Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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jjjjjM L The Camden Chronicle HQLUME XXXIX. y ' " f I III WL ? ? , CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, JULY I, 1#27. ~~ * Iifilk/iu/ IU IXI I A 11 I NUMBER 14. ^ >. ; *1 ll/VTV 1M in 14 Willis Charged Jointly With low ad In Killing ? Broni Saturday's Greenville News) Blanketed in the silent darkness, MLj Ethel WUlis, widow .of the late Beriff Sam D. Willis, for whose Eeath she and Henry S. Townsend are mom yld. last night spent her first night of confinement in. the GreenlyilU' county jail. With the dawn will come to her perhaps the hope that Bond can be arranged during the day, and her release. J Since her incarceration at 8:30 o'clock yesterday morning after havling been under guard at her home during the previous night, she had ap parently been swayed with shifting emotions. Breaking into tears when she Was first given her ward in the jail, she later regained her composure, only to I give way to other floods of tears as I the day wore on and visitors came I and went. At her side throughout I the day and last .night was Mrs. H. FA Stewart, sister of the late sheriff, I who with other members of the famI ily, declares thai, she holds firm beI lief in the widow's innocence. ^ "I'm as innocent as my two-year old baby and God will see that right done-1?," she sobbed soon after Hypping into a chair in her ward. ?\Uve said all that I think I should," jImxplained with an effort at com ^d?ire. "Under the circumstances I Wfa not believe- it would be wise to make a statement at this time." When jome mention of the suffering that had been hers since her husband's death, she responded simply, "Those I who have been nice to me will be rewarded." Efforts to get an interview later in the day were fruitless, fihc pointing out that she had no more to say at this time and would not be willing to receive reporters. She was leaving statements to her counsel, she indicated. Few besides close relatives \yere received by Mrs. Wilfts PMMRflf | though several young women friends f and her pastor, Rev. H. O. Chambers, of the Triune Methodist chuntfi, were among the number. Prayer was offered 'by the pastor, who conducted j the funeral services of the late sheriff nearly two weeks ago, asking [Divine guidance that truth and right j I might triumph. The woman's four | Ismail children, Virginia, Julia, Ethel land Miriam were not brought to the I jail and belief was expressed that I thev would not be. They are being I given care by relatives in the city. Mrs. Willis had somewhat regained Bier composure at midday and ate with some slight show of appetite the dinner sent from her home. On the fety was fried chicken, sliced toma v:;. coffee, biscuits and accessories.. wise, she ate some of the food wft for supper, which was of light Jutore. Around the ward" were seen I newspapers of Greenville and a magaI xine, which may have indicated that she had tried to drown her thoughts [ by reading, it was said. If Mrs. Willis was not sleeping at * late hour last night there was nothing to indicate otherwise. The ward in \yhich she was incarcerated was dark and silent as the breathless air. The rays of an arc light threw flickering shadows on the, windows and had she been peering out of them, as she did for a time after taking her ward, she would probably have been seen. The removal to the county jail came yesterday mornfng. shortly after thp breakfast hour. At the table were I Deputies Parkin* and Grady Foster, I the guards* Mrs. Henry Townsend, A wife of the widow's co-defendant; I- ^rg. W. C. Gray, her mother, and Hrs. Willis. The children were not r&ssent, the th^ee elder having been B taken to the home of Mlrs. Stewart "I the youngest kept in another part ? the house. Alvin H. Dean, of "counsel for R* defense, came fisat to the housb. HV widow retired and attired her Jin a black costume, throwing her **vy veil over Her face. She stepinto the attorney's Car accom Med by Walter C. Willis, brother I J* the sheriff, and Deputy Parkins. n ? car that followed were: Mrs. ^ T. Willis, mother *of the lHt# I Mr* H. P. GoodWin, Mrs. st?wart and Mr. and Mrs. fi. R. HutI brother-in-law and sistar. I - rll ^lt ring the jail in silence she im!!!*! th? n*w>w stairway to the amir, r assisted by Mrs. Stewart Deputy Parkins. Jailor ChrlstoT\ carrying the kiye to Jail. I ** "*"*wh,r* inc"I #ev?n woman serving short I I I sentences the group moved to the hospital ward which had been prepared lor her keeping to give all posaibilg comfort and rest. -she and Mrs. Stewart had stepped into the ward, the deputy and jailor followed no further, but turned the keys in the lock and left. Visited a short time later, Mrs. Willis had removed fier heavy veil which conceals her face, and laid her hat on a table. She sat in a chair nearby in a listless mood. There was visible trace of suffering on her face. Tear stains were in evidence and" her large, gray-bllie eyes were still wet from crying. She is altogether attractive, her youthful The mouth is small and well formed, her nose small and delicate. She is rather small of stature and weighs perhaps 115 pounds. She wore no powder, rouge or lipstick. The plain silk mourning dress added to the picture of neatness, as did the black patent leather shoes. A bari'd of platinurii was worn on the third, finger of the left hand. She talked with effort and burst into tears when mention of the slaying or its consequences was made. Jamf% H. Price arid James D. Poag, two of Mrs. Willis' attorneys, went to the jail shortly after she was incarcerated to extend to her assurance that counsel was deeply concerned in the case and was working as rapidly as possible* Mr. Price said Mrs. Willis made the following remark to him and to Mr. pQag:_"John Bunyan was in jail when he wrote Pilgmn's Progress. He was innocent. It fcrhlr disgrace to be in jail when you are innocent." . Deputy Sheriff Jones Parkins, who with Deputy Sheriff Grady Poster kept watch at the Willis home Thursday night, said Mrs. Willis talked freely dufing the early part of the night, constantly protesting her innocence. / At one time she said she was glad she was arrested, because the trial would give her ST chance to disprove?the charges and rumors which have been^urrent since the killing. Depdty Parkins was a close ifriend of the Willi* family, having served -with the late sheriff during the war. Mrs. Willis was with her husband at Laurens and in Texas before his outfit ftailed for France. In these damps, thi deputy said he same to know Mrs. Willis very well. Mrs. Willis Is 31 years of age. She is a native pf Americas, Ga. She met the late sheriff while visiting relatives here several months before he/ marriage to him in June, 1915. She is the mother of four children, Virginia, Julia, Bthei and Marian. The baby is still at the V^illis home, 219 East Stone avenue, being kept by Mrs. W. C. Gray, mother of Mrs. Willis. The other three are- at the home of Mrs. H. Ed. Stewart, sister of .Sheriff Willi.. uiuMliKKS <;iVKN LIKE l)e Autremont Brother* Confess Slaying Trainmen in Hold-tip Medford, 0re., June 23.?Confession* thut they held up \i Southern Paeifie passenger and mail train in the Siskiyou mountains of Oregon in 1923 and killed four trainmen, were made today by the three de Autremont brothera, Hugh. Hay and Hoy. All were sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary at Salem. Pleas of guilty were entered by the twins, Hay and Hoy, following a clean breast of the whole affair'made last night by Hugh, the younger brother, who (vas convicted of first degree -murder Tuesday with recommendation of life imprisonment. In hia cell in the county jail at Jacksonville today, Hugh in the presence of Hay and Roy, repeated the confession he had made to pofital authorities and county officers last 1 night. He said: "If the world must know, I killed the engineer, (Sydney L. Bates of i Dunsmuir, Calif.) Hoy killed the fireman (Marvin Seng of IXmsmuir) i and Ray killed the brakeman (Coyle Johnson, of Ashland.)" Hugh declared the hold up had its birth when Hay was in tho^Washington state reformatory serving a term during the World war for criminal syndicalism. Need Not Appear Jurors and witnesses summoned to serve for the first week of coutt of general sessions have been notified that they need not appear on Mon- ' day, July 4th, the same being a legal holiday. They are notified, however, to appear on Tuesday, July 6, to at- ' tend court. AGE!) veteran DIRS Death at County llum# Writ !,?*( Chapter in Romantic Life CheaterJunu 23.?Death at the Cheater county home haa written the final chapter in the colorful life atory of Benjamin Franklin Mann, 82, Confederate veteran and wanderer in many clime*. Recently Mra. Edith Dickinson, county health nurae, found the aged man and his two amall sons shivering and hungry in a small hovel near Great Falls. The children were sent to the Kpia-j copal orphanage at York and the father was brought to the roar y, home. For p time he held out agai. 11 the infirmities of age and the ra?a(t of disease. But Saturday found hU i?aM)?akf bit of strength waning ar>d he 41*4 during the day. A touch of heroism that * * . standing in the aged matr'a bearing aroused the sympathy of many Who were in touch with the county homo inmates and he was given an orthodox burial in Bethany graveyard on \ Monday. An air of mysticism surrounded the ; old veteran .even to the brink of the i grave. He talked little, but A>its of his conversation gave welfare workers an insight into a life of dashing brilliance as a soldier in Lee's army, adventuresome wandering in msgy countries and' a romantic wedding late in life, with a woman many years his junior. Details, of his career as a husband and father were incoherent, but it was learned that his two small sons accompanied him in his wandering from place /to place. His wife and the mother of the hoys resides at Sanger, W. Va. He intimated that he was a native , of North Carolina, but the place of j his birth was not learned. j Convicts Escape From Farm Three convicts have escaped within j the last week from the state peniten-l tiary farm near Boykin. i John Benjamin, serving a five to, ten year term on conviction of man- J slaughter in connection with the killing of the son of the sheriff of Lee; county, a year ago last Christmas, escaped Tuesday. Elmore Fuller serving life on a murder conviction, and Mckinley Fulton serving twenty j years on a manslaughter conviction, escaped Wednesday. A reward of fifty dollars is offered j for the capture of ea^h of the men. j Guest On Boat Trip Henry Fpller had for his guests! last week L. Mills of Camden, also i Bob Hodges of Denmark. These young_.men are._gla.ss mates of Mr.; Fuller's, also seniors in the law class of the university of South Carolina. As a feature of entertainment they are cruising down the Pee Dee in a motor boat. The boat was christened "Laurie" by Miss Amelia Hollis when launched into the yellow waters of the Pee Dee. The waters of the river were never more disturbed than when the motor was set to work?waves washed high on the bank and you would have thought that the waves from the Atlantic were at play. The noise from the motor soon drew a crowd on the bridge and a number watched them depart to quarter* unknown. They will be out two weeks and are anticipating a good time camping and deep sea fishing. Mr. Hodges will keep the travelogue.?Bennettsville Advocate. Dirigible Passes Over A good many county people Jiad the opportunity of seeing th^ U. S. R 4 dirigible pass over this section last Thursday afternoon. - ' It is said to have been enroute from Lakehurst to Fort Benning near Columbus, pa. The big balloon airship, shaped like a great fish, was silver gray and watched with interest by the many who were under its path. It first came into view near the Lee county line near the Antioch section and passed over the river a few _miles south of Camden, flying over Lugoff," It was riding in a zigzag course in rd?r to keep out of a heavy storm" 'and followed a course up the river crossing over near N Rabon's Cross Roads and on towards Ridgeway. It was flying low and traveling at a j very low speed, fjome half dozen men were in the basket below the big balloon. Rheima Cathedral has been architecturally restored and resumed religious service on Ascension Day, May WHITE HOYS GET I'ARDONS j Fi\e "Woph" Hud Broken Into Stores | Near Camden hive New Jersey boys, serving tinie on th? Kershaw county chaingang i ftar having entered, pleas of guilty last February to a charge of house- j br?*king, larceny and receiving stolen j goods, were yesterday granted full ] pardons by Governor John G. Rich- i *r<k'boyB' ??rMnc'8 Mar- < years of age, according to the < in the governor's office, was t*t?n ill some time ago and is being trgjlad in the Camden hospital for i ! vdbeid fever. The others, one 16 y*+*v aid and the others very little < 'Mar. are Hi good health so far as the < "vorda show. W boys, George McLaughlin, Tony < 1 *re. Ralph Mayo, Walter Maxwell < an Frswri* Martin, all of Jersey i i ~~1 * J srrro 90 their way from th? 'k t,? Florida and, according j 1" * he 'nation In the* governor's < ? apparently without funds ismhm ?. getting food or shelter. I b? reaching Camden, they entered a 1 ?t>?re and took a small amount of 1 goods from it. The quintet was ar- ] r**ted and brought to trial before 1 Judge John S. Wilson last February. W ithout funds to employ counsel, j they on their own motion pleaded guilty to the charge of house-breaking, larceny and receiving stolen ] fcoods and were sentenced to V*rve 1 jfcrpe year each and were placed on1 : tlfb .chaingang. The sheriff of Kershuw and a number of people of Camden have tuken , considerable interest in the youthful prisoners and none of these citizens seem to think the boys were bent on 1 committing any crime or that they had been in serious trouble before. They apparently entered the store for the purpose of securing the necessaries of life to sustain, them on their i I tramp to Florida where they expected 1 to obtain employment. The circum-1 stances of the case were called to the' 1 attention of the governor by the board ! of pardons in its recommendation that! clemency be extended the boys. The trial judge, the solicitor and | the board of pardons recommended 1 clemency for each of the young men after the service of six months of: their year's sentence. The boys be-j gan the service of their sentences' February 14, 1927, and made model j prisoners according to information re-' eeived by the governor.?Friday's Columbia State. To Meet in Rock Hill The state meeting of the American 1 'Legion will be held in Rock Hill onj July 4 and 5. National Commander I Savage will address the convention on Monday. 0 * 1 ' Six delegates arc allowed from the; JLeroy Belk Post but many more as, wimt to go will be welcomed. Quite ' a number from Camden will be in at- j tendance. v fry Farmers' Week at Clemson "Fawners' Week," August 29 to September 3, whtctrwiH be an annual event is being inaugurated at Clemson college this year, and Is to be conducted by the extension service. _Dr. W. W. Long, director, is working Up a splendid program of interest to both men and women. There will be addresses by .speakers of national reputation. The program will be a varied one and each day will have 'something of interest to all. There will be plenty of\ recreation and amusements which will serve to make the occasion a Splendid vacation as well as one of study and benefit* from a farming standpoint. *# The farmers of the state should be familiar with their agricultural college and should have a personal interest in it. By attending Farmers' Week at the college one-can get this acquaintance by a personal touch which will be of untold v?lu? to him. It is hoped that a number of farmers from each county in the state wfll attend" and the county agent is making a special effort to get as large a representation from Kershaw ^ounty as possible. Expenses will consist only outran*" jportatlon to and from the college atKT meals at T?frty-five cents each. There 1 will be no charge for lodging in the bai racks. J. W. Sanders, County Demonstration Agents Marriage Mr. Ellfia Singleton, of Chase City* Vs., and Miss Daisy Belle Catoe of Camden, S. C., Route No. 6, were aiasriad on Wednesday. June 29,^<by Ptol?U Mm^WUcDomtV. ? SMITH IN WILMS CASK (iuvernur Employ* Camden Attorney In Senhtttional Greenville Cane Mendel L. Smith of Camden, former circuit judge, and David M. Smoak of Greenville, former aolicitor, have been engaged to aid the prosecution of Mrs. Ethel Willis and | Henry S. Townsend, charged with the t murder of Sheriff Sam 1). Wi 11 ih of Greenville, it wua announced yeaterJay by Governor John G. Richards. The two attorneys have been en- i gaged as special counsel at the earnest solicitation of Solicitor J. G. Leatherwood, the governor announced, and in view of the gravity and iomplexity of the case. Negotiations looking toward the < employment of special counsel in the ;ase have been in progress for some , lime. ' Tuesday Mr. Smith met at the , rtale house with Solicitor Leatherwood and State Detective W. W. , Rogers and Deputy Sheriff K. L. Draigo, both active in the investigation of the case. Yesterday Mr. Smoak joined the group and then following a conference of the two attorneys, the solicitor and Detective Rogers with the governor came the announcement of the employment of Mr. Smith and Mr. Smoak. The attorneys, with whom Mr. Rogers and Mr. Craigo have discussed the evidence secured, had no an- . nouncement to make concerning the prosecution's course to be followed Friday with reference to the defense's application for the release of Mrs. Willis and Mr. Townsend, At the conference's end the group disbanded, Detective Rogers leaving for Beaufort, where he is to testify i in the case of the state against&eight negroes, charged with the murder of K. F. Langford, Beaufort rural 'policeman. He will be in Greenville Friday for the Willis case hearing before Justice T. P. Cothran.?Thursday's State. .-> Cash Men jConvicted Again Chesterfield, June 24.?The court of general sessions stopped in the middle of the most important case thut has come before the *ourt at this term to pay respect to the memory of a departed member of the Chesterfield bar, C. L. Price, of Cheraw. After these services the court went back to the case of John, Marion and Frank Cash, charged with the murder of Frank Nicholson of hear Jefferson in March, 1925. The case had been tried before hut the supreme court ordered it retried. The case occupied the entire time from Monday until t last^pight, when the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter for all defendants with recommendation to mercy. Two of the men, father and son, live in York county. The state was represented by M. J. Hough, solicitor, and C. L. Hunley. The defendants were represented by Laney and Chapman and Thomas F. McDow of York. NEGRO KILLS AGED WOMAN Hunted Down and Makes Complete Confession of Brutal Deed Columbia, June 26.?A confession that he attacked and murdered Mrs, Frances ... Thomafeson, 78-year-old woman of Filbert, near York, yesterday afternoon,'was made here today by William McKinley. Thomasson, 16year-old negro who was brought to the penitentiary following his arrest in York county early today, i' . Mrs. Thornaeson, whose husband, Thomas J. Thomas son, was absent from home yesterday, was found dead |.with her throat cut in her home at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Frank Biggers and Pauline, bl* wife, negro tenants on the Thomasson place, testified that they had seen McKinley Thomasson approach the white woman's home after ascertaining ihat her husband was absent. Borne time later he was seen by another negro ne$r Bethany, with his clothes bloody. He told the negro that .he had been In a fight. According to the prisoners' confession, which was made befote State Detective W. W. Rogers, as hotari^ McKinley Thomasson, on reaching tne house, asked the woman for atfaatch, which was given him, and then for some pears, which she reftted saying that they were not ripe. He tben followed her into the house where he assaulted her, and hacked her thboat with a pocket knife.. . The prisoner was brought to the penitentiary about 10:30 o'clock this morning by Sheriff F. E. Quinn, oi York county, and a deputy. ^ I 1 ~??'-l? *?? I FARM WOMEN HOLD ( AMI' Three l>ay? Outing Enjoyed ?t Charlotte Thompson" School. J The Kershaw County Council of Farm Women, under the direction of ,>J M iss Alma Burgess, County Home j Demonstration Ag ent, succeeded in . j putting across the first county camp and short course held for the farm women in this county on Tuesday, I Wednesday and.Thursday of this past 1 week. The camp was held at the Charlotte Thompson school building, the members of the home domonstra- 1 tion club in the community acting as hostesses * j The women gathered at the court J house in Camden on Tuesday morning I where they went to camp, Each days program was planned to give them instruction, recreation and rest. On jg Tuesday the camp opened with a short :J1 chapel. Rules for the camp were read, the program gone over und "jl questions all answered so work could jj begin. During the three days the women made cup towels und purty fuvora un-der the direction of Miss Juanita /Jj Neely, poultry specialist from Winthrop College, who ulso talked on qfl poultry raising and %the problems of -^ffj feeding. Mrs. Dora Dee Walker, eon- - -9 nervation and production specialist from Wlnthrop, gave demonstrations in canning, pickling and preserving and the use of the steam pressure cooker. The women were very fortunate in getting these specialists with them. -|9 Lights were out at night by ten .* j o'clock and rising bell rang in the morning at seVen. Chapel was held V''la every day at twelve. The first night the women were entertained by a picture sent dowjj by Mr. T. Lee Little * . Ja? and shown by Mr. J. W ."Sanders, the farm Hgent. The second night waif stunt night and each home demonstra- tion club represented gave a stunt. V'4;; Games and stories und the like completed the program. Music for the tamp was furnished by Miss Marian Burgess, sister of the home demonstration agent. Roth nights there were twelve who spent the night at camp,, but most of them came for the ja day only and wenf- home at night. -a There were seven home demonstra- *; ~?| tion clubs represented and Wednesday there were around seventy-five people there all day. / The camp was visted by Mr. Henry G. Garrison, Jr., Mr. B. G. Sanders, Mr. Lawrence J. Whitaker, Rev. A. D. ,< McAarn and others from Camde'h and ^ 72 thftiv interest was greatly appreciated. ' The council of farm women wish to ~ thank the Charlotte ..Thompson school trustees for the use of the building and the ladies of the community for their untiring efforts in entertaining the campers. - -It is the aim of the council. year to secure a permanent camp ground where buildings may be erect-. v: ed and the council, the county club boys and girls as well as other organ- ,.:;M izations may hold annual oaiups. This is a big undertaking and the assist- 'v7|j anc<! ?pd interest of all KershaW County is needed. The council has been working on this and have raised '" ? some funds to be put into this. Sev-eral sites have -been very generously offered but none have so far been suitable. They need about ten acres .'-J of wooded land, with water and a bathing pool. They will put up buildings and work to improve and beautify the place. This will be quite an addition to the county and arfy com- . ^ munity will be fortunate in getting this camping ground in their midst. The people of the different communi! ties are asked to look around and see if they have a suitable site and report same to either of the county agentsMrs. Paul JBrown, Camden, S. C., the chairman of camp commitee, or Mre. ~~~ J, T. Gettys, president of county farm women's council. They will see if the Jjj location can be secured and on what vj terms. Baseball Saturday The Wateree baseball team will ->v .2: play the Sumter team on the Wateree |a diamond Saturday afterfioon, the 7v game being ealled at four o'clock. The-1-r^ Sumter team is made up of college boys i?nd is one of the best amateur teamsTh ibe stated They have been putting out high class baseball and when these two teams meet the fans will no doubt see a first class game. Nunnamaker, who has pitched in Camden on several occasions, will very likely pitch for Sumter. A small admission fjiftfMt.be charged and the mill boys are expecting a good crowd, i Wateree will go to Newberry oir Monf day where they play? the Mottohon team of that city. W&