The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, December 02, 1920, Image 1
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$2.00 Per Year in Advance BAMBEkG, S. G., 'iiiiilisjDAY, ^)ECEMiiLR 2, 1920. Established in 1891
MURDER CHARGED
TO MRS. SHEPARD
WOMAN ARRESTED AS SHE LEFT
COURT ROOM.
POISONING IS CLAIMED.
Doctors Testify to Finding Poison in
Stomach of Dead "Georgia
Peach King."
Fort Valley, Ga., Nov. 27.?Warrants
charging murder in connection
with the death last June under myste?ious
circumstances of Fred D. Shepard,
known as the "Georgia Peach
King," were served tonight on Mrs.
F. E. Elmer, former wife of the
peach grower. Mrs. lone Henry, sister
of Mrs. Elmer, and Ernest Hopson,
son of Mrs. Elmer by a marriage
previous to that with Shepard.
The arrest of all three was ordered
after a pathologist and chemist of
Atlanta had testified at the coroner's
investigation here today that a postmortem
examination of Shepard's
body had revealed the presence of poison
in the viscera.
Mrs. Elmer, who took charge of
Shepard's property after his death on
the grounds that he died intestate,
was arrested as he was leaving the
,courtroom where the coroner's investigation
was held. The first charge
placed against her was illegal appropriation
of Shepard's property. Several
hours later she was served with
a warrant charging her with murder
in connection with Shepard's
death. Mrs. Henry and Hopson were
arrested at their homes in Perry, near
here.
Traces of Poison Found.
Dr. John Funke, Atlanta pathologist,
who was one of the witnesses at
the inquest, testified that traces of
poison were found in Shepard's body.
His testimony was supplemented by
that of Dr. Edgar Everhart, an Atlanta
chemist, who told the jury that,
while he had found no poison at the
time of his first examination, an analysis
of the contents of other organs
presented to him after a second exhumation
of the body showed a large
amount of bichloride of mercury. He
estimated the dose which caused Shepard's
death at fifty grains.
The testimony developed at today's
hearing followed an exhaustive inquiry
into the alleged mysterious
- ' ^ ~ ~ .ii.wniindinor fh d rl Oi3 tV)
Ciru U III 5 lei IH-Cb &U11UUUU1UQ t,uv UVU.VU
of the wealthy peach grower. The
inquiry during its later stages has
been directed by State Solicitor General
Garrett.
Queer Spots Found.
Shepard/'s death occurred at a Macon
hospital after an illness of only
three days. Hospital physicians unable
to diagnose the case, conducted
a postmortem examination, and reported
the finding of queer spots on
the vital organs. Investigation was
immediately started by the authorities.
Shepard's wife of less than a year,
now Mrs. Elmer, immediately took
charge of the extensive orchard holdings
and other property of the p^ach
grower, stating that he had left no
will. The investigation into his
death, which had practically been
abandoned, was revived several weeks
later by the announcement of Mrs.
Alice Crandall, a sister of Shepard,
that she had received an anonymous
letter through the mail inclosing what
was purported to be a will executed
by the "peach king." This will bequethed
to the widow $10,000 cash,
and a monthly allowance of $100. All
knowledge of the existence of such a
will wes denied by the widow.
Marries Dr. Elmer.
Four months after Shepard's death
his widow was married to Dr. F. E.
. Elmer, who, according to statements
by Solicitor General Garrett during
the investigation, claims to have once
been a governor of a state in Mexico
and later the husband of the daughter
of an English nobleman.
Shepafd's career was a strange
one. Heir to the millions of his father,
he ran away from home when
a boy and .was found many years later
on a ranch in Oregon. He had
married and after obtaining a divorce,
returned to Georgia to assist
his father in the management of the
Shepard property. Upon the death of
the elder Shepard he received the major
portion of the estate, which consisted
of property in Georgia. Flori'
da, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina,
Battle Creek, Mich, and French
Lick Springs, Ind.
?Mrs. Mattie Beatty, of Black River,
is visiting friends in the city.
HAGOOD HOME ALIVE.
; Blythewood Farmer Tells Dramatic
Story of Wild Hide.
iMarion Hagood, the Blythewood
farmer who suddenly disappeared recently,
tells a thrilling story of an
adventure with bold highwaymen who
held him up. disabled him, fed him
on dope and liberated him during
early morning hours in wcods near
Jacksonville. Mr. Hagood reached
Columbia a few days ago, showing
effects of a rough experience. He
said that he was attacked by five
men about 6:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon
and taken away in a touring
car. He said he rode through the
country with handcuffs on his wrists
and was fed on white pills, water and
soft drinks. He said the highwaymen
did not give him anything to eat.
While in a stupor he remembered a
stop and heard a report. The men
in the machine had cracked a safe in
a small town a short distance from
Augusta, he said.
*
J. A. Hagood, father of Marion Hagood,
met his son at Cayce and
brought him in a car to the home of
a Columbia friend. A physician was
summoned and gave Mr. Hagood a
thorough examination. Surrounded
by friends and home influences, Marion
Hagood related the story, and
his dramatic recital of events was
emphasized in the worn look on his
countenance and frame.
Met Strange Men.
Marion Hagood said he came to
Columbia Saturday afternoon to sell
cotton and remembered being accosted
at the platform by a large man
with a red face, who asked if he
had seen anything of three wagons.
The stranger said among other things
"Tl ' '1' - J 1 ? nnHnn o f CIl/lVl
It S tne Q.CV11 LU SCll tunuu at ouv/u
low figures." Mr. Hagood said he
made his deal and left. During the
afternoon, he said, he met the same
large man, who remarked, "You
haven't gone home yet." Leaving
the city, Mr. Hagood; said 4he stopped
at Colonial Heights to get a quart o"f
I oil. While there he noticed a large
! car filled with men pass the store. He
left the store and when he traveled
on the Koon road he saw a machine
! on the left side and a man was seen
walking up and down the road. He
saw another man, who appeared to be
working on the car. He slowed down
! and when the car approached the oth_
I er machine a man boarded the run'
ning board, he said, and was covered
him with .a revolver.
Being in a helpless position, Mr.
Hagood resolved to show fight as a
bluff, and when he did the other men
rushed to the car and in another in!
stant a blow landed on the back of
his head. He said he was dragged
from his machine, placed in the
strange machine, his pockets were
rifled and one of the highwaymen
stepped over to his machine and returned
in a short time.
The men left the Koon road for
Columbia, according to Mr. Hagood,
and he felt a stinging sensation on
his back, one of the men having given
him a hypodermic injection. This
1 3 ~ ~ nnrl Vl Ck TIT Ck C itrivpn all
11 ct Li IIU Client a xx vi ii 11 M KP 0 ? W*A ??? i
other "shot." Mr. Hagood said he
remembered traveling toward Columbia
until he passed the Seaboard railroad
trestle on north Main street,
when he fell into a stupor. The farmer
said every time he aroused from
! the stupor he would be given two
white pills. He had a faint recollection
of crossing the bridge at North
Augusta and seeing the lights as the
party passed through the Georgia
i city.
Hagood said they stopped when a
few miles from Augusta and the men
I began to eat. They did not give him
anything but soft drinks. Further on j
in Georgia another stop was made,
he declared, and the men left the
machine to "blow" a safe. He said
he was in such a stupor that he could
not tell hoW much booty the highwaymen
took in the raid. Hagood said
* 1? ~
the men carried a suppiy ui luuis. mc
touring car moved at a high rate of
speed, and at about 1 o'clock he was
allowed to leave the machine at a
cross road in the woods. Hagood
says the robbers took $500 from him.
Alone and lost, the man said he wandered
on the road for several hours,
when he learned that he was approaching
Jacksonville. He reached
the Florida metropolis at about 6
o'c'ock, fatigued and hungry.
Fraternity played a part in the
adventure, according to the Blythe-(
wood farmer. He said his first
thought was to search for a member
of the Woodmen of the World. He
was penniless, hungry, and many
miles from home and was lookingfor
a Good Samaritan. He said he
met a Jacksonville policeman who
was a Woodman, who listened to his j
South Carolina
Conferem
Charleston District.
S. B. Harper, presiding elder; Allendale,
J. T. Fowler; Appleton, J. A
Graham; Beaufort, Cateret Street,
.M. F. Dukes; Bethel circuit, G 0.
Gardner; Black Swamp, J. K. Inabinet;
Bluft'ton and Ridgeland, T. W.
Godbold; Charleston, Bethel. 0. F.
Wimberly; Hampstead Square, I) X.
Busbee; Hampton park, R. R. Tucker;
Spring street, J. H. Danner; Trinity,
H. J. Cauthen; Cottageville, B. H.
Covington; Cypress and Wando, W.
E. Sanders; Dorchester, H. W. Whitaker;
Early Branch, P. T. Morrison;
Ehrhardt, T. L. Belvin; Lodge, R. P.
Hucks; Meggetts, M. M. Byrd; Ridgeville,
B. A. White; Summerville, S. D.
Colyer; Walterboro, J. P. ^nabinet;
" -??- t~> ^i j paMi'qp no P R
X\.U J ell clilU OV/iUici puui/Vi j ^ ,
Burns. "
Professor Columbia college, F. Mason
Crum, Summerville.
Florence District.
F. H. Shuler, presiding elder; Benstory
and furnished him a refreshing
breakfaSt. Other fraternity men
made it possible for the Carolinian
to get a ticket to Columbia and forward
a telegram.
Marion Hagood said four men
made the trip to Jacksonville in the
car and one was kind to him. He said
he felt sure that the other highwaymen
wrould have done him bodily injury
had it not been for the opportune
interference of a medium size
man who wore a derby. One of the
men wore army clothing, and the J
l^rorp man with the red face and anf'
I o ~
other smaller man were the other
members of the party. The farmer
I said the large man wore a broad
brim black hat.
Dr. S. E. Harmon put him through
an examination. He found a contusion
on the back of the head. The
physician said' Hagood's condition was
not normal, and he did not possess
his usual astute mind. He showed
signs of being fed on "dope."
Curious crowds met the Seaboard
train from the South and diappointment
was written on many faces
when it was announced that Mr. Hagood
had left the coach at- Cayce.
Hagood suddenly disappeared late
Saturday afternoon. His touring car
was found on the Koon road, about
four miles from the State House. The
machine was locked, and the keys
were in a dobr pocket. A note read
as follows: * "We got him and the
money. You will find hj^ body in
the river." Blood signs were on the
floor and running boards of the car
and a loaded pistol was in the machine.
City and county officers aided
I scores of friends and acquaintances of
Hagood scoured the roads and woods
north of Columbia, the search continuing
all day Sunday. Many theeories
were advanced, but nothing developed
until the father of the missing
man received the glad news of his
son's safety.
ThA first news to reach Columbia
came to the sheriff's office at 9:30
o'clock. The city police were notified
and the search ceased. The message
said, "Have just been released by
burglars. Will be home this afterv
noon/' Hagood was in a nervous
and unstrung condition, and showed
signs of inward suffering and hunger.
"Not for a million dollars would I
undergo another such experience if
I could prevent it," he said, and he
looked as if he meant every word he
spoke.
? <o? ? ? ,
INDIANA MOB GETS NEGRO.
Begs Off, However, on Plea of Inno- j
cence Last Week.
Seymour, Ind'., Nov. 27.?Henry
Bently, a negro, was released by a
mob which took him early today from
the city jail. The negro promised
members of the mob that he would
return to the jail. The negro was
beaten by the mob before he was released.
Marion Wendell, night officer Mn
charge of the jail, was overpowered
by the mob and the jail keys were
taken from him.
Bently, wiien ne recu I UCU lu |
jail, said the mob had taken him to
the outskirts of the city, placed him
with a rope around his neck and lifted
him from the ground but lowered
him when he pleaded that he was innocent
of the charge of trespass on
which he was arrested.
?'Rev. S. O. Cantey and W. D.
Rhoad returned to the city Tuesday
from Georgetown, where they attended
the sessions of the South Carolina
| 'Methodist conference.
Methodist
ze Appointments
nettsvilie, G. T. Harmon; Bennettsville
circuit, M. \V. Hook; Brightsville,
J. A. Campbell; Bethlehem circuit,
W. 0. Henderson; Blenheim, S.
D. Bailey; Cheraw, G. F. Kirbv;
Chesterfield, L. E. Peeler; T. B. Owen,
supernumerary; Darlington, Trinity,
J. H. Graves; Darlington circuit,
.J. P. Attaway; East Chesterfield, C.
P. Chewning; Florence, Central, L.
I. McCoy; junior preacher to be supplied;
Hartsville, M. L. Banks; Jefferson;
W. V. Jerman; Lamar, G. A.
Teasley; Liberty, T. G. Phillips; MarlV?r?T>/~w
T T) A TnPn 11 T T "D ~
WU1U, o. U. i lUisacl , .Wt^UU, JU. JU. DC"
denbaugh; McColl mission, J. C.
; Bunch; Patrick, W. S. Myers; Pagej
land, J. R. Sojourner; Timmonsville
and Pisgah, W. R. Phillips; Timmons!
ville circuit, A. S. Leslie.
i
Kingsti'ee District.
C. C. Derrick, presiding elder; Anj
drews, D. D. Jones; Black River, H.
W. Shealey; Cades, D. H. Everette;
Cedar Swamp, H. D. Shuler; Cordesville,
B. S. Hughes; Gable and Trinity,
W. L. Guy; Georgetown, Duncan
Memorial, R. H. Jones; West End, J.
L. Stokes; Greeley ville and Lucas, W.
R. Jones, Hemingway, B. J. Guess;
Ploney Hill, J. Z. McConell; Johnsonville,
W. A. Massabeau; Kingstree, W.
W. Daniel; Lake City, W. A. Beckham;
McClellansville, W. G. Airail;
New Zion, T. E. Derrick; Pamplico,
F. A.' Buddin; Pinopolis, J. E. Clark;
Rome, G. K. Way; Sampit, D. O.
Swires; Scranton, F. A. Lupton; Turb^ville,
J. J. Stevenson; Trio, G. T.
Rhoad.
Marion District. *
D. A. Phillips, presiding elder; Aynor,
E. K. Garrison; Brownsville, J.
L. Mullins; Bucksville, W. L. Parker;
Centenary, R. W. Humphries; Conway,
J. C. Atkinson; Conway circuit,
j E. W. Hurst; Clio, S. G. Murphy; Dil|
Ion, W B. Duncan; Dillon and Hamer
iMills, J. D. Williams; Floydale, P. K.
I Cresby; Lakeview, S. E. Ledbetter;
batta, W. C. Kirkland.; S. J. Bethea,
supernumerary; Little River, J. E.
| Carter; Little Rock, E. Z. James;
i Loris, C. S. Felder; H. L. Singleton,
supernumerary; Marion, W. I. Herbert;
^Iarion circuit, J. E. Cook; Mullins,
C. P. Watson; Mullins circuit,
T. J. White; Nichols, C. W. Burgess;
Waccamaw, E. F. Scoggins
Business manager Southern Christian
Advocate, J. H. Xonald, Little
Rock; president Paine College, A. D.
Betts, Conway; president Horry Industrial
school, S. C. Morris, Aynor;
president young peoples and adult
work, W. C. Owen, Dillon.
Orangeburg District.
Peter Stokes, presiding elder; Bamberg,
S. O. Cantey; Bamberg Mills
and Embree, to be supplied; Barnwell
station, F. L. Glennan; Branchville,
J. A. McGraw; Cameron, P. A. Murray;
Denmark, W._ E. Wiggins; Edisto,
P. B. Ingraham; Elloree and Jerusalem,
W. P. Way; Eutawville,
Woodrow Ward; Fort Motte, W. A.
Youngblood; Grover, W. G. Elwell;
Harleyville, W. T. Patrick; Holly Hill
A. V. Harbin; J. F. Way, supernumerary;
.Norway, J. B. Weld-on; North
and Limestone, E. H. Beckham; Olar,
C. M. Peeler; Orangeburg, St. Paul's,
T. G. Herbert; W. S. Stokes, supernuemarry;
Orangeburg circuit, J. W.
Araial; Orangeburg circuit, S. W. F.
Danner; Providence, P. K. Rhoad;
Rowesville, L. T. Phillips; St. George,
S. W. Henry; St. Matthews, J. T.
feeler; Smoaks, W. T. Bedenbaugh;
Springfield, A. Sassard; Spring Hill,
A. C. Corbett.
Conference secretary of missions,
A. J. Cauthen, St. Paul; conference
secretary of education, G. E. Edwards
St. Paul; Sunday school field secretary,
J. E. Ford, St. Paul.
. Sumter District.
D. M. McLeod, presiding elder; Bethune,
A. M. Gardner; Beaulah, Paul
Wood; Bishopville, Bethlehem, W. V.
Dibble; Camden, Littleton Street, W.
H. Hodges; College Place, W. S.
Heath; Columbia circuit, C. T. Easterling,
Jr.; Elliott and Wells, R. M.
DuBose; Heath Springs. W. D. Gleaton;
Jordon circuit, F. E. Hodges;
fvershaw, R. R. Doyle; Lynchburg,
J. M. Rogers; McLeods and Bethesda.
M. G. Grant; Manning, C. B.
Smith; McBee, E. P. Hutson; Oswep-n
.T W Elk ins; Pinewood, G. W.
o *-* J '
Dukes; Providence, W. H. Perry;
St. John's and Rembert K. L. Knight;
Sumter, Trinity, J. W. Daniel; Broad
Street, J. G. Ferguson; Summerton,
T. E. Morris; Wateree, L. H. Shealey;
West Kershaw, F. S. Hook..
Secretary Federal Council of
Churches, E. O. Watson,. College
Place; chaplain to penitentiary, J. C.
Chandler, College Place; professor
Columbia college, D. P. Munson, College
Place.
Tl HNS DOWN A MILLION.
Massachusetts Man Denounces System
That Made the Money.
Buzzards Bay, Mass, Nov. 29.?
Charles Garland, the young man who
has renounced his right to a million
dollar legacy, left him by his father,
James A. Garland, who was a wealthy
club man and yachtman of Boston,
today made a formal statement
of his reasons for rejecting the money.
His statement, he said, was due
to the fact that the many reports of
his failure to accept the legacy had
failed properly to present his position.
"I refuse to accept the money be
cause it is not mine, was young garland's
summary of his action. "A
system which starves thousands while
hundreds are stuffed condemns itself.
A system which leaves a sick woman
helpless and offers its. services to a
'healthy man condemns itself. It is
such a system that offers me a million
dollars," he continued.
"It is blind to the simplest truth;
known to every child, the truth that
the hungry should be fed and the naked
clothed. I have had to choose
between the loss of pVivate property
and the law which is written in every
human heart. I chose the one which
I believe to be true."
Believes Christ Would Have Rejected.
Garland, who has stated he renounced
his claim to the million dollars
because he thought Christ would have
done the same, continued:
"I believe I could not do good with
the money. It is the man who gives
food to the hungry who does good,
not the dollars given in exchange for
the food. I would be happy to be the
man if I had the food to give, but I
can not lend myself to handling the
money that is not mine even though
the good that might be done is possibly
great."
Many people have written to tell
him wrhat could be done jvith the
money, he said. "They seem almost
proud to point out the power that I
have in my hands, but it is the most
pitiful thing you could point to.
You 'cannot serve God and Mammon.'
So many people ready to serve the
dollar means so many less to serve
God. There are great opportunities
to do good, but they are in men's
i hearts, not my check book. A preacher
in the name of Christ said this
million should have been turned to
good. He thinks that God's work is
paid for in dollars. God's work will
never de done until men see that this
theory is untrue."
Living at Mother's Expense.
Mr. Garland's statement was made
from his home here, a former inn of
stage coach days. The young mail,
who is 22 years of age, is living at
the house with his wife and infant
daughter as the guest of his mother,
Mrs. Marie Tudor GGreen, who supplies
them with a maid and keeps
their larder full. He plans to go to
work eventually, he said, but a year
at Harvard, which he left to get married,
and preparatory schooling in
this country and in England fitted
him for no work ready at hand, and
he said he thought^ it would be
spring before he found anything. His
wife joined him in his renunciation
of the million, Garland said.
His mother, although not holding
the same views, has told him to
do what he thought right.
In another house on the estate lives
James A. Garland, third, a brother
of Charles Garland, who has accepted
his share of his father's estate, made
larger by the fact that the mother of
the boys abandoned her rights in order
to marry Francis C. Green after
the death of her first husband. At
Harvard college is Hamilton Garland,
a third son, who lacks several months
of reaching his majority. His brother,
Charles, said today that he understood
Hamilton was also considering
refusal to take his share when
he hename of as:e. Their ideas on the
subject are somwhat similar, he said,
although the influences of'education
and environment were not identical.
Garland indicated that his refusal
to take the money was not based on
any question attached to the origin
of the Garland fortune, saying he did
not know from what source it was
derived, but he believed it came
down from his grandfather.
i < > o
Deathless Fame.
"I can't see you at all,", said the
contemptuous lipiousine. "Yet you
get more notoriety than all the rest
of us put together."
"Versatility," snickered the flivver.
"I tank, plow, cut ice and jit.
Did you hear my latest?"
"No."
"I invented the shimmy."
f
METJ10DISTS WANT
SABBATH LAWS
AGAINST MOVING MAILS AND
TRAINS ON SUNDAY.
FOR STRICT OBSERVANCE.
St. George Gets 1921 Conference.
Session at Georgetown Concluded
Monday.
Georgetown, Nov. 27.?The work
of the Methodist conference has been
practically concluded. The session of
1921 will be held at St. George. St.
George and Marion asked for the conference,
but the vote for the former
a
was overwhelming. St. George had
asked-for this year's conference and
the body felt bound to the lower Car- ,
olina town.
This is the first time that the Dorchester
county seat has undertaken:
the entertainment of such a body. It
has recently built a very handsome
church and promises generous entertainment.
, The committee on Sabbath observance
recommended very sweeping
.and drastic laws regulating .the ob- ^ J
servance of Sunday. It was recommended
that Sunday mails and trains
and all wo$k be forbidden.
Mr. Cooper, of Tennessee, spoke on
the subject and stated that all conferences
of the Methodist connection
were being asked to join in a petition
to congress to pass laws regulating
the matter. The conference
adopted the report. Bishop Darlington
addressed the class applying for
full connection.
Dr. R. E. Stackhouse, recently chosen
editor of the Southern Christian
Advocate to succeed Dr. W. C. Kirk
land, resigned, was introduced and
spoke of his new work. Dr. Kirkland
edited the church paper for six years,
during which time he purchased a
home for the Advocate in Columbia.
For the first time in the long history,
of the paper it now owns its own
home and plant. Dr. Kirkland not only
accomplished this fine work but has
given the church a fine paper. The
new editor is considered one of the 1
most capable men in South Carolina
Methodism.
Rev. A. J. Cauthen, missionary secretary,
read his report on the centenary
collections. The collection has
been excellent in spite of money depression.
About 80 per cent, of this
year's quota has been paid.
Good Reports Heard. ^
Georgetown, Nov. ?4.?Reports of
presiding elders show that the work .
of the church is progressing finely.
Financial reports show that only a
slight shortage in either salaries or
benevolences, the greater portion of
this deficit being attributed to the
break in the cotton market. Revivals
have been quite fruitful in spiritual
results and in a large number, approximately
3,000 additions to the
church on profession of faith. The
centenary movement is the cause suffering
most from the financial depres
sion.
Dr. Bays was present, making a ;
fervent appeal to the younger men
that they be true to their Lord- and to
humanity. The conference was saddened
by the announcement that J. T.
McFarlane and B. L. Tyler had died /
during the year. ' r4
SUBSCRIPTIONS POUR IN.
Farmers Are Interested in the New ,
Cotton Export Corporation.
? v MM
Columbia, Nov. 29.?'The payments
of the subscriptions to the capital
stack of the American Products Export
and Import corporation are continuing
to pour into the offices in this
city. This is considered one of the
most remarkable evidences of determined
spirit ever shown by the farmers
and business men of the state.
More than 5,000 subscribers have
been heard from, leaving only a small
per cent, of the subscriptions to come
in. Of all of the hundreds of letters
received in every mail only a very
few have said that they were unable
to take the stock and the total amounUTn
these cases is not more than
$100.
Couldn't Be.
???
Bennett was having a chat with the
charming Miss Alexander. ^ %
"They say that a man is as young
as he feels," he remarked.
"Maybe," replied the girl, "but he
is seldom as important."