The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, January 23, 1925, Image 1
Chronicle
volume xxxvi. camden, south Carolina, Friday, January 23,.i?25. number 43.
- V ?' " :' : : ? " ? "
KAIN DOES DAMAGE
Hurts Travel Both By Kail and Auto
mobile*?DamH Suffer
Heavy rains Saturday and Sunday
and Monday played havoc with near
1^ all roads in Kerahaw county
many of them being rendered im
passable?the same being true of
nearly overy county in the state
where topsoil roads are in use.
The Charlotte Thompson High
School eight miles southeast of Cam
den had to close for the week on
account of the roads in all direc
tions. This school operates severa
trucks in carrying the pupils to ami
from the school and it was consid
ered dangerous for them to operate
The school will reopen again Monday
morning.
About t?n feet of a high fill on
the Southern railway . just north of
(^amden where JBrevard's branch
flows under the dHU blew out some
time during Monday night, ai)d South
ern passenger trams had to transfer
their passengers at that point for
a couple of days. There were ,no
freights over' that line unty a crew
repaired the tracks Wednesday. ?
Water in the Hermitage mill pond
three miles east of Cqirtden became so
high it was feared the huge dam
would blow out, and in order to safe
guard the majn dam about sixty feet
of the southern edge of the canal
was cut and the water turned loose
At that point. Later oh this was
insufficient to carry the mass of
water off and another cut was made
in the canal'near the mill. At some
places the water was running over
the dam.
Due to the excessive rain a large
brick culvert on South Church street
caved in and a barrier was placed
across this street until the culvert
can be replaced.
Water flooded most of the yards,
and other minor damages were re
ported.
Ten Dead and Missing
With the list of dead and missing
at ten, railroad and motor traffic de
moralized, and a heavy property loss
sustained, the crest of the flood
which has been acute in several south
ern states since Saturday was believ
ed passing Tuesday. In South Geor
gia where the menace and damages
were probably the heaviest, the
streams are said to be receding with
fair weather in prospect for the day.
Fair weather is predicted generally
for the states where the floods have
been most serious. Traffic on the
Atlantic Coast Line- and Southern
Railroads in South Carolina has been
delayed by high waters. Train ser
vice between Augusta and Greenwood
and points north on the Charleston
A. Western Carolina line were cancell
ed last night on account of washouts.
Highways generally throughout that
state continued in .a dubious condi
tion and the authorities discounten
anced unnecessary travel.
New Agent Appointed
The appointment of the new home
demonstration agent for Kershaw
county was made January 14 and all
i lub members have been voi'y much
pleased with the election of Mr3.
Miller Boykin, a former resident of
Camden. Mrs, Boykin is well known
throughout the county and has taken
an active part in demonstration work
for some time. She is well trained
for this position, being an A. B.
graduate of Winthrop college, with
a home economics course, consisting
o'f two years in cooking, two years in
sewing and one year in millinery.
Mrs. Boykin opened the,office last
Wednesday and has already begun
field work in the various communi
ties. Her first meeting was at Lu
goff, where an all day meeting was
conducted on meat cutting and cur
ing. A number of interested club
?women were present for this lesson.
Mrs. Dora Ia>c Walker, coffsCTvntion
specialist, was present and she and
Mrs. Boykin gave a demonstration in
fanning meats.
All interested persons of the county
are asked to call on the new agent
freely, as she is now arranging her
work for the year and will fill her
schedule with the requests that come
in.
A Houston, Texas, young Woman
is suing a Texss railroad for $11,500
damages for alleged injuries. One
of the complaints forming the basis
of her suit is that sbe has a scar
on her leg caused by a railroad ac
cident and the scar so plain that
ska rairngt wear thin silk stockings.
TOURIST NKWS
Heavy Rains Interfere With Spurts
Hut Boost Social Activities
The torrential rains of the past;
week having put a quietus on out
door sports, Camden's winter visitors
turned their attentions to .social af
fairs. ,
Many charming parties including
dinners, teas and cards were arrang
ed to while away the hours until the
> sunshine caused a resumption of ac
tivity.
I One of the very delightful affairs
'was the postume party given on Tues
day evening at their home by M(r.
and Mrs. Augustus Floyd. The quests
who were dressed as children and,
raikde merry playing children's games i
included: Miss Olive Whittredge, Mrs.
Howard Dews, Mrs. William Ker-,
Miss Ella Coursen, Miss Keller, Mrs.
Samuel V; Merrick, Miss Merrick, Mr,
and Mrs. J. Leonard Graham, Mr.
i and Mrs. C. M. Taintor, and their
! house guest, Mr. and Mrs. Newton
Boykin, Mrs. Elisabeth Thomas, and
1 Mrv Frank Coursen. With gay aban
| don all entered into the fun, and
enjoyed later the delicious ? supper
1 and warm hospitality of the hosts.
With the opening of Hannah's
Cabin at Mulberry Plantation this J
[ wee^/v the list of attractive tea rooms
;,is complete, and visitors need never
be at a loss to entertain at lunch
eons,,. teas or dinners in these charm
ing places.
L . Mrs. Catoe Douglas Glover (Miss
Ellen Williams) and Miss Florence
Herring of Montclair, who made such
a marvelous success last season are
again managing Hannah's Cabin, and
will, as in the past servt^ delicious
popovers, waffles, spoon-bread and
other dishes characteristically Souths
ern. ?
^They also have a very fine collec
tion of early American pine furni
ture, which is now so much^sought
after.
The Studio, the Holly Tree, Spring
dale ary! the Womans Exchange
all open and. will attract many visi-:
1 tors,
Mr. and Mrs. Albert JReid and Mrs.
George White of Manchester, Vt,
have taken a cottage here for the
J winter, :and on Monday Mrs. Nathan
Hayward of Wayne, Pa., will come
to the Bull cottage wj^ch she has
leased for the season.
Mr. H. P. Kendall and his mother!
and sister, who are in their home on
Fair street, are taking meals at Hob
kirk during their brief stay in Cam
den.
Mrs. Arthur Korth and children
have come from* New York and are
in the Big Bungalow at Hobkirk for
the winter.
Colonel Charles Clifton, Mrs. Clif
ton and Miss Alice Clifton, who for;
many winters have made their honfie
at the Court Inn arrived there from
Buffalo on Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Shelton motor
?ed from Aiken to the Kirkwood to
remain several weeks in Camden. Mr.
and Mrs. Harry Balfe and Mr, Harry
Balfe, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Fred
erick T. Fiske of Montclair are also
among recent arrivals at the Kirk
wood.
Mrsi.ltalph Ellis and her mother
Mrs. Warden of Washington are at
the Court Inn. It is a matter of
great regret that the Ralph Ellis
home will not be opened this win-:
ter, Mrs. Ellis after a short stay in'
Camden will join Mr. Ellis in Call-;
?forma.
For Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Wil
; son' of Pittsfield who are guests at
the Kirkwood, Mrs. Charles P. Du
Eose gave an informal but very
charming tea at her home on Mon
j day afternoon. Other guests were:
' Mrs. Bratton deLoach, Mrs. Edward
i DuBose, Miss Virginia DuBose, Miss
! Etta Zemp and Mr. and Mrs. Robert
A. Burbank and Miss Leila Shannon.
Mrs. W. L. Shackiefordi Mrs. T.
i Hall Brohme and Mrs. Floyd Lank
ford of Baltimore and Miss M. L.
Estep of North River, Md., " Mrs.
Ensigh and Miss Lyman of Pitts
field are recent arrivals s?t Hobkirk
Inn.
? i
Birth Registration in South Carolina
The United States department of
commerce is now making an investi
gation to determine the completeness
of birth registration in South Caro
lina, and with that end in view 100,000
post cards are being distributed by
postmasters and carriers to'the homes
In this state. ? , v
If you fret a card, fill ft out and
mail it. No postage is required. You
will recshre in rtfctrn a lithographed
y^trstion card from Wsihington.
DEATH OF MR. LAFFITTB
Ridge Spring Man Died Here Sunday
and Hudy Sent Home for Burial
On Sunday afternoon, January 18th
?at one-fifty p. m., Charlton Brown
Laffitte, formerly of Ridge Spring,
S. C., died here at the home of. his
daughter, Mrs. Thomas Vardelle
Walsh, Jr. His death, while sudden,
was not unexpected, for Mr. Laffitte
had been in ill health for some time
and '"at times hovered between life
and death. Saturday morning Janu
ary 17th he became unconscious while
awaiting breakfast and never regain
ed consciousness. His death was
peaceful, and without a struggle as
he passed into the great beyond. The
cause of his death was heart dis
ease.
Funeral services were held at Ridge
Spring, S. C., on Tuesday morning
at the Methodist, church, being con
ducted by the Rev. J. E. Mahaffey
of Gray Court, S. C., a former pas
tor and beloved friend of the deceas
ed, assisted by the pastor, Rev. N. K.
Polk. Ihferment was at the Ridge
Spring cemetery. Beautiful floral
offerings and messages of sympathy
to the bereaved family from all parts
of*the state bore evidence of the
numerous friends that Mr. Laffitte
had. Pallbearers were from among
his closest friends and were Messrs.
J. O. Jones, J. K. Millford, J. R.
Timmertnan, W. H. Stuckey, B. T.
Boatwright and Dr. D. V. F'rontis.
g Mr. Laffitte was born in Barnwell,
S. C., June 15^ 1868,. being the son
of John Hancock Laffitte and Eliza
Bruton. His mother died when he
was only a child and he was reared
by an aunt, Mrs. Julia B. Easter
ling of Barnwell, S. C., who now sur
vives him. Having been born in
most momentous times he often spoke
of the Federal Occupation of Barn
well by General Kilpatrick and of the
War Between the States. He partici
pated in the EHenton Riot in '76
and was a member of several or
ganizations for the- advancement of
,whit? supremacy irt this state, in
cluding the Red Shirts of General
Wade Hampton, whom he greatly
loved and admired. , Having been
born during such troublous times,' Mr.
Laffitte was a true Southerner in
every respect, but he instilled true
patriotism into the hearts of his
children so that in the recent con
flict his two sons were both in the
service, one of them having seen^ser
; vice in France. This was always a
source of great satisfaction to Mr.
Laffitte and a point of" pride as
well.
Being a candid man Mr. Laffitte
was often misunderstood, but he was
true to his conviction and was always
found on the side of right as op
posed to wrong. No one ever doubted
where he stood on any question and
no one ever doubted his position once
he had taken it. He was true to his
friends.
Mr. Laffitte was a consistent mem
ber of the Methodist church and at
one time was active in Pythian cir
cles. Hd was a former mayor of
Ridge Spring and secretary of the
local board of health.
Surviving him are his widow, Mrs.
Mary Asbill Laffitte; a daughter,
Mrs. Thomas Vardelle Walsh, Jr., of
Camden; and two sons, John H. Laf
fitte of Columbia, S. C., and Fletcher
A. Laffitte of Ridge Spring, S. C. j
The widow will continue to make her)
home with her daughter.
Died In New York
The remains of Horace I^atham, a
young /veteran of the World war were
brought to Camden Monday for burial
here. Mr. Latham was the last sur
viving son of tho late Mr. and Mrs.
6. B. Latham, for many years promi
nent citizens of Camden. He was
?about 32 years of age and left Cam
den n good many years ago to enter
the army and had seen, about thir
teen years service in various branches
of the service. Mr. Latham died in
a government hospital after a linger
ing_ illness. His remains were met
at the station by members of the
Leroy Belk Post of the American
Legion and escorted to the cemetery.
He is survived by two sisters, Mrs.
Paul Walker, of Columbia, and Miss
} Margaret Latham of Greensboro, N.
C.
Roth on Judiciary Committee >
liouse committee appointments in
the General AsseThbly were announc
ed Monday morning by Speaker
Edgar A. Brown. Representative M.
L. Smith was placed on the judiciary
committee, as was also Represents
fives W. L. DePass, Jr., of Camden.
?A ^
THE fOMMUNITY MAHKRT
Fair Weather Will No Doubt See
Produce For Sale Here Saturday
On account of the floods that de
scended upon us and sticky, slidy,
Kuhimy roads, there were very few
farmers who dared try to bring their
products to the community market
last Saturday. There were probab
ly a great many pounds of sausage,
and dozens of fr$sh eggs, and per
haps some of Mrs, Rembert's cakes
lift reposing in plantation smoke
houses and pantries and perhaps
there were some families in Camden
who had to do without their favor
ite pudding last Sunday beyause the
required number of fresh eggs could
not be obtained.
Kershaw county has undoubtedly
had all the rain it needs for a week.
Let us hope that Saturday, January
24, will be bright and fair. Th?
town people will come to the com
munity market Saturday morning to
buy country sausages for their Sat
urday night supper, butter and cream
for their Sunday morning breakfast,
dressed chickens for Sunday dinner,
ancNfresh vegetables for a salad Sun
day night. If the country people will
bring these things to the community
market the town people will go home
in blissful anticipation of the good
"eats" they will have next day, and
the country people with a happy con
sciousness of less waste at home and
more money in their pockets.
Cheater Child Killed
(Chester, Jan. 20.?One of the most
'distressing and heartrending acci
dents tb occur here in a long time was
"the death this afternoon of Louise
Barnes, the lovable seven year old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Watson
Barnes, when a truck driven by a
negro, Howie Bratton, struck her,
hurling the little body over on the
sidewalk. The child was hurried to
|?ryor hospital where she breathed
her last just about the time she
Waft carried into the doors of the
institution. -?;
I
EORGIA BOYS TO HANG
Friday, Thirteenth, To Be Fateful
Day For Murderers
Butler, Ga., Jan. 17.?Willie Jones
and Gervis Bloodworth were sentenc
ed, to be hanged February 13 at a
court session held here today. Judge
W. E. H. Searcy pronounced the sen
tence, Coming here to preside in the
place of the judge for this circuit
who was disqualified. Jones and
Bloodworth were to have been hanged
January 9, the exe6ution being halted
by a court order from Judge* Searcy
thi the ground that the arrangements
for the execution did not insure pri
vacy as provided by law.
That1 another effort may be made
to save tlie lives pf the slayers of
Howard F. Underwood, a traveling
salesman December 3, 1923, was indi
cated when attorneys for Bloodworth
and Jones objected to fixing of the
new date for execution. C. W? Foy,
Homer Beeland and Walter Steel,
representing the convicted youths,
claimed that the action should have
been taken at a regular or called
term of the Taylor superior court.
That Judge Frank McLaughlin, of
the Chattahooche circuit, who is dis
qualified in the case was without au
thority to sign the order setting a
special session of court for today to
be designated a new date for the
double hanging, was another conten
tion put forward.
The emphasis placed by the u at
torneys on their motions which were
-ferruled by Judge Searcy, indicat
ed that they may launch andther
fight in the courts to save their
clients.
Jones and Bloodworth stood mute
and were apparently not moved by
emotion as the judge fixed February
i 13 as the date for their execution. v
John Dowling, 76, believed to be
the youngest Confederate veteran in
South Carolina, died in Columbia at
the Confederate Soldiers' Homo of
'pneumonia. A native of New York
he came at an early age to the South,
and iri 1863 he enlisted at the age of
15 in the Confederate navy in Char
leston, serving the la^t year of the
war. His only known relative is Wil
liam F. Reid, of New York, a ne
hcw.
partm*?- ^Justice agents have
aiding ***** >n # their
JpWiTilii
?
HKTHUNK NEWS
lntereHting Happening of Pijil'WeeK
In Our Neighboring Town
Bethune, S. C., Jan. 21.?Mrs. S.
B. Padgett gave a party last week
in honor of her spn, S. B. Junior's
seventh birthday. About a diften
little folks were present. AJfter games
the children were invited into the
dining room where the birthday cake
with its seven candles was the cen
ter of attraction. Jello cream and
cake were served. Little baskets were
given, as favors.
Mr. I). M. Mays and family, Miss
Cecilia King and Mr. W., A. McDow
ell left Friday for Tampa and Lake
land, FIa., where they will spend sev
eral weeks.
A message was received here Sat
urday bearing the news of Mr. Ervin
Anderson's death in Timmonsville.
Mr. Anderson is the father of Mrs.
R. M. Bethune.
Miss Alma Pitts of Estill was the
guest of Mrs. Bessie Seegars last
week. 1
Rev. M. B. (iunter is attending a
Bible institute in New Orleans.
Mrs. D. T. Yarbrough was the re
cipient of a telegram Sunday an
nouncing the arrival of a little daugh
ter?Katherine Elizabeth, to ^fr. and
Mrs. J. B. Johnston at Trenton, Tenn.
Mrs. Johnston before marriage was
Miss Kate Yarbrough of this place.
Rev. and Mrs. W. V. Jerman had
as their guests Friday the stewards
an<J their wives of Mr. Jerman's four
churches. About thirty were, present.
After a business meeting of the stew
ards the guests were shown into the
dining room where an old fashioned
dinner of turkey, chicken, possum find
boiled ham with accessories were
served, ending u}? -with pound and
fruit cake and ambrosia.
Prof, and Mrs. O. R. Bell delight
fully entertained at a course dinner
Friday evening. The following guests
were present. Mr. and Mrs. T. R.
Bethune, Mr. and Mrs. R? E Mc
Caskill and I)r. and Mrs. E. Z. Trues
nieHr
Second Week Jurors
C. C. Padgett, Bethune; E. S. Mc
CaskiJl, Bethune; F. N. Gay, Ker
?haw; R. T. Cook, Blaney; J. B.
firanham, Lugoff; Ernest Ellis, Lu
goff; Douglas M. Mayes, Bethune;
G. G. Goff, Camden; Albert Fauiken
?berry, Kershaw; W. L. Branham,
Lugoff; Z. L. Braughton, Kershaw;
W. E. Hill, Camden); U. Nv Myers,
Camden; Thos. A. Gardner, Kershaw;
H. N. Rodgers, Cassatt; W. J. Moore,
Camden; W. 0. Bird, Kershaw; W. E.
West, Kershaw; W. D. Barrett, Cam
den; W. L. Robinson, Camden; H. C.
Robinson, Cassatt; W. E. S. Trapp,
Camden; L, E. Bowers, Kershaw; C.
C. Joyner, Kershaw; S. T. Catoe',
Kershaw; R. I). Phillips, Kershaw;
J. T. Sinclair, Camden; C* P.
Cauthern, Kershaw; Samuel Hunter,
Bethune; G. T. Catoe, Bethune; A. A.
West, Camden; E. T. Pearce, Boykin;
B. K. Rose, Blaney; F. C. Jones,
Camden; M. L. Raley, Camden; L. T.
Anderson, Cassat^.
james a. Mcdowell dead
Was Life Long Resident of Flat Rock
Section in This County.
James A. McDowell, aged Confed
erate veteran, died on Wednesday eve
ning at his plantation home near
Westville. For several months past
Mr. McDowell had been in declining
health and, while not unexpected, the
announcement of his passing will
bring genuine sorrow to many friend^
throughout this section.
Mr. McDowell was a life-long resi
dent of this county and served during
War Between the States as a member
of Co. D, 5th S. C. R. He was ap
proaching his eightieth birthday and
leaves, besides'his widow, the follow
ing sons: Dr. W. C. McDowell of Ker
shaw; Frank McDowell, C. K. Mc
'Dowell, and Peter McDowell, of Wests
ville, and an only daughter, Miss Kato
McDowell of Weatviller - --l
Mr. McDowell was a prosperous
farmer, a kindly disposed neighbor
and highly esteeiVit'd by all with whom
he came in contact. He was a mem
ber of Damascus Methodist church,
near Westville, at which place the
funeral and burial was conducted yes
terday afternoon.
"The Bible is a book of faith,{ and
a book of docUine, and a book "of
morals, and a book of religion, of
Special revelation from God; bu? it U
fefao a book which teaches man his
own individual responsibility, his own
flifitity, and his equality with his fel
low man."?Daniel Webster.
NOTKI) HAN I) IT CAPTUR18P
Cerald Chupntun Who KMcaped From
Atlanta Federal1"Prison Arreated
Muncie, lnd., Jan. Itf.?Gorald
Chapman, notorious bamlit and prison
breaker, for whom a nationwide
search has been made, was captured
hero this afternoon by Muncie polica*
after a pistol battle.
Chapman, who escaped from the
Atlanta penitentiary while serving a
25-year sentence .for participating in
a $2,000,000 mail robbery at New
York, was seen walking near a trac
tion" station by four detectives who
wore passing in an automobile. De
tective Fred Plunkett accosted the
fugitive, who immediately opened
fire. Tho bullet went wild and thek,
officers overpowered him before he
cquld shoot, again.
After a grilling at police head
quarters Chapman admitted ft to Iden
tity, but other than that would nnlake
no statement. When searched he was
found to be in possession of two
bottles of nitro-glycerlne, a pistol and
$4,963 in cash.
Chapman was taken td Indianapolis
tonight under guard, where he was
turned over to federal authorities.
About four months ago tho police,
were "tipped" that Chapman was in
this city but he made his getaway
when the officers got close on his
trail. . He has been in Muncie sev
eral times since then, police said, but
always has until today been success
ful, in eluding the authorities.
Motor Policeman Collins and De
tective Goodpaster saw Chapman at
11:80 o'clock this morning one square
from the court house. Officer Col
lins trailed the fugitive while Detec
tive Goodpaster went after Captain
of Police Puckett and Detective
Brown who were waiting for Chap
man to appear at a place nearby.
Collins, trailed Chapman for five
squares while the other officers got
in a police car and prepared to make
the capture.
Captain Puckett drove alongside
Chapman and inquired "ddfes My.
live along here?" Chapman saw the"
other men coming near him and he
turned his back for a_second, then _
whirled around with a pistol in his
hand. He shot in the direction of
Captain Puckett but Officer Collins
leaped on Chapman's 'back causing
thfe'-shot to - go wild. The offieers?
wrested the revolver from him and
handcuffed him.
Postoffice Inspector Kelley was
called from Winchester, Ind., and ar
riving here remarked to Chapman,
"you are a smart fellow," Chapman,"
The fugitive replied:
"Yes, but look at me now."
You Are Always Welcome
* '? ? ? , , ? ? ??/'
If you huve difficulty in making up
your mind which church to > attend ?
next Sunday, January 25th, please re
member that Wateree Baptist church
is still in the community and that
you are as welcomo there as was
the sunshine and blue sky of last
Tuesday. Morning worship atf ll^'l
o'clock, sermon subject: "Christ in
the Heart." Evening service at 7
o'clock, sermon subject: "A Saying*
That Says Something." Sunday ,
school at 10 a. m. In case you are_ _
liable to forget even this reminder; ~
tie the time-honored string around
your finger and be among the attend
ants at Wateree next Sunday?w? aro
looking and preparrpg for you. .
? ? 1 * J '
Negroes Get Ivong Terms
Willie Williams alias ''Money King" r
Joe Williams, Wellons Goodson and
Fred McAllister were found guilty in
federal court yesterday of breaking \
into the Bcthune postoffice and steal- ~
ing postal funds December 0, 1924,
Willie Williams wan given five years
in the Atlanta federal penitentiary
and the other three defendants were
given four years each in the same
prison.?Thursday's State.
The four negroes above mentionedtv
were escaped prisoners from the Flor
ence county jail and were captured
in the early morning here in an at
tempt to break into the jewelry store
of M. H. Heyman ahd Co. The cap
ture was made by police officers G.
F. Cooley and Hollis Hilton. The
Williams negro Attempted to shoot
officer Hilton, but his gun failed to
fire. Williams had served two years
in Atlanta for breaking into a post
office in Florence county.
U- As a result of a quarrel between
I two negro children in Anderson, both
40 years of age, on* la in jail charged
Vijth the imlatar of the other. Tfa*
killing occurred Monday and the In
strument need was a l$otgua.
-/ - ? ?