The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, January 15, 1937, Image 1
_ The Camden Chronicle
VOLUME 48 / CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, (FRIDAY, JANUARY IB, 1937 NUMBER 43
President's Ball To
Be Hejd January 29
The President's Birthday Baft for
XB3T will be danced In the C&mdeu
Armory Hall the night of January
39 from 9:80 p, m. until 1:80 a. m.
Till*; ifl the night before the Prostdent's
birthday but the oommittee In
charge decided on Friday, January 29,
In preference. to Saturday night, January
30. In order that the dance might
be Ibnger' and, too, to avoid cOnflictlon
with , dances in neighboring
towns. f ;, ' i-: v' >. J,
To furnish the music the oommittee
, 44?** very gmwpts in securing Phil
Miller ^nd His Boeieijr Swing Band
for the occasion, ThiB band has developed
from a small mediocre outfit
to a twelve piece hand. It is conwldered
by many as one of the best
negro bands eyer developed in this
tftAte, and cornea to Camden, after a
very successful season In Florence,
Darlington and other towns "In the
ehstern part of the state.
The* National Committee has appointed
Joe Shannon as general chairman
for the 1887 ball. Several committees
comprised of some of our
most popular and better known citizens
are busy at work. in order that
Camden's Ball might be one of the
beat and most enjoyable .affairs ever
put on in Camden. The following are
the OM&mltteSs in charge:
Otatriut Committee K. M. Kennedy,
Jr., J, H,' OSborne, A. 8. Llewellyn,
M. B. F. M. Wooten, J^JS^
doLoach, J. B.- Zemp, J. T. Nettles,
Jr., fhannon, 8rd.
Youfig Matron's Committee?Mrs.
A. K. Blakeney, Mrs. J. N. Lindsay,
Mrs. J. K. deLoach.
Debutante's Committee?Miss Caroline
Richardson, MiBs Susan Kennedy,
Miss Barbara Hlckox.
High School Committee?Miss Paulette
"West, Miss Anne Clarkson, Bill
DeLoache.
Decoration Committee?A. G. Clarkson,
Jack Haile, Itoy Sheorn, George
Brooks, L. C. Jones, Jr.
1 . . . . INI l''
-Amateur- Contest
Tonight At School
Entertainment'* Friday eVenlngin
the auditorium to raise funds for the
beautiflcation of the new high school
grounds. _--f- a'-r-v
The patrons and friends of the Camden
schools are urged to be present
Friday evening for . an evening of fun.
There will be three- contests staged
beginning at 8 pMm. A beauty contest
to select the young lady who is
to have the title of "Miss Camden." .
An Amateur contest, this content
will consist of songs, dances, readings,
and plgylet^lput on by high school
students and others competing for a
chance to enter a- later contest of a
- lifts nature.
A Shirley Temple contest, opeh to
the little folks. The winner of first
place in this contest will be known
as "Little Miss Shirley Temple." She
will also receive a valuable prize.
The show is under the direction of
Mrs. Brevard Bqykin. All proceeds
which go to the atehool will be used,
for the purchase of shrubs which will
be planted on the new high school
grounds.
First Bsptlit Church 8ervice?
The following services are announced
for week beginning January 17,
at the First Baptist church: Sunday
school at 10 o'clock, with W. G. Wilson,
Jr., superintendent, in charge.
Public worship conducted by the pastor,
J. B. Canton, at 11:15 a. m. and
7:30 p. m. Morning subject: "The
Supreme Question." Evening subject:
"Hie Saving Salt." B. T. *T.
Sunday evening at 6:80. Prayer meeting
Wednesday evening at 7:30. The
public Is cordially invited to attend
all the services of this church.
... Rev. Gulledge Goes To Dillon ?
Westvtlie, Jan. 10.?The Bethany
Baptist church of Westv|lle, S. .,
Kershaw county, regretfully announces
the resignation of its pastor, the
Rev. J. ^D. Gulledge, the resignation
having been occasioned by hia acceptance
of a call to a field in Billon
county. The entire Bethany conmnnrity
will long remember the inspiring
and influential work of Rev. GuTledege.
, The resignation is. Effective
as of February 1.
Magician at Court Inn
The public is invited to attend ft
performance at Court Inm, on -Sunday
night, January 17, by Mai Cameron,
/ prestidigitator, who has considerable
reputation aa a doctor of entertainment,
presenting the latest in the
*?rld of good magic. Tbi^er*#*
Kidnaped Boy's
. Body Found
Tacoma, Wash., Jan. 12.-?From the
battered- body of Charles Mattuon, 10,
fouhd yude in the snow, a mighty force
of detectives sought a definite clue
to the child's kidnaper and <Wller ?
"the moat hunted man in the nation."
Finding of the frozen body iu a
busby area near Everett, Waah.. yesterday
was the immediate signal for
a wide-flung search of men with all
the modern weapons of scientific detection
at their command?a search
nervously withheld until then to permit
safe return of the bpy to his wellto-do
fatjyer, Dr. w. W. Mattson. ~
Iu a guarded mortuary, federal
agents and physicians examined und
re-examined the tittered remains of
the victim, abducted December 27 for
$28,000 ransom which the boy's father
strove desperately to get to the kidnaper
but failed.
Paul Sceva, a cldse friend of the
family who helped identify t^e body,
said "Charles has been dead a long
ifme, probably between three days
and a week"?long before Dr. Mattson's
last frantic efforts to pay the
ransom. Blood on the body was frozen,
indicating the boy was dead before
he was dragged there.
"The kidnaper has acted like a
trout coining out of his lair," Sceva
declared, "almost taking the bait and
crawling back in again."
From their careful autopsy officers
f hoped to And clues leading to tba
swarthy bearded man who broke into
the Mattsons' living room two days
after Christmas while the toys
Charles received still were under the
tree. ?s.
Federal agents under the bespectacled
veteran, Harold Nathan, were
silent. Other authorities admitted
they were as yet without one definite
bit of Information which might fcencl
the kidnaper to tpe gallows under
| Washington's kidnap and murder laws
tor the federal Xdndbergh law.
The Mattson family, grief-stricken
by the horrible ending of the abaction,
hid within their ^n^lish-^yle
home and refused to see anyone biitj
intimate friends.
**pr. Mattson asked me to tell you
he has "made every effort humanly
possible to pay the ransom to gain
the return of my son," Sceva said.
"The doctor has broken down for
the first time since Charles was kidnaped,
and the entire family is badly
shaken. Mrs. Mattson is under a
nurse's care.
"The ransoip definitely was not
paid, ^although the doctor made many
attempts to pay it. The kidnaper was
too yellow to come out of his hiding
to_ obtain the money." v
Sceva, when asked if Dr. Mattson
ever went out to make "personal con- i
tact with the kidnapers," said hej
rnpm "*>W tw?." ' I
Blue-gray clay on the fingers led
the coroner to believe the body first
was dumped along a river bank, then
transferred to the snow sifted rush- j
lands. *
Federal agents made casts of a
single set of footprints leading from
a highway to tpe place Charles' heat'
en body lay. Likewise, they recorded
automobile tire tracks at the road-|
side.
All methods of escape the kidnaper
c^uld have used after seizing the boy
were reconsidered, Including the possibility
he fled down a steep bank
in back of the Mattson estate to a
boat stationed along the waterfron^
Last Sunday officers Investigated a
"freshly" abandoned shack on Squaxin
Island in southern Paget Sound.
Embers in. a stove showed the shack
had been deserted not more than an
hour befbre officers arrived aboard a
private yacht. A launch was found
abandoned nearby. ' \ini:mqT
Last week at the urgent -reauest
of Dr. Mattson all officers stopped
their activities and newspapermen
withdrew from the vicinity of the
Mattson home to give the kidnaper
freedom in contacting the physician.
Later in the "Mable-to-Ann" newspaper
advertisements appeared ihe
expressed fears of the parent that hijackers
might seek to collect the money,
also that hfo eon might not be
[Renewal of activity by officers and
finding of the abandoned shack followed.
Then came the bitter climax
?the little frozen body in the snow.
Bethesda Presbyterian Church
Sunday, January fa A. tfougUa koArn,
pastor., Church school for all
ages at 10 a. m. Morning worship
with sermon at 11:15. Midweek atudy.
group Wednesday evening at 7:50.
The public is cordially invited to all
services in this church. I
? , ?;i i' B
Relief Expenditures
In Kershaw County:
(By John K. Aull)
Columbia, Jan, 12,?Summary of relief
expenditures under the direction ,
of the Temporary State Department
of Public Welfare, Col. J. I). Pulp,
Commissioner, for the your 1936, ,
shows that fundB contributed by couri- ]
ties for relief rolls totalled 6124,038.- :
?3; federal funds furnished, 6264,C80.66;
cases receiving cash relief, 6,064;
number of persons represented, In
these cases, 11,679. In addition, ma^uy
other cases received commod|fc)ea'
from these fundf, ^ 4*7$*
"-figures fdFHhe cdnnties have been
totaled1 in detail and given out for.
publication. For the purpose of thlg,
article tlie counties have been placed
in several groups.
Figures for Fairfield, xifcncaster, Un-:;
Ion and Kershaw follow: ? %
Fairfield; Number of monthB H
program, nine; funds contributed bjr.
county, 61,000; federal funds furnish*
ed, 62,0.79.76; balance of county fund*
oh hand December 31, 616.12. in atn
ditlon to the many caMMS receiving
commodities. Sixty-six t cases, with
111 persons represented, receive^
1 cash relief. - ^
| a Lancaster: Number of months, in
program, nine; funds contributed by
county. 61,276; federal funds furnished,
63,143.17; balance of county funds
on hand December 31, $3.42. In addition
to . the many cases receiving
commodities, 89 cases, with 162 per*
sons represented, received cash relief.
Union: Number of months In program,
six; funds contributed by county,
6350; federal funds fnrnlshed, 6 V
860.66; balance of county funds ong
hand December 31, 613.66. In addljj
tlon to the many cases receiving com*
moditles, 121 cases, with 221 persons'
represented, received cash relief.
Kershaw; Number of months in
programj _eleven; funds contributed
by county, 62,483.60; federal fnnds
furnished, 64,672.60; balance of county
funds on hand December 31, 6?2-7j^,
In addition to casetA^
celving commodities, 112 cases, witbj
191 persons represented, received
cash relief.
J *Y 1 - ?
Social Events
Among Tourists
Mrs. Woods Robinson gave a tea
on Sunday last for Mrs. Martin H.
Olynfi, wife of the ex-Governor of New
York, who-has taken a house in Camden
for the winter. Among those present
were: Mr. and Mrs. Lamont Dominick,
of New York; Mr. and Mrs. D.
Walter Mabee, of New York; Mr. and
Mrs. Charles G. Knight; Mr. and Mrs.
F. M. Rhodes; JMr. and Mrs. David
Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Partrldge,
Miss Susan Kennedy, Mrs. ^amuel
Russell, Mrs. Grainger Galther,,
Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Kirkover, Miss
Jane Swords, Caleb Wb^taker and Mr.
and Mrs. Ward C. Belcher.
Anderson Fowler, of New Yojrk and
Peapack, N. J., has returned to New
York after .ft short visit with his sister
and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Carroll K. Bassett, who have taken
a house here. Mrs. Bassett went
north with Mr. Fowler for a Bhort
stay. She will return on Thursday
of this week. ~
- Mrs. Gustavus T. Kirby, of 465 Park
Avenue, New York, has opened her
house on Greene street. Miss Wih
helmine Kirby, her daughter, is with
her for the Camden season., Gustavus
T., iCirby was treasurer of the
Olympic Committee of 1936.
Watson Pomeroy has gone to New
York for a short visit.
Mrs. John L. Weetys, and her daughter,
Mrs. David i3tone, are expected
to return to C&mden shortly after a
week's trip to New York.
I Mr. and Mrs. Ward C. Belcher gkve
a dinner for twelve at their home,
Horse Branch Hall Monday night.
KPR8HAW COUNTY DELEGATION
CALLS MEETING OF CITIZENS
j ~ Senator S. F. Braslngton and Representative?
V C. Clvbum Sr.. and
W. F. Katrldge have issued the following
notice to thevclti*ens of Kershaw
county:
"The Kershaw county- delegation
will meet at the Kershaw county
court house on Ftiday, January 16,
at 3 o'clock in the court room.
"Any cttisen of the county will be
welcome tp attend. The delegation
will be pleased to consider any constructive
suggestion for the beet interest
of the county, that may be
offered.
"The county officials are especially
reoaeated to appeal* and give to the
delegation the requirements for their
tamden Playmakers
Organize >Theatre
a ?; /
I'uder the presidency of Mrs. Samuel
Russell, about forty people met
at Hobkirk Inu January 10, to orgunan
amateur theatre In Camden.
JDiiniul Heed, of New York, director
of the Town Theatre in Columbia, 8.
C\, was the speaker of the evening.
Mr. Heed wuh introduced by Mrs.
Russell.
"Strength, personality, breeding, education
and willingness to work," he
said, "are the fifhdamental necessities
1n making a success in the theaire,"
V
"One danger you must avoid; inuke
no distinctions of any sort, other than
fitness for the Job, in the selection
of actors, technicians or artisans. The
theatre must be by and for everyone
in Cainden.
"Camden needs just such a theatre
as you propose," he went on. "There
are very few of this type left. The
usual history of an amateur theatrical
movement is a season marked
with enthusiasm, the Second season
not so enthusiastic, and alow death
the third season. I can not put It
too strongly when I say that the
theatre is no place for diletanta
groups of people. It is hard work,
very hard work. -
"There is no recipe for'.a successnil
theatre. Even hard work and
years of experience are not proof
against unsuccessful productions.
"t advise you to switch around.
Your best actor may make a bettor
set designer, and the ticket taker
may have more latent talent than all
the rest put together.
"Your most vital need 1b for a single
individual who has judgment, flexibility
and force. On this person,
whoever he or she may be, will depend
the success of the theatre in
Camden. T^he leader must be a diplomat,
too, and a diplomat of the first
order, for people acting on the stage
sometimes?in fact, almost always?
develop temperaments."
Mr. Reed then reviewed the history
|of vjthe Town Theatre In Columbia and
gave as his opinion that the "selection
of the first play was a vital factor
in the success that followed that organization.
Their first production was
"The Misleading Lady."
Plays discussed for possible production
were i "Let Us Be Gay," "Autumn
Crocus," "The Misleading Lady,"
"Dinner at Eight," and others.
?"to this connection," Mr. Reed said,
"Yoil want a play selecting committee
of certainly not more than three
persons) I prefer a single individual
who will read intelligently and report
to the leader." ? ;
Committees will he ^pointed this
week.
- Those present included: Mrs. Samuel
Russell, president; Mr. and Mrs.
Joe E. McKain, Mr. and Mrs. Clifton
MfcKain, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kennedy,
3rd, Miss Susan Kennedy, Mr. a,nd
Mrs. Charles Shannon, 4th, Mr. And
Mrs. Ralph N. Shannon, Mrs. Alice
Ferguson, Miss Alice Robinson, Miss
Caroline Richardson, Dixie Boykln,
Alexander c lark son, Mlsa Willie
Halle, Miss Virginia Haile, Miss Martha
Singleton, Oliver Rice, Clarkson
Rhame, Moultrie Burns, John DuBose,
Thornwell Hay, Miss Beulah
iHicks, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Morrison,
Allen Hardy, Mrs. John Devine, Miss
Olive Whittredge, Mrs. Julia Knapp,
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Zemp, Miss Etta
Zemp, MIsb Wllhelmlne Klrby, Mrs.
Edward DuBose, Miss Hendricks, Miss
May Boykin, Miss Frances Revere,
Miss Mary Goodale and Ben Hinkley.
Mrs. Reed accompanied Mr. 'Reed
to Camden. 'Mrs. Russell was their
hostess at dinner at her home "Millhank"
before the meeting,. . .
Death of Mr. Horton
H. T. Horton, age 77, a life-long
Citizen of the Abney section of Kerthaw
county, died at an early hour
Thursday morning, January 7, at a
Columbia hospital from an illness lashing
over a period of years. Survi^
ing him Is one siser,.Miss Lizzie HOTtth
of Cassatt, and a number fo hephews
and nieces. *
The funeral services were held At
s8hiloh Methodist church Friday afternoon
at 3 o'clock, conducted -by
Rev. L. D. Htuner and Rev, W. D.
Bradley.
~
Law Officers To Meet
Charlotte, N. C? Jan. 11A?The next
quarterly meeting of \ the Law Enforcement
Officers' Association will
fcfe held March SI at Sumter, 8. C.
About 300 officers attended the Aral
meeting of the year here yesterday
for Informal discussion of pn^y
lema presented by crime and crtttl
- * Fw*?. v. : -v!
Kennard Davis, 2, !
Crushed By Truck
Kennard Davis, 2-y,ear-old son of
Mugistrate-elect and Mrs, C. K, Davis,
was probably fatally injured at 10:30
[ o'clock Thursday muring when ho
was crushed by a truck.
Kennard and his brothers were
playing near a ditch when a truck,
suid to have been owned by Ked Hammond,
and driven by a negro, Hpnry
Clary, 60, lost control of his truck and
the car backed into the playing children?all
escaped except Kennard.
and ho was crushed in the chest and
lungs to such an extent physicians
held out no hopes for his recovery as
we go to press.
The accident happened about three
miles east pf Camden, near the McKensie
place, where the Davis home
is located. The little boy lias six
brothers but no sisters. The driver
of the truck has been placed in Jail
pendiug the outcome of the child's
injuries.
""" ?
Central District
Health Meeting
The Central District Public Health
Workers comprising the counties of
Aiken, Lexington, Calhoun, Richland,
Kershaw, Lancaster, Fairfield, Chesterfield,
York and Chester, with fiftyone
representatives and visitors attending
met at the - auditorium of
Bethesda Sunday school on Monday.
The meeting was called to order
by Dr. A. W. Humphries, chairman.
Invocation was by Rev. R. Bryce Herbert,
of the Methodist church. Address
of welcome was by Mayor J. H.
Osborne and response was made by
Dr. W. B. Jones, of York.
"Rural Water Supplies" was the
subject of the talk by B. P. Rice,
state sanitary engineer of ColumbiaDr.
J. L. Bryson, of '\yinnsboro,
spoke on the "Problems as a County
Health Officer," and Benjamin Qause,
of Winn8boro, spoke on> the "Prob-|
leins as a Sanitary Inspector." Genoral.
discussions followed these subjects.
The by-laws were adopted and lunch
was served by the ladies..
The next health meet will be held
in Winnsboro on thd second Tuesday
in April.
i .
NEW OFFICERS IN CHARGE
GRACE CHURCH AUXILIARY
_
< The first meeting of the New Year
and since the election of officers was
held at Grace Church parish house on
Tuesday afternoon, January 5. The
installation service was conducted by
the rector, Dr. Maurice Clarke. Reports
showing increase in" work for
the year were most gratifying. It is
hoped that each member of the Auk*
iliary will feel a deeper responsible
JtyThan ever before.
James Roosevelt, 29, has been appointed
one of the private secretaries
for his father, and is now performing
secretarial duties under the title of
an administrative officer. It is the
first time in history that a President's
son has been appointed as a secretary
lo a president.
Stolen Car Captured ?
After Exciting Race
"F. ?
With u wild wanh in a stolon cur,
Carl Brennlnger, 17, croutpd excite- 4
in. mi on Main street Monday after*
noon, about 4:30, when he endangered
Uvea and property while trying to
outwit and outruu office in purahit.
The man waa being closely pursued
by Deputy Sheriff Donnle Watson and
Rural Officer Gib DeUruhl. Mr. lJeBruhl
waa doing the driving and Deputy
Watson waa doing the ohooting.
The chuao came about when a tele*
phone message waa received in Cam.
den that a man driving a 1936 Ford
V-8 coupe had gotten gaa at a filling
atation at WoatvUln on the CamdenCharlotte
highway, He left hla motor,
running apd drove off without pay*
lbg. Officers Wataon and Delhuhl 1
were atatloned at the 'intersection of
the Liberty Hill road and recognized
him aa ho came by. The chaae waa
on, and Brennlnger did not detour
but apllt Main atreet wide open, turning
right at Rutledge street, and making
a turn at Church atreet, struck
the curbing which slowed him down. ;
The officers were enabled to catch
up when Deputy Wataon fired and
punctured a rear tire. Brehnlrfger ''o
stopped, stepped out of the car with
bunds up. He was searched, had np
money on,his person, but carried his
identification card a* well as that of
Jeannette H. Glover, of Ghathaih, Virginia,
the owner of the car.
Brennlnger admitted his identity,
and his driver's' license showed Hat
he waa a native of Jarreltown, Montgomery
county, Pennsylvania. Officers
learned that he had served a sentence
in a reform school In his state and
while young, was old at the game of '
theft by the way he threw up big
hands when the shooting of the tire v
started. j
These two officers had a dangerous
and thrllliftg chase, but were looking
out for traffic algnalB at the same* ? ,
, time and stopped a most dangerous
(driver. Thanks to them from the ^eral
public.
To Renew Fight
OverHilton Lad
Greenville, Jan. 1?.?Judge E. c.
Dennis announced here today that he
had signed an order for a rehearing
at Darlington January 23 of litigation
over the custody of little R. H. Hilton,
Jr., son of a state commander of
the American Legion, who waa drowned
at L?ke Murray in August, 1988.
The order was issued on petition of
B. M. Lee of Fort Mill, close friend
of Hilton, who said the boy had lifed
with him almost all his life until,
awarded to the former Mrs. Hilton
after a hearing at York last year.
Judge Dennis,, on Lee's petition,. '
placed the child in the custody of
Darlington county sheriff pending . 1
the hearing. Lee charged that the
mother, now Mrs. K. 8. ? Hertford,
wife of an army captain of engineers,
18 not a proper person to raise -the
chRd, nowtnlna. yeara oMr Lee,
in his petition, alleged that the
boy was not receiving propervtreatment,
that constant removals from
one town to another had put him behind
In his school work, that Mrs.
Hertford was not a proper guardian
and that the Lee home was'the only
home the boy had ever known and
that the child himself had repeatedly
expressed the desire to return.
Mrs. Hertford, now at Society Hill,
at the home of her mother, won custody
of the Child amy I long" court
fight and after she remarried. Lee
now Is seeking to upset that decision.
Golf Tournament
Rules Announced
T
The golf committee of the Kirkwood
Golf club has announced the
rules for the. Camden Tournament to
,be played on the Kirkwood Course
Pn Friday, and Saturday, January 22 ?
and 28.
It will be a men's tournament, thirty-six
holes, medal play, eighteen
holea to be played each day. Prises
will be awarded to those handing in
tqw fPrPPB and second low-gross, and
to low net score, no person to take
more than one prise.
8inolng Convention To Meet
The Lee County Singing Convention
will meet in its 141st session on Sunday,
January 17, at 8:15 p. m., with
Wayside Baptlst^church, situated live
miles east of Bishopvllle, one mile
off highway number 15, on the CCC
camp road. A special invitation to
all singers and a warm ireldjEltoS
ll.-L. A. Moon, PMrttafc
Fun?Maybe Not?
Within the past month The
Chronicle has received two fictitious
news items, one having to do
with a purported announcement of
a wedding engagement. Another
had a well known citizen of Bethune
spending a. week with his
wife in another city which was
untrue. This newspaper cherishes
the good will of all people and appreciates
any news items -sent us.
'J! It"1 is impossible for The Chronic
icle staff to recognize all signa!_.
turns and thereby- forgeries -got- fry.
A newspaper is supposed to print
facts and endeavors to do so at all
times.
The Chronicle has placed these
' two letters with the Postal authorities
and asked them to get results.
They are slow, hut sure,
and they get the right parties before
making a charge. Two years
ago The Chronicle sent a suspicious
letter and advertisement to
Denver, Colorado. We had glmolft
forgotten the matter, when 'the
Postal authorities mailed all of hur
information hack to ?s, thanking
us for our interest and stating that
we might be interested to know
that the crook had been apprehend- ?
ed and was hdV Serving a sentence
1 in a Federal prison > V
All of which suggests that If the
patties ^ guilty^ of sending ^The