The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, June 26, 1936, Image 1
Camden chronipi f
' U CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, F&V, JLTNE 26, 1936 ?
Arrest Made
After Five Years
. Sumter comity's "almost perfect"
murder enigma, which for more than
five years baffled both county and
attite officers wan believed solved today
with the arrest late yesterday afternoon
of Hen T. Berwick, of Pinewood.
on a,.warrant sworn out by a
coroner's jury . He was lodged In
th<' Sumter county jail for Investigation
in connection with the assassination
ol Mayor E. Clyde Geddings of
pinewood on April 15, 1931.
Kflorts to get ball for the imprisoned
man were being made today,, hut
Solicitor Frank A, McLeod, who reconvened
the jury at Pinewood yesterday
afternoon after a lapse of five
years, stated that he would not consent
to bail for Barwfck and that the
investigation would be furthered by
the 'grand jury and later by a petit
jury. Criminal court starts in Sumter
on Tuesday, July 7, and it Is almost
certain that Barwlck will he
tried at this term.
In a surprise move the State called
the inquest at Pinewood .yesterday afternoon
at 3:45 and few persons In
the community knew what was takjjig
place. Two witnesses were examined
-by the reconvened coroner's
jury of, live years hack which was.
recessed ill 1931 until additional evidence
could lie procured. Few person.-.
cither in Sumter or Pinewood
were aware that work on this baffling
(ase was still going on and most of
thein rated it as another of this state's
? unsolved murder mysteries.
%
At the termination of the'inquest
from which no persons were allowed
to go until Barwick had been arrested,
a warrant was sworn out by Coroner
.1 S. Cain, at the order of Solicitor
McLeod tend served on the accused
man by Rural Officers Morris
and Strange. He was apprehended
at a nearby point where he was workinu
and after seeing his wife was
brought to the Sunvter county jail by
< hi. t \\\ J. Seale and Rural Officer
A! \ Morris. ^
In addition to members of the
county's rural police force headed by
Chief Seale, and officers from the
Sheriff's office, two detectives from
the governor's office were sent here
to work on this baffling murder mystery
in 1931. They were Chief J. W.
Richardson and Detective Lee Melton.
Several weeks elapsed and making
little headway, the two officers
returned to Columbia and other duties.
leaving the Geddings case unsolved.
In the earlier phases of the
case the government sent Investigators
here also to work on the mystery
from still other .angles. And rural
officers of the county also worked on
the c ase as much as possible.
In recent times under another governor.
this time OLin D. Johnston, a
private investigator of the governor's
staff. State Officer D. K. Sturkie, was
sent here to solve the mystery If possible.
State Officer Sturkie heading the
investigation In Its most recent phase
clung to the assignment with the tenacity
of a bulldog and absolutely
n?\rr gave up his determination to
solve the enigma of who shot Mayor
Bed-lings in the back. And he finally
locale,I a negro woman named Louella
Walters residing near SUvjer, in
'lai". nclon county, who gave him the
fir-r real break in his task. She ded.irc
I under oath and before the re"
'>\ necl coroner's Jury that had oflic.aad
over the killing of Geddings
that .she had resided at the time In
Pin- wood next door fo Geddings. She
further declared that on the night of
April 15, 1931, she was at home and
Wi>s sick and lying upon her bed
when she heard a shot, dogs barking
:<"d somebody running and she sprang
from per bed and looked out the door
and saw Ben T. Barwick running past
her home with a shotgun in his hands
a'id that Barwick lived about 300
yards southeast of the Geddings residence.
Ix>uella Walters declared that
she was badly scared and afraid to
toll what she had seen for fear some
?f the white folks would kill her.
Testimony of Dr. T. R. Littlejohn,
called at the time, told of the way
he found Geddings shot in the back
and described the wound. Mrs. J. C.
Bryan. sister of the murdered man,
'?ld how she had been In the adjoin- ;
,nR foom at the time and *that with
110 Warning of a tragedy had heard
'he fatal shot and found her brother
dying on the floor.
Following the inquest and arrest
"f Barwick, Solicitor McLeod and :
oDatable Sturkie escorted Louella >
alters to an unannounced place of
etention as a state's witness for the <
al yet to be given Barwick.
11 hM been intimated from official
it. I .'VI .A
sources that there are other developments
in the ease of a tremendous
import and that the apprehension of
Barwick is only one of many developments
that are to transpire shortly.
It will be remembered that Mayor
K. Clyde Geddings was brutally shot
down at 9:lf? o'clock on the night of
April la, 1931, as he sat in the hallway
of his home reading a newspaper.
And his home was located in the very
center of Plnewood.
The coroner's autopsy and hearing
revealed that nine bnckshot had entered
his body, the charge having
been fired from a shotgun by some
person behind him and concealed by
the darkness.
Gun wadding found by the fence in
his front yard indicated at the time
that the murderer had nsed the fence
as a resting place to get a good aim
on Mayor Geddings' back, and the
fence was a distance of ieet from
the victim.
Mr. Geddings' mother was very sick
in the home at the time and was being
attended and looked after by Mrs.
James C. Bryan, her daughter. Mrs.
Bryan was sitting in the front room
adjoining Mr. Geddings when the gun
was fired and one other member of
the family had just a few minutes
previously passed by Mr. Geddings in
the hall.
The circumstances revealed the
shooting as premeditated, without
warning and cold blooded. None of
the members of the family had been
known to leave the house at the time
or Just previously and no clues were
left of what became a five-year mystery
of deepest wonder.
Rural Police Chief Scale, Officers
Norris and Dollard, Sheriff Hurst and
Deputy H.- G. McKagen, assisted by
City Policeman J. D. Chandler went
at once to work on the case. Later
governor's detectives were called on
the case. But every way they trailed
on <^he faintest of leads they found
themselves at the time up a blind alley
as to who had shot the doughty
official who was 47 years old and a
member of the mercantile firm of Geddings
and Weeks. He also practiced
law to some extent. Mr. Geddings
was unmarried.
Feeling ran high in the neighborhood
and Governor Blackwood detailed
a special officer to aid county officers
in running down the perpetrator
of this heartless crime.
Mayor Geddings had been militant
in a crusade against bootleggers and
bootlegging in his bailiwick and to
this the officers and citizens immediately
attributed the cause of the murder.
It has taken five long years to
unravel the puzzle.
Mr. Geddings was survived by a
brother, J. F. Geddings, of Newport
News, Va; and four sisters, Mrs. C.
B. Kolb, of St&bter, Mrs. R. J. Aycock,
Mrs. B. T. Byrd, Mrs. J. C.
Bryan, all of Pine wood, and an adopts
ed sister, Miss Inez Rogers.
He was buried in the Weeks' cemetery.?Sumter
Herald.
v' - ".V. * \
League Sponsored
Tonsil Operations
On .hint* 10. 12, und 10 the Camden
Junior Welfare League sponsored
their annual tonsil clinic at the Camden
hospltul. On these days thirtysix
Kershaw county children were
taken care of.
The League committee to arrange
for this clinic wuh headed by Mrs
Charles Shannon, 4th, who was as
slated by Mm. Mortimer Muller and
Mrs. J. CI. Richards, Jr.
The members of- the League wish to
take this opportunity to express thetr
appreciaton to the staff of the Camden
hospital, and especially Miss E.
L. Robbies, for their splendid work
in making this undertaking possible.
We wish to thank the following nurses
for the service they rendered: Mrs.
P. R. Langs ton, Mrs. P. M. Zemp, Miss
Ether Hammond, Mrs. Clinton Maseebeau,
Miss Ruth Truesdale, Mrs.
George Mickle, Miss Harriet Ijorick,
Mrs. Elizabeth Mauldin and Mips
Merldeth Inabinet.
This is one of the many worthwhile
activities to which the medical und
nursing professions give their aid, und
the Camden Junior Welfare League
appreciates sincerely their enabling It
to make this an annual contribution
to health in this county.
Young Man Kills Self
John Brown, nineteen year old
white youth who resided on the Mahaffev
place between Cassatt and Bethune
shot himself through the heart
Sunday morning about nine o'clock.
The weapon used was a 22-ealibre revolver
and it is said Brown had told
a negro laborer a short while before
that he intended to destroy himself.
Forest Fire-Fighters
Hold First Barbecue
T,?e flrat anuual barbecue sponslre<!
by iho Kershaw County ConservuIon
Service, cooperating with the
h Carolina Stuto Forest Service,
was held on Friday, June 19, at the
oor il ciub camp, five miles north
of 'Hindfln off highway 521. Approxlately
six hundred people were pre?t>nt
to enjoy the day's activities
W. C. Perry, forest ranger for Kershaw
county, representing the Kershaw
County Conaervlat ion Service
!'" '! !,hc' m,w ni?mbers South.re^he
! the- <;rew ^udera and members
whose business it is to suppress forest
fires in Kershaw county a tribute
Mold events were held for children,
both male and female, and also for
to men and women present. These
were held separately for white and
colored, A great deal of interest was
? own in these events which were
handled by Pat Tbornpaon of Liberty
III . and cash prlzea ware awarded
to the Winners by Mr. Perry.
Several interesting talks w e r e
heard during the morning. Henry
- avage, Jr, president of the board of
directors of the organization, gave the
winning address and also a resume j
' the early history of the organizalon
and its development. it. \\- itje.|
Ker, district forester, gave a summary I
ot the work done during the past tire
season by the Kershaw County Conservation
Service. If, his talk he em-ri
i,hat ,h* wo,k ?f n,e ?r*anization
is largely dependent upon the1
cooperation of the landowners, farm-"
< rs and citizens of the county The
( strict forester stated that the people
of Kershaw county have taken
?? " to the idea ?f protecting its
woodlands from ftre. as a result of
which much progress has been made
since the first organization was floated
to control woods fires.
W. C. Ham merle, assistant state
."7Hv 'V" '*har*? ?f ,,re P?-ot??'?lon.
' 1 ??rron. assistant state foros
er in charge of extension and nurse.
es. made talks concerning tire protec
?n. Mr. Hammerle gave a cross;
- ction of the system of fire "protection
in Smith Carollna jn w|iJch
over three million acres of woodlands
are being protected from fire under I
the supervision of the South Carolina
state forest service. Mr. Barron
brought out the fact that reforestscarried
on by landowners results
in an interest in fire protection
Senator Braaington made a short
talk and wa8 folIowed by MayQr j
h. Osborne.
Mac Boykin, president of the Sumter
county forest protective association,
spoke on the subject of conser-!
vation In general, after which Mr
Spencer, president of the First Carolina
Joint Stock I^and Bank, gave
some very good reasons why his company
is intensely interested in fire
protection and briefly reviewed what
fire protection in this state has done
y way of increasing value of the
lands under their Jurisdiction.
Among the distinguished guesfs
present were William Maughan, profeasor
of forestry at Duke University
school of forestry; W. C. Hammerle'
and N. T. Barron. Mac Boykin, R. \\\
Adams, head of the woodland management
division of the soil conservaIon
service in South Carolina, with
headquarters at Sparfhnburg; N. S
Sands, of Newberry; James H. Saye.
superintendent of CCC Camp R-71
also in charge of the sub-camp at
Cassatt; educational adviser Granger
of CCC Camp P-71; Lieut. Willingham.
from the Cassatt sub-camp, and T
Hoy Mlms. ranger of Sumter county.
Help Re-Elect Roosevelt
The ladles of the Caniden Club of
the Democratic party are having a
bridge tournament .on Tuesday evening,
June 30, at 8:30 o'clock at the
American Legion Hall. Thirty ladles
have agreed to pay $1.00 for a table
and to furnish refreshments for four
Kueste to be Invited by them. All
j tholo. willing to get up a table, for
there win be ample space, will please
can Miss Mary Goodale at telephone
193 before 6 p. m. All proceeds are
to be spent in the , re-election of
Roosevelt "165* Garfter. Let Us ITT
show our gratitude to President
Roosevelt by giving this undertaking
our whole-hearted support.
Wine Honor
West Newton, Mass., June 22 ?
Stephen Robinson, the son of Mrs
Woods Robinson of Lyttleton street
received a medal for promptness at
the closing exercises of the Pessenden
school. He ha. been elected
president of his form, president of
his color and a' member of the school
<xmunJttes for the coming year.
Democrats Called
to Give To Fund
To tlie Domovrntie won and women
of Kershaw county:
The rank and fi)e of the Democratic
party are being given the opportunity
during this week to contribute to
the necessary fund to bring about tin?
reelection of President Roosevelt,
through what has been designated the
Roosevelt Nominator cuiivuhm. Our
instructions and literature canto too
lato to organize the county, but there
will be ^canvassers at Hethune, Kershaw,
and Hluney as well as Cailldeu.
Each Democrat paying one dollar or
more will be entitled to a Roosevelt
Nominator ticket which will admit
him to tiie large Roosevelt Rally
which is to bo held at the Court House
at Camden at nine o'clock Saturday
night of this week. If the weather is
good the rally will be held on the
lawn, otherwise In the Court room,
There will be a radio hook-up with
loud speakers so that everyone will
be able to hear distinctly the great
speuch of President Roosevelt at
Franklin Field,. Philadelphia, in accepting
his nomination for reelection
This will he one of President Roosevelt's
greatest speeches rand 1 am
sure that every loyal Democratic man
and woman in Kershaw county will
want to hear it. Von may pay your
dollar at the rally if you so desire, J
and anyone not having a dollar to j
spare just now will not be em barn ks- j
ed, but may come and listen and enjoy
themselves. It is hoped however
thai every Democrat in the county
who can possibly do so will contribute
a dollar. 'This lias been the first
administration that the south lias ever
gotten anything out of, and I believe
that we all agree that we are
infinitely "better off than we would
have been had the Republicans continued
in the saddle. They can get
their campaign expenses from the big
| interests- that are fighting Roosevelt
and who ardently hope for his defeat,
hut the Democratic party is obliged
to turn to the average man and worn- j
?gn whom he has helped. The money
is sorely needed. Not much is being
asked, if you want Roosevelt reelected,
shake out a dollar for the cause.
If a canvasser doesn't see you, get
in touch with one, or mail your dollar
to H. G. Garrison, Camden, who Is
treasurer of the fund.
We are looking for ~you at the
Court House Saturday night at nine
o'clock.
MURDOCH M. JOHNSON,
Chairman Roosevelt Nominators
of Kershaw County.
Second Week Jurors
For Sessions Court
Jurors to serve for the second week
of court of general sessions court
were drawn Tuesday morning as foR
lows:
W. C. Perry, C. P. DuBose, Jr., Henry
Eichel, R. B. Pitts, Willis Shoorn,
Wiley Sheorp, B. P. DeLoache, J. M.
Villeplgue, W. H. Gardner, L. S. Hammond,
R. S, Marsh, Camden; Henry
Stroud, J. H. Bar field, Jr., W. S. Taylor,
J. S. Connell, R. C. Bennett, Jr.,
Walter H. Cauthern, T. B. Roberts,
J. M. West, Kershaw; Victor Ward,
Robert Branham, William L. Sanders,
Nick Ray, Carl Rabon, Charlie M.
Porter, Lugoff; E. H. Davis. A. E.
Wat kins, Steve Bowers, Cassatt; C.
B. Watkins, C. E. Jones, Bethune;
Floyd Holley, Minor Holley, Jefferson;
W. \j. Miles, Blaney; J. C. Anthony,
D. D. Truesdale, Westville; A.
J. VanLandingham, Ridgeway.
Gaskin Gets University Degree
The friends of Alva D Gaskin will
be interested to know that he was one
of the ten students who received the
Master of Arts degree from the University
of South Carolina at the commencement
exercises June 3. His
major subject was history and the
title of his thesis, "Conscription and
Impressment In 8outh Carolina, 18601865."
Alva is principal of the Aynor high
school, where he has been teacher of
history for the past four years.?Kershaw
Era.
Baptist Church Services
The following service* are announced
for week beginning June 28 at the
First Baptist church: Sunday school
at 10 o'clock with W. G. Wilson, Jr.,
in Charge. Public worship conducted
by the pastor, J. B. Caston at 11:15
a. m. and 8:30 p. m. Morning subject:
"Father's Responsibility." Evening
subject: "At The Cross."
Prayer meeting Wednesday evening at
8:30. . The public lsvcordially Invited
t? attend all the services of this
church.
To Stage Rally For J
Democratic Cause!
. I'ndcr the auspices of the Demo-!
crutic Nutiouul Committee a /loose-1
vt'H Nominator Ually will be Ih>1<| In
Camden on Saturday night of this
week, at the Court House, where the
Democrats of the county will gather
and hear President Roosevelt's acceptance
speech of his nomination by.
the National Democratic Convention
as the candidate of his party to succeed
, himself as1 President of the
Pnited States. Nominator memberships
are being sold to the Democrats
of the party ut otto dollar each. Any
nominator who has paid his dollar
will he entitled to admission to this
Ruily, whoru loud speakers will he
placed so that everyone can hear the
President's voice at its fullest.
Murdoch M. Johnson lias been made
County Chairman of the Roosevelt
Nominator Campaign and. Rally; Robber!
M. Kennedy, Jr., lias been named
Chairman for the City of Camden,
and H. G. Garrison, Jr., is treasurer
of the fund. The central committee
will be composed or the following:
Senator S. F. ' Hrosiugton, W. T. Red*
fearii. Chairman County Board of Directors;
Neil K. Truesdule, member
House of Representatives; J. H. Obborne,
Mayor of Camden; J. H. MeLood.
Chairman KerHhaw County
Democratic executive Committee;!
Miss Minnie Clyburn, Vice-Chairman
Kershaw County Democratic Kxocu- I
live Committee.
Ah the literature and instructions
were only received Tuesday morning
the committee over the county outside
of Camden has not been arrang-1
ed, but it. is understood that Dr. W.
R. Turner will have charge of Hum
Campaign at Kershaw. During Davis |
at Ib'thune. and J. D. Watson at Blan-1
?y i
Following is a list of the heads of!
the committees at f'amden:
Dr. John \V. Corbett, Doctors.
John K. dcLoacb. Lawyers. .1
J. D. Zemp, Merchants.
Mrs. Kathleen It. Watts, Democratic
Women. j
1". L. Little, Committee on Arrange-j
ments.
J. H, Clyburn, County Officials.
C. P. DuBose. Jr., Bankers and Insurance.
C. C. Whltaker, City Officials.
Dev. J. B. Caston, Ministers.
Thomas Ancrum, Publicity.
The Democrats of Kershaw county
who are interested in the re-election
of President Roosevelt are urged to
get in touch with Mr. JolinBon, Mr.
Kennedy, Mr. Carrison, or any member
of the Central Committee or any
committee at Camden or over the
county, and pay their dollar to help
assure the success of our cause this
year.
This campaign is being put on in
every county In the United Stutes.
Kershaw county should not and will
not lag behind the other counties in
South Carolina.
Mayor J. H. Osborne has issued the
following proclamation:
"Whereas, under the administration
of that great Democrat, Frankiin
D. Roosevelt, as president of the United
States, this country has been
by reason of his patriotism, ability,
and zeal, for the betterment of the
whole people, been raised from the
chaos into which it had fallen io n
new and rapidly increasing prosperity,
and
"Whereas. President Roosevelt is
about to be unanimously chosen ugain i
as tile standard bearer of the Democratic
party * for reelection as *our
president, and
"Whereas, it is greatly to the interests
of the people of this country that
his administration be continued and
"Whereas, the predatory interests
represented by the Republican party
are seeking his defeat and the large
interests are contributing to their
cause and It is necessary that funds
be raised by individual contributions
from the means/hf the people,
"Now, therefore, in accordance with
the plan of the National Democratic
Committe, I hereby proclaim Friday,
June 26, and Saturday, June 27, as
Roosevelt Nominator Days, during
which time every loyal Democratic
man and woman Is urged to contribute
each not less than one dollar to
the Democratic Cause, each contribution
of one dollar or more will entitle
the contributor to be present at
the nominator Fa41y to be held In
Camden at 9 o'clock Saturday night,
June 27." ? ?
Merchants To Observe Monday
July 4 coming this year on Saturday
and boing generally observed as a
holiday, the Camden merchants and
business men have agreed to close
on Monday, July. 6, Instead of Saturday,
the fourth.
Both banks are to be closed on
Monday also. , *
Tha much talked about anti-lobbytng
bill was killed by ft* house by a
rote of ttfi to ?t.
/fbt
Burrell Campbell
Killed In Accident
. Burrell Campbell, 30, of iiitH city.
wub lulled on bin birthday w)i?ii a
wrecker ear in which lie was riding
wua struck by a tank ear uu.J.bo Seaboard
crossing in the city limits at
10:30 Thursday night or hud week,
the young man dying three hours lator.
E l> Drakeford and Curtis Gregory
were with him when the smash eame,
but were unhurt except for bruises.
Campbell was riding in the right mat
when it is said a Seaboard freight
crew kicked" the tank car on to the
highway. Mr. Campbell was a native
of Chesterfield county and eame to
Camden tlvo years ago. He was employed
by the Hryant Fuel Company.
He is survived by bis mother. Mrs.
^Charlotte Campbell, and the follow-'ing
brothers und slaters; Dwight
Campbell, Miss Lorraine Campbell,
Mrs. Jh,n Hanner, 6f Camden; Mrs.
| Charlie Smith, Coltii Campbell, of
Hopewell, Vu.; Mrs. Archer Melton,
Drue Campbell, of Katinapolis, N. C.
, His funeral was held at Campbell
ctMnolery in Chesterfield county at 2
o'clock Saturday afternoon.
An inquest was held by Coroner
Rush Tuesdrty night and the verdict
was to the effect that the young man
came to bis deatli by a collision with
a tank car on the Seaboard and they
charged the railway with negligence.
Enrollment Books
Open Over State
South Carolinians who have reached
21 years of nge^ within the last
two years, or those who have removed
from one acting precinct to another.
arc required to place their
names on books of enrollment if they
plan to vote in the stnte this year.
Ibis year, 1030, fH not what is
known as a "general" enrollment
>ear. and citizens who enrolled two
years ago are not requited to reenroll
in order to vote, this year. Hut per
sons who have reached 21. or who
i have removed their place of habfta-'
I Hon, are required to place their names
on the books, If they wish to participate
In the balloting for a senator,
congressman and various county officers.
I^ane L. Bonner, secretary of the
Democratic party, said yesterday that
many people, who oftep are outside
of the state, will be at home ip^Jtily,
and that they would have opportunity
to enroll. He expressed the 'hop* '
that they would, so that the state
could roll up a heavy ballot this fall.
.Books of enrollment have been opened
in various points In each of the
counties since June 2. They will remain
open until July 28.
Held June Meeting
The Mt. Pisgah Home Demonstration
Club held^ Its regular monthly
meeting at the home-of Miss W. F.
Byrd, June 17, at 3 o'clock. . The
meeting was called to order by Mrs.
C. W. Holley. Two songs were sung:
Our State,".and "Our Country-!" Mrs.
Holley read a poem, "Sunshine and "
Rain." The Lord's prayer was repeated
by all. The minutes of the
last meeting were read and approved;
The seceretary then called the roll,
each member answered with "What
They Would Like To Do This Summer."
Miss Fewell then took charge.
She mude a very Interesting talk
about county women: She also told"
us about her trip to Washington. She
gave each one present some pickle
recipes. Mrs. Byrd served Iced tea
and sandwiches for refreshments.
There were quite a number present.
The meeting was enjoyed by all.
V?
Lands 22-Pound Basa
Frank W. Chapman was the champion
of four Greenwood fishermen who
cast their lines at South Island
near Georgetown this week.
Mr. Chapman landed a 22-pound
bass and he brought the fish home
with him to prove that it is not a fish
story.?Greenwood Index^Jonraat
Hijank Chapman was for a ^ong
time manager of the Camden Water
and Light Department, where
| very efficient. We never knew of him
being a fisherman, but we are glad
to learn of his prize catch.
~^? Wave Ice Cream Supper >_
An Ice cream supper is announced
,OF MLP,88ab church- Saturday night.
Lbeartnn,n* ** o'clock, to
which the pnblio to cordially Invited.
?*0i?r prfaonera dug their way out ,
T.iL"#J!?Pli>J?ot" W ?? Sharmau, !