Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOLUME XXXVII. Chronicle ma i ii . i i i i i ]?? ???? FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1926. NUMBER 40. SEASON WELL ADVANCED I I Many Visitor* From the North Make Merry During Holidays Januury first finds a much larger number of tourists in Camden than in many years. The holidays were unusually gay, and a series of merry parties to welcome the New Year were held in cottages and hotels. Of these one of the merrjest was given in club house for Miss Betty Knapp of New York who was with her mothe'r for the vacation period. It was largely attended by the younger .set, and in the Kirkwood Grill there was also a gay gathering who whiled away the years dying hours with discing and laughter. Others Attend ed the ten o'clock show at the Majes tic Theatre, and thus welcomed 1926 which has come to old Camden. Sir Ashley and Lady SparkB of Syosset, L. I., havo been in Camden with Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Morgan for the holidays, and while here were the recipients of much delightfully informal entertaining by their many Camden friends as they have spent many seasons in past years at the Kirkwood. Sir Ashley Sparks is the head of the Cunard Line in New York, and was knighted for his services dur ing the World war. One of the many charming affairs of the holiday season was the tea] given by Miss Ella Coursen at her cottage on Christmas eve, and on Thursday, New Year's Eve, Mrs. A. Dalton Kennedy entertained with a delightful tea at Bloomsbury, for her guests, Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Bush, her relatives, Mr. Poster 'and Miss Foster and others. Camden's attractive Tea Rooms ? The Holly Tree eight miles below the town, which is skilfully managed by Mrs. Willis Cantey, and the Woman's Exchange, will open next week. The Holly Tree opens on January fifth, and this winter will also be open on Sundays, and the Woman's Exchange I will open on the sixth with a silver; &a. " ; ? | On the fifteenth of January Mrs. i Winkler will resume her informal : talks on Literary topics of current | interest. Following these tea will be served, and the meetings will be held this year at the Woman's Exchange, and not at Hobkirk Inn as they were last season. Judge Robert W. Winston will speak at the first Friday afternoon meeting on "Personal Recollections of | Walter Hines Page," Mrs. B. D. Ticknor gave a tea and bridge for ten guests at the Sarsfield Club House on Tuesday afternoon. J Hobkirk Inn arrivals include: Col onel John Pender of Portgmouth, N. H.; Brigadier General J. M. Carson and Mrs. Carson, of New York; Mr. and Mrs. James H. Mason of Boston; Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Holland of Santa Barbara, California, Mrs. Wil liam Bardsley and Miss Betty Bards ley of Upper Montclair, N. J.; Mr. Willoughby Barrett of Tarrytown, Mrs. William H. Thayer and Miss Nancy Thayer of Boston; Mr. J. J. S. Tilney of New York; and Mi% and Mrs. W. H. Wright of Newton, Mass. Among recent guests at the Court Inn are: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brook field, Miss Kate M. Brookfield and Frank Brookfield, Jr., of New York; Dr. and Mrs. W. D. Strout of Phila delphia; Rear Admiral John A. Hoog erweff and Mrs. Hoogerweff of Wash ington and Mr. Ed mil ml G. Hansen and Miss Emily N. Hansen of Phila delphia. Kirkwood arrivals have been num erous and among them are noted: Miss L. Irving Groatler and Mr. H. L. Groatler of New York; Mr. Frank A. Moore of Auburn; Mr. and Mrs. Ed ward Swann of New York and Mrs. Luke W. Lockwood, Miss Jane L. Lock wood and Mr. Luke B. Lockwood of New York; Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Morse of New York; Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Keller of Boston; Mr. and Mrs. Campbell Steward, Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Biddle and Mr. and Mrs. Milo R. Maltbie of New York. The first Gymkhana of tho^aaason will be held today, New Year's day, at the Big Polo Field, and should weather conditions prove favorable, will be well attended. Interesting and amusing contests will entertain the crowd. Mr. Clarence Morgan will act as judge. Charles Peerless, of Dayton, Ohio, has arrived with sixteen polo ponies. Mr. Robert Storey had 8hr Ashley Sparks "and Dr. Ralnsford oat for a tnorfting's ahoot, and a very e?joyab!e tW was tpeet. I ? ~ ? ? ? - ' THE LYNCHING RECORD As Compiled By R. K Moton, Prli? cipal of Tuckegee Prof. R. R. Moton, principal o? Tuskegeo Normal and Industrial In stitute writes to The Chronicle under date of December 91, as follows: "I send you the following concern ing lynchings for the past .year as compiled by Tuskegee Institute in the department of records and research,: I find there were 16 pcrsot\s lynched in 1925. This number, ranking with the number 16 for 1924 as the small' pst number of persons lynched in any year since records of lynchings have been kept, is 17 less than the num> ber 33 for 1923, and 41 less, than the number 67 for 1922. Two of the vic tims were insane. Three others had been formally released by the courts. Ten of the persons lynched were taken from the hands of the law, 2 from jails and 8 from officers of yie law outside of jails. Two of those lynched were burned at the stake and one was put to death and body burned, "There were 39 instances in which officers of the law prevented lynch ings. Seven of thes were in Northern ?states and 32 in Southern states. In 26 of the cases the prisoners were re moved or the guards augmented or other precautions taken. In 13 other Instances, armed force was used to repel ^the would-be lynchers. In 3 instances during the year persons charged with being connected with lynching mbbs were indicted. Of the 41 persons thus before the courts, 21 were sentenced; 5 suspended sen tences, dependent on good behavior, of from 4 to 12 months on the road; 1 for 30 days in jail ;and 16 of frotp 6 months on the road to 8 years in the penitentiary. " "Of the sixteen persons lynched all were negroid. Six or less than one^ half of those put to death were charged with rape or attempted rape. The offenses charged were: murder, 6; rape, 4; attempted rape, 2; killing officer of the law,'2j attacking child, 1; insulting woman, 1. " "The states in which lynchings oc curred and the number in each state are as follows: Alabama, 1; Arkansas, 1; Florida, 2; Georgia? 2; Louisiana, 1; Mississippi, 6; Missouri, 1; Utah, 1; Virginia, 1." , * - Telephone Girls Return Thanks The telephone operators were the recipients of many nice things sent them by thoughtful subscribers whom they serve year in and year out and -they have requested The Chronicle to publicly thank those who were so thoughtful of their efforts in their behalf. * Holly Tree Tea Room Opens The Holly Tree Tea Room, operated so successfully last year by Mrs. J. Willis Cantey, will again open for the season on January Bthi It is located about eight miles below Camden on a fine driveway and has been the scene of many pleasant gatherings of tourists and1 townsf oiks. Unlike last year the tea room will be open on Sundays. KILLING AT KERSHAW John Hinson Shot to Death by Stewart W. Barrett. Kershaw, Dec. 29. ? John Hinson, who lives about eight miles from Ker shaw was shot and instantly killed by his brother-in-law and neighbor, Stewart W. Barrett, in the town of Kershaw at about 1 o'clock today. The cause of the shooting was on account of some dispute of long stand ing it is believed. The inquest was held by Coroner Russell of Camden and the post mor tem examination was made by Dr. L. T. Gregory of Kershaw. Barrett surrendered himself to Sheriff G. C. Welsh of Camden and is in jail there. Little information could be obtained at the coroner's inquest as no eye witnesses could be found. However, it is thought hard feeling had pre vailed in the family and wa^-fntensi fied by a dispute a few days ago. Damage To Cars and Plumbing The several days of intensely cold weather has caused quite a good deal of damage to water works and motors and radiators. Reports from all over the city tell of many homes suffering from bursting water pipes. Several car owners have had their motors frozen Cnd any number have reported frozen and hursted radiators. In some instance* the damages to plumbing in refcktaftees have fcpn considerable. SHERIFF'S SONS SHOT Sheriff Scarborough Ixwcn On? Son and Another ia Badly. Wounded Bishopville, S, C., Dec. 20. ? Officer! late today were gathering evidence for presenUtion to the coroner'* Jury which on Monday will investigate thf Christmas tragedy that resulted in the killing of Tazewell Scarborough and the probably fatal wounding of his brother, Robert, at Manville sta tion, six miles from Bishopville last night. Both of the victims were sons of Sheriff S. J. Scarborough of Le$ County. Four negroes have been arrested and are being held in connection with the killing. Joe Benjamin, one of them, was reported to have been seriously wounded, and taken to a Sumter hospital. . Two of his sons, Robert and John, were rushed to the state penitentiary at Columbia follow ing their arrest at Sumter, when in dications of mob violence was noted by Shoriff Hurst. . The fourth person under arrest is Catherine Benjamin. Tazewell Scarborough, aged 26, and Robert, 19, were found lying oil the floor of a little store conducted by Joe Benjamin, last night by passersby on the .road. They were alone in the house and both had been shot several times, as well as beaten, according to the appearance of their bodies. Both of them were taken to the hos pital at Florence but ihe older was , dead before he arrived there. Benjamin Gives Version Sumter, Dec. 28. ? Joe Benjamin, Lee county negro, who is in the Tuomey hospital with a pistol bullet wound through his thigh, has given his version of the shooting affray Christmas night at Mannville, in Which Tazewell Scarborough was killed and his brother, Robert, sons of Sheriff S. J. Scarborough of Lee County, was dangerously winded. No one is allowed to see Benjamin on orders of Lee County officers but the negro has told his story to Sheriff C: M. Hurst of Sumter county, who transmitted it to The State's corre spondent this morning, as follows: Shoftly before 8 o'clock Christmas night Joe Benjamin was preparing to close his little store when Tazewell and Robert Scarborough walked in and asked for some cigarettes. When the negro inquired how many they wanted Tazewell replied: "Never mind about how many we want, pass them all ovfer, we'll take what 5we want, we aren't going to pay you a damn cent for them, anyhow." ? Ben jamin said he pa&sed the cigarettes over and then Tazewell wanted some fireworks. When he asked how many of these he wanted the white man told him to give him all he had. As the negro started to get the fireworks thp elder Scarborough halt ed him and told him they would just take all of his money instead of the fjreworks. Both of the white men at this point covered him with their re volvers. Whether he argued with the two men or not Benjamin did not say but stated that without warning Rob ert Scarborough opened fire on him, shooting him through the thigh. Richard Benjamin, son of Joe, was in the back Of the store, and when he saw his father fall he grabbed up a shotgun, standing near by, and fired on Tazewell Scarborough, who fell in his tracks. Before Robert could re ply to his fire, the negro shot him also. The 19-year-old high school boy staggered to a comer, when he fell, Benjamin said. Placing their father in a car John and Ric&ard Benjamin rushed him to the hospital in Sumter, where he was placed in the care of Dr. C. B. Epps, who immediately summoned Sheriff Hurst. After hearing their stor5 the sheriff placed them under arrest and later turned the two sons of Joe Benjamin over to Lee county offi cers, who carried them to the state penitentiary for safekeeping. According to reports, both of the Scarboroughs bore a number of pistol bullet wounds, in addition to shotgun wounds, and if this is true all of Joe Benjamin's story will not hold up. If Robert Scarborough, who is in the Florence hospital in a serious condi tion, dies the whole truth of what happened in Joe Benjamin's little store Christmas night may never be known. Few Arrests During Holiday*. The behavior during Christmas was good in Camden and only a few ar rests were made. One for reckless driving, some for drankeness, and one for transporter whiskey. MANY DEATH $ IN DIXIK Toll From Trains, Autos and Trolleys Reach High Figures Atlanta, Ga.( Dec. 28. ? Death cut a wide swath through Dixie over the Christmas holidays. Three score and 14 persons in the South met their {loom through traffic accidents, in* Volving automobiles, motorcycles, trains and trolleys. In addition 885 persons were hurt by the same means. These figures are revealed in a sur vey mado today by the Associated Press for the week that closed last night. The figures are from 11 states. Florida led the Soulh with 13 deaths, while Virginia and Georgia trailed closely behind* with 12 each. Tennessee and Mississippi were the lowest with three each. Georgia led in the number Of in juries, her figures being 66. North Carolina and Florida reported 61 and 60 injuries, respectively. At the foot of this column was Alabama with nine injured. There were no outstanding acci dents during the week in which heavy toll of life was taken. South Carolina reported seven] deaths and thirty-six injuries, Many Remembered During Holidays. "The true Christmas spirit was abroad in Camden this holiday sea son," says a joint report issued re cently by Mrs. W. J. Mayfield and Mrs. Louise M. Brown of the local unit Red Cross. "The splendid Good fellows fund made possible the dis tribution of numerous baskets of groceries," the statement continues. Various church organizations and Sunday school classes made gifts of toys, fruit and clothing. Individuals gave money, clothing and food, while t^o baskets containing ? everything for a turkey dinner made happy two families of children. ?" "You who helped with this splendid Christmas for o\jr less fortunate ones," said Mrs. Brown, "will surely have a happy new 'year." Tragedy Near Bethune Bishopville, Dec. 28. ? Sidney Stein, thirteen-year-old son of Clarence Stein of near Bethune, met his death in a very unusual accident this morn ing while playing in the fire at the home of his sister, Mrs. Robert El more, near Bishopville. The lad was visiting his sister, and while members of the family were at the breakfast table it is supposed that he was hold ing an old gun barrel in the fire, when suddenly it was discharged, the con tents entering the boy's head about the temple, death resulting instantly. Coroner Baker was notified and after an investigation decided an in quest would be unnecessary. From best information obtainable it seems that the gun barrel was of the old muzzle-loading type and had been in use aa a fire-poker for several weeks, having been found about the prem ises. It was not known that it was loaded. Parents of the boy arrived this afternoon and arrangements are be ing made for the funeral to beL. held tomorrow at Concord Church, afeout six miles from Bishopville, To Spend Huge Sum Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 26. ? The largest construction and replacement pro gram ever undertaken by the com pany in the south has been approved by the American Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, it is learned upon announcement by the company of its 1926 extension plans. Plans for next year, the announce 1 mervt says, contemplates an expendi ture of $33,000,000 for additions, ex tensions and replacements, whicfi eclipses the previous outlay record of $25,000,000 made by the organization in 1924. Comprising the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Miss issippi and Tennessee, the Southern Bell Telephone Company operates more than 772,500 telephones, the an nouncement says, while its employes number in excess of 19,000 persons. Every state in the group is included in next year's activity and in no state will there be an expenditure of lessj than $1,000,000, it was stated. Small Fire Tuesday Morning Fire on the roof of the two-story dwelling of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Rudi sill on Mill street Tuesday morning caused a small amount of damage. The fir# department reached the scene promptly and checked the flames be fore they had gained, any headway. SPIGNER MAKES FINK RECORD (Ida Large Number of Convictiona in Kerithaw and Richland Columbia, S. C.,, Dec. 26. ? Convic tion in i?0 per cont of the cases con\-? ing before the bar of the Fifth South Carolina district is the record of A. Fletcher Spigner, "solicitor of Rich land and Kershaw counties, as shown in his report for 1925. Commenting from the bench on his last appearance in the court of gen eral sessions Judge Thomas S. Seaso of Spartanburg declared that Solicitor Spigner had the cleanest docket of any circuit court in the state. His record shows 255 ''guilty" and 24 "not guilty." During 1925, 824 cases wore handed to the grand juries in Richland and Kershaw counties. Of these 46 were no bills or discontinued cases. This left 279 cases to be tried. .Solicitor Spigner won 255 of them. ? Of tho 12 homicide cases ? ten of which were tried in Richland (County during 1925 ? Solicitor . Spigner con victed -nine. He lost two cases in Richland and one in Kershaw. Two hundred cases were tried in the criminal court for Richland. 'I ho solicitor convicted 180 and 14 were found not guilty. Out of 20 defend ants answering to the' charge of as sault with intent to kill, and aggra vated assault and battery; only one was found "not guilty-* in Richland county. Forty-one were convicted for houpebreakirtg in the Columbia court house, and not a single one "came clear/* Solicitor Spigner won 55 out of 67 cuscs with charges of larceny^ Only four alleged violators of the 1 prohibition law were given verdicts of not guilty, but 47 were found guilty. In the summary for Richland and I^ershaw counties the solicitor's re port shows 29 convictions for assault with intent to kill and aggravated j assault and battery and two acquit tals; one breach of trust conviction, one burglary conviction and one ac quittal, four guilties for carbreaking and seven convictions for carrying concealed weapons, one conviction for disposing of property under lien, four acquittals for highway robbery charges and no convictions, 42 con victions of housebreaking, 00 convic tions of larceny and two not guiltier, 4 convictions of manslaughter and ope acquittal, one conviction for ob taining gOods under false pretenses, 78 convictions for violating the, pro hibition law and ten acqui|^Js, "two convictions for bigamy, three for re-' sisting an officer, one for breaking and entering bank building with in tent to steal, two for having carnal knowledge of woman under 16 years of age, one for privily stealing from the person, three for privily entering and stealing from house, one for us ing automobile without owner's con sent, four for non-support of wife and children and one attempt to commit a felony. There were no acquittals on these charges. i Death of Mrs. Barnes Mrs. Sallie Barnes, highly esteemed by all to whom she, was known, died Monday following a short illness- at her home in West Wateree. Mrs. Barnes had long been a resident of this county and besides her husband, who is now critically ill at the family home, she is survived by several chil dren and numerous relatives in this and adjoining counties. The funeral and burial services were held at An tioch church near Camden on Wed nesday. ( Mail Handled Quickly. Although the Christmas mail at the Camden postoffico was unusually heavy this year, it was handled quick ly and at- no time was there any con gestion. The whole force put in full time and things moved smoothly. All outgoing mail was dispatched quickly but many of the trains from the north were running late and quite a bit of mail was delayed in reaching here, but only for a few hours. Injuries Prove Fatal to Mr. Napper Tillman N. Napper, 64 years of age and long a highly respected resident of Kershaw County, died at his home near DeKalb Wednesday. Mr. Nap per's passing followed an accident on Christmas eve in which he sustained ?internal injuries when the car in which he was a passenger was forced, it is said, because of dazzling head lights to take a ditch and overturn on the Kershaw highway near Sham* okin station. Fi^neral services for Mr. Napper were held Thursday and In terment followed tn the DeKalb ceme tery. * * * T* Mft* ~ WINS FORD AS A PR1ZK Miss Geneva Pitta, of Ilethune, Held I.ucky Number for AutoiuobM The Ford touring car given away by forty or more Camden merchants as un inducement for trade was awarded to Miss Gene v. a Pitta Wed nesday morning, the young lady hold ing the lucky ticket. The drawing wan held Tuesday afternoon at. two o clock and drew an immense crowd to Cam den. Number 225514 came from the box but no one claimed the car and it was announced that in case no one claimed the machine before next Tues ilay another drawing would take place. The automobile was turned over to Chief of Police Whitaker with in structions to doliver it to the one holding the above number. Late Tuesday night he was called over the phone and told that a young lady at Bothune held the corresponding cou pon. Miss Pitts and her brother drove to Cumden Wednesday morn ing and soon after Miss Pitts claimed the car, a young man presented a ticket that had been mutilated to somo extent, which appeared to bo the corresponding number. The chief called in six merchants and business men who had purchasod the car and asked them to decide and the decision was unanimous that the car belonged to Miss Pitts. Miss Pitts, an attractive young lady, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. , Pitts, of near Bethune. The winning coupon was given her by the firm of Hirsch Bros. & Co., who probably used more tickets than tyiy other firm connected with the affair. The young lady hold fifty tickets and it seems to be unanimous that she was right fully entitled to her prize. Sho is receiving the hearty congratulations of her friends. Carried to Charlotte. Charlio Atkinson, a negro said to be a native of this county, who has just completed a two years sentence on the Kershaw county gang for larceny of an automobile in Camden, was car ried to Charlotte Saturday by City detectives Ed. Correll and Lee "Red" Porter , where be is wanted for the theft of one or more cars. Atkinson stole a Ford car from in front o/ the Majestic Theatre. It was the property of a rural mail carrier from Rembert and l^ad a quantity of postage stamps under- the seat when stolen. The car was recovered by , Camden officers, and Atkinson was tried and found guilty and sentenced to serve two years. ? Claude Birchmore Killed A telephone meaaage received Christmas night about midnight' brought the information that Claude Birchmore, of Washington, Ga., had been killed in an automobile wreck. He was a nephew of the editor of the Messenger and an older brother of Harold Birchmore, who Spent some years in Camden. Clause Birchmore was at one time a good many years ago a member of The Messenger force. The only details of his death so far received was in a telegram stating that the* automobile in which he was riding overturned down hill and pinning the body in a puddle of water and drowning. *v The remains were taken to his father's homo at Maxeys, Ga., for interment Sunday afternoon. Besides his wife and one son he is survived, by hia father, two brothers and tw*> &i*t?ra. He spent Christmas, 1923, here, and had a num ber of friends in Camden who will regret to learn of hia tragic death. ? Wateree Messenger. Number 14749 Wins Piano The* Home Furnishing Company an nounced during its big furniture sale that they would awprd a piano to some one holding a Jucky. number. At the drawing this week 14749 was an nounced as the winning number * but the party holding this number has not yet called. Unless it is presented by next Tuesday another drawing will be held to docide the winner of the piano. , % LOOK AT YOUR LABEL. We will revise our mailing list next week and all those whose subscriptions expire in November and December will be taken from ths list. We have mailed oat cards to all notifying them to this effect, and if yon have notpaid by next Week and fail to got your paper, don't blame the pootman, hut and pay up. '