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1 ; -, CONDEIO TO DIE ♦ kTEI OF BARNWELL MERCHANT - FACES DEATH DEATH LIST IS GROWING LATEST REPORTS FROM SOUTH TEXAS SHOWS 150. TO DIE BEFOBE XMAS Trial at Barnwell Result* in Convit- Mon of N' gro, Scott Madison—Tes timony Clearly Against Him and Two Said He Told Them of Killing a White Man. Scott Madison, colored, will pay the death penalty for the murder of Mr. E. Peyton Best in Barnwell on the night of December 8, between Fri day, December 19, and Monday, De cember 22, inclusive. Such was the sentence of Judge Gage late Monday afternoon, after the jury had brought In a verdict of guilty of murder as to Madison, and guilty of assault and battery as to Gilbert Miller, also col ored. The testimony of the case seemed to show conclusively that Madison was the guilty party, although he de nied having committed the crime. A summary of ^he testimony is given below. Ed Durant, a negro, who was th* flrat witness, testified that Mr. Best pushed Miller, who was stand ing In the door of the restaurant, out of his way, when he left the building, and that Miller then threw * bottle at him and ran. According the testimony, Mr. Best turned and ced Scott Madison who hit him, the -“fendant replying that the man that hit him was the one running down the street. Mr. Pest then turned to walk away and the fatal shot was fired. The testimony of Rufus 'James, MitchMl Stroy and Julius Williams, the proprietor of the restaurant and pool room In question, all corrobo rated in the main the statements made by Durant. Major R Boyd Cole testified to finding a pistol under the depot, upon Information given by Andrew Simms, the aame being, it was alleged, the one with whl<h the murder was com mltted Dr R C. Kirkland testified as to the nature of the gunshot wound on the body of Mr. Best—that the bul let entered from the back and passed entirely through the body. Mr. Alva Mellett. the undertaker, testified that there was a small bruise behind the left ear of the dead man, which could have been caused by a blow from a bottle. Mr. Vince Dunbar, who was atand- Ing In the doorway of Kearse’a pool room at the time of the tragedy, tes tified to having seen the smoke from the pistol immediately after the fir ing of the two shots; that Mr. Best staggered towards him and Mr. A. M Harden, exclaiming as he fell, "Boys, I'm shot." That deceased died Immediately thereafter. Mr. A M Harden, who was stand Ing by Mr Dunbar at the time of the ahooting, testified to having seen the flash of the pistol In front of the negro restaurant and that he caught Mr. Best in his arms as deceased was falling. Andrew Sims, a negro section hand, testified that Scott Madison had attempted to buy his pistol—a 38- calibre, left-hand Wheeler—from on the afternoon of the shooting; he refused to let the defendant ve it and that It was later stolen from his trunk, presumably by Madl- •on returned the pistol and said that he had killed a white man; that wit ness became frightened and hid the pistol under the A. C. L. freight de pot. Albert Cave, colored, testified that ft negro threw a bottle at Mr. Best, who turned and asked who hit him. No one replied, and deceased then turned and started up the street, when a negro snapped a pistol at him three times. Another negro, he said, then fired the shots, one of which hit Mr. Best in the back. Witness could not identify the assailants, who were strangers. Scott Madison is from Remlni. He was put upon the stand in his own defence, and told a story entirely at variance with the testimony of the witness for the State. So unsupport- ftble was his testimony, that he got badly mixed In the telling and no weight was given to It whatever. He denied doing the killing, but said that It was done with the gun he had got ten from Andrew Simms. He accus ed one Seaman Moore of the crime. Gilbert Miller testified In his own behalf, and apparently told a straightforward story, Impressing his hearers with the truth of his state ments. He admitted buying a bottle of whiskey In the restaurant; stated that Mr. Best had pushed him out of the way, and that he had hit the dead man with a bottle, after which he ran away, and that he was quite a • I distance off when the shots were I. He later met Madison, who, he , admitted having shot a white mail. Two negro women and Seaman Moore were put on the witness stand, but they denied linowltfl^anything connected with the tragedy. This completed the case. The Jury was out about twenty minutes, re turning the verdict given above. Mil ler was sentenced to thirty days on chain gang. After sentence had filNNINOUHEAO THIS TEAR SHOWS GAIN OTER LAST TEAR’S REPORT MAY TAKE THEM OVER Fear Freeze and Famine — Appeals for Help From Flooded Districts Meets Hearty Response. The number of known dead as a result of the flood, which waa spread over the lowlands in half a dozen counties in South Central Texas, has reached 150, with several thousand refugees marooned in half-flooded cotton gins and dwelling houses, safe from the water for the time being, but suffering from hunger and expo sure. Four-fifths of the dead and manooned were negro farm hands. Of the dead the greater number lost their lives in the vicinity of Bryan, where a thirty-mile stretch of levee along the Brazos river crum bled under the pressure of the flood. Hempstead, In Walter county, from which reports up to this time had been meagre, reported twenty drown ed and others missing. Reports from half a dozen other small towns in Walter and adjoining counties ad vanced the total fatalities to 150 in all. The San Feupe section of Austin county, where fears were expressed for several hundred persons maroon ed on a slight elevation, received a shipment of motor boats from Hous ton, which rapidly removed the refu gees to safety. The great danger now Is freezing and starvation. For the second successive night Ice was forecasted over the thirty-nine dis trict about Bryan, where 1,800 per sons, mostly negroes, are marooned with little food or fire. Urgent appeals for blankets and food were received from all over the stricken district, from central Texas almost to the Gulf coast. A train load of provisions was ordered from Austin to Gause, in Milam county, on the Bazos for 500 marooned. Close to Simonton, in Fort Bend county, near the mouth of the Brazos river, fifty persons were shut up in a ware house without food. The Brazos crest went through a dam near Richmond Tuesday, flood ing a State convict farm. The pris oners had been removed. Texas cities have all began pouring money and supplies Into the flooded district. Houston raising $8,000 in cash. In the vicinity of Bryan seven of those drowned were members of res cue parties whose flimsy boats were overturned. One of the most heroic sacrifices was that of three young Bryan business men, all of whom died in a tree north of that city from ex- posude after their two motorboats had capsized These three, Howard R. Cavitt, Clifton Elzie and Asa J. Robbins, started Saturday noon with Tom Evans, another Bryan man, to carry provisions to a point about twenty miles north of Bryan. Their boat overturned on a snag. Robbins, Cavitt and Evans got into a tree to gether with Elzie In a tree fifty yards away been passed Madison asked permis sion to speak, and made several re quests as to the disposition of his body, the collection of some money owing to him, and that he be allow- 1 ed to thank his friends for what they had done. The defendants were then remanded to Jail. OYER TWELVE MILLION Would You Only Come Rack! (Ralph M. Thompson, in The Chris tian Herald.) Would you only come back, little fel low, to me, From the land where your spirit for ever 1b free. You might muss up my collar and rumple my shirt. You might dent every floor with the point of your top— And though your email fingers might fill me with dirt, I should nevermore peevishly tell you to stop! Would you only come back, little fel low, to me— Would you heed when I call you, and hearken the plea— You might load down your pockets with rocks every da^ 1 *— You might spatter your best Sun day garments, my lad; And though you should throw all my trinkets away, I should strive to be kind, and should scorn to "get mad". Would you only come back, little fel low, to me, From thaj. Home where you romp with the angels In glee, You might scratch up the furniture, mark on the wall, * And deface every volume you found in my den, You might litter the parlor and shout in the hall, But I never should scold you, ah, neyer again. Could you only come back, little fel- lowj to me—- Could you kneel as you used to, once more at my knee— I should hold your heart close, to atone for my loss, And should bid you to pray the dear God, who Is good, To forgive your poor daddy for hav ing been cross— And I feel if you asked It, my boy, , that He would! According to Government Report Amount Prepared for Market to December 1 is 12,081,100—South Carolina is 120,000 Bales Ahead of Last Year at This Time, The sixth cotton ginning report of the census bureau for the season, issued Monday morning, announced that 12,081,100 bales of cotton, counting round as half bales, of the growth of 1913 had been ginned prior to December 1, to which date during the past seven years the gin ning ^average 83.2 per cent, of the entice' crop. Last year to December 1 there had Jaeen ginned 11,854,541 bales, or 87.9 per cent, of the entire crop; in 1911 to that date 12,816,807 bales, or 82.4 per cent., and In 1908 to that date 11,008,661 bales, or 84.1 per cent. Included in the ginnings were 85,- 760 round bales, compared with 73,- 030 round bales last year, 87,996 round bales In 1911, 101,718 round bales In 1910, and 134,393 round bales In 1 909. * The number of sea Island cotton bales Included were 61,516, compar ed with 51,275 bales last year, 87,656 bales In 1 91 1, 77,591 bales in 1909 and 68,396 bales In 1908. Ginnings prior to December 1, by states, with comparisons for last year and of the years and the percentage of the entire crop ginned prior to that date in those years follow: Alalmnia. Year. Ginnings. Pet. 1 91 3 1,365,888 .... 1 91 2 1,1 61.482 87.4 1 91 1 1,436,076 84.7 1 908 1,1 75,629 88.3 Arkansas. 1 913 789,038 .... 191 2 659,505 85.5 191 1 680,434 74.9 1908 776,461 78,0 Florida. 1 91 3 58,490 1 912 48,630 82.7 1 91 1 74,056 78.4 1908 58,603 83.0 Georgia. 1 91 3 2,064,792 .... 1 91 2 1,564,428 86.3 1 91 1 2,339,354 83.7 1908 1,539,657 88.0 Louisiana. 1 91 3 340,086 1 91 2 343,323 91.6 1 91 1 313,624 82.4 1908 394,91 8 84.6 - Mississippi. 1 91 8 955,588 1 91 2 817,707 81.4 1 91 1 892,495 76.3 1908 1,297,677 80.1 North Carolina. 191 3 622.746 1 91 2 754,569 83.3 1 91 1 828,660 73.6 1908 554,346 81.1 Oklahoma. 1 913 761,439 1 91 2 869,278 1 91 1 783,989 1 908 505,584 Bouth Carolina. 1913.. . . . .1,161,437 1912.. . . . .1,041,689 1911.. . . . .1,310,963 1908.. .. ..1,051,550 Tennessee. 1918. . .. .. 304.502 1912. . 1911 . . 1 908. . . . . . 279,654 Texas. 1913.. 1912.. . . . .4,314,821 1911.. 1908. . Other States. 1913.. 1912.. . . . . 70,388 1911.. . . . . 89,245 1908.. 85.1 77.5 86.5 78.• 74.4 83.7 92.9 91.3 88.0 78.1 64.2 76.6 The ginnings of sea island cotton, prior to December 1, by states, fol low; Year. Fla. 1 913 23,207 1912.. .. Ga. 34,815 29,756 51,496 . . . .17,826 -191 1 32,250 f909 25,905 43,164 1908 . 27,907 32,140 S.fc. 4,496 3,693 3,810 8,522 8,349 SAD DEATH OF LITTLE BOY. Died From Hydrophobia After Being Bitten Nine Weeks. The Greenwood Index says the lit tle seven-year-old son of Mr. and Mr*. H. M. Rhodes, of Ware Shoals, died Monday from what was reported to have been hydrophoia. The little fellow was bitten nine weeks ago by a mad dog. The dog’s head was sent to Columbia Immediately after for ex amination and was found to have been affected with rabies. At once the parents had the little boy and his sister, who had also been bitten, given the Pasteur treatment and the little fellow had seemed to be getting along well until Monday morning when he had a quick change for the worse anfl passed away despite medi cal skill. The little girl is getting along very well and it Is believed that she will recover. GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH OWN- ERSHIP CONSIDERED. • Postmaster General Burleson Will Submit Findings on Question in His Annual Report. Government ownership of tele graph and telephone lines throughout the country is being seriously consid ered by President Wilson. Confer ences between the president and Postmaster General Burleson have led to a gathering Information about the practical working of government ownership in those juations where such a system is in operation. The subect will be discussed at some length in the postmaster general’s annual report, soon to be made pub lic, though it is by no means assured that he will make any positive rec ommendations. The postmaster general saw the president for a few minutes Wednes day and while they did not discuss the subject. Mr. Burleson said as he left the White House that on previous occasions when he discussed the sub ject with the president he had found his mind open and receptive to Infor mation. Though bills have been drafted by members of congress look ing to government ownership, none has been agreed upon as an adminis tration measure, while the result of Mr. Burleson’s Investigations are be ing awaited. "There is no doubt,” said Mr. Bur leson, "that the Inauguration of the parcel post and the postal savings system have given a tremendous Im petus to the desire of people all over the country to have the government own the means of communication everywhere. It is a subject involv ing two or three hundred million dollars and we must go very slowly in Inquiring into it. Every great nation except us has adopted it. "When Sir Herbert Samuels, post master general of Great Britain, was here recently, I had two long talks with him. It has proved a success in England. I do not want to make any recommendations to congress until I am absolutely sure of my ground.” Although Mr. Burleson seems to favor the plpn for government owner ship, It is said that It will not meet the unanimous approval of President Wilson’s cabinet. It Is believed in of ficial circles Attorney General Mc- Reynolds, for one, would show his aversion to such a plan if the matter Is seriously taken up in the White House. • ♦ ♦ ♦ ■ - The Long Ago. A wonderful stream is the River of Time, ^ As It flows through the realm of tears With a faultless rhythm and musical rhyme, And a broader sweep and a surge sub lime, Ere It blends with the Ocean of Yeifs, How the winters are drifting, like flakes of snow, And the summers like buds be tween, And the years in their sheaves, as they come and go. On the river’s breast, with its ebb and flow, Ere they glide in the shadows and sheen. There’s a magical Isle up the River of Time, Where the softest of airs are play ing; There’s a cloudless sky and a tropical clime, And songs as sweet as a vesper’ chime, And the Junes with the roses are straying. The name of that isle Is The Long Ago; We bury our treasures there. There are brows of beauty and bos oms of snow; There are heaps of dust; but we love them so; There are trinkets and tresses of hair. There’s a fragment of song that no body sings, And part of an infant prayer; There’s a lute unswept and a harp '’without strings— There are broken vows and pieces of rings, And the garment she used to wear. There are hands that we waved, as the fairy shore By the mirage Is lifted in air; And sometimes we hear, through the turbulent roar, Sweet voices we heard, In the days gone before, When the wind down the river Is fair. Oh, remember, for aye, be that fairy Isle, All day of life till night; When evening comes on, with its beautiful smiles, And we are closing our eyes to slum ber awhile, May that Greenwood of souls be in eight. SH01INJIS HONE ALL BATESBORG WONDERS WHIT PDLLtD TRIGGER MYSTERIOUS SILENCE CLASSIFIED COLUMN ■«S| Victor.Vlctrola* for sal* by Sima Book Store, Orangeburg, B. C. For Sale—Shetland Ponlea. W. L McIntyre, Thomaevllle, Ga. For Bale- ■ Poplar and, Pine trees. Ad* dreee James A. Clarkson, Hopbine, 8. C. J. Milton Hite Goes to His Home for Supper and is Soon Afterwards Found Wounded—Telephone Line man and Mrs. Hite Are In Jail Awaiting Investigation. Mystery shrouds the shooting of J. Milton Hite, of Batesburg, which oc curred Saturday night in the Hite home, and In the presence of Mrs. Hite and her eight-year-old daugh ter. The wound may prove fatal, for the doctors at Augusta, where Mr. Hite was carried, say he has a meagre chance to live. Walter E. Gurgan- ous is held charged with the shooting. According to information obtain able, Mr. Hite left his work & little before 7 o’clock Saturday night to go to his home for supper and upon arrival there, It is said, he found Gur- ganous in the hall and his wife and little daughter In the bed room. It is believed that a quarrel followed and that Mr. Hite ordered the stran ger to leave, and that during a acuffle with Gurganous the pistol was fired. Sheriff Miller, who made a thorough Investigation, refused to divulge what he terms as the inside story, saying that he would hold It until the proper time. Gurganous was arrested Satutday at the home of Mr. Hite soon after the shooting by Chief of Police Darby of Batesburg. An automobile was se cured and Gurganous was brought to the I.exington jail, where he was placed behind the bars. Chief Darby stated that he chose a circuitous route in order to be sure that no harm would be done his prisoner, the feeling at Batesburg being strong against the man. Mrs. Ella Delle Hite, wife of the wounded man, was arrested at her home by Sheriff Miller Tuesday and Is now resting behind the bars of the I.exington county jail. She was ar rested on a warrant sworn out before Magistrate A. H. Blease by John G. Darby, chief of police of Batesburg, in which she Is charged with being an accessory to the shooting. The affidavit sets out: That on Information and belief at Batesburg, Lexington County, State aforesaid, on the 6th day of Decem ber, 1913, one Ella Delle Hite did unlawfully assist, aid, abet and pro cure one Walter E. Gurganous, with out Just cause or provocation, to vio lently assault, shoot, penetrate and wound one J. Milton Hite, with In tent, him, the said J. Milton Hite, to kill and murder, said aiding, abetlng, assisting and procuring being against the form of the statute In such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State. Mrs. Hite refused to be interview ed after reaching the Jail, • telling Sheriff Miller that she would not make a statement now, but in a few days she would be pleased to talk. Gurganous, who is charged with the shooting, is occupying a cell on the upper floor of the jail, while Mrs. Hite occupies a lower cell Just to the right of the cell occupied by the young man. Carrying out the In structions of Solicitor George B. Timmerman, who accompanied Sher iff Miller to Batesburg, Mrs. Hite and Gurganous will not be allowed to talk to each other. A close guard will be placed around the pail during the day in order that no message may pass between the two. Mrs. Hite showed no visible signs of emotion. She took her arrest calmly, It Is said, and the outcome of her husband’s injuries will be await ed before any attempt is made to secure bond for either Mrs. Hite or Gurganous. Mrs. Hite Is a typical brunette, very attractive In personal ity. She was becomingly dressed In a blue coat suit with a hat to match. The shooting for which Gurganous and Mrs. Hite are being held occur red In the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hite, at Batesburg, on Saturday night about 7 o’clock. Mr. Hite left his work at the store of L. D. Cullum to go to supper, a little before 7 o’clock, and a few minutes later a pistol shot rang out. Nearby neighbors rushed to the home only a find Hite with a pistol wound In the lower part of the neck. v .. u Gurganous and Mr* Hite were found In the home together, It Is said, Mrs. Hite being at the tele phone trying to get a doctor when the first person arrived. The weapon with which the wound was inflicted was, It Is alleged, the property of Mr. Hite and has never been found. When seen at the county jail Sun day morning, which was two daya prior to the arrest of Mrs. Hite, Gur ganous refused to make a statement further than to say that the shooting was purely an accident. He said also that he did not do the shooting; that there was no one In the room at the time except himself and Mr. and Mrs. Hite. Wasted—Cow peas, all varieties. The H. O. Leidlng Co., 144 East Bay. Charleston, 8. C. Wanted to Buy—Ten Car Loads well berried Holly. Z. M. L. Jeffreys, Goldsboro, N. C. Orangee—Sweet, fresh from trees. Standard sice box, $2. Jas. T. Holmer, Bartow, Fla. For Sale—Fruit, Shade Ornamental trees and shrubs. Catalogue free. Cureton Nurseries, Austeel, Ga. Harry! Choice Mating, Bourbon Red Turkeys; toms, $6; hens, $5; Pair, $9; trio, $12. Bourbon Farm, Kemp Mills, N. C. White Wyandotte*—Yearling stock for sale at sacrifice. Eggs for hatch ing. W. P. Causey, 1315 Dickens Bt„ Columbia, B. C. Harry—Many rich, congenial, anx ious for companions. Interesting particulars, photo free. Th# Mes senger, Jacksonville, Fla. Sperial—Pure whit# and Exhibition Fawn and White Runners, $5; trio Utility, $1 each or $10 dos. Mm. J. F. Carroll, Hohenuald, Tend. Homer Pigeons—50c. White Wyan-' dotte, White end Brown Leghorn cockerels, $1. Fine Jersey cowe. Benbow Farmers. Oak Ridge. N. C. For Rale—400-acre stock farm; well Improved; lake front; rural route; 3 miles from station. Price $7,000. Terms. Frank Powell, Mlccosukee. Fla. For Rale—One gold trumpet cornet, Holton's; good as new. cost $101. First check for $50 gets It. I guar antee It. Address Box 104, Rock Hill, 8. C. Are yon ambitions? Learn salesman ship. I teach you thoroughly by correspondence In twelve weeks and assist you in securing position. B. E. Garrett, Box 188, Chattanooga, Tenn. Cabbage Plant*—D I r e c t from Younge’s Island; 90c per thousand. Big lots cheaper. Ca*h with order save# purchaser return chargee on money. Fred F. Pooser, Orange burg, 8. C. For Rale—Good farms, all sise*, cot ton, tobacco and truck succeesfally grown. Coming section of Horry county. Ten to twenty dollar* per acre. Ask us for list. Ream A McKenzie, Loris, 8. C. Postmaster at Paxville. Leila L. Corbett was Tuesday ap pointed portmaster at Paxville, Clar endon county, succeeding E. M. Brab ham. resigned. • Two Killed Near Snmter. According to a report from Sumter Mose Deas, colored, shot and kUletJ, hit wife and a man named Allston, at Providence, on Saturday. Engraved Visiting Card* and Wed ding Invltatioq orders promptly fill ed. Write for styles of engraving. Visiting cards engraved in scrip, $1.60 per 100 postpaid. Blms Book Store, Orangeburg, 8. C. Young man, good habit*; experience not necessary; to sell paints, oil*, disinfectants, etc.; salary or com mission; large profits and steady work. We will help you. The Al catraz Co., Richmond, Va. Teacher* with certificates wanted im mediately for following positions in graded or rural schools: S at 960; 6 at $50; 8 at $45; 11 at $40; 7 at $35. Direct from school official#. Special enrollment. Act immediate ly. W. H. Jone*, Mgr., Columbia, 8. C. Motorcycle Special Oil—Five gallons $3.75, once tried always used Goodyear tires, belts, chains, Harlej parts. Expert motor repairing. Everything for the motorcycle. Mall orders a specialty. Get our catalogue. T. 8. Chipley, “The Mo torcycle Man,” Greenwood, 8. C. Use Gasoline Lighting Systems—In dividual or central generation, which have stood the test. Tor par ticulars ask M. L. Pommer, Charles ton, S. C. Our tanks and airpumps (the latter also handy for Autpmo- mobile use), are unsurpassed for durability. Mantels and glassware for all lighting systems, the very best at lowest prices. Order yonr supply from M. L. Pommer, 64t King 8t., Charleston, 8. C. WHERE ARE THE DEAD?” Oar new book of 850 pages by Her. Len G. Broughton, D. D., assisted by several of ths world’s most .looted ministers, answers this question clearly and satisfactorily. It Is truly ths twentieth centnry lightjtrprsns ths dark age theories. A m*4t*rly defense of the Scriptures. Outfit sent on receipt of 15c. Best ternp. Agents selling 30 to 60 booki per day. Don’t miss this opportnnltf. Order outfit at once. Complete book sent postpaid on receipt of ll.M. Phllllps-Boyd Publishing Company, Atlanta. Ga. Old for sale