Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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uJlje Hamburg feralb _ j nBj , TTa.lf a Year. BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 25,1917. Established 1891 COUNTRY NEWS LETTERS, SOME INTERESTING HAPPENINGS 1 IN VARIOUS SECTIONS. News Items Gathered All Around the County and Elsewhere. Clear Pond Cullings. ] Clear Pond, Jan. 23.?We are hav- ' ing bad weather this week. Mr. R. F. McMillan and daughter, Miss Nora McMillan, were visitors in Orangeburg Monday. Mr. and Mrs. A. Q. Drawdy visited , their daughter, Mrs. F. B. Folk, last weex. Miss .Vera McMillan, who attends - school in Ehrhardt, is at home for a few days. Mrs. Avis Steedly is visiting ' friends near Hilda. Mrs. Herbert Folk and son, H. M., are visiting her mother, Mrs. S. M. ^ Black, near Denmark. Mrs. J. B. Folk was very ill last week. Mrs. G. W. Folk and Mrs. Herbert ' Folk and little son were the pleasant guests of Mrs. Perry O'Quinn last . Wednesday. ( Miss Dorris Folk visited friends near Spring Branch last week. - _ _ ? _ ^ T or. Messrs. sammie may tun aiiu u?j- t ton Kinard were visitors near Clear * Pond Sunday. ilr. Charlie Goodwin and Miss Cla- j ra O'Quinn passed through this sec- . tion Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Ben Hill was the guest of * Mrs. P. K. Hughes Sunday. Mr. Edgar Drawdy, of Farrell's, visited his sister, Mrs. J. B. Folk, last N week. ^ ( Mr. John Henry Hutto, of Bam- 1 berg, was here Sunday. < Spring Branch Sayings. s Spring Branch, Jan. 23.?The farmers are having bad weather for the ( beginning of a new crop. Mrs. Lee Zeigler spent last Friday ^ with Mrs. J. P. O'Quinn. * Mrs. G. W. Folk and daughter, Miss Dorris Folk, spent last Thurs- < day art the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. J P. O'Quinn. Mr. and Mrs. Elige Goodwin were , the guests at Mr. Elige Zeigler's last Sunday. Mr. Monroe Crider and Miss Min- J loot Saturday night me uriuw open t ^v ? w at Mr. Hamp Richardson's, at Brier , Creek. J Mr. Charlie Goodwin and Miss Clara O'Quinn were in the Colston section last Saturday and Sunday. * Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Herndon attended the speaking at Colston last . Sunday morning. J Mrs. Hattie Hutto, of Bamberg, ( f was the guest at Mrs. H. W. Herndon's last Saturday night. 1 Rev. Walter Black will conduct services at Spring Branch Sunday afternoon. , Mrs. Herbert Folk and little son, H. M., were the guests at Mr. and , Mrs. J. P. O'Quinn's last Thursday. ' Mrs. L. A. Bessinger spent last Saturday night and Sunday with her , daughter, Mrs. Etta Bessinger of Denmark. Mr. Frank and Miss Adrine Good- . win spent last Saturday and Sunday in Brier Creek section. ( < Mr. Grover Crider and Miss I Johnie Zeigler were united in marriage at the home of the bride's par- , .ents, Mr. and Mrs. Cary Smoak, De- J cember 24th. Mr. Russell Sandifer and Miss , Pearl Sanders, of Hampton county, ' were united in marriage at the Hampton hotel, December 24. Mrs. Sandifer is a charming young lady of Hampton. Mr. Sandifer is a young farmer of this section. We extend : congratulations to the happy young ( ^ i couples. ? Colston Clippings. _________ I j Colston, Jan. 23.?Mrs. B. F. Storne, of Blackville, delivered an excellent address Sunday at Colston church, which was very much enjoyed by everybody. She organized several societies among the young and old people of the Sunday school. Miss Sadie Boyd spent last weekend with her sister, Mrs. C. B. Ray, of Olar. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Clayton spent Sunday with their parents, Mr. / and Mrs. G. B. Clayton. Mr. Albert McMillan and Misses Ethel McMillan and Elvie Kearse spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. McMillan. Mr. and Mrs. Coonie Kirkland, who have been residing in Bamberg for the past few years, returned to their old home in this community last week. The Sunday visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Clayton were: i i Mr. and Mrs. Henry Herndon, Mesdames Hattie Hutto, and Avis Steedly, Misses Pet and Dorris Folk, Clara O'Quinn and Nelle Clayton, Messrs. Charlie Goodwin, Layton Kinard and John G. Clayton, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Smith, and mother, Mrs. Coleman, of Virginia, and Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bishop. Messrs George Fender and Lieland Sandifer, of Bamberg, were visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Fender Sunday. Miss Nettie Clayton was the guest of Miss Reba Williams Sunday. Miss Bessie Kirkland was the guest of her aunt, Mrs. Coonie Kirkland, Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. Wilmot Sandifer, of Bamberg, visited their parents, Mr. md Mrs. S. W. Clayton, Sunday. Miss Octavia McMillan was _ the ?uest of Miss Inez Clayton Friday night. The friends of Mrs. Sudie Barnes regret to know that* she is ill, and hope for a speedy recovery. Three new pupils enrolled at the Colston graded school last week. This makes a total enrollment of sixty-eight. Misses Annie Florence and Pretto Pender, of Ehrhardt, spent last weekend at home. A strange accident occurred in this community Friday night when a ne?ro was riding a horse. The horse turned out of the road to shun a mud puddle, and ran into a tree. The horse was immediately killed, breaking its neck. The boy only suffered i few bruises. St. John's Jottings. St. John's, Jan. 22.?Miss Sue barter 'spent last Wednesday night frith her cousin, Miss Norma Bishop, )f Hampton. Misses Lillie and Josephine Kinard spent Saturday night with Miss Edith Fliers. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hiers spent Sunlay at the home of Mr. H. C. Bishop. Misses Myrtle Sease and Maud Fliers spent Thursday night with Mr. md Mrs. J. W. Kinard. Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Kinard spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Bishop. _ Miss Myrtle ;Sease spent Sunday **ith Miss Janette Breland. Mrs. J. J. Copeland and family spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. J. 1 Folk. Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Mears spent Sunday at the home of Mr. J. W. 2hassereau. Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Kinard, Jr., spent Sunday at the home of Mr. md Mrs. G. F. Hiers. Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Chassereau, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Chitty, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Carter and daughter spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. k. M. Kinard. Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Herndon, Mr. md Mrs. C. R. Mears spent Sunday it the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Brant. Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Brown spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Brown. Miss Clara Lyons spent Sunday svith Miss Carrie Brown. * Messrs. Carl Bishop and . Wilbur Hiers spent Sunday afternoon with Mr. D. A. Sease. Misses Caro and Maud Hiers spent Sunday afternoon with Miss Edira. Bishop. Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Hiers spent Sunday afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Bishop. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Hiers spent Sunday at the home of his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Hiers. Misses Elizabeth and Mattie Lou Hiers spent Sunday afternoon with Mr. ana Mrs. J. a. jonns. Mr. Hoyt Breland and sister dined with Misses Myrtle and Clara Mae Sease Sunday evening. Miss Carrie Brown spent Friday with her cousin, Miss Mabel Harvey, of Fairfax. Oak Grove Greetings. Oak Grove, Jan. 22.?We have been having some awful weather for the past week. Mr. Ham Carter, of Savannah, Ga., is spending some time with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Carter. Miss Minnie Sease, of Barnwell, has returned to her home after spending some time with Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Carter. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Copeland and family spent last Sunday with Mr. and .Mrs. Bill Warren. We are very sorry to know that Master J. C. Smith is very ill. We hope lie will be out again soon. Miss Thelma Rentz spent last Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Hiers, of Ehrhardt. Mr. and Mrs. Willie Hughes spent last Sunday with Mr. George Hiers. Miss Joe Carter has returned from IN THE PALMETTO STATE SOME OCCURRENCE OF VARIOUS KINDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. -s State News Boiled Down for Quick Reading.?Paragraphs About Men and Happenings. Boston capitalists propose to erect a large cotton mill in Winnsboro. The Addison mills of Edgefield, have granted an increase in wages to | their employes. tiu - r< j ..v.^ Osnh + Vi J. lit? OCl'UUU X CfellllCUt *Jl L11 c ouum Carolina National Guard, which is now on the Mexican border is expected home within a few weeks. The two-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Matze, of Chapin, was burned to death last week. The child's clothing caught fire from an open gate. Will McGraw, a white man of Cherokee county, who was arrested several days ago on the'charge of arson, has been released on bond in the sum of $500. F. J. H. von Engelken, at present director of the mint, according to a rumor, will be appointed president of the land bank which will soon be established in Columbia. Fire last week destroyed the home of W. R. DuBose, Sr., of Sumter county. Mr. DuBose had twenty-five hogs which he had recently killed, stored in his home, and all the meat was burned. ? - -- - t - -A? r TTT rne livery ana saie siauies ui ?. D. Sitton and Bro., at Easley, were destroyed by fire last week. Five horses perished in the flames. The loss is estimated at between $3,000 and $4,000. Congressman Ragsdale has secured a favorable report from the war claims committee on the claim of the Beaver Dam church in Marlboro county, amounting to $3,000, for damage suffered as a result of the War of. Secession. Frank Gist, a well known negro of Columbia, was run over and killed Friday by a train. The body of another unidentified negro was also found on the outskirts of Columbia, Friday afternoon. He had evidently been dead* several days. Sam L. McCowan, paymaster general of the navy and chief of the bum - - ? ? -3 * Vvft a 1*63.11 01 SUppims dua dauuuis, uao | been appointed by President Wilson for the rank of permanent rear admiral of the senior nine. Admiral McCowan is a native of .Laurens county. According to Adjutant General W. W. Moore, a new regiment will be formed in South Carolina just as soon as financial provision is made by the general assembly. More than a score of cities and towns of the State have filed petitions with the adjutant general's office for military companies. Directors and Trustees Elected. Columbia, January 19.?After taking two ballots for warehouse commissioner, both of which were ineffectual, at 3:40 o'clock Thursday afternoon it was decided to defer the election until Tuesday, the 23rd. Those still in the race for warehouse commissioner are : A. J. Beattie, of Kershaw, W. W. Bradley, of Abbe ville, J. A. Drake, of iMariDoro, jonn \j. McLaurin, of Bennettsville, John J. McMahan, of Columbia, W. G. Smith, of Orangeburg, and J. G. L. j White, of Chester. John D. Frost, of Columbia and I. S. Hutto, of Dorchester, the other two candidates, withdrew from the race after the first ballot. * Dr. R. E. Hughes, of Laurens, Dr. W. W. Fennell, of Rock Hill, Dr. J. M. Davis, of Orangeburg, Dr. H. H.| Wyman, Sr., of Aiken and Dr. H. S. Lynch, of Florence, were elected members of the board of directors of the State Medical college, at Charleston. Dr. Davis fills out the unexpired term of Dr. C. N. Wyatt, of Pickens, who aied several weeks ago. P. L. Bethea, of Dillon, J. M. Smith, of Colleton, and H. H. Arnold, of Spartanburg, were chosen at directors of the State penitentiary, negro minstrel and a gymnasium exThe balloting Tuesday did not result in the election of a warehouseman, the assembly still being tied up. The use of a road drag on the public roads after rains would wonderfully help them. ai)leasant visit to the Little Swamp section. Miss Lonie Copeland spent .last week with Mrs. H. J. Hiers, of Ehrhardt. ASSEMBLY MAKING PROGRESS. | In Session Ten Rays; More Tlian Usual Accomplished. Columbia, Jan. 19.?The general assembly has been in session for ten days. More than the usual amount of work credited to this spar, of time has been accomplished. The house has accumulated 155 distinct propositions and the senate is not far behind with a record of 114 bills on its Journal. Many, in fact, most of these are local measures, necessary under the laws of the State. Many county matters now need the impress of the great seal of the State and to be given the dignity of an act?for instance, the right to buy or sell a poor house farm or to build a poor hmiRP nr tr> nnen a road. If Aver the proposed constitutional convention be held it ought to provide for the handling of such matters, under restrictions, by the county delegations, on the advise of the circuit judges or some other workable plan. Nothing Decidedly New. Thus far no decidedly new project has been suggested. The suggestion of an institution for the feeble-minded is new, but has been discussed. A measure of wide scope is the Toole suggestion of taxing soft drinks?a quarter or an eighth of a 'cent per glass or bottle. The author thinks this will raise $500,000 per annum. Another proposition along this line is to require a license tax of 50 cents on each shipment of liquor before its delivery. Other schemes for increas| ing the State's revenues have not yet developed. The tax on automobiles is intended for road development. The inheritance tax suggestion has not developed. It has been presented year after year, but has always ! been defeated. The silent plodders are having daily exhibitions of the fact that the legislator who most frequently accomplishes things is not he who has most to say?tries to say something on every motion, but the results go to the plodders and workers. Some measures seem fated and members suggest that they are being talked to [ death. . Women on the Job. The two most active and energetic floor efforts, so to ^peak, have been by good women who are interested in woman suffrage and State-wide prohibition. The suffragists have gathered a grpup of charming women who have been persistent in their ! work. The suffragists have had the sagacity of asking for a referendum first and then after they get the vote of t the people to ask for the constitutional amendment. They are taking j two bites; first a vote to get an expression and then the authorization. j This makes the process slower, but, | the women think, surer. There is the suffrage proposal of Senator Sherard and Mr. Horton: Section 1. That the following amendment to section 3, article 11, of the constitution be agreed to. Insert the words "or female" after the word "male" on line one of said section and add the following proviso at the end of said sectic.:: Provided, That the qualifications of article 11 of this constitution with reference to i the right of suffrage shall hereafter apply equally to all female citizens of the State. So that said section when amended shall read as folows: "Section 3. Every male or female citizen of this State and of the United States, twenty-one years of age and upwards, not laboring under the disabilities named in this constitution and possessing the qualifications required by it shall be an elector: Provided, that the qualifications of article 11 of this constitution with ref/,./vnnA + n tVltt T>i crh t nf suffrage shall CIUIIVO IV bUV/ hereafter apply equally to all female citizens of the State." Section 2. The question of adopting this amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election as follows: Those voting in favor of said amendment shall deposit a ballot with the following words plainly printed or written thereon: "Constitutional amendment to section 3, article 11, providing for equal suffrage for women?Yes." Those opposed to said amendment shal deposit a ballot - - j with the following wurus yiamn printed or written thereon: "Constitutional amendment to section 3 of article 11, providing for equ^l suffrage for women?No." As to Elections. There will not be the usual quota of elections this session. In the matter of the judiciary fortunately there were no contests. The remaining election in which there is most concern is for warehouse commissioner. (Continued on page 4, column 2.) G. J. HIERS GETS SIX YEARS KHRHARDT MAN FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. Tliree Days Trial Concluded Saturday Night.?Notice of Appeal Given. Released on Rond. ? The case of the State versus George J. Hiers, charged with the murder of Charles E. Kinsey at Ehrhardt on October 27, last, was concluded Saturday night, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, the verdict being reached about 7 o'clock. Mr. Hiers was sen tenced by Judge Gary to six years imprisonment. A motion for a new trial was immediately made by counsel for Mr. Hiers. The motion was declined, and notice of intention to appeal was served. The judge granted bail for Mr. Hiers in the sum of $5,000, which was immediately furnished, and Mr. Hiers was released. This case was one of the most interesting in the history of the county. On account of the prominence of the defendant and the deceased the court house was packed every day during the three dayk trial. The presence of a large number of ladies was noticeable throughout the trial. Every phase of the case was closely contested by both sides. Mr. Hiers stood up well under the strain of the long trial, and it was only when the verdict was rendered that he gave vent to his feelings, sobbing when the words of the verdict were read. Throughout t^?e trial he was surrounded by his family^ His two sons, Messrs. Haskell and John, were constantly at his side, with his daughters and other family connections sitting nearby. The case was called for trial Thursday morning. Immediately on court opening, counsel for the defence renewed the motion previously made for a continuance. It was set forth in the motion that important witnesses for the defence were absent, and that all efforts to secure these witnesses had been unavailing.. Judee Gory ovc^fjled th^ mo^en; stating that he was convinced that proper diligence had not been used to secure the absent witnesses, and he ordered the trial to proceed. The selection of the jury consumed about one hour, the predicted difficulty in securing twelve men to hear the case tfot materializing. Each of tVifl inrnrc woo nut nn hie vnira dire juiuic n?k3 JJUW vu uiu i uii v utt vy and closely questioned as to prejudice and bias. What were termed by Attorney Mayfield "sensational1 articles" in The Bamberg Herald was the basis of questions propounded to one juror, who told the court that he had formed and expressed an opinion of the case. However, the juror, who is a reader of The Herald, stated that the articles in The Herald had nothing to do with forming his opinion. This line of questioning was not directed at any other juror. Taking of Testimony. Dr. Charles F. Black, who performed the autopsy at the inquest, was the first witness for the State. Dr. Black described in detail the wounds found on the body of Kinsey. The range of wounds was about on level, but from different angles. Deceased would have been able to move several steps after receiving wounas. Witness was cross examined closely as to the wound and as to the probable effects, and gave it as his opinion that the force of large shot would cause change of position. Dr. J. H. Roberts testified that he went to the store after the shooting. Saw Kinsey's body in store, lying nornivic,* /lniinfar W O OYflmlnpd thft a^aiuot vuuuwui u body, and described the wounds found. The left hand, said the witness, was on the chest at time; was not certain as to the position of the right hand. Wound in shoulder or neck would probably have caused , death. Saw four pistol balls picked up. Found pistol ball in flesh in chest. In his opinion it ~hhd gone through arm. He described the interior of Kinsey's store. There was a counter on each side, with stove near the rear, and a refrigerator in the rear. The clothes of the deceased were exhibited, and the witness was questioned as to the holes in same. On cross examination, the witness said that he knew of the prosecution of Kinsey for violation of the prohibition law, and that the Hiers instituted the prosecution. Following prosecution, Kinsey was hostile to the Hiers family. Kinsey was violent when drinking. In reply to a ' question from the solicitor, witness said that the right shoulder bone was ; broken, and he did not think that the arm could have been used after ward. Saw no evidence of drinking that day. Haskell Hiers was the one who prosecuted. Haskell Hiers is a son of George Hiers. The prosecution was a good while before killing. Heard that case was settled. Replying t<y questions of counsel for defence, witness said that position of certain holes in vest may have indicated that an attempt had been madeJ to draw pistol. Frnk Morris was the next witness. He testified that he was standing be sid? Kinsey's store door on the outside, leaning against the door facing. Kinsey was standing just inside the door, picking his teeth with his left hand, his right hand being in his right hand pants pocket. He was talking to Kinsey at the time. SawGeorge Hiers come up and shoot. Witness then said that he got away as soon as possible, running to Dannelly's store. Hiers had gun in hand. Kinsey did not appear to be under influence of drink. Saw no arms about Kinsey. Hiers said before shooting "You are gone," and fired. Witness said that Kinsey said nothing before or after the shooting. Deceased staggered. Hiers fired twice, ^nd he afterward heard four or five other shots. Witness said that Lyles Ehrhardt and Kinsey's two little boys were playing about the stove at the time. He went back to the store rf gut quici, duu iuuuu Kinsey's body lying on floor, leaning against barrel and counter. In reply to questions, witness said that Hiers was on sidewalk at time, nearer the bank. If there had been any words passed, witness said he would 4 have heard them. On cross examination, witness said that he had been I marshall for some time, that he knew ' of bad blood between Haskell Hiers and Kinsey, but knew of none between deceased and George Hiers. Asked about a statement that he had \ signed for application for bail for Hiers, witness said there were some things in the statement that he did not say, that he only glanced over the statement at the time. The witness was closely questioned 'by counsel for defence regarding the actual shooting. It* was about a minute, said he, ?after the' gun shots that he heard the pistol shots. The . shot gun fired in quick succession. \ B. F. Folk, surveyor, identified two plats that he had made at the instance of counsel for the State, of the store and the surroundings. The plats were explained in detail by the witness, and were offered in evi i dence. '*tS3 I. J. Bacon, clerk for Kinsey at the ! time, was next sworn. Said he had gene to supper aViout five minutes previous to shooting. Saw automoi bile, with very bright lights, coming half mile away, running fast. He watched the car, and he took one of the passengers to be George Hiers. He was some distance away at the time of shooting, but heard gun shoot twice, followed by pistol shots. Went back to store, found Kinsey':* body lying on floor, with feet toward door, head next to barrel. He did not see automobile when he came % back to the store. Saw what looked like large shot marks on counter and barrel. Saw no weapon. On cross examination said he was near the depot when he heard the shooting. Saw automobile stop near hardware store. Said he ImeL ordered a hammer pistol for Kinsey. Kinsey had gotten shot gun that afternoon, and they were to be partners in its ownership. Did not know of any threats to kill any of the Hiers. Gun was on starch box in rear of store, unirmHoH Tf wac hnnp'ht tr? hunt, birds with. F. H. Copeland testified that Kinsey came to his store in afternoon in regard to gun. Kinsey said he did not like the gun he showed him, but would take it to store and show it to Bacon. He heard the shooting while in his store. He did not investigate immediately, but went to store half or three-quarters of an hour afterward. Said that gun was a bird gun. J. F. Chassereau, brother-in-law of PCinsev. said that he was at his home at time of killing. Received a message to come and get Kinsey's children. Several persons were at store when he got there. Kinsey's left hand was on breast when he saw body, right hand in right trousers ( pocket. Took ring off finger, and found wound in left hand. Kinsey's pistol fell out of left hand hip pocket when he moved the body. Pistol was ' / loaded and none of the chambers had been discharged. Judge Kinard took possession of the pistol. Witness took the children and left. On cross examination, witness said that the pistol was not hiing in the pocket. Would say that Kinsey had pistol in (Continued on page 2, column 1.)