Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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(Fbr Hamburg ifmtlh | $2.00 Per Year in Advance BAMBERG, S. 0., THURSDAY, JANUARY 20,1921. Established in 1891 1| GOVENOR READS ASSEMBLY MESSAGE STATE FINANCES DEALT WITH ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY. Tax Question Discussed Recommends Tax on Incomes and Gasoline Tax.?Not in Favor of Cotton Acreage Legislation. Columbia, Jan. 12.?Governor R. A. Cooper read his annual message to the two houses of the general assembly in joint session at noon today. The message deals almost exclusively with state finances. It is the opinion of the governor that the property tax levy should be reduced from twelve and one-half mills to nine mills, and the governor suggests measures whereby the three and one-half mills may be raised from other sources. His recommendations are for the enactment of a measure for a tax on incomes, gifts and inheritances, an increase of business and privilege licenses, and a consumption tax on gasoline, tobacco and soft drinks. Nine mills on property would produce about four million dollars. A graduated scale is suggested for the income tax provisions, exempting young men of payment on $1,000, and married men of $2,000. A tax _ of one-half of one per cent, would be levied on net income up to $3,000; one per cent, from $3,000 to $5,000; two per cent, from $5,000 to $10,000; three per cent from $10,000 to 150,000; and four per cent on all net income above $50,000. The governor pointed out that a tax of one cent per gallon on gasoline would yield approximately $400,000. _ Cotton acreage reduction by force of legislation is not deemed expedient by the governor, but the condition makes it of sufficent importance "that the farmer must be impressed with the absolute necessity of a re . duction of cotton acreage for the I , year 1921." "Because of the widespread violation of the prohibition law, Governor Cooper asks for more funds for enforcement. He emphasizes that if the revenue from fines and forfeitures had been paid into the , state treasury, there would have been a balance to the credit of this department. The governor is of the opinion that the violators of the prohibition law should serve terms in prison and "that the law should be so amended that a person found guilty of wilful violation of the prohibition law should serve a term of imprisonment, and that the payment of any amount of money should not sufficient to relieve from the service of the imprisonment sentence, and that there should be no suspended sentences except after the service of from three to six months." Another recommendation as to change in existing statutes is that of the state highway department. The governor would relieve the state highway department of the duty of collecting automobile license fees by transferring these duties to the office of secretary of state, who in turn *"*- - - j i i would distribute them tnrougn tne clerk of court of each county. , The governor also recommended a complete revision of the present state pension law for Confederate veter! ans. He would abolish the state pension board and distribute the pensions through the office of the comptroller general, which plan obtained up until two years ago. It is also recommended that the pensions be paid "only to those Confederate soldiers and sailors, or the widows of such, who are in need of financial assistance." Under the present statute al lveterans receive a pension, a graduated scale obtaining as to income. Sub-District Institute No. 5. The Methodist sub-district institute -- , .No. b, comprising tne sunaay scnoois1 of Ehrhardt and Lodge circuits, will convene at Lodge Methodist church January 30, at 11 a. m. All the Sunday schools are requested to send a representative delegation. ? PROGRAMME Morning session?11:00, devotions and songs, led by J. L. Jones; 11:20, "Evangelism our chief business," A. S. Varn; 11:40, "What, why and how of decision day," Rev. T. L. Belvin; 12:00, "Our organized Sunday school work," W. E. Willis, district president; 12:20, enrollment of delegates; AGED WOMAN IS BURNEI). Mrs. Louise D. Logan, of Columbia, Found Dead. Columbia, Jan. 14.?Caused from either sparks igniting her bed or her night clothing catching on fire, Mrs. Louise D. Logan, aged eighty-six, widow of the late Charles Logan, was burned to death this morning about 5.55 o'clock at her home just across from the state capitol on the corner of Assembly and Senate streets. The presumption is that sparks flew from the open fire, igniting her bed while she was asleep or that she was feeding her pet dog on the hearth when her clothing caught afire and sfie sprang into tne Dea tc smother the flames. She was dead when discovered by a neighbor, Mrs. Melvin Platte, lying at the foot of th bed. Mrs. Logan is survived by very few of her immediate family. Mrs. Logan was a native of Lexington county, hex maiden name being Miss Louise Schwartz. She has lived in Columbia since her early childhood. It has been Mrs. Platte's custom to awaken Mrs. Logan every morning and when she' knocked at Mrs. Logan's door at 5.55 a. m., she discovered the bed afire with the deceased's body at the foot badly burned. She immediately summoned the negrc butler who attempted to extinguish the flames. In the meantime turning in an alarm of fire. Charles Logan, the late husband oi Mrs. 'Logan, died about twenty years ago. He i^ remembered for his manj benefactions to the city of Columbia When he died he bequeathed a valuable tract on Elmwood avenue and a nucleus of $40,000 cash for the erection of a modern school building which was completed some years ago The grounds and money, however were to have become available at the death of Mrs. Logan but she waved title to 'both the land and the monej and released them for the purpose ol erecting the school. The property has enhanced many thousands of dollars since bequeathed and is considered one of the most caluable schoo. propertfes in the state. In additior Mr. Logan left $9,000 to the city ol Columbia for work of protecting dumb animals. At her own insistence Mrs. Logan lived alone in the house in which she died, the furniture of which is o1 antique mahogany and walnut and is considered by collectors to be of much value. i? ^ BLOOD SPATTERED ROOM. Tells Story of Madman's Assault or Louisiana Family. DeRidder, La., Jan. 12.?Surgeons tonight despaired of saving the life of John Orlander, latest victim with his wife and two children, ol a fiend who, the authorities believe is the same that seven years age claimed 45 persons as his victims in a trail of terror that reached from Lafayette to Houston, Texas. Besides Orlander, his wife, theii daughter Josephine, age 6, and Paul, eight year old son, are. victims of the supposedly madman's bloody assault with an axe. The tragedy was discovered early today by a child who sought entrance to the little grocery store of which Orlander was proprietor, to make a small purchase. Finding the door closed the little girl went to the side entrance leading to the sleeping quarters of the family. Shrieking for help she aroused the neighbors. Lying across their beds, clad in their night clothes, the man, the woman and children were found. Walls and floor and bed clothing were spattered with blood, while a broken latch on the window showed how an entrance had been gained. Moans were issuing from the lips of the woman. She was conscious despite her terrible injuries, but, with her jaw split, unable to talk. Her husband lay beside her, the top of his skull broken. The children were unconscious, suffering from great gashes in arms, legs and shoulders. Although an Italian merchant is held on suspicion, Sheriff Frazier and his deputies are tonight searching for a negro with whom Orlander is said to have had trouble. 12:30, adjournment for dinner. Afternoon session?2:00, song service; 2:10, reports; 2:20, "Discovering the unreached?making the survey," by a state worker; 2:40, "Preparing a Christian leadership?the educational movement," Rev. R. P. Hucks; 3:00, miscellaneous business, adjournment. D. M. VARN, President. LONE STAR NEGRO IN PENITENTIARY SHERIFF HILL CARRIES SLAYtR TO COLUMBIA. Kills 1, Wounds 2 Others Calhoun Officer Caught Fugitive and Eludes Large Mob.?Dastard Crime at Lone Star. L Columbia, Jan. 15.?Richard Fo' gle, Calhoun county negro, who shot ' and killed Earl Wadford, a white | 1 man, seriously wounded Corbett Zeig ler, another white man, and painfully ! wounded Mrs. Wadford and her four months old baby at the Wadford home near Lone Star Wednesday L night, was brought to the state penitentiary yesterday afternoon by Sher5 iff Hill and Sheriff Dukes after the L officers eluded a mob of between 600 and 1,000 men. L The negro's act greatly enraged ' the people of Calhoun county and all Thursday night a posse searched the swamps and woods for the fugitive * and members of the sheriff's party 5 bringing Fogle here yesterday believe > the negro might have been summari1 ly dealt with had he been caught by ' the mob. The negro, who is said to be about 17 years of age, was barefooted and ' his clothing badly torn when he arrived at the penitentiary, indicating ' tlrat he had been dodging about in the swamps. Officers of the penitent1 iary said yesterday that Fogle's first move after getting inside was to light ' a cigarette. He seemed not to ap' preciate the seriousness of the crime ' he is alleged to have committed. 5 The negro, it is said, owes his life " to Sheriff Hill, of Calhoun county, the . officer displaying courage and bravery in the discharge of his duties. i Shooting Wednesday Night. [ The shooting occurred Wednesday I night, but did not become generally t known until Thursday. All day I Thursday Sheriff Hill, his deputies, r and an ever increasing crowd sought m ttt?1? mi 1 r Ugie. Hiai ly luuisuay 1115111,, n 10 L said, three negroes came to the sher> iff and told him where they thought I Fogle was hiding in a house six miles j from where the shooting occurred. l Several citizens were present when the negroes told the sheriff and they spread the word to members of the mob scouring the swamps for the fugitive. Sheriff Hill and his men went for the negro and began a search of the house. N After a few moments or searching, the negro was located under a mattress by Sheriff Hill, but ' due to the fact that the officer and 1 the men in the house had no lights ' the sheriff did not let his discovery ' be known generally. While other ) members of the party continued the L search, the Calhoun officer slipped 1 out with Fogle, who made no attempt to shoot or resist arrest. At least 15 men were in the house when ' Fogle was discovered, it was said yess terday. After getting the negro out of the house, Sheriff Hill rushed him to -i _ s?\ 1 ._ ^ 4. ^ waras wrangeuurg iu an auiumuunc. 1 Fogle was found between 9 and 10 ' o'clock and by 12 o'clock the sheriff had him in the Orangeburg jail. The sheriff reached Orangeburg about 1 midnight. Sheriff Hill said yesterday his first thought was to smuggle the negro on ftie Carolina Special and get him to the penitentiary. Start for Columbia. Early yesterday morning Sheriff Dukes, of Orangeburg, decided to make a get away with Fogle and bring him to Columbia. The Orangeburg officer found his automobile not functioning properly, however, and I his start was delayed. In the mean1 TTM1 -*iL l_;_ J time snerin jtim wim ms utsyuncai had arrived ancl it was decided to bring the negro in the Calhoun officer's machine. Sheriff Dukes then informed th* few men at the Orangeburg jail that he was going to a certain place in the county and would return shortly. This was done to ! throw the Calhoun mob off the track, ! should it show uP at Orangeburg. Sheriff Dukes then took Fogle out of the jail through the back yard and placed him in the car and the party was soon on the way to Columbia, I the start being made about 11 o'clock. "Everything was quiet as a lamb when we left," Sheriff Dukes said. The party met a group of men in a road making the trip through Orangeburg county, but had no trouble in getting to the city. The party (Continued on page 2, column 1.) WHOLE FAY IS WIPED OUT TERRIBLE TRAGEDY ENACTED NEAR PAMPLICO. Five Persons Killed Theory is That L. S. Bighain Shoots Mother, Sister, Two Boys, and th)en Ends Own Life. Florence, Jan. 16.?Discovery today of the bodies of five members of the Bigham family revealed that the entire family, living about five miles from Pamplico in the southeastern part of Florence county, was wiped out some time yesterday afternoon, a total of five being killed. L. S. Bigham, aged about fortyfivp is thought to havfi shot and kill I ?' ? ed his mother, Mrs. M. M. Bigham, aged 60; his sister, Mrs. Marjorie A. Black, aged 35; and the latter's two adopted children, Leo McCracken, aged nine, and John McCracken, aged five. Alleged family troubles in which an estate valued at about $75,000 was at stake, is reported to have been the cause of the tragedy. L. S. Bigham has not been officially changed with the crime as the coroner's jury will not make a report for about two weeks, but the theory is that he was the murderer and the suicide. The father of L. S. Bigham was the late Senator Bigham and the family is a prominent one in the county. All were evidently killed instantly except Mrs. Bigham, the man's mother, who lived a few moments, and the oldest child, who died at 5 o'clock this morning. The tragedy took place at the old Bigham home five miles from Pamplico. After slaying all within the house at the time, it is alleged, Bigham went deep into the woods surround ing the place and fired a bullet Into his own brain. When his body was .found it noon today his right hand still grasped the pistol. It was stated by the physician who examined the body that Bigham had been dead] more than twelve hours. The murdered persons were all shot in the head; the bullets in each case entering just beneath their temples. None was shot more than once, although two balls that had missed their mark were found near the back j door. The large pistol used by Bigham still contained an unexplodedj cartridge, which indicates that the man reloaded. The Bigham home is more than half a mile distant from any neighboring house. No one could be found today who had heard any shooting about the place. Sight a Ghastly One. A . #3 r*rs 4- Vi A Cf -tt. leti ge uuwu gatiicicu UUHU5 day and passed from room to room viewing the dead. The sight was a ghastly .one. On a bed in a downstairs room lay the aged mother and the youngest child, their faces covered with blood. In an adjoining room the oldest of the children layon a bed where he died at 5 o'clock this morning, and beside him the body of Bigham was placed when the searchers returned with his body. Upstairs in the room she usually occupied was the body of Mrs. Marjorie Black, oldest sister of Bigham; it lay on the floor just in front of the dresser. Until late this afternoon when the coroner's jury completed taking evidence, the bodies were undisturbed. Although the tragedy is said to have been committed at 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, it was late last night before word of it reached Florence county officials and they immediately sent out dispatches asking officers to be on the watch out for Bigham in nearby towns. Bigham's brother, Edmund Bigham, had left the house with his family in an automobile at 3:10 o'clock. He returned from a short j visit to a neighbor's house about 20 minutes later and found his mother staggering toward the road. He jumped from his car but the aged woman died almost before he reached her. Others happened to drive by the house at that timd, and when they bore the body of Mrs. Bigham into the house they saw evidence of blood on the floor and began an investigation which revealed the slaughter of three others. At the inquest today Edmund Bigham testified he had been away from the house only twenty minutes. He had left his brother standing in the yard. He had acted strangely for several weeks but he did not appear to RIDES TO COLUMBIA. Gaffney Boy Returns Horse and Gets * Old Job. Gaffney, Jan. 16.?The Jones-Poole Mule company of Gaffney has recovered the horse which was taken by Fred Wolfe, the young white man, who left a note at the barn saying he had taken the animal. Wolfe stated that he went as far as Columbia riding the horse, and that while he was in a restaurant, he heard two men talking about the taking of the horse and that a reward of $25 Had been offered for his arrest, and that he thefl and there decided that he had better return. He was away four days and it was stated yesterday that he was given his job again with the mule com pany. be any more depressed yesterday than usual, he said. "When I got into the car with my family to go to Pamplico," Edmund Bigham testified, "I left my mother and sister and the children at their various occupations and play. As far as I know there had been no quarreling during the day. Instead of going straight to Pamplico, I went up the road to see Bob Foxworth for a minute.- As we came back we saw mother stagger but of the yard. I then turned and caught a glimpse of Smile turning into the woods almost in a run. He had his right hand up toward his breast as if something was in it, but I did not see any pistol, my mother died as we were carrying her into the house. T. D. Garrison and Hoyt Bostick had come up in the meantime. I called my sister, Mrs. Marjorie Black, but she did not answer. Finds Youngest Child. "I then went on the back piazza and found John McUrachen, tne youngest child, dead there. My mother's cap was also on the floor just by the back door and there was blood all about. I believe my mother and the child were shot on the piazza and that she tried to get into the road for help. "We then started to look for my sister and the other child. It was almost dark, probably two hours after we reached home, that we found Mrs. Black dead in her room upstairs. "Later some one found the child, Leo McCracken, on a pile "of straw behind a potato bank out in the vard. He was still alive. We called Dr. Poston as soon as possible. The boy died about 5 o'clock this morning. It is evident that the boy was running when he was shot." Mr. Bigham could not say why the room of Mrs. Black was not searched sooner. "It just happened so," he said, "that we did not think about it." Some one had asked him to go upstairs, but he just did not do it. Mr. Bigham also declared that his brother had been in financial troubles and had aften spoken of them. Two years ago while he was postmaster at Orum, he was charged with a J shortage. There had always been a question about this and it had never been settled. He had also spoken of certain people who had been trying to do him wrong, he said. I "That morning about 12 o'clock, we had paid off the hands together and I noticed that my brother was awfully depressed. He would stand up and gaze about in an abstracted manner. He did not have a pistol that I know of. The pistol he did the killing with was mine and was in my bureau drawer when I left the house. There was another pistol somewhere in the house, in my mother's room, I think." The testimony of Mrs. Edmund Bigham and her two little daughters, who accompanied Mr. Bigham in the car away from the house just before the shooting, tallied at every point with that of Mr. Bigham. There were some at the scene of the shooting today who were inclined to doubt that Smile Bigham had done the wholesale killing or that he had killed himself. All of the evidence which could be found today, however, pointed toward him as the murderer and suicide. The complex situation in which the Bigham estate 1? - ?-ntto/3 fnT fV?o rvocth vo.1T xicia u ecu mvuiT^u mi i.uu j ^ ? or two, gave rise to the doubts expressed by some of the people living in the community. Kills Mrs. Black First. From the situation at the scene of the shooting it is believed tTiat the murderer shot Mrs. Blbck first. From ( tbe cleanness of the bullet wound, . he evidently crept into the room and shot her before she knew it. It is i ??? (Continued on page 5, column l.)|: PEOPLE NOT BROKE, 1 OCONEE MAN SAYS _____ ; i WANTS NO "HARD LUCK" RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED. Wightman Has Gun Vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor Declared by Senate. Columbia, Jan. 14.?Senator Mason, of Oconee, sprung something of a surprise on the senate today. The point of it was that the state of South Carolina and the people in South Carolina are not broke by a "durned" sight. His resolution is rather slrik ing and unusual and reads Iiks this: "Whereas, the senate has had numerous resolutions of a distressing \ nature presented before it; and "Whereas, Such resolutions are calculated to mislead the people as to our real condition; and "Whereas, The state of South Carolina is undoubtedly hurt by the low prices of its products, still the farmers and other classes of citizens, \ ' while ieeling depressed, are not yet broke. "Therefore, Be it resolved, That no further resolutions of a depressing and pessimistic nature be received in the senate, but that like resolutions be forthwith rejected and not considered." The senate had about passed the resolution by a viva voce vote when. Mr. Christensen asked what is was all about and had the resolution read a second time, and suggested that it had better go over. Under the senate rules one objection carries a resolution over until the following day, and the resolution will, therefore, be coi& afdnrod of n latpr dav. - ^ Senator Johnstone inquired if Sen- \% ator Mason was a farmer, but the resolution had gone over and no die- * cussion was in order. % Senator Mason stated that his grandfather, his father and he had * all been farmers, and that there were nothing but farmers in his famly. Senator Mason in conversation said, \ that he realized that the farmers, in common with everyone else, did not have a bed of roses just at this time, but that they were far from beings "broke," and even if they were "broke" there was no use to be parad- ' ing that fact to the public. As amatt^r of fact, both the senate and the house met today to receive new bills and to go through the technical requirement of declaring the official vote for Governor R. A. Cooper and , Lieutenant Governor Wilson G. Harvey. There were bare quorums present in either branch, as it was already known that the usual week-end recess would be taken today. The house will meet again on Monday evening and the senate today agreed to meet at 11 o'clock Tuesday. The engrossing department, through its new chief, Mr. Jackson, announced that the department would remain here and be ready for such clerical work as might bp offered at any time during the recess. Senator Wightman, of Saluda, has evidently got his legislative gun out for many of the present activities of the state government. Today he introduced bills looking toward the abolition of the Board of Public Wel ./gja fare and the State Tax Commission. He proposes to devolve these duties on other departments and revert to t?e county board of assessors in tax matters. Mr. Wightman is also thinking of introducing a bill to abolish the State Highway Commission. -He has already introduced a bill looking to a flat 20 per cent, reduction in the salaries or compensation of all state, county and other officers connected with either the state or county governments. Senator Johnstone suggested that the finance committee had under serious consideration the resolution looking toward the extension fcr the i payment af taxes, without penalty, until April. The committee was anx ious to know the attitude of the various county authorities, and how this extension might affect county finances, and suggested that the various senators, if opportunity permitted, * inquire what the home view was with reference to the extension of the time for the payment o/ taxes. - 'ftag - ' The Hague, Jan. 17.?The former German empress, Augusta Victoria^ is reported to be very sriously ill today. She suffered a relapse immed. lately after the former crown prince, returned to Wierengen.