The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, April 11, 1924, Image 1
THE CAMDEN CHRONICLE
^IuMEl?^r " CAMPEN. SOUTH' CARO^ rH.DAY._APH?t U. 1924. ? ?
HK.HAM CKT.^ NEW TR1AI.
Masterly Arguments Put 1!h? For i\nd
>. Against Condemned Mali.
? A ? ? i
Florence, April 8, ? Kdmund 1). Big
kam hns* won his fight for t* now
trial. Judge John S. Wilson, in tho j
Sessions Court hwe this afternoon,
granted tho petition of tho 'condemned
man's attorneys for a retrial of his
case before a jury.
Bigham, who lias been \uiuier death
sentence for three years lor the al
leged murder of his brother, L.
Smiley Bigham, and against whom
indictments are pending also for the I
mimTUr^of his mother and his sister,
and his sister's two adopted children,
stated this afternoon that he had al
ways believed he would get justice.
"Otherwise I should never ?have been
able to stand the strain. Ke member,
while I was in the death cell at the
state penitentiary, more than a half
dozen men walked by. rtiy cell door
to the electric chair. In the lace of
all this I have never faltered in my
belief that in. the end all would come
wut right for me. 1 am innocent and
justice will prevail."
When Judge Wilson announced hii
decision, Bigham leaned over and
Kissed his wife, who sat hy his side in
the court room. Tears came into the
eyes of both: Silently they expressed
their joy and their relief over the
victory.
A., b. King and JVlendcJ L. Smith
4 1 . . . 1 I TM- I *
well4 pivdAvu. a nt~y uavv nut |
decided yet whether they will move |
for a change of venue. In the present
situation the case will probably come
up for trial at the June term of crim
inal court. Mr. King does not know
whether or not he will ask for the
release, of Bigham on bond. It is not
Relieved that Bigham has sufficient
resources to make the bond that ordi
narily would be required in such a
case.
In granting the motion, Judge Wil
son said: "I do not hesitate to say,
>n my judgment, that this thing (n*
ferring to the letter which Smiley
Righam is. alleged to have written 5n
which he told that he was going to
kill the members of his family and
himself) ought to go before the jury.
The killing of these people was a
most horrible circumstance and it is a
matter. for a jury to say whether he
<< Smiley) killed them or not." ,>
? Judge Wilson reviewed other as
pects ? of the hearing, stating thut
he had been ordered by the Supreme
Court of -the state to review the
whole evidence and that he had done
so, and taking all fif the circum
stances surrounding the case into con
sideration, he could not do otherwise
than grant the motion of the defend
ant for a new trial. He said that
perhaps the alleged letter .by Smiley
Bigham within itself would not b;j
sufficient grounds on which to grant
the motion, but taking into considera
tion all of the evidence together with
the alleged newly discovered evidence,
submitted in the form of letters writ
ten by Smiley Bigham to his brother,
Edmund Bigham, over a period of two
years, when Edmund Bigham resided
in Georgia, and affidavits which have
been presented by defendant's attor- 1
neys, there was but one course to
pursue and that was to grant the
motion for a new trial. Attorneys
for the defense stated after the mo
tion had been granted that they had
not yet decided whether or not they
would ask for a change of venue
when the case came up for trial
again.
The court room was crowded to its
greatest capacity when Mendel L.
Smith closed his argument foe the
defense, and during the time between
? the close of this address and the an
nouncement of the granting of new
trial there was hardly a movement
among the hundreds of persons who
packed every available nook and cor
ner and overflowed the chancel rail
and even crowded upon the e judge's
stand itself.
The interest was so intense and the
quiet so deep that it appeared as
though the life of every person in
the court house depended upon the
outcome of the motion.
s Court opened at 9 o'clock this
morning, Solicitor Casque opening
with his argument for the state,
which lasted for two hours. Mr.
Casque gave a complete review of
the case as the state had handled Jt
in the trial and attempted to show
that every circumstance pointed to
the fact that this deed could only
have been ch>ne by -Edmund Bigham.
He built op a wall of circumstances
A a ma i 1 n a A A 4W a jsi ,
wn ten ?ppfUrM vO point TO tfir ISCX
that Edmund Bigham was the man
? ? " * ^ - ?
NEWS OF BOYKIN
Demonstration Club Meets WUh Pro
nounced Success.
Uoykin, April What' as said to j
be ono of the finest home demonstra
tion club meetings ever known in
Kershaw County was held on Thurs
day, April 3rd, at the Charlotte
Thompson School. At the March
mooting Miss Jennie Boyd demon
strated the making of un Angel Cake
of such perfection that this was
thought to be enough of a culinary
success to last for at least two meet
ings so the club members assembled
in Mrs. Sanders' sunny and attractive
classroom instead of the kitchen
which is the usual meeting-place.
Whilt* distracted at first by the novel
sights of the sapd table and of Easter
rabbits chasing their hats over the
wnidow-panes, they were soon called
to order by Mrs. Lee West, the newly
elected president. Mrs. West, in a
few concise words outlined the work
which she would liko for the club to
accomplish during the coming year,
and asked for the earnest support of
all members. The County Fair was
discussed, also the planting of spring
gardens, and the planning of season
able menus. While it was unani
mously agiM^ed that it i* much- easier
to write a menu than it is to prepare
a meal, it is hoped that with Miss
Boyd's helpful suggestions, all mem
bers of the club may be able to do
both with success.
After business was disposed of a
delightful program was carried out
by visitors from Camden, some of
whom have generously given their
services to the Charlotte Thompson
School on other occasions. The first j
number on the program was a duet |
by Mrs. Clifton McKain and Miss
Josephine Alexander, accompanied by
Mrs. Latham. Miss Mary Blackwell
then gave a most amusing reading iu
which she impersonated a small boy
who doesn't want to go to school. |
Mrs. J. G. Richards, Jr., whose con- j
tralto voice always pleases, sang two I
solos and Miss Blackwell kindly con- <
sented to give another reading, this !
one a selection from Barrie. Miss
; Boyd then suggested that all . join in
j singing some old fashioned songs, and |
t^ie, strains of this music brought to
vtjio' meeting Dr. Morris Blackwell
who happened to be visiting the
school. Dr. Blackwell kindly ? con
sented to bring in hi:? banjo and play :
: alTtl Sing sohie negro Songs. This I
added much to the pleasure of the |
afternoon which ended in neighborly i
chats over steaming cups of tea.
Among the guests at this meeting j
were Miss Sallie Alexander, Miss Ida i
J . # ?
Wallace and Miss Henrietta Johnson,
of Camden, Mrs. Charles V. Boykin
and Miss Allen of Charleston, and
Dr. arm Mrs. Morris Blackwell of
Falls Church, Virginia.
I ' ' ' , , a i_l
T. I*. A. Post Elects Officers.
Post M. of the Travelers Protective
Association held* its annual meeting
here Friday evening after a banquet
in the dining room of a local hotel.
The following officers were elected
foi* the ensuing year: I). A. Boykin,
president; E. T. Asbury, R. W. Kirk
land, (#. J. Smyrl, vice presidents;
board of directors: B. O. Boykin, A.
S. Payne, H. L. Ritchie, B. H. Baum,
W. D. Barrett; chairmen of commit
tees: railroad, A. S, Dyer; press,
II. D. Niles; hotel, F. D. Campbell;
employment, O. J. Smyrl; roads, E.
L. Wooten; legislative, J. S. Ilalsall;
membership, R. W. Kirkland; secre
tary and treasurer, J. L. Guy; dele
gates to State Convention: E. L.
Wooten, O. J, Smyrl, A. S. Dyer,
B. H. Baum, R. W Kirkland, H. D.
Niles, J. L. Guy; delegate to National
Convention, D. A. Boykin. State
president W. C. Miller, of Chester,
was present and made an interesting
talk. Post M. was organized less
than one year ago with twenty mem
bers and has grown to a membership
of twenty-seven within the year.
Woman's Exchange to Close.
The Woman's Exchange on Lau
rens street will close on April 15th.
All persons having articles there will
please call for .same.
who committed the act.
The solicitor presented no pw evi
dence to combat the affidavits pre
sented by the defense, relying upon
this argument of the caise as it had
been tried three years ago.
Mr.^Gasque was followed by Judge
Mendel L. Smith for the defense, who'
? * ? more than, two boors. The
Mr.
~~ ' ' : :
BETHI NK NEWS NOTK8.
IluppeiiihgH of Interest Atf Told Uy
Our Correspondent.
Bethuite,\k April 9?? Mrs. feoriiig
Davis whs the charming hostess at
a three table card parly Wednesday
evening, Sandwiches and coffee \\*?ro
served.
Messrs. J, A, MeCaskill and M. G.
King made a. business trip through
Mariun Wedi^sday. While there thay
visited thejformer's daughter, Miss
Kathleen MeCaskill, who is teaching
in the high school of Marion.
Mi^s Nanolino Tyler took her Sun
day School class on a hike to Big
Springs Wednesday afternoon. The
time at the Spring was very pleas
antly spent in roasting weinies and
toasting marsKmallows.
Mr. and Mrs. Loring Davis, Misses
Mamie Lou McDonald and Gussie
Hough attended the. Sowell-Whitaker
wedding in Kershaw Thursday eve
ning.
_ Miss Ruth Gaines spent the week
end at tho home of Mr. T. H. Josey
of the Tiller Ferry section.
Mrs. C. L. Mays of Cartersville
accompanied by her daughter-in-law,
Mrs. D. M. Mays of this place, spent
Friday i^i Charlotte with Mrs. Frank
Beard ? ? ? ? ?
Mrs. Boyd McKinnon returned Sun
day after a months stay with her sis
ter, Mrs. L. A. McDowell in Tampa,
Florida.
Mr? Loring ana Miss Stella
Bethune went to McBee Friday to act
as judges in the girls' expression con
test, selecting a representative of
that school for the state contest.
Miss Mamie Lou McDonald was the
week-end gust of. Mrs. C. L. Mays
in Cartersville. . . . . . . , ,
Mrs. Mary Bethune is visiting at
the home of her son, R. M. Bethune
in Gfreraw.
The Missionary Society of the
Methodist church met with Mrs. J. P.
Bethune Monday afternoon.
M iss Mamie Lou McDonald left
Wednesday for a visit to Charleston
and while there she will visit Mag
nolia Gardens.
The Auxiliary of the Presbyterian
church met with Mrs. J. A. MeCaskill
Monday afternoon. It was decided to
have an Easter egg hunt Saturday
afternoon the twelfth, in the inclos
ure at Mrs. MeCaskill's home.
Mesdames J. M. Forbis and E. Z.
Truesdell we're appointed as delegates
from this Auxiliary to meet with ih"
Presbyterial in Winnsboro.
Catholic Church Services.
Services on Palm ^Sunday, April
13th, will be -as follo\ys: Masses at
6:15 and 11. a.m.; Sunday school at
10 a.m.; Blessing and distribution of
palms before 11 o'clock mass. Ser
mon in the morning at 11 o'clock on
"The Meaning of the Pakns." Eve
ning service at 8:45, sermon on "The
Trial of Jesus ahd the Decision Ren
dered." Holy week services on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at
6:30 a.m. All are cordially invited
to these services.
?
Camden Hospital Benefit.
Those desiring to fish at Hermitage
pond this year are notified that the
same arrangements will prevail as
for last season. Permits will be $1.00
per person for thirty days for all
residents of Kershaw County, and for
residents out of the county $1.00 per
person for the period of the visit to
Camden not exceeding thirty days.
The entire proceeds of the sale of
these permits will be donated by Her
mitage Cotton Mills to the Camden
hospital, all the incidental expenses
being defrayed by the mill.
A Huge Eg*.
Mr. A. P. Tidwell, of 901 Lyttleton
street exhibited at The Chronicle
office Tuesday morning an egg far
beyond the usual size for an ordinary
hen. It weighed 5 1-2 ounces and
measures 7 inches in circumference.
I The usual weight of an egg is 1 1-2
ounces. Mr. Tidwell, who is quite an
old man ,says that he has quite, a
long experience with poultry and de
clares that this was the largest egg
he had ever seen.
Poultry Car to Stop at Blaney.
Blaney has been added to the
\ schedule of stops for the Poultry
which will load from Kershaw County J
next week. The cats will be at Blaney
Thursday, April 17th, and will move
to Camden Friday and Bethune Sat
urday.
From the present outlook a fall
car will leave this county. The ship
ment has been advertised in* every |
community in tbe
ii ik: I : SMITH W AS SFEAKBR
'I
In (ire< n\ ille at Inturling ot
Over Court House IMaz/.a.
Judge Mendel 1.. Smith was the
principal speaker at the ceremonies
incident to the unfurling of an Amer
ican tlag to the top i>f a 75- foot nms\
erected on the piazza of the Green
ville 'court house Sunday, and pre
sented to the county by the American
Legion post at Greenville. In speak
ing of his address the Greenville
News j>f Monday had the following to
"The ceremony incident to the Un
furling of Old Glory was vei*y^ im
pressive. An eloquent patriotic
address by Mendel L. Smith, widely
known attorney and orator of Cam
den; a stirring speech by \V. 1*. Con
yers, and the actual presentation of
the flagstaff by R. W. Hudgens, com
mander of the loCal post, were high
lights in the program, which was wit
nessed by fully 2,500 persons,
crowded about the plaza, in the ad
joining streets and even in windows
and on the roofs of near-by buildings.
"The address by Mr. Smith,, a for
mer circuit judge, who resigned his
place on the bench* at the call of his
country early in the Wurld Will valid
who saw service as a high commis
sioned officer in the judge advocate
general's office for a long period, was
declared by manv sww???. terr. to die
most brilliantly eloquent ever heard
here.
" 'Patriotism,' declared the speaker,
'is usually thought of in connection
with war, but as peace hath her vic
tories no less renowned than wqt ho
also has pjmce her patriotism no less
valorous and noble than that exhibit
ed in time of dire national' peril from
a foreign foe.'
"The American Legion, Mr. Smith
declared, will see to it that justice is
done to j?11 this country, that Amer
ica eventually takes her proper place
in the council of nations of the earth,
that a spirit of patriotism, Christian
religion andtruth, be preached and
fostered in this country so long an
Old Glory flies.
"The American spirit, the spirit of
our forefathers and the spirit that
animated the American soldier in
France, is the one which must be cul
tivated in every breast, the speaker
declared, If American ideals are to
live and if the unlowered flag and un
conquered sword of America is to
survive for the benefit of humankind.
The American Legion, made up of
men who fought for their country Jin
time of war and who are now willing
to live for it in the time of peace, he
said, are the men who will carry this
work forward.
"Judge Smith, as he is affectionate
ly kno\vn to thousands of fjouth Caro
linians, was warmly cheered again
and again.
"Mr. Conyers' short but eloquent
address was also wildly applauded at
times,, when he touched on the mean^
ing of the Hag to this country^ He
said that it woulcl forever be an em
blem of peace and righteousness
among the nations of the" earth.
"Boy Scouts will raise and lower
the flag daily."_
Circles To Meet.
The Circles of the Missionary I
Society of the Camden Baptist
Church will meet Tuesday afternoon,
April 15th, at four o'clock in the
church. Members are urged to at
tend the general meeting. A splendid
program has been arranged.
Small Outfit Captured.
Frank Cauthen, a colored man, rc ?
siding a few miles east of Camden
near Sweet Home Church, was
arrested last Thursday by Officer
W. T. Player, of the Wateree Mill
Village,* assisted by Deputy Henry
McLeod and ? Mr. Ber\ Robinson.
Cauthen was an employee of the
Wateree Mill village and had been
suspected for some time of manu
facturing whiskey. He had evidently
gotten wind that the officers were
going to make a search, for he had
removed his outfit from his homp and
had buried it under the leaves in his
hog pen. Fifty gallons of mash that
had been souring in the house wa.^
also removed to a place of conceal
ment in a gulley not far from the
house. An ordinary sized garbage
can was used as a boiler and the
whiskey was being 'made on the fire
place. Cauthen was placed in jail
bat was later released on bond in the
sum of $300. Cauthen admitted # Wa
guilt to the officers. He had . been
; employed at the mill for many years
[and had the confident of the mill
pfopt*.
T . V _ ' - - - ? ?
SOWKIX-WIUTAKNK WEDDING
Lov*?ly Church Wedding Solemnized
i(t Kershaw Thursday Kvrning.
' Beautiful in every detail was Urn
' wedding of Mi na Madeline Kathufine
, Sowell tin <1 Mr.. Andrew Bur not Whit
' aker, solemnized Thursday, April Hrd,
I at 8 o'clock in the evening at the
Kershaw Baptist church. The skilful
| touch of n professional decorator was
easily recognized in the decoration of
i the chuych which, had been converted
1 into a bower of bloom and beauty, a
pleasing color scheme of white ami
green being used. Tall palms and
feath6rly ferns banked the rostrum
amid which quantities of roses and
Raster lilies gleamed pure and white.
On either side long white candles
graduating like steps and giving the
effect of a white stairway in the back
ground led up to a huge basket of
Easier lilies and ferns. ,
Miss Guy Skipper, of Lancaster,
j presided at the piano, playing the
wedding march and also the accom
paniment to two vocal selections sung
by Mr. Arthur Humphries of Hock
Hill. v ,
As the first notes of the time hon
ored march were sounded the wedding'
party -filed, down thu -whiUwHrjwt***!
isle and. through the ivory gates that
were opened by Mioses Jean Culvern
and Susie Emma Nelson, Annie c
Clyuurn and Esther Jenkins. The
ushers were Messrs. Hubert Sowell,
brother of the bride; G rover L.
Blaekwell, William McDonald and
Ha^el Plyler. 'flie groomsmen were
Messrs. Lenox Kirkland, Thomas
Arierum, Eugene Lenoir, Jack
Mackey. Thy bridesmaids, Misses
Harriet Whitaker, Annie May Car
son, Bernice Sowell, sister of the
bride, and' Miss Connie Plyler. The
lovely tints of the rainbow were re
produced in their dresses, each fash
ioned in individual style. They all
wore silver bandeaux with short veils
: and carried Orphelia roses. The dame
Loi honur, Mrs. Jack Whitaker, Jr., of
t Camden, wore a lovely dress of sand
! georgette over rose' pink satin and
'she carried sweet peas. Miss Ger
j trude Sowell, cousin of the bride was
I maid of honor and was* charming in
a dress of pink georgette, she carried
! KiHarney roses. Little Jean IMyler
' was the winsome flower girl and
i Robert Lee Plyler the ring bearer,
carrying the magic circle in the heart
-of^-a lily.
The bride entered with her father.
Well suited to her brunette beauty
was the handsome wedding gown of
ivory white satin heavily beaded in
crystals, her bridal veil falling from
.a coronet of orange blossoms to the
soft lace train that fell gracefully
from her shoulders and her artistic
bouquet was Easter lilies showered
with sweet peas. She- whs met at
the alter by the groom with his
brother and best man, Jack Whit
aker, Jr.
The officiating ministers were the
Rev. B. L. Blaekwell, of Spartanburg
and the Rev G. E. Smith,- pastor of
the church.
Immediately after the ceremony a
: large and beautiful reception was
given at the home of the bride's
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lee
Sowell which assembled not only a
wide circle of Kershaw friends but
4
also representative society from Cam
den and several nearby towns.
The receiving line was formed in
the west parlor and consisted Of the
entire bridal party with Mj. and Mrs.
R. L. Sowell and Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Whitaker, Sr., parents of the bride
and groom. Mr. and Mrs. A Burnet
Whitaker received under a canopy of
lilies and ferns ,
The two punch bowls were em
bedded in mossy green ferns and
white lilies and were presided over
by four charming young ladies. Mrs.
E. A'. Willifor^ had charge of the
bride's register.
Many handsome, beautiful and use
ful gifts wero on display in the gift
room.
The dining room had as a center
decoration the bride's table, lovely in
its appointment of green and white, J
bride's roses and feathery ferns be
ing used in profusion. A salad course
was served. In the coffee room Mrs.
Boyd Magill and Mrs. Nillon Plyler
poured coffee and here each guest
was presented with a dainty white
box tied with the wedding colors,
white and green and bearing the sil
ver monogram S.-4PV. The box con
tained a slice of wedding cake, the
magic dream producer, that waa des
tined to show a rose tinted future
to the Mouthful dreamer.
Mr. and Mr*. Whitekcr left that
evening for Florida. bride wore
CARS HADI.Y WRECK |5!)
Studcbakcr and Dodge Struck While
Passing Street Corners Wednesday.
Tux) automobile* <>ti<> n Sttfde
baker totiring eair driven ?Vy Mr. and
,1. N. Eggleston, of ClcntovviUo,
Mass., and a Dodge sedan driven by
Dr. K. 10. Stevenson, wore badly
smashed Wednesday morning' about
nine o'clock at the intersection of
l.yttliton and Chestnut streets.
The Studcbakcr car was going;
south as Mr, and Mrs. Eggleston
wore leaving. Caradun to net on th*
Washington-Atlanta highway home
ward bound and l)r. Stevenson was
going west on Chestnut street. All
accounts state that, the Studelmkor
car was running at a high rate of
speed. It struck the back part of Dr.
Stevenson's car, turning it over
twice and throwing it against a the
hydrant, bending the hydrant to such
shape that the water and light de
partment had to dig it up and re
place It. ? . ' J
Both cars were badly damaged ?
Dr. Stevenson's car being almost
completely wrecked. Fortunately Dr.
Stevenson escaped without injuries
except a bruise upon his head and
both wrists being slightly sprained.
The occupants of the Studcbakcr car
Avere uninjured except ?or a few
minor hmion5 ? M;?. Kggieston. Mr.
Eggleston carried liability insurance
upon both cajt's, They will be detained
in Camden for several days on ac
count of the wreck:
This Is Election Year,,,
With the announcement last week
of Mr. J. II. Clyburn for Clerk of
Court that of Mr. Allen B. Murchi
son, this week for the office of
County Superintendent of Education,
the *1924 campaign has opened up
in earnest. Both of these men have
announced for re-electioai. Other offi
cers to be elected this year will .be
those of the various magistrates
throughout the townships, a master
| and two representatives for the house
[ from this county N Messrs. N. S.
Richards and J. B. Munn are the pres
ent representatives apd Mr. B. B.
Clarke* is the present Master.
The chairman , of the county demo
cratic committee is calling a meeting
i of all clubs in the county to meet
at their respective meeting places on
Saturday, April 2<>th, for the purpose
_of reorganizing. ? ?
Services .at (I race Church.
There wijl be services-, at Grace
Episcopal church, Camden, on Sun
day, April 13th, at 11 o'clock, con
ducted by Rev. Walter Mitchell, of
Charleston, S. C. TJie public is cor
dially invited to attend.
Died in Colorado.
Word was received In Camden thi?
week that J. C. Ammons, son of Mrs.
Benjamin Ammons, of Camden, died
Tuesday, April 8th, in a Government
hospital in Denver, Colorado. Mr.
Ammons was an overseas soldier in
the United States army and was
severely gassed iu France. He ka?l
spent a long while in a hospital at
Oteen, N. C., later being transferred
to Denver where it was hoped Tie
would regain his health.
Word of his critical illness reached
his relatives here last week J*nd his
mother and brother, John Ammons,
of Camden, were enroute to Denver
when other members of the family
! received a message announcing his
death. An effort was made to reach
them while enroute, but without suc
cess.
? His body will be brought home, but
it is not known when it will reach
Camden, owing the great distance.
Young Awimons is survived by his
mother and seven brothers and sis
ters: Thomas Ammons, of Florida;
Mrs. J. W. Thompson, Mrs. C. W.
Dunn, William Ammons, of Camden;
Mrs. J. H Campbell of Eastover; Ben
Ammons and John-, Ammons, some
where in the Wert.
Kant or Eg* Hunt To Be Given.
An Easter egg hunt under the
auspices of the Business Women's
Circle of Lyttle'ton Street Methodist
church will be given in Hampton
Park, . Monday, April 21st, at 4:80
p.m. A small fee will be charged.
^ " * Marriage.
Mr. J. W. Boyce and Miss Bessie
Mae West, both of Camden, were
married 09 Wednesday, April 9th, by
Probate Judge W.-L. McDowell.
" 2a"r* 1m * '
suit of dark bh
hat Md grey aeqe? orfaa.
After a wedding trip