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"Rolling ito Hellon Wheels," Says Judge (Tuesday's Greenwood Index-Journal) JudKe J. Henry Johnson's criticism of drunken automobile drivers and his appeal for some steps to make life safer In Houth Carolina In his charge to the grand Jury ut the opening of criminal court this morning provoked so much Interest that he was interrupted before his charge wus completed by several ofTiciuls yylfh brief remarks. Judge Johnson, near the conclusion of his remarks hud just said: "It is my honest opinion that any mun who getk himself drunk and then gets Into an automobile doesn't give a dam .whether he kills anybody or not," when I. II. Taylor, foreman of the grand Jury, arose and thanked him for the charge. "I am glad to hear you (Hhcush this important matter," Mr. Taylor said, "because our county has suffered a great deal ulong this line and It has given the members of the grund Jury as well as other law abiding citizens of the county much concern. Our barrooms are wide open and they ar? increasing in number. "Our county officers are probably as efficient us In any county In the state," Foreman Taylor continued, ''but It seems they can't control the - situation. We appreciate what you have said," Mr. Taylor's statement suggested another line of thought for Judge Johnson and a few minutes later brief remarks were rnude by others. "They told us a few years ago," continued the Judge, "that If we repealed prohibition It would put the bootlegger out of business. I listened to the siren voice. Hut I recall that the statistics during this year -show a greut increase In automobile fatalities every month. "I know we can't stop drinking by law and that It has to bo done by education In the Christian homes and In the ^schools, but I do believe our presentliquor law should be tightened up, that publication of the names of drunken drivers who lose their licenses should be mandatory and that a limit should be fixed as to the amount of whiskey any one Individual may have In bis possession." Solicitor Homer S. Hlackwell said an effort to pass such a law had been made and the sheriffs of this circuit had approved It, lint It had failed to get by. Sheriff K. M. White nodded I assent and Senator W. H. Nicholson confirmed the statement. Then Representative D. A. (J. Ouzts arose and suggested that the court "lecture" the newspapers for not publishing the names of drunken drivers who lose their licenses. "The house passed a bill," Mr Ouzts said, "removing the Inhibition against making the names public and I think the newspapers should be made to publish them." Judge Johnson, however. Interrupted to say that he was not lecturing anybody or any institution in his remarks to the grand Jury. At the beginning of his charge Judge Johnson said he was more concerned over "the cheapness of hutran life in South Carolina" than over anything else and he discussed at length the large number of intentional and unintentional killings. * He added: "Statistics show that America?-Christian America, if you please ?is the bloodiest nation on the face of the globe and South Carolina is the bloodiest spot In the bloodiest nation on the globe. Let us compare with homicile record of South Carolina with that of Ixmdon, Knglnnd. Most of us are descended from Kngllsh stock 1/ondon has a population more than four times that of South Carolina and therefore In proportion to population should have four times as many homicides as South Carolina, but the facts are that in South Carolina we have '.100 or more every year and on this basis London st\puld have 1.200. but actually Ixmdon has only Lr- to 20. In other words, we slay 60 or r>0 while Kngland Is slaying only one. thus making life 60 to 60 times cheaper here than in London." Continuing, Judge Johnson asked: ".Why is this true? 1 don't know, but 1 believe that all of us are a little too hot-blooded and too quick on tho trigger. London occasionally goes a whole year without a single homicide. I I believe one reason 1b that Kngland in 36 of every 100 killings the man la caught, tried, convicted, sentenced to t)e hanged, appeals to every higher court and Is hanged in three months. In South Carolina sometimes when a! man doesn't want to come to trial it may take three y^ars. We execute about two out of eveYy 100. "I tell you. men," Judge Johnson added, "if the citizens of South Carolina knew that 95 out of every 100 guilty of killing their fellowmen ware going to awing for it we would be elower on the trigger. "I hope to live to see the day when it will be unlawful In 8outh Carolina to sell trousers with hip-pockets. The blp-pocktt it the cause of many intentional killings. How many timet j" ~ ~ TT ? "* * ------- have you heard a defendant say In court about the man he killed: "I saw him roach to his hip-pocket and , 1 killed him.' And yet often when the | victim is turned over officers can't | even find a pocket-knife. "1 often wonder and I sometimes wonder why juries don't wonder why It is that the man who goes to his hip-pocket first never seems to be able to shoot first." | Judge Johnson then launched into n discussion of what he termed "the criminal waste of human life on the highways of South Carolina." During the IS months A-merica was engaged in the world war. he said, only 50.000 of her soldiers were killed by all the modern weapons of Germany and her Allies. Yet. in peace time 54.000 people are killed in America every 18 [months, a quarter a million more are [injured permanently and a million j more injured otherwise. Think of the loss of man power in the killing of 36,000 people every 12 months! "In the last 10 or 15 years more people have been killed with automobiles in America than this country [ lost In every war in which it has en gaged since its foundation more than a century and a half ago." Judge Johnson said some leader should devote some of his time towards relievcing the situation caused by the appalling number of deaths from automobiles. He said he never had any assurance when he loft home than one of his loved ones might be killed by a car before he returns and he always suffered agony on opening telegrams or answering long distance j telephone calls, living In dread " that some drunken fool may have run into some member of my family." | "Why don't we punish them? Why don't we take away their licenses?" he asked and continued: "1 would rather take my chances with a drunken man with a rifle shooting indiscriminately than with a drunken man behind the wheel of an automobile. 1 often meet some fool coming mound a curve oc.eoe one on a blind hill trying to get ahead of the car Just in front of him and taking chances on a car ho is meeting Just to save a second or two and I have almost become an expert in taking to |he shoulders. l>own in my country where they drive about TO miles an hour and that speed means 105 feet a second. "We need stricter traffic laws," the judge said, "and those In authority should see that the proper legislation to improve conditions is passed." He also referred to the maximum sentence of three years and the minimum sentence of three montha imposed on automobile drivers In unintentional homicides, and-spoke of the appeals made for those who kill their fellows by preachers and others. Judge Johnson, again appealing for education on this subject in the homes and the schools and saying that if America is to stand it must be upon a foundation of religion, (closed with the statement: "I say it [ with sadness, sorrow and reluctance, i but we are rolling to hell on wheels j as fast as we can go." V _ ' ; . * # EDUCATE THE ADULT The casualty insurance Industry, said Henry Swift Ives In a recent ad(Iress, |h takliiK au increasing Interest In accident prevention, especially highway accidentm. It has long realised thut It is more desirable to prevent accidents than to merely indemnify victims and their heirs-? and today it is askliiK public cooperation in seeking to reduce Amoilca,'S horrible and unnecessary death and injury toll. Th* soul of accident prevention work that will produce results is education. It is necessary that law enforcement agencies, especially our traffic patrols, be improved, and that laws governing motor vehicle operation be brought up to date. Iiut the reckless or ignorant driver will continue to endunger lives in spile of tiie best efforts of legislatures, Judges and police officers?unless the force of public opinion is enlisted to make him mend his ways, or keep off the highways. 1'roof of what safety education can accomplish is found in the magnificent record produced by sufety Instruction in the public schools. This work was started some fourteen years ago, and was inaugurated by the National Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwriters, representative of our leading casualty insurance companies. During those fourteen years, thore has been a 196 per cent, increase in traffic futalitios to adults?and a 2 per cent, decrease In traffic fatalities to children of school age or under. According to Mr. Jves, if the trend in tiie case of children had been the same as in the case of adults, 53,800 more young lives would have been snuffed out. Now It is time we educate the adult. The insurance companies arc doing their utmost to this end. So ure other private and public agencies. Hut their campaigns can produce little unless the people wholeheartedly join them. Uolnnri will set up labor camps to widen training of the army. Columbia Girl Back From Warring Spain (From Sunday's State) The Hputter of machine kud and rifle bullets on the walls of the Hotel National of Madrid; the tinkle of shattered window glass as it fell to the court below; trucks and taxis tilled with armed men; the crisp orders of officers to soldiers; the dead body of the hotel manager across the threshold?these are among the vivid memories of Miss Katherine B. Ileyward, Just returned to Columbia after a trip along the Mediterranean, A trip which was designed to be a leisurely Journey, by automobile, through Spain and France but which wound up with Miss Heyward In the sheltering care of the United States cruiser, Quincy, held at Valencia to take Americans from a war-torn country. For three days of anxiety and suspense, with the sound of Intermittent firing reaching even Inner hotel rooms Miss Heyward and other guests were practically prisoners In the National, under orders to keep close inside, while, outside, soldiers kept guard and no one knew what the next hour would bring forth. And yet when finally quiet and order was restored, and the Americans were able to go to the American embassy, about a mile distant, they found the populace singularly undisturbed and business proceeding about as usual. "The trouble at the hotel," Miss Heyward said yesterday,- "was brought about, I think, because there was a suspicion that the hotel was Fascistlc In Its sympathies. One Fasclstl in the hotel committed suicide by hurling himself from an upper story." With a friend Miss Mildred Hart, member of the faculty of a college In Cleveland, Miss Heyward, head of the department of art at the University of South Carolina, sailed from Montreal early in June, aboard a freighter, taking with her a new automobile. They landed in France and drove thru to Spain and spent some three weeks along the shores of the Mediterranean; went up to Grenada and to Seville, where they spent some six days. For three weeks they drove through Spain. "'1 here seemed no trouble brewing," Miss Heyward said. "There were no inconveniences to travel; there was no intimation anywhere of trouble; the people were most kindly and considerate; altogether, we had a delightful trip. "We arrived in Madrid July 18 and we spent July 19 at the Prado Art museum. "Then a certain tenseness developed; there seemed a suppressed excitement and we were advised not to leave our hotel. Soldiers were in the streets; trucks were seen loaded to capacity with armed men. Many citizens began to leave Madrid, "The National hotel looked out over a square and we saw about 100 guns issued to civilians, mostly Communists. "We were told we must remain inside and not go near windows. "We Americans and English did stay away from windows, and that day at lunch, we were advised that all guests occupying outside rooms?that is rooms facing on the square, were to move to inside rooms. "And I forgot to say that Monday, July 20, a boy, a civilian, poked an automatic in our ribs when we were down in the lobby and demanded our handbags. We turned them over, as did the other guests, and they were examined. They were searching for arms, and the handbags were returned once they had been inspected. "At 4 o'clock that afternoon and again at 6 there were small arms bombardments at the hotel. The rattle of machine guns and the noise of rifle shots tilled the air. Lights flickered and the acrid fumes of burning powder near filled the place. "There were loud voices and shouting in the lobby and armed men came in. The hotel manager was killed at the front door. "The tiring was directed at the top of the hotel; window panes were shattered and in some of the upper rooms plastering spattered the floor. "Some one, it was thought by the troops, had fired on them from the top of the hotel, hence the bombardment. "During the afternoon guards went into every room, searching carefully for concealed enemies; they wanted to assure themselves that the place was free of enemies. "Some shot came through the walls into the room we had previously occupied. From Monday until Wednesday we were kept in the hotel, practically shut off from outside communication. "No, there was no scarcity of food and the hotel routine went right ahead. The sound of intermittent firing came to us, but since we were in an Inside room, we really knew little of what was going on ontalde. "The only time we wrqnt out Wednesday was for a vklt to the copulate to register and get protection for ? > S I _v- ~ the automobile. The streets were quiet then and the people going about their business. After the hotel manager had been killed, quiet came. "Thursday we got in touch with the consulate and at 3 o'clock all Americans were ordered to the embassy, where we proceeded later in the day. We were housed at the embassy from Thursday until the following Wednesday; we had our baggage taken from the hotel to the embassy and the automobile, too, was driven to" the embassy and placed under a tree." "And where is your car now?" "Under that tree at the embassy, 1 think. I hope, however, to get it again." "We went out daily from the embassy without interference of any kind. We were always accompanied by Red guards. ....... "We*could not get away in the automobile; trains were running for two days at any rate, from Madrid to Valencia, a port. We knew of one American who had 'made it' and on the chance that there might be a boat at Valencia, my friend and I bought tickets and went aboard. The train was long and it was packed with Spaniards. In each coach there were armed guards. We were the only two Americans aboard. "When we reached Valencia, all Spaniards were searched for arms, but not the Americans. We were met by the vice consul, Mr. Wells, and were given every attention. He told us the cruiser, Quincy, would be in next day; within a short time all Americans who had been at the embassy in Madrid came down and we went aboard July 31 and sailed the next day. There w*e 170 passengers on the boat and were treated as honor guests. Captain Amsden was in charge and we met Commander Beachman in charge of supplies. He was originally of Clio, and put forth every effort to make the trip as pleasant as possible. "We were taken to Marseilles, Prance, and remained there some ten days until we could get a boat home." "When we were in Madrid, when we went on the streets, we always wore small American flags, and the people were unfailingly friendly and interested in America. In no country have I found the people more naturally courteous than in Spain. They often spoke of the 'two republics', the United States and Spain. "Spain is a lovely country. The struggle going on there now Is a struggle to the death; it is so terribly involved; there are so many factions on each side. But readers of the newspapers kre probably better informed than I on what has taken place in recent weeks. "The people we liked. There are excellent roads and good telephone service over the peninsular. "But I'm glad to get back tn Columbia again. "Don't write too much either.** ?ht " admonished. kits* Heyward is a daughter of former Governor D, C. Heyward. '% ' . . . t ? Brothers Go Free For Killing Man Dallas, Ga., Bept. 15.?The ancient Mosaic code of an "eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," today superceded laws of the ptate of Georgia as a jury freed two0^K>thers who killed the murderer of their sister. Worth and Pence Urown, middle* aged farmers, were freed of murder charges in connection with the slaying of lienry P. Howe, Atlanta bootlegger, who killed their Bister. The Jury wus out only 58 minutes. Howe, who was captured in Chicago after the slaying of his wife, was shot by the brothers ar he walked toward the courthouse here where he was to go on trial for murdering his wife. He died Instantly. 'Hie brothers, heavy-handed, inarticulate farmers in their 40's, told the Jury in their own defense that they had killed Howe because they were haunted by the vision of our slster'B body." Their father, they said, was killed while they were children and his slayer had served only Ave years of a life sentence. They feared, a similar situation would develop around the trial of their sister's slayer,, they testified. The Jury which, acquitted the brothers was comprised of 11 farmers and a textile worker. The case went to the Jury at 2:30 p. m., and the Jury was returned at 3:36 p, m. There was no demonstration in the court room, crowded by friends of the middle-aged brothers. Pence Brown was the only one of the two who commented on the verdict. "Well?out again," he said as he walked from the court, a free man. At Tucson, Arizona, on last Tuesday, a dead man was elected to the office of constable over 108 live ones. Fred Wilding, veteran officer, and former owner of the famous Silver Dollar saloon, is the dead man elected by, a vote greater than that received by any other candidate. His name was printed on the ballots and then he died before the election. PI8GAH NEW8 NOTES , Pisgah, Sept 17.?Miss Eva Baker, a graduate nurse of the Nebauon hospital of New York City, returned to New York last week after a three weeks' vlfalt to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Baker. Mrs. J. J. Hatfield, who has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. C. C. King, In Clafton, Ga., since last May, s^nt a few days of last week here with Mrs. W. F. Baker, going on to Sumter Saturday to visit Mrs. J. R. Lackey. Miss Thelma Baker spent the week end In Bishopvllle with Mrs. J. W. Kennedy. Willie James and sister, Miss Ellen James, spent Sunday at Rembert with Mr. and Mrs. James Reams. Mr. and Mrs. Ellle Price and children, of Lucknow; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kennedy and little son, Mrs. L. B.' Baker and children, all of Bishopvllle; and C. L. Baker and son, of Rembert, spent Sunday with W. F. Baker and family. Mrs. T. M. Rogers, Mrs. C. L. Baker and little daughter, spent Sunday with Mrs. Leon Stuckey. > Mrs. Williams and Miss Inez McManus, of Columbia, and Mrs. Janie Massabeau, of Camden, spent Sunday evening with Mrs. John Watson. Our young folks who are leaving this week for college are; Miss Aurella Stuckey, who will be a sophomore at Columbia College; James Shiver, a senior at the University of South Carolina; and Patrick Dennis, a sophomore at Clemson. Eleven tons of gold, worth approximately 111,418,000, were shipped from Cherbourg, France, Sunday, consigned to New York banks. Condemned Negro Files For New Trial Raleigh, N. C., Sept. 10.?Martin Moore, Asheville negro, sentenced to die tor the murder of Helen Clevenger of New York, lodged a motion through counsel today for a writ of certiorari to secure a review of his trial in Bun'combe county superior court. Sannor W. Brown, retained by the Moore's family to defend him, filed the motion asking that the clerk of Buncombe superior court be directed to forthwith send the supreme court "a true record" of the case on appeal. Yesterday the state, through Attorney General A. A. F. Seawell, asked the court to "docket and dismiss" the appeal of Moore on the grounds the appeal had not been filed as required by the rules of the court 14 days bel fore the appeals from the district including .Buncombe county were called for argument. The cases were called yesterday. On the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on Saturday, John Cobb, race loving London fur merchant, broke the world's 24-hour speed record, by driving his autoniobile at an average speed of 160.162 for a 24-hour run, beating the former record made by Captain George B. T. Byston, also of England, of 149.09 per hour. Cobb incidentally beat half dozen other records in his day-long grind, being relieved by three relief drivers. 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