Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ALLEGED ASSAU AIKEN \ Grover Brown Escapes F Young Men of Prom With Assault With Aiken, March 21.?Grover C. C. Brown, Southern Railway agent at Warrenville, this county, a young married man of one of Aiken's prominent families, is in the Aiken county jail, charged with assault with intent to ravish a young married woman of Warrenville, the warrant for his arrest having been sworn out at 7 o'clock to-night by the woman in question. This is the latest turn in a series of events that have occurred since last night when, by a quick move on the part of Magistrate iJJidridge Craig, young Brown was rushed off to Augusta to avoid the fury of a quickly gathered mob; who stormed the depot at Warrenville in search of the supposed offender. Arrived at Augusta, Brown communicated with the Aiken authorities and was brought back to this city to-day and lodged in jail, where he remained for but a short while, being released after a brief investigation of the situation at Warrenville. He was rearrested to-night on a warrant taken out before Magistrate Craig. Brown's Version of Affair. It seems that upon the arrival at Warrenville of the night train from Columbia, bound for Augusta, a young matron, carrying in her arms a considerable number of bundles, alighted from the train. Mr. Brown, it is stated, secured her arm and endeavored to assist her across the adjacent trolley track, whereupon she began to scream that he release her arm, crying that he was insulting her. Mr. Brown released her, returning to his office. With inconceivable rapidity the newrs went through the little village that Brown had most flagrantly insulted the young woman, and a mob of armed men gathered and marched to "the depot. But when they arrived Magistrate Craig had secured the young man, and both had boarded the train passing from Branchville to Augusta. Thus was the mob eluded, j ? Brought to Aiken. Rural Policeman HoPey was informed of the affair through- a telephone message from Augusta, and he, accompanied by Sheriff Raborn | and Rural Policemen Busbee and I Samuels, met the 7:30 a. m. train at Langley and from there escorted the ~ ?"" + V.a AJ1-an n/Minf-% inil VUUUg lilCtU LU L11C Aincu WW.***..' j Magistrate Craig leaving the train at Warrenville. However, Mr. Brown was confined to the jail for only about two hours. An investigation was evidently gone into at Warrenville, for an order was received about 9 o'clock, requesting his release; that there was nothing to the affair. Immediately after his release an interview was obtained with Mr. I Brown at which time the former gave the following account of the affair; Statement by Brown. Upon the arrival Wednesday night of Second No. 7, from Columbia, a j lady alighted and requested that j packages, which she carried, be al lowed to remain temporarily in tae office; that is, the Warrenville office, j Brown was busy at the key for the moment and the woman was seated. At the expiration of possibly three minutes Mr. Brown became disen-i gaged, turned to the woman and inquired of'her what service he could render, whereupon she reiterated her desire to have her packages remain in the care of the office, and to this the agent acquiesced. Leaving his key open and authorizing Operator J. M. Rush to take his chair, he escorted the lady from the office?which is temporarily a car box, since the recent destruction by fire of the depot building?across the railroad track. Owing to the late conflagration at the station the yard is dark, and Brown deemed it incumbent upon himself to further assist her across the adjacent trolley track, which is some fifty yards distant from the office. And it was here that she screamed, crying that he had insulted her by securing her arm in the dark. Astonished at this reception of his solicitude, Brown promptly released her arm, asked her pardon and returned to his office, where he encountered Marshall Rhett Lowe, who asked: "What on earth is the matter with that woman?" "I simply took her arm, as I would that of any woman, to assist her across the track," was Brown's reply. Rushed to Augusta. Mr. Brown entered the office, cleared the wires, and with the constable stepped across the street, for coca colas. Later retracing their steps to the office, Magistrate Craig had appeared. He informed Mr. Brown that a mob was gathering for the purpose of fLT IN COUNTY TOWN :ury of Warrenville Mob. inent Family Charged Attempt to Ravish. ! dealing summary punishment, and that he?Brown?had better leave the office, or car, go home and extinguish all house lights, for he exi pected trouble from the mob. Brown expressed doubt of this, and i asked if such were possible, and to i this the magistrate replied that it was not only possible, but very definitely probable, and that it was best for Brown to get away as expedi| tiously as possible, rather than to rej main there and run the risk of being shot. Mr. Craig and Brown then boarded train No. 17, w&icn was just passing through, for Augusta. On arriving in Augusta, the two called at the office of the Western Union Telegraph Company, from which Brown conversed with the operator at Warrenville, the latter in! forming him that there were some forty or fifty armed men on the immediate premises and that they had already broken into the express room, or car, in search for him?Brown. Brown then communicated with Rural Policeman Holley, at Aiken, I j J rv vv% o If ay* t a V?im ro_ [ anu leiausu iuc mauci iv uma, I questing the sheriff and the entire police force to meet him at Langley upon the arrival of train No. 18, east bound, due at 7:30 a. m. Proposed Compromise. The authorities went down to ! Langley, met the train and accomi panied Brown to the Aiken county jail. After Brown had been in jail for about an hour, the,sheriff received advices from the husband of the woman in question, requesting the : immediate release of Mr. Brown, under the proviso that the latter pay the lady $15, recompense for mental j anguish, but Brown's counsel, the Messrs. Hendersons, declined to sanction such a settlement. This concludes the exact story of 1 Mr. Brown, the only alteration being that Mr. Brown spoke in the first person and the reporter took down his statement in the third person. Mr. Brown returned to Warrenville this afternoon and resumed his j duties at the office, at 3 o'clock, but I wa^ rearrested to-night and brought back here to jail. Mob Sought Railway Man. Aiken, March 21.?Grover Brown, Southern Railway agent at Warren ville, this county, narrowly escaped rough treatment if not death at the hands of a mob,of infuriated men last night by being rushed on a trolley car to Augusta by Magistrate Craig. Twenty minutes after the magistrate left with Brown in his custody, a mob broke open the box cars used at Warrenville for a station since the depot was burned and made a futile effort to locate Brown. Brown, who is a member of a well known Aiken county family and a 1 young man highly respected, was brqught to Aiken this morning and lodged in jail, charged with assault with criminal intent upon a young married woman of Warrenville. Sheriff Rabon and the rural policemen of the county heard of the trouble at Warrenville last night and met j Magistrate Craig and his prisoner at Langley and accompanied him : through Warrenville. j Mr. Brown protests his innocence 1 and claims that, as agent, he was i merely assisting the woman over the i car tracks, when she arrived on a train after dark last night with sevi eral bundles, and she began to | scream. Young Girl Killed by Train. Greenville, March 21.?Elsie Singleton, a pretty 20-year-old mill girl. . was instantly killed at noon to-day j by Southern train No. 29 at the cross; ing of the Buncombe road with the railroad tracks at Poe mills. The i girl was on her way to dinner at the time and stepped on the crossing j without seeing the vestibule hurrying toward her. She was struck in the back of the head and her body hurled ! 30 feet. Miss Singleton's father is ; a planter living some three miles from Greer. The girl worked at the American Spinning company and at a npflrliv house. The cor oner conducted an inquest this afternoon, after which the body was sent to the girl's former home. Thought of it Too Late. Lucian Binford, 21 years old, killed himself at Linford, Ky., on Monj day because, so he stated in a note he left, he felt unable to keep his fiancee in the state which his love prompted him to think she deserved. The youth was to have been married , Wednesday, but the minister engaged to perform the wedding ceremony preached the funeral on that day. 1 | GROVER C. BROWX RELEASED. | j Charge of Assault with Attempt to Ravish Dismissed. Aiken, March 22.?At a preliminary hearing to-day the case of young Grover C. Brown, the Southern Railway ticket agent at Warrenville, this county, charged with assault with attempt to ravish a young married woman of that town, was dismissed and the prisoner released. Brown had been in jail since early last night, when he was rearrested on a warrant sworn out by the young woman, after being hurried off to Augusta to escape the mob which had gathered at Warrenville, then confined to the Aiken jail for a few hours and later released following a brief investigation of the situation. The case was disposed of in just about 120 seconds after it was called. Xo witnesses for the prosecution were present. The young matron, upon whom the assault was alleged to have been perpetrated, had been notified by Magistrate Craig to appear at the trial, but this she refused to do, adding that she wanted the entire matter dropped; that she had been mistaken and would have nothing further to do with the affair. Hence the presiding magistrate, Craig, declared the case "forever discharged." The defendant was represented by the Messrs. Henderson. Such a mild and unusual termination to the case was not expected and came as a surprise, for at one time Brown's life was in danger of being snuffed out at the hands of an angry mob of fifty or seventy-five armed men who had sworn to lynch him. The mob was eluded by Magistrate Craig, who placed his prisoner on the train passing from Branchville to Augusta, at which latter place the two remained until yesterday morn ing, when they were met at Langley by a sheriff's posse and the prisoner brought to Aiken in safety. Program for Union Meetings. March 29-31. General topic?The Church. 1. How may union meetings become most helpful to our local churches? 2. What dangers from within the churches threaten the churches? 3. To what extent may our churches use politics and legislation to accomplish spiritual afms? 4. Are our churches as spiritual as they are liberal? If not, why not? 5. What obligations are owed by our church membership to its younger members? 6. What obligations does each church owe to its sister churches? Eastern division meets with Springtown church. Introductory sermon by J. C. Collum. Missionary sermon by E. A. McDowell. Suggested leaders for topics: 1. S. P. Chis holm. 2. E. A. McDowell. 3. Dr. J. B. Black. 4. D. O. Hunter. 5. J. C. McMillan. 6. S. G. Mayfield. Western division i meets at Healing Springs church. Introductory sermon by Dr. J. D. Pitts. Missionary sermon J. D. Peacock. Suggested leaders for topics: 1. G. W. Boylston. 2. Dr. J. D. Pitts. 3. R. M. Mixon. 4. Geo. Hopkins. 5. W. G. Britton. 6. W. M. Jones. Each union meeting will change such topics and speakers as seem wise. Pastors of Barnwell Association churches are urgently requested to'attend one union or the other. Churches desiring the union will authorize their delegates to invite it. Divisions are urged to give the three day program a fair trial. W. M. JONES, for committee. Trying to Save Richeson. Boston, March 21.?Efforts to save Clarence V. T. Richeson, the confessed murdered of Avis Linnell, from death in the electric chair began today when his counsel, William A. Morse, conferred with Gov. Foss. The date set for the execution is May 19. While Mr. Morse did not present a formal petition for commutation of sentence, he assured himself that a petition would be read by the governor and that it probably would be submitted to the pardon committee. It is optional with the governor whether he shall submit such a petition. Mr. Morse said that no petition for commutation would be sent to the governor for two weeks at least, and he further intimated that the matter would not be pressed until the date of the execution was less than a month away. Richeson's friends hone to obtain a life sentence for him. John Clock ley Out on Bail. Aiken, March 22.?John Cleckley, chief of police of Windsor, in this county, who on Saturday night, March 9. with his assistant fought a battle in the dark streets of Windsor with a number of men, G. H. Cushman being killed in the fight and several others wounded, has been released' from custody on $2,500 bail. Cleckley is charged with the killing of Cushman. TRAIN HELD UP, SAFE ROBBEI). Four Masked Men Dynamite Express Safe on Tennessee Road. Corinth, Miss., March 19.?Mobile and Ohio passenger train No. 4, north-bound, was held up and the express safe dynamited and robbed seven miles south of Corinth early to-night by four men heavily armed and masked. After accomplishing the robbery the quartette took to the dense underbrush of the Tuscambia river bottoms. Bloodhounds have been telegraphed for and a posse has been organized to take up the pursuit. While definite information is not available, it is reported that the safe contained considerable money and valuables. One report has it that $60,000 in currency was among the contents. Where the robbers boarded the train is not known. Engineer Wildar and Fireman Kuffman first learned of their presence when two of the men crawled over the engine tender with revolvers drawn and commanded that tne train be brought to a halt at a point designated. The command was obeyed. In the meantime the other members of the band had gained entrance to the express car and, after subduing Express Messenger Snoddy, set the explosive which was touched off when the train came to a stop. The contents of the safe was quickly gathered and at a signal the four took to the woods without attempting to rifle the mail or molest the passengers. The robbery was completed within twenty minutes of the time the men first appeared in the engine cab. Xo attempts will be made to penetrate the densely wooded river bottoms, where the men are believed to be in hiding, until the arrival of ai detail of railroad officers and bloodhounds from Jackson, Tenn., who are coming on a special train. LITERALLY COUGHS UP MONEY. Emetic Reveals Alleged Stolen Bills Swallowed by Prisoner. Nashua, N. H., March 22.?An emetic, administered hypodermically to Frederick Tupper to-day, netted $15 in bills, which Tupper is charged with havingv stolen from John Hall, a lumberman. After the two men had hired a room in a lodging house, Hall accused Tupper of taking his money. At the police station Tupper was seen to swallow something. A physician injected a drug under the skin of Tupper's arm and the prisoner soon began to cough up monev. the police say. First came a $5 bank note and then a $10 yellow back. The police will use the bills as evidence against him. WOUNDS OFFICERS, KILLS SELF. Drink Crazed Man First Attempts to Exterminate Family. Harrodsburg, Ky., March 24.?Insane from drink, Edward Moore attempted to murder his wife and family, seriously wounded two officers who went to the rescue and then committed suicide at his home here early to-day. According to the wife, Moore became violent about daylight, destroyed clothing and furniture and aimed a gun at a man through a window. His 14-year-old step-son, Frank Votaw, deflected the barrel, which so enraged Moore that he attacked members of the family. The boy heroically centred the madman's attention on himself by hurling a chair at Moore. The two ran out of the door and neighbors summoned the police. The appearance of Chief of Police K. C. Smith and Workhouse Keeper William Davenport brought about a battle between the officers and Moore, rotroatori VipViinH flip <5\V'i T) fTl T12" ? 11U 1 VUbVU .. ...0 c kitchen door. As the door swung to the men fired and Smith's right arm was shattered and Davenport was shot above the heart. The officers retreated across the street, but when they returned to the attack they found Moore dying from a self inflicted wound. WOMAN SLAYS BLACK INTRUDER Insulted Fisherman's Wife Brains Brute with Axe. Wilmington, N. C., March 19.?A special from Newbern, X. C., gives particulars of the killing of Oscar Crowley, a negro, by Mrs. Chas. Williamson, the wife of a fisherman, whose home the black man invaded during the husband's absence. Crow,ley walked into the home and demanded something to eat, which was given him. He then signified his- intention of staying all night in the house and drawing a revolver insist w j ed that the woman remain. Mrs. | Williamson was ordered to place be| fore him a basin of water in which J he began to bathe his feet. The wo| man secreted an axe under her apron and when the negro leaned over to dry his feet she brained him with the weapon. Death was instantaneous. A coroner's jury exonerated Mrs. Williamson. I Spending by Check I j |g i n mmmm mMHoman ? | I To The Public: ? I A checking account in our hank j I presents n? added expense to you | and yet guarantees additional safe| ty and an accurate system to use in j | your business transactions. | Every person whether "business I | man", housewife, employed person, ^ I traveler, farmer ^mechanic, or proI fessional man, in fact every one 1 who ftflrnfl monoir. must suend a -nor tion of it. This spending should he - done by check, which will keep an exact record of the income and disbursements.; ' * All oheck books and bank books are free. Checking presents no. added expense. Tours very truly, FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANS Paid Quarterly on Savings Accounts. Ehrhardt, S. C. I inot the best , 1 "=; ?;=i 1 I We don't claim to have the best gg J-J . Horses and Mules ever brought to M 9 this market in our stables at this _ _ \J I I g* time, for we have had some mighty |? t good ones heretofore, but we do w 0* ?? claim these to be just as good as any ^ 'V: we have ever handled, and if you will jP ?)1 come and look we know we can Q| please you. See ours before buying ? Iffil ic all wo neb S3 I JONES 1ml S BAMBERG, SOUTH CAROLINA. || j mmmmmmmmmmmmmm ? Snoipflakes...., 1|- 'f A few Snowflakes do not make any impression, but a jig sufficient number of them will stop a locomotive. Your small change may seem ur important to you, but if you open a savings account here, and constantly add to the |?P amount, the accumulation will surprise you and prove r ' ^ a great help to you when WANT tries to run you down. giig We pay 4 per cent, on Savings Deposits. pg U PEOPLES BANK Bamberg, S. C. p| ' " dow the Telephone Pays "I can sell the eggs. How many have we?" "Ten dozen, all fresh." The farmer who has a telephone in his home can meet a business situation whether he be at home or in town. Can you call your home on the telephone like his farmer is doing? If not you are losing money by not using the greatest convenience of modern n v r i times. The cost is so smaii tftat teiepnone service is within reach of every one. Write for our free booklet which tells all about this economical service. Address Farmers Line Department SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH COMPANYU^J 108 Sooth Pryor St., Atlanta, Ga.