was
employed, on the Friday afternoon he
fore not feeding well and was eon fined
to. his hed constant ly, his condition
growing gradually worse until it was
decided to take him to the hospital on
Thursday morning. He was accom
panied on the trip by his wife ami his
family physician, I)r. Brnslngton, and
hi* hrotlier, Hafph Gregwry. He died
about five nVloek in the afternoon of
tbe same day a ml his remains were
brought to Kershaw on Friday morn
ing's train. The hineral hour was
postponed until 4 :,'{(> in the afternoon
to await the arrival from Columbia of
the little daughter -of Mr. Gregory, ami
the mother .of Mrs. Gregory, Mrs. Tur
ner. at whose home the little child was
Visit Ing.
1 he funeral services were conduct
ed from the Kershaw First Baptist
church, the funeral service being
?preached by the Rev. J. l\ Tucker, a
classmate at Wake Forrest College of
Mr. Gregory and a former pastor of
"the First Ba<ptist Church here. The
burial was with masonic honors, Mr.
Gregory being a member of that fra
ternity and also of the Junior Order
and Woodmen of the World. ? Mr.
Gregory js survived by his wife and
two small children, one daughter and
one son; his parents and several
brothers and sisters.
Mr. Gregory was 32 years of age and
was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T.
.1 Gregory. He was associated inti
mately with his father in business in
the store of the Kershaw Mercantile
?& Banking ( o., of which his father is
manager and part -owner. He was
very popular with the younger set and
was highly respected by all. When
the town went under the government
of Its new charter a few months ago,
he was chosen without opposition one
<>f the additional aldermen of the
town. lie was also an active member
of the Kershaw First Baptist Church
and an official of the Sunday school
and was regular in his attendance up
on both.
The sympathy of the people of the
town and the surrounding community
is very deeply felt for the family in '
their sad bereavement. ? Kershaw Kra. j
Appointed Deputy Clerk.
Miss Lena ML Lim^herger. who has
been a clerk in the office of tbe Clerk
'?f Court for Kershaw County for a|
good many years, was last Thursday I
named by James H. < Tyburn as deputy '
cleric <f Court for this county. This'
probably is til., firs, |a,|v ,.u>rk ,
appointed in this state. The appoint !
merit was approved by Judge W. H. ?
Townsend. presiding at this term ..f|
court. Miss IJiM'hcrger is fully ac- j
qnaintcd with the work . .f the Clerk's
off ice and has rendered faithful mid
efficient services.
Docker. The year and date and
amount collected in each case should
he recorded in a legible manner, and
the remittances made promptly each
month, securely attaching the Treasur
ers receipts to the Docket.
\V. M. Keliey, Magistrate, Lugoff.
The records kept by thta officer is
by no means in accordance as prescrib
ed by law. A complete record of dates
amounts collected and the amount
paid to the County Treasurer 'should
be recorded in this Docket. All re
ceipts from the Treasurer should be.
firmly attached to the Docket. A re
port <>f transactions in this office as
required by law must be made month
ly to the county Auditor and Treasurer
and the amount due the counts or
state and school, as the case may be.
should l?e remitted each month.
II. I). Gardner, Magistrate, Kershaw
The records kept by this officer are
so incomplete that it was impossible
to check .same with any decree ??f ac
curacy. In most cases the dates, year
month and dates are omitted, and the
amounts collected are entered in such
a manner that one could scarcely ar
rive at the amount due the county. It
appears from the docket that this ,,f
ftcer 1s due the county $20 On We
suggest that this officer take his do<k
et to the County Auditor and Treasur
er and thoroughly check same, and pay
over. to the Treasurer the amount due
the county if it is found that anything
be due.
J. E. CopeJand, Magistrate. Uethune.
A fairly complete record is kept by
this officer. All receipts from Treas
urer should be .securely attached to
the docket.
S. 8. ClytMin*. Magistrate, Westville
and G. K. lllnsoit. Magistrate. Itianey.
These Magistrates were the only
Magistrate* -who failed to present their
dockets for inspection, although, all
of them were notified to aetul their
docket* to u?.
MAN liADI.V URATKN
? 1 ? . - - J |
Superintendent of Kriticatiou Ordered
To l<eave Orangeburg County.
? hailgohtirg. July 12. ? 'laudc .?
Ku?t. 9\^r]l n tot)0oii I of education f???*
Orangeburg county. whs badly Itch ton
about 0 o'clock litis morning by' an
Orangeburg uiau and It! a son near the
store of A. W. Stroman, in the eastern
suburbs of Orangeburg. the father
(barging Hast with criminal assault
upon his jft-year old daughter. Tho
mau< alleged that (luring ' May, 1921.
while llast was principal of tho East
Middle public school ho sod nood tin*
Kb*], who wan a pupil of tho school.
This solum! is located in Mlddlo town
ship ?if Orangctturg county.
It Is stated that tho man telephoned
Mi*. Hast early this morning from the
stole of A. \V. Stromal) on Whitman
street;, .this' oh asking him to come
down and make an affidavit, concern
the number of bales of cotton that ,
were stored in his warehouse. Mr. j
Mr. Hast eanie down to the store an^l
was confronted with the charge of
seducing the daughter, .which Mr. Hast j
denied, and tin* fight ensued. It is
stated that the man was about to'
shoot Mr. Hast With a rifle, hot the
gnn was taken from him by Mr, Stro :
man and others.
The news id' this affair has stirred
Orangeburg. Mr, Hast has tanglti
school in Orangeburg county over 2.V
years, was elected .-u?|>ei'iii tendon I of j
cducalion for Orangeburg county last i
suinnier over his opponent and assum
ed his duties on July I. 1021. succeed
ing I.. W. Livingston, who did not
stand for re-election. Mr. Hast is a
i ?
man of fa inily.
Mr. Hast has not been arrested, |
neither has his assailant.
To Affect a Loan.
Mr, H. (.i. Ca rrison, Jr., left Camden
Tuesday night for New York, where J
he goes as a representative of the
iBank of Camden to negotiate a loan
of considerable size for the County
Commissioners of Kershaw County.
The money will be used in furthering J
the several road projects now under ,
Way in this county, and also a portion I
will be used for general county expen
ditures.
Camped at Mt. Pleasant.
All df the members of Company |
M., South Carolina National Guard. j
(Kershaw Guards) under command of i
Captain A. M. McLeod left Camden
Sunday over the Northwestern Hail
way for Mount Pleasant where they .
will lie encamped for the week along j
with other companies of the National
Guard.
The boys write us that tin* North- j
western railroad handled the troops ^
fine and want to thank Captain II. S.
Ziegler for his courtesies extended
them. After being transferred to tin*
("oast r.ine wo wore also treated royal
ly. The Greenville and Greer com
panies joined us at Sumter.
Mount Pleasant will prove a delight
fnl eamping ground and the militia
.boys will no doiiM -p'Mel an enjoyable
\1iention.
Lightning Destroyed Tree.
Wednesday afternoon during the
thunderstorm ;i bolt of lightning struck
a large shade tree near the residence
of Mr. N. C. Boykin In Kirkwood. Mr.
J. A Glaosner. the overseer on the
place, says the holt shocked hi in mom
entarily. but lie turned around in time
| to see the hig oak split in twain and
fall to the ground. lie says the tree
was completely torn up. It stood
about feet away from the bolide, hut
the house was not damaged.
I
Interpreting Visitor Here.
i :
j An ijrtr vi-lt?*r in 1'itiiidrn ;
this wj'fk wa? denera 1 ?ieorse II
Harries nliji tr. lined ; i ; i < T eominanded
I two brigades in tin- recent war. Ho
jWJiS Llio first American of f .? ??? r t<> filter
I iterlin after the armUtire was siirneil !
land liiid chart'*' of t li f repatriation;
j <-ommi?Hoii fur the Allied fJovcrn I
J i ri o n t < fleneral Fin rri#r"^T>?^an lii>? ]
'military career with tlio forces of
| i Jf*n?T:i 1 Puster against the Indian"
Ho was very active in the Spanish-:
Anft?rican war. and both Roosevelt '
|
and Pershing served in h i >? brigade '
It wim partially through General Tlar j
r icfr rrr c> rri n* r r* u/i nuii 1 1 1 h i i-ersning j
was pnt In command of the A Tl. F.
General Harriet hfl" been for a numl?er
of years Vice President of the H. M.
Ryllerthy and Company who operate
public utilities ;n cevral hundred ri
fles and towns in the West, among
these localities Wing the recently
flooded I'noWo district General liar
ries was the gne?t of Mr. and Mr? U.
R. Pitt*.
M>HMU*A MAKKS VV.SIW .IOKK j
I aureus Farmer Keeps Ills Want*
Cleared riUU August. <
Dublin, *ia.,'.)une 127. ? A foruiula fur
poison thai wilt kill .lilt' M weevil
ai'tl keep a field ClOftt Of m Pe*t ,"1
til August, when the migratory woo
vHm' are !u action, Isi being used this
\ear by Dr. W. B. Taylor of Dextor,
Laurens County, who has boon grow
ing cot (On in 1. aureus for the last
three years in spite of the boll weevil.
Last year lie n utile i!lW bales on 130
a i? res. in spite of the weevil, wel
weather anil other hindrance*.
Doctor Taylor lives about li miles (
from Dublin, and 1ms become the re (
cognized boll weevil expert of the.
county. Saturday a friend in Dublin
asked him about Ihe weevils on his
farm.
"Why, l lie boll weevil is ii joke,
with me," he replied. ?'Laugh every
time I think about liim. 1 can rid uny
field of boll weevils for Joe per acre,
given Just two successive days of sun
shine."
He was asked for an explanation. (
and when lie replied that he had j
worked out a formula for poisoning (
the weevil, and was using it. was
asked for that formula. - j
Here it is. just as he gave it. and it ,
has the indorsement of the county de |
monfct ration agent of I.aurens County.,
J. II. Tyre, who was present.
Take molasses. 2 gallons; saccharine
one ounce; ice cream powder. 2 pack j
ages; calcium arsenate, 10 pounds;!
water. 8 gallons. Mix the ice cream;
powder and the saccharine both in a
little water before adding to the other
ingredients. When you have it all
mixed together well, be sure it is kept
agitated that the~~poisou does not set
tle to .the bottom.
Make a mop by taking a small stick:
and lying a roll of cheese cloth around
one end about two inches wide. (Jet
an old tin can fill it with the solution,
keep it. stirred, and walk down the row
and put a few drops of the solution on
the under side of the leaves near the
bud of Ihe plant. Be sure the mix
ture is well stirred while putting it
on. Only a small amount is required
for each plant, and with the above
mixture scientifically applied it should
cover 'JO acres. Some, however, apply
a little thicker than needed and it
may not cover more than ten acres.
A few drops to each plant i* just asj
effective as a gallon.
Only one application Is needed, pro- j
vided two sunshiny days follow. With j
this solution in use. all the squares j
picked up. the cotton plant pushed just |
as fast' as possible, the farmer *bouhl
have a full crop of cotton made by]
August, when the migratory weevils j
begin to swarm, and when it is useless
to fight any longer. If the crop iv
made by that time, however, yon are1
safe. j
In explaining his formula. 1 >r. 'lay j
l,,i- ma dc the following point*: He has
found by two years' of special exneri J
mental work that. Ihe weevils are at
I meted by a sweet mixrure. and easily
fall prey to poisoned sweets. Syrup.
< ab'iurn arsenate, and water will kill
the weevils, but he add- the sacehar
; in,, to make the mixture sweeter than
(ordinary syrup, and ne-re attraethe to
I the weevil The iee .ream powders are
| added to give the mixture a "body.
! make it foamy and mmiJIagenon--.
! therefore html to wash off by rain, and
I -lb-king longer on the plant, while it
Inquires less agitation Any kind of
I syrup*. -<yrup. mola-<4-s. or any
like sweetening will do Taken from
( The Atlanta Heorginn Mo?ida\ .lutio
J7th.
Heath Sprints Won From Camden
Tin' < \i ? 1 1 < 1 ? ? 1 1 ha *el?a 1! team lui'l its j
first defeat in twenty lvv<? games fieri*!
la - r Friday afternoon when the team'
from Heath Spring* ? I?*ft?n"f #*?! Camden'
M ,i >i ??re i if 4 t<? I It was "lie of
the prettiest games of t lie ^nson and
r; o t until the eighth inning Jywl a run
ner erossed the plate, when Camden
scored one run. In the last half of
the ninth Heath Spring* *t nped :i
hatting rally and put aero** four runs j
Batteries fur Camden, Benson and
Wilson, f..r Heath Sprim.'*. V.i rlior '
?.ugh ainl Hi<har<l?.
ILatli Spring* . t.H.'k Saturday j
afternoon for another came and were j
? 1 ? feated by a srore of 10 to 0. Bat- !
teriev for seeon'l 2,i rn'1 < \imderi . '
I>onald<on and Hliame, fur Heath I
Sprintr*. Bel! ami Richard"
A fartnd*?.|iM* mural tablet to the
memory of the late Judge Cenrge W.
Cage, an honored member of the Ches
ter Bar and a beloved citizen of that
community, wan pbve<l In the Chester
eourf room.
ALLEGED BANK ROBBERS
DECLARED "NOT GUILTY
After a trial lasting two day*, hotly
contested at wi'i'.v phase, froSn time
State announced ready until 1 1 >? con
clusion. the Jury in the rase of the
Stjite vs.. William llrawley, Alex.
Cart ledge, Uoyd Lot'lek aiitl Dewey
Dennis, young white men of Columbia. ,
charged with blowing the safe in the
ltank of IVugoff on the Ith day of
February of this month ami stealing
t herefrom .$'JIO, returned a verdict of
not guilty on Wednesday night at
7:43 o'clock. There was a strong ar
ray of counsel on both sides. Assist
ing Solicitor A. F. Spiguer, of the
Fifth Circuit. was Former Judge Men
del 1.. Smith. The four defendants
were represented by former Gov. Cole
I 'lUea-.se ami Mr. C. T. Graydon, of
( 'olumbla. ' a nd Messrs. G, (?. Alexan
der and M. M iloliHson-. <>f the local
bar.
Immediately following the acquittal
of the defendants on Wednesday eve
nlng, they were rova'nnded to Jail on
an Indictment: .charging them with
housebreaking and larceny, in counec
tlon with the same alleged offense.
This, latter offense u|M>n which they
were held Is in regard to a charge of
breaking into the store building ad
joining the Hank of I.ugoff. . Notice
was given of motion for bond.
At the beginning of tin' trial, motion
was made by counsel for the defend
ants to quash the Indictment- upon
several grounds, the principal ones of
which were that there was-no-rocord
on the journal as to the swearing of
the grand jury, and that no women,
Hinder the recent suffrage amendment,
had been included In the jury box. and
a number of jurors objected to by
defendants, counsel on the ground that
they had not. paid poll tax before the
end of last year. The motions were
overruled by Judge Townsend and the.
ease was ordered to trial.
The main witness for the State. was
George .T. (Junn. alias George Gunney.
alias George lloblnson, an alleged con
federate of the young Columbians on
trial .who turned States* evidence in
his testimony. (Junn claim* he Is from
Pennsylvania and gave an account of
the movements of the gang' from the
time he claims to have Joined it- In
Columbia until he was token off the
train in Richmond. Va., on instruc
tions from Dectceti ve .Strickland In
Columbia. Gunn stated that the ren
devous of the gang was a two-story
building at Tlo Lady street in Co
lumbia. In his confession In; went.
Into minute details of the Taigoff rob
bery and also stated that the same
?ramr- f ...,k part in the robbery at
Cope, s. C . Heath Springs. S. C. and
ii |?o said that a job was pulled off
in a town in Pennsylvania.
The case attracted Statewide In
terest and jury was held together mi
lder instructions from .Tud?e Townsend.
I ] Miring (lie progress of the trial there
wore s<>me ??harp da-lies between conn
i
Sitting by the State's attorneys was
l I'Ofitoffb-e his|M'< ior Gregory, who hn?
handled the case f..r the government.
!t1ic defendants jvcre firvt carried to
Charleston. to tbe Cnited States Court.
? under a Federal Indictment, but the
Fedora! authorities tran-ferred it to
the State courts.
; George Gunn. the State"- witness,
mid a detailed stnrv of the operations
of what he termed the "jrang." H?
j^.id that he came from Pennsylvania
j in"*- Columbia, where he became enn
Elected with the defendants, and where
:i i r :t Moment < were made by them for
j ho robberies in ??* m f r? i jIti f ion. Ac
<??rding t<? him. Ik* and *omo of the de
fendants wcni ;i in III* beyond Now
I Iirookluml. across tho Conjuror river
I from Columbia. ono night, rind made
j nit ro glyoerino f r rn <ome dynamite,
i and that thoy agreed to oomo ovor to
j T.ugoff arid bb?w the bank safe there,
j ?lo sa id they oaino along the National
I Highway (<? Camden. nud wont some
h.'ilf n iniio beyond tho bank building.
[ whore th?-y turned around and rnmo
hiM'k to tho I', unk of T.ugoff. and made
I cpvorwl offr?rt< to '*ntor tho building
J before t hoy finally suocoeded in priz
ing open tho front door, when thoy
| wont In and blow open tho lower com
! ,var!:r.r>4:: of : %f,-. Thf rosson iio->
did not eref more money, ho said
wnv boon n ?o they were unable to blow
j open the upper compartment of tho
>>a fe. whore the dial and 1 combination
| were. but that thoy removed the dial.
The dial and plunger, and a cold chisel,
.md various other paraphernalia he
longing to. n safo woro introduced In
evidence by the State as having teen
(Continued ?>? Pago*