Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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' • V I ■ 'X •' u '."X- V •tf * *£ ■ 4f <► “Just Like a Member of th« Family” ■ : w«tX VOL XXXVII BARNWELL, S C MARCH 19. 1914 COUNTY IS REFERRED TO AS “BLOODY BARNWELL” FOUR CANDIDATES ARE INITIATED BY MASONS Conditions Almost as Bad Old Edgefield. as in MORE EDUCATION THE REMEDY Judge Seete Deplored Existing State of Affair* Here. Many who heard Judge Sease’s charge to the Grand- Jury Monday morning pronounced it one of the most forceful delivered ifi the Barnwell Court House in many years. He im pressed his hearers with the fact that the Court is here to attend to business, referred to the appalling number oTtifiost homicides committed in the county and State in the past year, and among other things said that better education would bring abbiit betfer conditions. The following extracts were taken from his -term in the House of Representatives, m charge: “This Court is organized and estab lished by the laws of this State for the purpose of suppressing crime, for the punishment of the guilty,for the punish ment of those people who have violated the fights of other people--those charged with murder, manslaughter, assault nd battery and crimes of that nature, hat is what the Court is organized for. It seems to me that we have a very heavy docket on the criminal side of the Court, and it is • the business of Jurors and witnesses, when they are summoned to appear at Court, to be here, and appear and not be out side.” , The Court impressed lipon the Grand Jury the importance of good men serv ing on both the petit and Grand Jury, saying that a man who had no business at home to suffer by reason of his ab sence, as a rule, was not the man want ed for good'jury service.' In speaking of crime in South Caro lina, and the purpose of the Courts in suppressing crime, the following ex tract may be interesting: “It seems. Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, that thete is some eighteen or twenty murder cases on this docket. The Attorney General’s Report will show that during the last year, some thing like three hundred and seventy five homicides were committed in thisState % It is appalling to think that in the next three hundred and sixty-five days, each day of the three hundred and sixty-five, some person will be killed by his fellowman in South Carolina, some man will be put in a bloody grave by the hand of his fellowman, his life will be sniffed out at the point of a pistol or shot gun. It is a record that the State of South Caro lina should be ashamed of. Now, where is the fault? Is it with the lawyers who ably defend their clients? Is it with the prosecuting attorney? Is it the fault of the Court? Is it the fault of the Grand Jury, or is it the fault of the petit jury? The theory of punishment is for the purpose of suppressing crime Jmd still crime goes on rampant in the te, and the conclusion is that the ishment contemplated by the law has not been meted out to those proven to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If every guilty person "was punished, and our theory of punishment is cor rect, then we would have fewer crimes in the land. Therefore, somebody or something is at fault. I suppose that during the last year, you have tried something like twenty-five people for taking the lives of that many other peo ple in the County of Barnwell, small compared with the entire State, and now your dockets are full again. What are you going to do about it? My ex perience has been that the Grand Jury always do their duty. Therefore, the fault must be with the petit jury.” The Judge stressed the fact that too many men were acquitted because of preju dice or favor or feeling, and deplored the condition of affars, saying that Barnwell Couniy could now almost take the place of old Edgefield County and be called “Bloody Barnwell.” - The Court impressed upon the mem bers of the Grand Jury that it was their duty to keep up with the affairs of the County officers, saying in part: “It is your duty, Gentlemen of the Jury, to look into the affairs qf the County officers, 1o examine into the finances of the County offices, to ex amine into the finances of the County. You may not have an expert accountant on the Jury, but I believe the law per mits you to employ the services of an accountant to look into these things. This is a matter entirely for you. - *’ The Court, however, said that he med that all the County officers were doing their duty, Snd said if they Vqre not, the best way to get after them tend to them at the next elec- V . tion. Elegant COL MIXSON SAYS HE . WILL RUN FOk CONGRESS Banquet Followed Meeting at Fairfax. Fairfax, March 14.—Mrs. NEGRO INFLICTS 28 WOUNDS ON HIS WIFE M. WilHaton j , Man Decide* Definitely to ^ Q *' 1 Enter the Race. , Col. R. M. Mixson, of WilliStoh, a member of the Barnwell County dele gation to the General Assembly, was in town Monday. When approached by a representative of The People and asked whether or not he had decided definitely to enter the race for Con gress against the Hon. James F. Byrnes, Mr. Mixson stated that he would assuredly be a candidate. His formal announcement, he said, would appear in the papers over the district within the next week or two; Col. Mixson, who has served one will make his race dtl his record.- He expects to start an active campaign within the next few days, and will be “on the job” until the battle of the ballots on August 2oth. H« promises to “make it interesting” for all wjho throw thefr hats into the ring for Con gressional honors. GO-TO-CHURCH SUNDAY UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS Many Barnwell People Attended Church of Their Choice. “Go-to-chiirch Sunday” was an un qualified success here. As stated last week, Mayor Harley issued a proclama tion, calling on the people of Barnwell to attend the church of their choice on that day. As a result of the proclama tion and a personal invitation from the ministers, a large number of people at tended church. Special programs had been prepared and the sermons of the ministers were in keeping with the spirit of the day. » Extra Venire Drawn. The following extra venire of peji jurors was drawn Tuesday morning: W W Woodward, Wm McNab, F H Huggins, S H Ussery, B T Rice, T S Cave, Kendrick Diamond, J C Staley, J L Boyd, Tom Pressy, J D Davis, S J Clary, R W Dicks, J E Lain, J M Cald well, E R Cox. The Court called special attention to the roads and bridges of the County, and urged the Grand Jury to look close ly after that part of the government of the county. He said, “Good roads are usually commensurate with good Gov ernment, where you have one, you have the other.” The Court said further: “I also call your special attention to the fact that it is your duty to investi gate your schools, and see that the pro per amount of money is being spent on your schools. It is also your duty to examine a list of the school teachers in your County and see that they are com petent—see what their ability is, and what their preparation has been. I think it is against the law for a Board of Trustees to elect a teacher who is related to a member of the Board with in the sixth degree. You should look into that question. The office of Coun ty Superintendent of Education is one of the most important within the County That office is organized for the pur pose of looking after the educational interests of the County; educating the people. If we had compulsory educa tion seventy-five years ago, and I have no hesitancy in saying that 1 favor compulsory education, I believe further that we would not have over two or three homicide cases on this docket for trial now. It takes time for a measure of that kind to have its effect, and that is probably the reason we have never had it.” ... In discussing the wisdom of educating the people, the Judge called attention to the great work that Clemson College is doing in South Carolina to-day. The Court said:—“Therefore, these people who inaugurated and established what is known as Clemson College were forward looking men, and the genera tions, that are to come will rise up and callthese people blessed. It is a remar kable fact that fo two or three hun dred years the State of South Caro lina has been typically an agricultural country, and yet for only about twenty- five years havewe been teaching our people how to farm scientifically.” The Judge called attention to the fact that this Gorernmeat is perpetual and goes on forever, and that all improve ments, in the schools, and in building roadi, etc., should l>e done in the. beat A. Moye returned with Mrs. Gussie Sul livan to Moultrie, Ga., after the latter had paid her a long visit. Mr. and Mrs. Moye Dowling paid a short visit to Augusta recently. Mr. and Mrs J. C. Lott of Columbia are spending some time here with rela tives. Laurens Youmans, Cleo Sanders and G. D. Sanders motored to Augusta Wednesday. Miss Ethel Brooker of Swansea has been* spending some time with hqr sis ter, Mrs. Wm. Simpson. Mr. and • Mrs, Blount of Denmark have moved here.-- , Miss Anna Kearse has returned from Atlanta. Mr. and Mrs. Jones Williams of Hickory Grove were in town this week Visiting relatives. J. C. Preacher left for Augusta today. N. W. Weekley visited Jenny this week. Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Rivers of EstiU are visifing Mrs. Nat Weekley. Mrs. John Weekley and daughter visited here recently. Mrs. George Brant of Ulmer is visit ing the family bf G. G. Young.—;; -• Misses Annie Simmons of Rowesville and Carrie Weekly of Ulmer have been visiting Mesdames N. Weekley and 0. Deer. The most interesting event of the week was the banquet given by the Masons at the hotel. Mr. and Mrs. M. CTDowling superintended and provided the supper, which assured its success. Each Mason had invited his wife, mother or sweetheart, so there were quite a number of ladies present. After escorting the ladies to the hotel parlor the Masons attended the busi ness meeting of the lodge, where Por ter Barber, C. H. Sanders and Chester Lancaster took the first degree of Masonry. .Then they joined the ladies at the hotel and escorted them to the feast. The spacious dining hall 1 was illuminated and decorated with taste and presented a bright picture when about 40 persons were seated. There were many from other lodges. Ernest and Wm. Ritter, Brabham of Olar, Benj. Loadholt, were among them. Misses. F. Lea qf Holly Hill, M. Folk of Eslill, Miss Waits of Harmony were vis- j iting belles. After the feast many re paired to the parlor where music and lively conversation prevailed. Bunn*** Mamie Hay* Was Seriously; Cat by Anderson Hay* Saturday. Mamie Hays, a negress, was serious ly and possibly fatally cut by her hus band, Anderson Hays, Saturday night in a tenant house on the plantation of Col. Butler Hagood. A new pocket knife was the "weapon used, twenty- eight wounds being inflicted, the ma jority of them in the woman’s face and on her head. It is said that domes tic trouble led to a seperation of the man and woman, who live near Kline, and that when Mamie refused to return to her husband, he asked her if she was “ready to go to h-4,” and immediately attacked her. One blade of the knife was broken off. The negro escaped and eluded the officers Saturday night, but was caught Sunday by Mr. Joe Thomas, at Cave’s station and brought to Barnwell the following day. He is’mow in jail await ing the outcome of the woman’s in juries, which th.e doctors pronounce serious a^id possibly fatal. It is also said that a couple of weeks ago Hays held his wife to a fire until her clothes were burned of." MARCH TERM OF COURT CONVENED /HERE MONDAY BARNWELL TO VOTE ON BOND ISSUE OF {25,MO Judge T. S. Sease, 0/ Spirted burg* ifl r STATION AGENT WAS , PAINFULLY INJURED M’GARITY IS URGED. Blackville Would See Superintendent ' Made Inspector. Blackville, March 12.—Superintend ent W. Jay McGarity of the Blackville schools, who was recently indorsed by the town of Allendale for the position of State high school inspector to succeed W. H. Hand, resigned, is also favored by the citizens of Blackville and Barnwell county. * . , The people of Blackville are very happy in having a man of such great capability as superintendent of their school, but, in order to foster his pro gress to this elevated position, they heartily indorse him only so far as the prospects of losing his servrtes to sue 1 - ceed Prof. Hand, and his many friends are not only confident that he would fill the position in the proper manner, but that he arould touch work that has never been handled in this field. He is capable of not only criticising, but pointing out how the numerous ob stacles in high schools should be over come, thereby fulfilling the real duties of the office. Mr. H. H. Youngblood Rendered Un conscious By Fall. — Seiglingville; March 16.—Mr. H. H. Youngblood, of this place, suffered a painful accident Thursday while per forming his duties as sub-agent at Cave. He was helping to unload a car when his foot slipped on the skids, throwing him across the trucks. He was rendered unconscious by the fall and it was some time before he re vived. It was feared at first that some of his ribs were broken, but he is able to be at the depot, again with nothing more serious than a sore side. Messrs. H^ .J. Moody and R. W. Youngblood went to Bamberg Thursday to attend .Court. Mrs. H. J. Moody and Master T. S. Moody have returned from Dunbarton. Mrs. Moody’s friends will be glad to learn that her mother, Mrs. George Anderson, is improving. Miss Eunice Matthews left yesterday to visit her home in Williston. Misses Maude and Ida Weaver were visitors here Friday. •' Mrs. Dora Dee Walker, of Appleton, visited the tomato club girls here Wednesday. „ Mrs. T. S. Cave, of Barnwell, was a visitor here Wednesday. Mrs. R. C. Bark, together wit Masters Carroll and Rollins and little Misses Gladys and Oliye, of Allendale, were visitors at the hpme of Mr. O. W. Bar ker Sunday. . ■ Miss Flossie Knight, of Fairfax, was a visitor here yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Porter and little daughter and Mrs. T. S. Cave, of Barn well, motored down here yesterday. Mrs. D. M. Oglesby and Misses Leila May, Bertha, Annie Laurie and Thel ma, and Masters David and D. M. Jr., paid a pleasant visit to relatives in Appleton Sunday. Ricbburg Take* Step*. Richburg, March 12.—Citizens of Richburg, following the suggestion from Allendale of W. 'Jay McGarity for for State high school inspector to suc ceed W. H. Hand, resigned, have signed an indorsement of Mr. McGarity the position. Mr. McGarity is a native of this section. The indorse ment from Richburg is signed by 59 residents. GIVING GOOD SHOWS. “The Palmetto” Presenting Vaudeville in 1 Addition to Picture*. - t 'The Palmetto” Theatre, under the management of Messrs. Andrews and 1 Bamberg, has been presenting high class vaudeville acts in addition to the regular moving picture program. The act Saturday night, in which there was a cas^ of eight people, was highly en- Voter* Will Decade .March 28 Whether V . They Want Now SchooL In another column of this week’s issue of The People is the notice of an election to be held on Saturday, March 28th, at which time the qualified elec tors of this school district will vote on the proposed bond issue of $25,000 to be used for the purchase of new grounds and the erection of a hand some, modem school building. There was some doubt in the minds of a few as to whether or not this dis-, trict could issue bonds in the amount specified, but' when the matter was investigated it was found that the dis trict could be bonded in the amount of 8 per cent, of the assessed valuation of taxable property. Under this statute it would be possible to issue $51,223 in bonds, as the valuation of property is placed at $640,288. No trouble was experienced fn get ting the necessary number of names to the petition calling the election, pnd the present outlook is that the issue will carry by a substantial majority. Out of a total of 222 qualified elec tors, 133 signed the petition. Only 75 signers were necessary. There were 109 freeholders OUL'jif-a . totaL-nf~3M who signed, 105 names being sufficient to call the election. 1 Of course, there are ip an y others who would have signed willingly had it beep necessary to secure Additional names SAYS LEGISLATOR “HAS NO ACCOUNT’ Barnwell Bank Returned Unpaid Check Drawn by Barnwell Representative. “This party has no account with ..this bank,” is the notation made by the Home bank of Barnwell upon the back of a $10 check upon that institution, draw by Norman nC. Creech, member of the Barnwell delegation in the lower house of the general assembly, which check has been returned unpaid to the bank which cashed it, the Carolina National bank of Columbia. Such are the allegations in an affi davit filed yesterday, along with the check in question, with Jas. H. Fowles, magistrate pf Columbia. The conatitu tion of the State exempts legislators from arrest not only during the session but also during the ten days preceding and the days followingthe ten session. It was under plea of this exemption that Mr. Creech was released several days ago when arrested .under a warrant sworn out by the Central Drug com pany of Columbia before Magistrate Fowles. It was alleged in this case that worthless checks, one for $4, the other for $4.50, had been imposed on the prosecutors by Mr. Creech. Mag istrate Fowles is holding three checks and two warrants pending the expira tion of the Barnwell legislator’s perioc of exemption.—The State, March 14. MANY CASES ARE BEING TRIED Grand Jury Has Returned Largu Nnuu- hur of True Bill*. The March term of the Court of Gen eral Sessions convened here Monday morning, with Judge T. S. Setae, of Spartanburg, presiding. He found a heavy docket awaiting Lim, a large number of the defendants being charged with murder. Little time was lost in "getting down to brass tacks,” as Judge Sease’s repu tation for pushing the business of the Court had preceded Jiim. Witnesses snd jurors were not disposed to incur his displeasure,-with the possible con sequences of a fine for delaying the Court. In fact, one juror, who did pot answer promptly when he was called,, was fined $6. Thu True Bill*. The Court officials being la their places, the Grand Jurors, all of wimp answered ,to the roll call, were awom. The following True Bills have been found by this body: M. C. Lee, murder. Mike Jackson," housebreaking and sreeny. son. Ro GOOD CHECK TO COVER BAD. SOIL OF BARNWELL COUNTY Fir*t Print of Survey Ju*t Out in Book Form. The government Printing Office has just turned out the first print of the soil survey of Barnwell County, taken by experts of the department of agri culture at the instance of Representa tive Byrnes in 1912. It usually takes a year or two to put these surveys into shape for distribution. Mr. Byrnes will have eopies of this bulletin sent to such persons in Barnwell County as make application to him for it. Mr. Hutto Reaicn*. The following card was received from Mr. H. C. Hutto, of Hilda, Tues day morning: Hilda, S. C., March 18, 1914. Gentlemen:—I herewith hand in my resignation as Intendant of this Town and I hereby appoint Mr. W. G. Collins to act as fntendant of this town until an Electiop^js held to elect an Inten dant or in case no election is held to act until the regular Election which will be on or about Noy 1st, 1914, and I wish to say that my business transaction with you gentlemen as wardens has been very plfaaant, but I have other grounds which are sufficient for me to hand in my resignation from this office. , Respectfully, v-- ..-. _ H. C. Hutto. ~- Said to Be Still Another Bed Check to Creech’* Credit. Columbia, March 17.—A check fop $18.50 to cover the “bad” checks given two local concerns by N. C. Creech, member of the House from Barnwell, was received to-day by a local magis trate. There is still another bad check outstanding against Creech, although the action to-day relieves the member of the House from the criminal charge preferred as to the first twowhecks. A relative tcok the matter in hand Creech pleaded the ten days’ constitu tional prohibition against arrest of member of the General Assembly, thus deferring action until now. READING CLUB ENTERTAINED. A Largs Number Attended Meeting in Allendale Wednesday. Allendale, March 14.—Mrs. Jas. H. Warren waa hostess to the Woman’s Reading club on last Wednesday. There were s large number in attendance an< those present responded to roll call with quotations from Scott “Kenil worth” was the subject of study and Miss Sarah Hammett was the leader for Peter Key, murder. Harrison Johnson and Charlie John- murder. t obert Beed, Herbert Brown, Smart Barker, disturbing religious worship. Annie Bright, murder. ' < Gilbert Fullerton, Arthur Allen, as sault and Fatter^ with intent to IdlL - 1 Henry Dessesseau, murder. W. H. Elmore, larceny of live stock. H. C. Mitchell, murder. Mrs. R. J. Mizell, murder. Dock Carter, housebreaking and lar ceny. v W. M. Still, violation of the dispen sary law. J. W. Williams, violation of the dis pensary law. „ Ollie Patterson, violation of the *dis- peesary law. Anderson Hayes, assault and battery with intent to kill-. Robert Bowers, murder. Robt. Jenkins, Pink Alien, murder. Qu inters Brabham, murder. It is seen from the above that thara is an unusual number of murder asset to be tried at this term, 10 true MIV haying been found so far. ....... < Cara* Disposed Of. If the Court keeps up its present rate of disposing of cases a record will be made at this session/ The first eaae called for trial was that of Hamp Jen nings, charged with assault and battery. He was acquitted. Mike Jackson pleaded guilty to hooae- breaking and larceny and waa aaa- tenced to four years at hard labor on the chaingang or in the penitentiary. Clifford Robinson and James Olooxo, charged with murder, pleaded guilty !»;. manslaughter, Robinson Vheing sen tenced to 10 yearsiat hanrjabor in the penitentiary or on the chain gang, while . Olonzo was given a sentence of live years. Arthur Scott, indicted 4 ' for murder, entered a plea of manslaughter, and was giyen four and one-half yeara on the chaingang or in the penitentiary. W. T. Mims, changed with assault and battery with intent to kill, waa found guilty of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Recom mended to mercy. . Dock Carter pleaded guilty to house- 1 breaking and larceny and was sen tenced to two years at hard labor on the chain gang or in the penitentiary. Charlie Wideman and Clara WiBiama pleaded guilty to the charge of adultery and were sentenced to pay a fine of $500 each. In addition to the lino Wideman was sentenced to one year at hard labor on the chain gang or in the penitentiary and the woman waa sen tenced to one yearjn the penitentiary. The sentence was suspended mstfl another true bill for adultery la found against them. Thomas Muna and Maggie WaB ahn pleaded guilty to adultery and wore given like sentences as those on Wideman and Clara WOUaant sentences being suspended another true bill for adultery ie\ lb, rftKboon. Mr, 1. W. OK*. i»5 ■ . .. t\ • • “Scott as . Pr»f U>« Y»»C)I »-OOto WM tOMd gufltjr «f » a paper, ‘Scott as a Poet, and Mbs ^ and ^ tetent tek4! A-x paper, Bell entertained the club with a review of recent “current events.” The dub will hold its next meeting Him UIB gwrefiHfllCTlRlBlkHly pusftlUle uiilfflgF. idl^'K) anTtfirTiffiii3"f»t» on them, by making a report of it, and in tHe words of the Counrt “the people will ittr “ * “ x •' * generations of people. As toe Court long as their patronage warraota, they said “For,the welfare of the county, will conttnue to present vaudeville— not for toe present, but for toe fut- the same acts that are seen in Colum- - Wednesday of this weak. bia and other large cities. Tuesday . was St. Patrick’s Day, which is dear to the heart of all true Irishnfen. A ntimber of shamrocks were m erideoee in BarnwelL Mias Marguerite Patterson, who is attending school id Charleston, spent the week-end with relatives here. carrying concealed weapons; mended to mercy. Sentenced ndt; The Court then trial of J. W. Hogg, murder of J. V. an charged wMt ton the other < ■tin