The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, November 01, 1894, Image 1
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VOL.^X.
I HON. THOMAS 0. GOWER.
A GKKi\y IiOSS TO OREBNVILLK. '
Full und Complete Skotcli of His 1
Life?What a Man of Energy Can Do
for a Community?HIm Labors in
Many Directions.
Tho death of Hon. Thomas C. Gower,
of Greonvlllo, is a serious loss to tho
city whero his onorgios wort; ox ponded i
for half a century, but it Is also a groat i
^ loss to tho State of which ho was an
adopted citizen. Tho following sketch (
of his caroor was writton throe years
ago from data fujy^ihed by Mr. Gower,
and was pu^^^ed in a book entitled
" Emlnont and Representative
Men of the Carolinas
Hon. Thomas Claghorn Gower, ono
of tho prominent and inlluential business
men and honored citizens of Greenville,
S. C., was born at Abbott, Piscataquis
County. Me., April 23, 1822. living
thoro until ho was nineteen yoars
oi ago, receiving nis common school
education there and at Foxoroft acade- 1
my. On loaving the academy ho
taught one term of school, at the close
of which he came to this plaeo, arriving
January 19, 1842, having been
twonty-ono days on the trip. As times 1
and motliods of travel have so changed
since then, wo givo a sketch of tho 1
trip. Ho loft home (about twenty
miles south of Moosohoad lake) with
liorso and sleigh, traveling in that
manner to^treat Falls, N. H.; tho 1
snow not aflWding good sloighing from
that point,was forced to exchange
tho sleigh for a light wagon, continuing
tho trip via Boston to Dodham,
wliero ho sold his turnout (comprising
horse, wagon, harnoss, robes, otc ),
taking stage coach for Providence. On
roaching Providoneo tho journey was
continued by Washington, D. C., thence
* down tho Potomac to Aquia creok,
there taking tho stage for Fredericksburg,
Va., resuming travel by rail
then to Raleigh, N. C., thence by stago
again via Greensboro and JUncolnton
to Greenville. In consequence of the
bad condition of both rail and stage
roads and tho slow schedules of tho
former, the trip occupied twenty-one
days, which could now be mado in forty
hours. Greenville County has boon
his home since his first arrival, which
in a few months v ill compfoto a half
century. At this day thero is but one 1
man living in Gioonvillo who was in 1
business hereon Mr. Gowor's arrival.
Ho went to work with an indefatigablo
energy and pluck, first sorving a two
years' apprenticeship at carriage manufacturing
in tho Greenville Coach
Factory, which was established in 1835,
rby Thomas M. Cox and E. N. Gower,
an elder brothor of Thomas C., who
had removed to South Carolina from
Massachusetts in 1834, and was by
?I trade a blacksmith of rare skill. This
factory is still flourishing, and is now
owned by Henry C. Markloy.
On July 25, 1844, Mr. Gower married
Jane Jones Williams, of Williamston,
Anderson County, S. C., a daughter of
West Allen Williams, and granddaughter
of Samuel Williams, tho lat
ter giving nor a iarm in liroonviilo <
County, fonrteon miles south of* what
W was then culled Greonvillo village, tho
fall succeeding their marriage, to
' which they moved in January, 1845.
There Mr. Gowor farmed during tho
season of 1845, but in consequence of
an almost ontiro failure in crops that
year, owing to a gonoral and long eonw
"d drouth, and a loss of several
hundred dollars thoroby, he determined
to resume his trade and establish a
^ a carriago and wagon factory on his
ft^^farm, in which enterprise ho was very
^successful, during tho four yoars that
^he continued in it. In January, 1849,
K) returned to Greonvillo, and became
^koartner in tho Greonvillo Coach fc'acH^y,
tho Arm name becoming Gower,
x & Gowor. Tho business was very
Hisperous for that day and time, and
Btho commencement of tho war, by
Hnt of hard work, untiring energy and
^rcgid economy, Mr. Gower had accumulated
about $<>0,000. At the tirst call
for Confederate volunteers, ho promptBr
ly responded, joining tho Brooks
Troop, and afLar drilling for several
weeks the con^kny left hero on the 0th
B of Juno, 1801, Mk 1 was mustered into
service in thcfflampton Legion. His
B^buai|^ti interests were left in chargo
Ho and oldest daughter, the
^^iving just graduated from tho
^Kiurensville female colloge, and
His now tho wife of Capt. O. P.
BTls, of Groonville, S. C. Mr. Gowor
Herved one year as assistant quarterBmaster
of Hampton's brigade, at tho
^Fond of which time ho was detailed by
the Confederate government to return
homo, and manufacture for the quartornWster
and ordnance departments,
Jf supplies, consisting of ambulances,
wagons, gun carriages, caisons, saddles,''etc.,
continuing in this until the
close of tho warr
It may horo be stated that in tho
spring of 1865, the ordnanco department
paid to tho lirin of Gowor, Cox,
Markloy & Up., some $60,000 or $70,000,
which waH^n worthless as Gen. Lee
bad alroadv aOrrondnrnd. a far>t. t.hat. <
noithor tho officers of tho government i
nor members of the firm were awaro
of; about a like amount was duo them ]
from the quartermaster's department, ]
which is still unpaid. In consequence
of losses already mentioned, and othor
heavy losses incident to tho freeing of
slaves, the condition of the firm was
roduced to a very low ebb, in fact it
was a financial wreck, as was the condition
of most other Southorn business <
men at that time. To add to the troubles
and afiliotionsof Mr. Gowor, about !
this time his wife sickened, and after
an illness of a year, died, August 4, i
1866. Notwithstanding those dopress- 1
ing circumstances, financial and do- 1
mestio, Mr. Gower, with tho sarno i
pluck ant^ftrgy that had charaotorIzed
his t^^vious careor, set about
anew to rebuild his ruined fortunes
and regain his formor condition of comfort
and independence. Tho firm reestablished
itself, and for several years
did a prosperous Dusinoss, but in con- <
soquence of becoming security for a
large amount of debts, mostly ante- i
bellum, ho was obliged to suspend business.
The debts, of which the antebellum
wore chiefly for negroes, ag- i
Srogatcd between $40,000 and $60,000.
[e nad become obligated for these
debts before tho breaking Out of the
war, and it was the omanoipation j)t
the slaves that ruined tho mei^Ak.
whom he had bocomo surety, dl
him to lose heavily.
In the meanwhile, JbM
18<>7, Mr. Gowor had married Bettie 1
8. Rowland, neo Brooks, daughter of
John Wesley and Melissa Duncan 1
Brooks; she died November 27, 1872,
and October 27, 1873, ho married Salllo
A. Martin, daughter of John Campbell
Martiu, and Mary A. Starke, of Abbcvlllo,
S. C.; she fortunately had some
moans of liur own and with those came
k) her husband's rescue. In tho payment
of his debts, howover, only Mr.
Ciower'8 individual means wore used, '
and tho fact that they were finally
paid in full is one of which ho has just ;
reason to bo proud, allowing him to re- 1
embark in business as extensively as
before his troubles. His efforts have 1
been attended with his usual prosperity,
and he has fully regained himself,
boing now in as good financial condition
as over before. He has nearly
coached his throo score and ton years
of age, but is yotas vigorous as a man
of fifty, and conducts personally all of
his business interosts which are extensive.
During his connoction with the
Groonvillo Coach Factory, that establishment
passed through several proprietary
changes. The firm of Gower,
Cox & Gowor, which was formed on
his accession, was succeeded in order
mentioned by the firm, Gowor, Cox ?fc
Markloy, Gowor, Cox, Markley & Company,
and Gowor, Cox & Markloy. Mr.
Gowor's connoction with it ceased in
1877. Moan while in 1875 ho had formed
a partnership with a Mr. Sumner,
and tho firm of Gowor & Sumner ostal>lished
a sash, door and blind business.
In 1870 Mr. Gower purchased tho interest
of Mr. Sumner, and January, 1878,
tho firm of Gower, Shumate & Heilly
was formed. Mr. Shumate retired in
1882, after which tho firm continued
under tho name of Gowor & lloilly until
it was dissolved by tho death of Mr.
Heilly in 1889. Since thou Mr. Gower
has taken his oldest son, Arthur G.
Gowor, as his partner, and the business
is conducted under tho name of
m /i r o. o mu!i: I l i
l Vy. uuwur a ouu. ? iiih iiriii, uubiuoo 4
dealing in sash, doors and blinds, all
kinds of building material and coal,
doos a largo insurance and drayago
business. Their main warehouse is a
two-story brick, 87x120 foot, metal roof
with storage capacity for .'1,000 bales of
cotton, for which purpose it was originally
built. The office is locatod in it
and the whole is fitted up with all
needed fixtures to facilitate business.
Adiacent to this is another substantial
building used as the stable of tho i
Greenville Street Railway Company, '>
of which Mr. Cower is owner, a public
hall in second story and adjoining lot '
is used by them as a coal and supply
yard. They also have a waro house
octagonal in form and of largo capa- I
city, near tho Air Lino depot, which is
likewise used for the storage of their
their heavy goods, such as limo, eoment,
dressed lumber, shingles, laths, <
ote. They do a general drayago business
in connection with tho stroet railway,
utilizing twenty wagons and about
thirty head of horses and mules. In
the insuranco lino they represent sov- 1
oral of tho leading companies of this <
country and Europo. I
Mr. Gowor was elected mayor of i
Greenville in 1870, upon tho issue of 1
whether or not a bridgo should bo <
erected at tho Main stroet crossing of <
tho Reedy river. He was in favor of 1
the bridgo, while his opponent was 1
against it. After a warm contest, Mr. <
Gower was elected. Ho pushed ahead ]
aud contracted for tho structure, not- i
withstanding the fact that tho alder- i
it\?i n In 1 nlrnf 4/% li S tti latn >3 1
hiivmi/ ui^ivuv) uj'j'uni. u u*/ 11 tin, nan
Blocted, and ho had thoir opposition to
surmount." The bridge took tho namo
of tho man who was responsible for its
oxistenco, and lias over sinco boon
known as tho Gowor bridgo. It has
boon so popular that in 1889 it was roplaced
by a handsome iron structuro,
which goes to show that Gowor's
course had met with public approval,
and that tho bridgo is rcgardod as indispensable.
Mr. Gowor has also boon active in
oducational matters. At tho lirst mooting
of tho citizens in 1885, called to docido
whothcr or not an additional tax
should bo levied for tho purpose of establishing
a graded school in tho city,
ho was an ardent advocate of tho tax,
and was, with others, instrumental in
effecting an oducational organization.
Flo was elected a member of tho board
of trusteos and was chosen its chairman,
which position ho still holds.
Soon aftor this public meeting tho
State Legislature was petitioned by
tho citizens to authorize tho issue (if
bonds to meet tho expense of erecting
tho graded school buildings, but that
body refused its sanction on account of
a protest signed by many of our prominent
citizons. Mr. Gowor took up tho
work anew, and in 1887 secured an election
in tho city, by which a nearly
unanimous vote was cost in favor of
Issuing the bonds. Yielding to this
unanimity, tho Legislature passed a bill
authorizing and requiring tho city
council to Issue tho bonds. They wore
Issued to tho amount of $18,000, and
placed in Mr. Gowor's hands to negotiate.
Ho sold tho bonds and purchasa/1
m/vuf /ill f/S Kin #1 vwl /1/wiS >?i>LL> Ltin
L/u vuu iixsjiyv un^iuiu ?uu uuon ai/iu mm i
3n which buildings wore orectod, to the i
approval of all tho people. Mr. Gowor (
was chairman of tho building commit- i
loo; largo and commodious buildings <
wore erected, but owing to tho pros- <
pority of the city and tho increase of i
pupil, thoBO buildings are already in- <
adequate to moot tho wants for which 1
thov wore oroctod, and application was 1
mado to tho Legislature, and they au- <
thorlzed tho city council to issue #7,(MX)
moro bonds to oroct now buildings for i
tho colored schools and enlarge tho I
others. ]
Upon the resignation of Capt. E. A. 1
Sraytho. in 1889, as president of tho i
board of trade, Mr. Gowor succeeded 1
to that position by vlrtuo of tho office
ho hold prior to tnat time which was 1
that of first vico-prosidont. Ho has 1
since boon twice elected to that posi- 1
tlon and is now tho president of tho <
board. Tho Gowor family is dosconded 1
from an eminently rospectablo English <
line, many mombors of which wore i
vory prominent. Of Mr. Gowor's first i
marriage six children wore born, throe ;
of his second and his present wife has <
brought him five. Mr. Gowor has been 1
an oldor in the Prosbytorian church <
for thirty-nine years and ho is a mem- 1
ber of the P. &; A. M., the I. O. O. P., <
and the Democratic party. 1
?Russia soems to bo in rather a try- I
ing position in regard to her royalty, i
Wltn the Czar dying, the Czarina go- i
ing mad and Czarowitz Nicholas rofus- 1
to succeed his father on the imBfai
throne, it looks as if there may- *
Aoublo in the near futuro.
CONWAY, S
THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT LAW
THE NEW SYSTEM IN OUK ST ATI
A -v<? *?.- * -?- '
ii ixxrll Ml lilt' .*111111 I'OIIKH 111 I III
Daw?The Public KoimIh and tin
Cliuin-GiuiK Feature.
Piedmont Headlight.
Ono of tho greatest reform measure
passed by our last Legislature, am
probably tho loust understood, is tin
County Government Law. Four your
ago tlio constitution was amended b;
abolishing tho oflieo of county commie
sioners and received a large majority
of the votes of tho people. Great dis
satisfaction was manifested toward
tho old systom of county govornmon
by reason of its inellioioney and irre
sponsibility. It will onlj bo nooessar;
to compare the two systoms to convinc<
any ono that we have indeed a model
us compared to tho old style.
llerotoforo our county atTairs wer
entrusted to three men who rocolvei
about $.'100 oaeh per annum for munug
mg the linanees of tho county, tin
poor house and working tho publi
roads, bosides tho many other ouorou
duties devolved upon thorn. It is hi
axiom that wlionovor responsibility i
divided tho service is corresponding!;
made inotllciont. Such was tho oasi
with those throo commissioners ii
many counties. What was everybody'
business was nobody's business, am
whenover a complaint is made .by i
eiii/.en of tho county to ono of tin
ollloials it was always the other fel
low's businoss. Our roads were noth
ing but ditches, worked in an irre
sponsible manner, under no syston
whatever. Our furmos well know tha
whenever a holo was mado in tho roat
it was simply filled up with a few pirn
tops and covered with dirt, and in j
few days its condition was worse thai
when first touched. Whenever a trc<
blow down aoroST tho public highway
it was allowed to remain for months
and a road had to bo mado around it
simply boeauso no one knew wha
particular commissioner's business i
was to look after this road. It couli
not bo expected that this system woult
bo more elllciont for the reason tha
no good man could atTord to tuko the
ollice, leave his home and family, am
attend to the public business for $.'10<
and sometimes less per annum.
The most important matter to oui
farmers is good public roads. Thee
are of more importance than railroads
and tho most prosporous pooplo in tin
world are those who have tho bes
roads. Our now county law has thi:
feature more prominent than an;
heretofore existing, and we are satis
lied that if tho law is fully carried ou
in a few years our pooplo will have tlu
best roads in the South.
Tho vexed question of what wo shal
tlo with our convicts, so as not to com
pete with fruo labor, is sottled by thi
law by putting them to work ou tin
highways. Let us roviow tho law.
Tho first and second sections provide
that tho people shall every two yean
elect ono county supervisor, with i
salary of $1,000 in tho county of Spar
tanburg. Upon this raan is dovoivci
the duties of tho old l>ourd of count;
commissioners, qualified as horeaftei
explained. Thus wo havo ono gooc
mini with a salary Rullicieut to enahu
him to loavo his other businoss anc
iittend to tho county affairs and sup
port his wlfo and children. This mat
is placed under a bond of $5,000 for th<
use of tho county, conditioned for th<
faithful performance of his duties
eo thoro can bo no doubt as to who it
responsible for tho condition of affairs
Ho is givon general jurisdiction ovei
all public highways, roads, bridge*
and ferrios, over the paupers and al
matters relating to taxes and disburse
inonts of public funds for county pur
poses, and in any other caso that maj
bo necessary for Internal improve
merits and local concerns of thoii
counties.
" Tho Govornor, upon tho rocommen
lation of tho Senator and members o
the House from each county, appoint;
throe dlscreot freeholders in oacl
township in tho county, who are knowi
as the board of township commie
doners. No person is requirod t<
servo more than once in four yoars
and ho is oxompt while in oflico frou
road and jury duty. Ho receives a
compensation the satno por diom am
mileage as tho county boad of assess
era formorly recolvod. This boari
bakes the pluco of tho old townshi]
board of assessors, and tho chairmoi
cf tho various township boards con
ititute tho board of county commis
donors, of which board tho count;
jurporvisor is chairman. This boan
takos tho place of the county board o
equalization, which board is ubolishod
They meet quarterly for tho transac
tion of business.
It is tho duty of tho supervisor witl
tho chairman of tho township boar<
ef commissioners to lay ofT the roadi
into convenient sections which shal
l?o iiumuoreu iur mo purpono or lOllliq
aut the same to bo worked under con
tracts. The board advortlsos for bidi
from responsible parties for perOor
manco of work, and tho lowest hiddoi
^ots the contract. Ho is required t<
five bond for tho faithful performance
af tho work and for tho uso of th<
jounty, and if any injury is done t<
iny person by reason of bad roads thii
contractor is liable under his bond ant
the county exompt. Thus wo hav<
tho responsibility narrowed down t<
ano man.
A commutation tax of 92 is lovict
in lieu of all road duty, and tho monoi
is sot asido for the road fund. Thoa<
persons who dosiro to work out thoii
timo Instead of paying this tax an
illowod to do so, and they can onh
be mado to work six days in a year.
The road contractors are forced t<
tako any and all such persons and pai
tho county 50 cents per diem for tholi
labor. Tboso counties which do no
udopt tho contract systom of wqrkinj
tho roads are allowed to continue th<
aid system under overseers, but it ii
jafe to predict that once the contrac
tystom is adoptod it will never bo do
parted from. It will enablo our farm
ars to tako these contracts and worl
tho sections of road near their farm
an rainy days when thoy cannot per
form farm labor, and thus put many i
lollar in their pockets which, unue
the old system, Was thrown away
Any farmer will bo able to contraot t<
koop in repair two or moro miles o
road adjoining his farm without th
slightest inconvenience and give t
the county the best roads in tho South
Tho next featuro of the law, and th
nro*ti valuable one, is tho ohain-gang
It his been demanded in almost over,
C., THURSDAY, NOVI
r. Statu in tho Union that convicts should
bo made to work tho public roads, and
!. in tho Stato of North Carolina and
Richmond County, (Ja., ono may aoo
R thiH feature of tho law in practical
0 operation. 'oeklonburg County, N.
C., and HlohK nd County, (Ja., have
tho best roads in our section of country,
s and they owe it all to this system.
1 Tho writer has visited those counties,
o and it was a rovolatlon to him to seo
s how perfect a system can be had with
y a few convicts and a modern road
- machine. The convicts can be secured
y and maintained at a nominal cost, and
' tho results uro surprising. Red hills
s are converted into macadamized turnt
pikes and tho sand bods arc made equal
to shell rouds by simply mixing clay
y with them. If our supervisors wiil
c organize their chuiu-gangs and work
, one of tho principal roads, leading to
tho eourt house or cotton mills in tho
o country, whore our farmers do most of
d tho hauling, in a few years wo would
- have perfect roads and a saving to tho
3 farmors in mule llosh and wagon
i' fixtures suillciont to support the entire
s penitentiary. On a good road ono
mule can haul to market as much as
s four under our present system of roads.
V und this mean i great saving to our
o people.
u 'I his law lias been approved by
s several road congresses which have
3 convened since its adoption, and wo
it aro satisfied that if it is properly on0
forced it will be of more benefit to our
- peoplo than any measure enacted in
- the history of our Legislature.
There aro other feature of the law
1 which we will call to the attention of
t our readers at another timo, and which
I to elaborato now would make this
3 article too long. Let our county
t supervisor got a copy of the law and
i study it, for lie' lias a chance to make
3 himself famous by giving to our poo'
pie good roads, which the law eoni
templates.
i ? i ?i
[ THE ACgUI/Y TRAIN ltOItllEHS.
' Two Men Accomplished the Daring
1 Deed?The Con Tension oTHeareey and
t Discovery of the Mlolctt Honds.
.' One of tho train robbors who mado
suoh ii haul at Acquia Crook, between
Fredericksburg and Washington, has
mado a full confession, and tells how
tho robbery was accomplished. llis
'' namo is Charles J. Soarcoy, and ho
' was arrested at Cumberland, Sid. His
accomplice was a man named Morgunliold,
and ho was taken up as a
* suspect in Cincinnati. Soarcoy was
y' carried hack to Virginia, and before
" ho was taken to tho jail in Fredericksburg
ho mado a confession to tho uuJ
thoritios.
. There wore hut two men coneornod
in tho robbery. Morganiiold and
Soarcoy. They had known each other
0 before and had talked of a scheme of
0 that sort, hut Soarcoy for somo time
refushod to go into it. Thoy finally
1 mot in Washington and there agreed
* to rob a train, hut lixed 011 110 partlou1
lar 0110. From Washington they went
" to Fredericksburg and hanging about
thoro for two or throe days, staying
\ in tho woods most of the time, hut
going into Fredericksburg several
times. On tho afternoon of tho day of
' tho robbery thoy walked to Brooks'
1 Station from Fredoricksburg and thoro
waited for tho northbound train. Thoy
1 got on tho train at Urooks in tho dark3
noss, behind tho tender, having boon
i hidden near tho pieklo factory under
* a box car. When tho train stopped
* thoy had no particular reason for
\ selecting Acquia Crook as tho spot
for tho robbery. Morganiiold blew
* open tho car door with dynamite,
using a half stick with fuso and cap in
tho ond. Morganiiold also entered
tho car, wilo Soarcoy stood outside
' and terrorized tho train crew and pas"
sengors.
r After tho robbery thoy got olT tho
englno and struck northwest over tho
" country road, going to Calvorton Station
in Fauquier County and then to
* Midland and lialston and on by tho
1 Fauquior Whito Sulphur Springs,
1 following tho telophono lino to Front
Royal. Near Calvorton, thoy hid in
' tho woods some of tho goods thoy had
* gotten from tho express car.
' After being taken to Calverton,
1 Searcoy offered to go where these
things, consisting mostly of bonds and
j bank drafts, were hidden. On Monday
he was taken in a team from Frodoricksburg
with Mr. Robert Plnkerton
1 of Now York, Sergeant C. W. Edring~
ton of Fredericksburg and Mr. W.
Seymour White, Commonwealth's
^ attorney for Stafford County, over the
. route travelled by him in trying to
escape, to endeavor to locate the spot
" where the bonds had boon hidden.
Monday night the party spout with
ox-Sheriff Hugh Adlo of Stafford. Af]
ter breakfast with Mr. Adio, the party
set out to 11 nd the place whore Morganiield
and Searcoy divided the
t money and hid the ox press pouch con[
taining the bonds and drafts. Up
through tho Stafford roads, they wont
* by Stafford's store on to liristowburg
and to C'alvorton, Searcoy trying to
1 remember tho road he and his pal
} travelled and the placo ho loft tho
road. From Calvortion, the party
' drove to Catlett's and from there back
J on the road to Stafford's store.
| About throe miles from Catlett's,
Searcoy identified whoro thoy left tho
J road, and took to tho woods. Driving
into a field, tho horses woro tied bo,
hind a hay stack, and tho search for
* tfco bag began. The shade* of evening
' wore falling and Searcoy, handcuffed to
1'inkorton, with Sorgoant Kdrlngton,
, ox-Sheriff Adio and Commonwealth
" Attorney White sproad out through
' tho pines. Searcy had described tho
spot exactly, but an hour's search
failoa to find it. It was getting quito
' dark, when Mr. Adie callod out that
, ho had found tho spot, and all parties
hastened up to whoro, under tho roots
? of a blown down treo, just as Searcoy
^ had described, the bag was taken out.
t Its contents wore not examined. The
paity drove at once back to Calvorton
[ whoro the bag was sealed and shipped
' to tho A lams Express Company at
I Washington.
& ?That good roads pay is shown by
r tho exporienco of Colbort County, Ala.
It Is estimated that tho city of Lolghton
r> has already made a saving of from $1,f
200 to $1,500 in tho freight upon cotton
o alone since the turnniko was comploto
cd to Tuscumbia. Tho savlrsr Is not
. confined to cotton, and it Is figured uut
o that tho amount will run up to $5,000
$6,000 a year when all sorts of artlolos
y shall be taken into account.
y ,v
^ < ,
SMBtiR I, 1894
Tlllii l>AltlilN<iTON ltlOT.
Trial of Constable McI<cmloii l??r tlio <
Murder of Frank N'orment -No lllll
AKuinst O. S. MeCullough.
Special to Columbia Register.
Daui.inutON, Oct. 2f>.?'Tho trial of
Constable Mr London for killing Frank
Noriuont in the Darlington riot commenced
today. Thoro isgroat interest
takon in the trial and tho court houso
wus crowdod with spectators during
tho hearing of tho testimony. While
tho interest is intense thoro is no excitement.
Judge Norton presides and when
court was opened McLondon was arraigned
and pleaded not guilty. The
constable loosed bad and it was generally
remarked if he didn't got a trial
at this tor in he would not live to got
ono at all. There was no trouble In
securing a jury. The State exhausted
its challenges and the defense most
of theirs. Ono juror was sot aside by
tho court at the juror's rcquost, ho saying
that he could not give the case the
calm consideration that it deserved.
Solicitor Johnston conducted the prosecution
and was assisted by Mr. C. S.
Nettles. Col. Kohcrt Aid rich and Mr.
II. II. Hrillisnn IlimftHt'dil f#i?? I 'nnaln Kl.-.
X. ?.? . vv? l\M V/UlllJUKUlU I
MoLondon.
The first witness for the Statu wiih
L. S. Welling. IIo testified that ho
was at the depot on March 30 and wont
thoro with Frank Norment and C. S.
McCullough. Ho noticed Willie Floyd
thoro and ho appeared much excited.
Chief of Police Dargan was present
and said a few words to Floyd. In a
few minutes Paul Rogers, Turner
Henry and Lowis Redmond oamo up.
Floyd cauio from tho platform crying
' and said " ho could not tako it." McLondon
was standing on tho end of tho
platform. Rogers said Floyd " was a
Tho chiof of polieo said that
thoro must ho no row thoro and tho
crowd commenced gathering around.
About this time fourteen or fifteen constables
came up. Frank Norment said
to tho Iwiys that thoy must not have a
row. Redmond said that Rogers could
whip Floyd in a fair light. MoLondon
ran his hand in his pocket, pulled out
some money and offered to bet that ho
could not.
In a few minutes Floyd called on Mr.
Battle and asked him whether ho had
| been treated fair in hislightwlth Rogers
before. Before Battle had timo to
reply Rogers said that ho had been
taken advantage of. Some one asked
him by whom. Pointing to McLondon
ho said : "That McLondon
called him another and said : " 1 can't
take that." He pulled his pistol and
commenced firing in tho direction of
Frank Norment, who was standing
about four foot in front of him. Tho
crowd ran and witness ran with them
Into tho depot. About twenty shots 1
woro fired but ho didn't see tho result. >
Porhapsone of the most, important I
witnesses was C. S. MoCullough who i
wus charged with killing Constable I
Pepper. His testimony doveloped some <
interesting facts about the riot and the <
action of citizens of the town. He testified
that ho was standing two and a (
half or throo foot in front of Frank t
Normont. Rogers or Redmond pursed i
Mc Lend on and said that he was to (
blame for the whole trouble (referring i
to tho light between tho boys). Mc- <
London cursed back. Frank Normont 1
said something and added : " Yes, he i
is to blamo." McLondon called him <
"a d?n lying ?McLendon i
kept his hand on his pistol and when c
Normont cursed ho said, "1)? n if 1 t
can stand that," and diew his pistol.
Soino one said : " Mc don't do that."
McLendon ropliod : "No, G?d d?n
it, let'or roll." He then fired In the
direction of Frank Normont who was '
standing In front of him. Witness had
kept his eye on McLondon. Saw him
pull his pistol and as soon as he popped t
at Normont, witness shot at hun and c
hit him in tho stomach, he thought, t
Witnoss then ran into tho depot with
the crowd. I
On cross-examination somo Impor- j
tant testimony was brought out from \
the witnoss. Colonel Aldrloh said he
desired to show tho conditions exist- .
lng in Hariington two or throo days
previous to the riot. Ho proposed to '
connect tho deceased with those pro- ^
ccodings. With the understanding
that these conditions should be shown
to be res gestae, Judge Norton per- 1
mittcd It to bo brought out.
The witnoss said that tho oxcito- '
ment was on account of tho nresenne
of the constables. Thoy woro supposed
to bo hunting for whiskey. Ho said
tlioro was an understanding botwoen
citizens that if the constables went to
search residences they should bo resisted.
Ho admitted also that there
was an understanding that the town
boll' should bo rung in case constables
entered private residences to make
searches.
In rosponso to a question, "Then
what?" witness said: "We woro to
do what we pleased. You can imagine
what we would do, I reckon." In response
to a query as to what the ringing
of tho boll meant, the witness
said : "Wo wore to assemble in the
square and bring along whatever we
wanted?a cannon if a man had one.
Tikis was to bo done only in case a
private residonco was to bo searched."
Continuing, ho said only two residences
had boon searched and they
belonged to colored peoplo. The prTvato
apartments of a gentleman had
boon searched, but those caused no oxcitoment
as it was suspected that
whiskoy was boing kept. Tho constables
wore to bo resisted only In caso
they attempted to search privato rosidencos.
Dr. Garnor. the noxt witness, testified
as to tho wounds of Norment.
L. M. Norment, brother of Frank
ixormont, ftiier ucHcrioing tno Killing (
of hisbrothor, which wan auhataatially
the aamo us other wltncaaoa had ro- .
latod, testified that ho too waa ahot
whilo lifting up hia brother's body. *
Booing that ne waa dead, ho turned to !
go to tho depot and aa he turned he '
saw Redmond kill Constahlo Poppor.
A. C. McFall, M. Rich, conductor on '
tho Atlantic Coast Lino, and other !
witnesses woro examined, but in tho
main, nothing more than tho above
waa developed. The testimony was i
about tho aamo as developed at tho i
Inquest.
Tho State haa examined nearly all i
of its witneaaea. It ia expected that <
tho trial will consurno soveral daya. 1
Tho caso of C. S. McCullough, 1
charged with killing Constable Pepper. <
caino to an end to-day when the grand j
jury brought in " no bill." i
TUK C'OI'KS ASSASSINATION.
Governor Tillman strike* u Trail
ami OrtlcrH lln> Arrest of a Suspect- !
ed Man.
I lie Stute, 241 li lust.
Govornor Tillman has received privttto
information hearing on the OriUgcburg
assassination, which to all '
ipponrnnoos comes nearer to solving
Lho mystery of the identity of the us- I
jassins than anything that has yet developed
under the most powerful
loarchlight that tho people of Orangeburg,
working night and day, have ]
toon able to secure.
Yesterday morning It was mentioned j
ill at tho iGovernor had telegraphed to !
ihoaherilT of Orangeburg instructing j
him to hunt for and detain one Manuel
Williams, a white man supposed to he
in eseaped convict from Alabama, and
also tho man who committed the
inurdor in the upper edge of Orangeburg
county near tho Loglngton county
line a short tlmo ago. When Governor
Tillman ivnu nvl/o.l u ? ?
??v~. C..W..W .U L.U |
javo information which makes out a
it confer ease against tliis man and a
nil lie had, so fur us tho assassination
>f Treasurer Copes is concerned, than
inything that has yet boon found coniccting
any one else with tho crime.
Tho facts which seem to make out
aich a strong case aguiust Williams
uul his pal are as follows:
Williams has lived in thut section
>f tho State nearly all his life. Ho
s said to he an all-round crook. Some
.line ago he disappeared, going, it is
bought to Florida. Some four or
lvo days before the murder Williams
:uino into Blackvillo, accompanied by
i pal. They had heat their way in on
i freight train. The pal's name is not
cnown. lit) was a small follow, about
ivo foot four inches in stature, and
iud jUHt such a foot en indicated i>y
ho tracks found at the scone of the
Inscription given of the tracks of tiio
nurdcr. WilllaniH' trackH also tit the
ithor man. Both had very small foot.
S'ow the information that the Govorlor
has is to tiio olToct that WilliamH1
>al was Hcon to leave Bamberg. Hitting
ni a wa^'on going in the direction
if the Kdinto swamp. He said lie
van going way tm into the swamp to
Hint. Bamberg is about twenty miles
rem the scone of tiio murder. He
lad a double-barreled Hliot gun. He
eft Bamberg, it Ih said, on tlie third
lay previouH to tiio murder. Another
ligniflcunt tiling in that Bamberg
van said to be tiio only place where
(ho peculiar kind of slielt used in tiio
issassin's jjun could bo purchased.
\nd Humbert was the place tiio folow
started out from. Williams was
lot seen after tills timo. Neither of
diose fellows have been seen since
die murder so far as any one knows.
Another significant tiling is that
Williams, having lived in that
motion of the country all liiH life,
renew all about the trips of the
treasurer at this timo of the year,
<new the roads and the localities, and
ivon every foot of the swamps thoroughly.
This is the information upon which
governor Tillman lias based his orders
.o have Williams arrested and held
iill ho can prove clearly that these
drcuinstancos do not fasten the crimo
ipon him and his pal. Williams was
>nco the town marshal at Bailey, and
ater at Springfield. Williams is a
nan about five foot, eight inches tall,
if dark complexion, has dark hair, eyes
md a slight black moustache. Most
if the time he goes unshaven and
lirty.
?
OMNEK/VIi NEW8 HUM MARY.
Jill out ItOIMN 1111(1 CurlOllH Not OH IVoill
Our KxcIiuiikoh.
During August und September six,oon
farmers in the South and Wont
iommlttood suicide, owing to hard
<imos.
? Ah a result of a glorious revival at
ngersoll, Texas, the citizens changed
.ho name of the town from Ingorso.ll
o Kdison.
?Nathan Straus, of New York, the
ate candidate for mayor on the Dotno*
iratie ticket, sailed laHt week for a
fear's sojourn in Kuropo.
?The planet Mars, which can be
icon after dark in the eastern sky, is
low nearer to the earth thun it has
icon in 17 yoars, or will bo for that
ongth of time.
?A law in Norway prohibits any
icrson from spending more than live
jonts for liquors atone visit to a public
louse, and alcoholic stimulants are
told only to sober persons.
?The official ballot in I'onnnylvania
this year is two feet square and contains
icven columns, except in a few counties
n which eight are required to accotnnodate
the multiplicity of parties.
Mrs. gain .Tnhnfcnn <>f Mnur V/?r.lr
Jity, has a tender conscience. Sho
vants a dissolution of her marriutio
'rom her second husband on tho ground
.hat No I was living at tho time. She
s now living with No. 3.
?Capt. Robert B. Pep ram, formerly
n tho United States and Confederate
lavlos, died on the 24th inst. at Nor'olk,
Va., age 811. He was inthoex)edition
to .Japan in IHf>2 and in 1855
:onimanded tho American forces,
which united with tho Knplish in opiating
apainst pirates in Chinese waers.
?In tho city of Now Orleans there
ire fifty-seven Baptist churches among
,ho colored people, although tho Cros:ontcity
it prodominatly Roman Cathoio,
a denomination, by the way. emllontly
spectacular in its worship and
>ur colored friends as a raco are wonlorfully
fond of tho spactacular in everything.
?Tho cotton plckinp machino of
fiioom Bros., of Dallas, Tex., was
Oven a hiphly satisfactory tost last
week on a plantation hear .Jackson
Miss. It gatners 90 per cent, of the
iho opon cotton in a somewhat trashy
condition. Tho plckinp with four men
md f6ur mules was done at the rate of
<i3ii i/i bwuivt? umuH per uuy.
? Boaoh and Sinsabaugh, who were
irrosted in Columbia, 8. C.. for compllolty
in the big stamp steal from the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
arrived ia Washington last weok in
3UHtody and woro turned over to the
United States Marshal. Sinsabaugh,
who undoubtedly had nothing to do
with tho robbery wan subsequently released,
but he will bo used as a witness
against Boaoh.
NO 15
HTATK NHWH IN DIIIKF.
I liferent I it ac NoIoh IVoni Varioua Hour
C??S.
?The general election takes place on
Tuesday, November Oth.
?The State Fair will open in Columbia
on November 12th and continue for
four days.
? Col. Wuddy W. Thomson has been
acquitted fot toe killing of Prof. P. E.
Howell at Greenwood last spring
?A dispensary has been opened at
Mavesvlllo, Sumter County, which
makes alsnit seventy in the State.
Constable Nowton CI an ton soized
about 200 gallons of blind tlgor whiskey
at Kershaw, Lancaster County, last
week.
?Mr. Nix Medlin, who lived about
live miles north of Piekens, died on
tho 2ilrd instant at the udvanco'.' sge
of 00 years.
?Uov. A. A. Marshall, formerly of
Anderson, has accepted a call to Jackson
Hill llaptls Church, n now organization
in Atlanta, Ga.
? i no ooutn uaroitna annoual Conforonoo
of tho M. E. Church, South,
will conveno in Laurnes. H. CM November
2l8t. Bishop J. C. Koonor will preside.
?Dr. W. Ij. Kirk I and left Columbia
liiHt woek for Nashville, Tenn., whore
he goes to assume control lis editor of
tho Sunday school literature of tho
Methodist Church, South.
?Tho Wlnnsboro Ncwh and Herald
nays that a firm at that place rocc ntly
shipped the heaviest bale of cotton ever
known or hoard of. It weighed 1,600
pounds and was packed by hand.
? Five hundred gallons of whiskey
and live hundred bottles of beer were
seized last week by Constable Fantin a
warehouse in Columbia. Tho liquor is
valued at 41,000, but no one has laid
claim to it.
?It Is said that there is a probability
of the reduction of the nrieo of
board at Clemson College, as tho trustees
havo born investigating it and
found that tho coat doeH not amount to
$7 per month.
Saloon koopers throughout tlio
Statu aro applying to Commissioner
Traxlor for certificates to provont tho
seizure of tiio whiskies thoy havo on
hand. During tho last vvouk lio bus
issued ovor lliO cortiticatos.
?M. W. H. Huntor, who has a portion
in tiio government printing otlloo
at Washington. and who wan hurt a
fow weeks back by a cable car in that
city, arrived .in Nowlieivy lant wook.
IIo is nblo to got about on crutches.
?F. F. Whitikon, civil engineer of
Tioncsta, Fa., was in tho mountains
last wook on a tour of inspection, looking
out tho timber lands to ascertain
if thoro is enough hard woods to justify
tho establishment of a factory at
l'lckons.
?Tiio railroads havo given bettor
rates to tiio State Fair this year than
last year, and are going to aid every
elTort to make it a success. It is probable
that soino arrangement will bo
made whereby tho Clemson College
( iwletM Clin im t in. I.'ui,.
?Socrotary of Statu Tindal says that
tho acts of the Legislature and the
l>ound copies of the revised code will
soon be sent out to the various clerks
of court in the State for distribution
umong the members of the la^t Legislature
in the several counties.
?The Secretary of State has been
furnished with a map of the proposed
new county, which is to have iionea
Path as a county seat. The new county
tukes in Donuld's Helton, and Duo
West, besides several smaller towns.
It will have 028 square miles.
?Governor Tillman, in speaking of
the whiskey sei/.urios, says all that is
necessary to kill out the blind tigers is
to get one of the illicit dealers with
" stripes" on him, and that would settle
the business, lie said that he had
one man near the penitentiary.
?Mrc. Minerva Dial, of Laurens, an
aged and highly respected lady, and
relict of the late Lewis Dial, deceased,
died at the residence of her daughter,
Mrs. Malinda Crews, on Wednesday,
24th Inst. Her remains wore iuterred
in tho Cemotary at Chestnut Ridge.
?Col. William Izard Hull, for many
years a resident of Sumter County,
died ut the residence of his sou in Charleston
on thd 21st inst., aged 82 years,
lie was once a insn of immense wealth
and a loader in sociul and political circles
not only in his community, but in
the State at lurgo.
?About throo miles from Salloy,
Aiken County, on tho 23rd inst., H. f\
Sully shot and instantly killed Henry
Glover, colored. A few words were
passed and Glovor struck Sally a dangerous
blow with an iron hammer in
the head. Thereupon Sally drew his
pistol and tired, the bullet taking etToct
in the neek.
Mm. Suo Maxwell Pickons, wifoof
Dr. T. J. Pickens, died at her home in
Pendleton, S. C., Tuesday morning,
October lidrd, from congestion of tho
brain. She was the only daughter of
the late Samuel E. and Julia S. Maxwell,
and was torn at tho old homestead
of Capt. John Maxwell, on Seneca
Uiver, November 17th, 1842.
?Tho Pickens Gouty Democratic executive
committee at a recent meeting,
passed a resolution to submit to the
voters of tho county at the genoral
olection tho question of dispensary or
no dispensary for Plokens County.
This vote is to instruct the representatives
to the Legislature. A box
for tho purpose will be provided by
the managers at each precinot.
?A loading cotton seed oil manufacturer
while talking about the effect
of the reduced prices of cotton on the
cotton seed market, said that at the
outset of the .season the manufacturers
I'lliRnd t.hn n?>l?>n r\f unu/l ""'1
--- - ? ? w?V I't ?vv */t OV.VM uuu I?Or 14
kopt it up as long as possible. The
general demoralization of the markot
ad reduoed the price of crude
oil very much and it was found absolutely
necessary to make a reduction
of 10 per cent in the price of cotton
seed. This, he said, was a high price
and much more than was being paid in
tho Southwestern States for seed.
?Gov. Northon has issued invlta- *
tlons to theGovornors of all the Stato
and Territories of tho United States,
inviting them to make exhibits at tho
Cotton States international Exposition
to be held in Atlanta next year, and
which has already taken on mammoth
proportions.
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