The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, September 23, 1909, Image 1
<
^ VOL XX111.
i ii m.
Was the Killing Premeditated
or an Accident?
PUBLIC OPINION DIVIDED.
The State is Active In Hun tin jf Uo
l.vltlciMc to Convict Avam and
Dr llljtlium of tlie Killing- of
Mrs HlKhum With Mali, e Aforeitioujrtit?Some
Allcjrcd Testimony
.
A staff correspondent of the Columbia
State, writing from Marion
to his paper under date of the 15th
inst , alleges that the trial of Bigham
and Avant, charged with the
killing of the wife of the former under
very suspicious circumstances,
at Murrell's Inlet a few weeks ago,
promises to produce startling testimony
of a highly sensational character.
Three witnesses from Marion have
been subpoenaed and will testify for
tho State, who will telf what they
know about the shooting. "These
lllll AP n MA IT All 1??f I)i i/tlr rt m r> 4
mi'iuaaco tn u ijciii _y uiiun, u'l ill"
torney; J D Murchison, an automobile
dealer, both of Marion, and Edgar
Smith, a planter, who lives near
Mulling, who were at the Inlet at
the time of the tragedy. Two of
these witnesses were seen and while
very little in the way of definite information
could ho obtained from
either it is evident from common
talk that efforts will be made by the
State to refute some of the statements
made by the defendants.
"Mr Buck has taken much interest
in the case but would say nothing
for publication, taking the position
that any definite statement just at
tiiis time might bo called into question
whon he went on the witness
?-- stand,
"Mr Murchison also said little.
He heard the report of the gun and
y saw the flash but at the time paid
C little attention to it, although he
heard a negro on an island in the
middle of ihe stream call out 'What
are you shooting this way for?'
This negro Mr Murchison saw distinctly.
One of the grounds for
the defense is that Avant and Bigham
did not recognize Mrs Bighan.
when the shots were fired. Messrs
Edgar Smith and Henry Buck, who
were close to the shooting, went up
to the scene and what they saw
there will bo brought out on the
y stand,"
" It is also stated that Solicitor Wells
has visited the girlhood home of Mrs
* Btgham in Laurens county and it is
stated lie gathered some strong testimony
bearing on the case.
"In the investigation at Mountville
and Waterloo it is understood
on good authority facts were brought
to light that will tend to show unhappy
marital relations. This is
based on the fact that Mrs Bigham,
when at her old home a few weeks
ago on a visit and receiving letters
and telegrams from her husband to
return home at once, expressed reluctaxce
at the idea of going and
^ even wept when she, pressed with
the letters and telegrams, realized
that she must return to her husband.
"Upon investigation this corres
j . ? t\ _i _ a I A i
pinueai nnus Mia* ur uignam was
not wall thought of at Mounbville
by a great many people. He resided
there for a short time while practicing
his profession. The story of
the killing as related by Bigham and
Avant is not generally accepted at
Mountville nor in Laurens. People
who knew Mrs Bigham best declare
that she was very timid and especally
of i ho daxk; that she would not
venture out of the house after nightfall.
No one seems to believe that
any act of hers justified the killing.
It is said that even the father of
Mrs Biirham. who at first strenu
ously opposed the idea of prosecuting
Bigham has now consented and
is determined to probe the killing to
the bottom."
Sunny Side, the beautiful home of
the Alstons, it is said, where the
killing occurred, is surrounded by a
s grove of trees and In front is the
' v beach which is als > used as a road.
There are a number of cottage* on
the beach and directly in front of
Sunny Side is a private wharf near
whore the tragedy occurred. This
is in the open. The two men were
playing checkers on the piazza just
a minute before Avant did the shooting,
although it is dusk at the house
about half an hour before it grows
dark in the open.
All of the above is of course fais
vo-able to the theory of the State.
The story of the killing as told by
Avant and Bigham is well known by
JK the public, but what they have tc
offer to break this chain of circum
stances is not known. In the mean
time it would serve the ends of jus
tice for the public to withhold opin
Ion until all the facts are known. I
Avant and Bigham are guilty o
murder, as the State charges, thei
let the State prove it. If they an
, innocent of the charge let the de
J fendaut s establish their innocence
For the authorities not to have tak
c
School Improvement.
Below is ft letter from Miss Darijau,
the president of State Improvement
Association, urging the work
in Horry:
llnl^ll R r. A,.? 7 'no
) ?
Miss Lettie Harrolson,
Nichols, S C.
Dear Miss Harrolson:
Do all you can to advertise the
prizes in your county. Work to got
sch >ols to compete. We only have
i thirty-five competitors and we
should have about one hundred. On
page 12 of the bulletin you will find
the regulations about the priz4.
Send me a list of all the schools you
persuade to try for one of the prizes.
Ro9pectfullv,
Theodosia Dargan.
[The Herald has several times
published the rules governing tho
awards of tho State prizes and it is
of the opinion that those interested
are sufficiently informed concerning
this matter, hence at this time it
cannot make room for its republication.
Tho Herald is ready and willing
to assist all it can io further
school improvement but it fails to
see wherein school improvement
can be benefited by its roproduct
r\ r> 1
VIWU . J
You will find regulations for
county prizes below:
No photographs of schools required
for the county prize. 1 hope that
each teacher, trustee, parent and
children will join in thi^s work and
lets get each school in the county
organized into a School Improvement
Association for its own individual
benefit. The smallest school
has a chance to win a prize this
year.
A prize will be given by the
county president and organizer to
the rural school in Horry county
making the greatest material improvement,
both internal and external,
between January 1st 11)0!)
and December 1st 15)0!).
"Under material improvement
are included a local association for
the improvement of the school;
special tax levy; building and painting
house whore needful; repairing
old ones; establishment of libraries
and reading rooms or tables; planting
flowers, trees and shrubbery in
yards; decorating walls with pictures
polishing stove or stoves; keopiug
floors clean and scrubbed; having
pans, towels, etc Anything done
in the way of improvement will be
counted.
"All who wish to enter this conteat
for prizes, please send name of
school to the county organizer by
Nov 1st 11)09.
"Two full descriptions of each
school competing for this prizo
must be written out plainly, one
describing school just as it is Dec.
1 st J909 and the other descriptive of
the school as it was on January 1st
1909, The chairman of tho Hoard of
Trustees of any school competing
t iLI- ! ' ? i
lur mis prize musi bign nis name to
each description before and after
improvements are made. All descriptions
mast be sent to the
County organizer by Nov 26, 1009.
"The prize must belong to the
school winning it and will bo a
suitable prize benefiting the whole
school in a body. The prize will be
awarded at the semiannal meeting
of the county school improvement
association to meet not earlier than
Dec 1st, 1909. Time and place of
meeting will named later.
"Anyone wishing information
about this work, address me at,
Nichols, S. C.
Lettio IJarrelson.
Two Sad Deaths.
MRS. ROBERTA LUNDY.
The many friends of Mrs Roberta
Lundy will be pained to learn of her
death last Monday. She was a
daughter of the late G. R. Sessions,
and until her marriat/e about nm
a " -year
ago, she held a responsible po
sition with Burroughs <& Collins Co
' She had been seriously ill for many
months and endured much suffering.
She leaves her husband, her mother
and several sisters. The interment
took piece on Monday afternoon at
Lake Side cemetery in the presence
of a large concourse of relatives and
friends.
WILI.IAM A. MOORE.
Mr William A. Moore died at the
Kingston Hotel last Friday after
noon at about 5 o'clock after a lingering
illness with appendicitis.
An operation had been performed
, by the physicians about two week^
, before his death inHhe hope of saving
his life. He was a son of th<
| late J. E. Moore, well known ane
, largely connected in Horry county.
; He leaves a wife and children hen
surviving him and brothers and sisters
as follows: L. N. Moore, Mrs.
J. F. Spivey, Mrs Lillian Spivey, ol
, Moultrie, Ga., and Mrs G. F. Stal
, vey, of Lake City, S. C Every
> thing possible was done by lovinj.
friends and relatives.
*
R L Oliver and family are occupy
1 ing the cottage lately vacated bj
| Mr and Mrs H S Collins.
i en notice of the killing would ha\<
5 been wrong, and as the matter ii
- in the hands of the law the lav
should be allowed to handle the cas<
in a fair and impartial manner*
ONWAY, S. C., THURSDA
mmms
1 HULL H1UI1ULI1 UI1ULU
Are on the Docket for Trial
at this Term.
DEFENDANTS ALL NEGROES
It I* l?rol>al"?lo tliat tlio Court of
St'HiAions Will Consume tlto Entire
Week as tlic Docket Is Heavy.
The throe most important criminial
eases which are to be tried next
week are as follows:
The Stato vs Melvin Watson,
murder.
The State vs Narzatta Lowis and
Liston (Joodvear, Infanticide.
The State vs Waterman -Livingstone,
murder.
The horriable details of tho Melvin
Watson ease it will be recalled came
out last Spring. The facts were
as follows:
The facts and circumstances leading
up to this most urtrocious crime
pointed to murder of the most cold
Ul ,1^.1 - A M TIT .
uiuuiuu suit, ivjr Yvnison was manager
or overseer on a large farm of
lion J I* Derham and the negro Melvin
Watson was employed on the
same farm, asalaborer. On Wednesday
morning. Mr Walson and also
the negro were at the barnyard and
something was said about sending
Melvin oil' with a wagon to move a
family of hands to Mr Derham's
farm that day. Mr Watson said
that the negro was troublesome and
fussy, and that it would be as well
not to send him, but to send some
one else. It seems that the negro
heard this and was mad about it,
and while he used no language at
either Mr Watson or Mr Derham
yet he did use profane language in
talking to some of the children and
when Mr Watson heard his language
he told him to hush or he might
punish him, or words to that effect.
After a few minutes the negro told
Mr Derham that if he owed him any
thing he could pay him, and gave
him to understand that lie would
quit work, No attention was paid
I to biin at the time. Later Mr Watson
geared upand started for Tabor
taking Mr Derham's little son with
him. Before he had gone very far
along the road the negro jumped up
from a fence jam and shot Mr Watson
twice without saying anything
at all. The young son of Mr Derham
was so near to Watson that he
was spattered with some of the
blood. Later it was learned that
the negro after leaving Mr Derham's
place had gone to another negro's
house and borrowed a gun saying
that ho wanted to shoot a rabbit with
it. Another negro named Pink
McQueen saw him before the shooting
and ask him what was the mat-1
lev as ne appeared to be very much
disturbed abouty something. As
soon as he fired the fatal shot he
fled to the nearest swamp and the
trail was taken up thero with blood
bounds as soon as they could be sent
for.
Narzatta Lewis and Liston Goodyear,
both colored, are charged with
the killing of an infant of which
Naizelta was the mother and Goodyear
the reputed father. The facis
of this matter are learned as follows
from the inquest and statements
made by the parties since: On June
27th last Mr W K Mincy found a
dead negro's body in a well on Mr
Mincy's place and reported it to the
authorities. An inquest was held
and Narzetta Lewis was arrested as
a result of the evidence, on her way
to jail she talked and charged Goodvear
with being the father of the
child, and that when it was born
on a proceding Sunday, he took it
away, over her protest, and said he
iv;m t?nincr I n -? 11/ ir mith 5*
r-, - - - - r-, IV,
She has made other statements but
it is believed that the fir t story is
the true statement of the facts
Loston Goodyear was arrested and
, will be tried under this charge.
, IJoth of them are represented by
attorneys who will likely mako separate
defenses. They have never
had any preliminary investigation.
The facts in the case of Waterman
Livingstone were recently published
in full in this paper and need not
oe repeated here. He is out on
bond.
A. R. Leggetfc made a big sale
with Neal & Dixon and was one of
the best pleased tobacco growers
seen yet,
170 pounds at $17 50 $48 30
1 58 44 44 20 00 3160
34 44 14 29 00 9 86
108 44 44 25 00 27 00
28 44 44 35 00 9 80
504 pounds brought $126 56
Average $25 10 per hundred.
- ?-- ? IHmm
Cio With a Ruth.
The demand for that wonderful
Stomach, Liver and Kidney oure,
)r Kings New Life Pills?is asoundiug.
Norton Drug Co say they
e? tevdr saw the like. Its because
,hey never fail to cure Sour Stomach
Constipation, Indigestion, Bilious
i less. Jaundice, Sick Headache,
Chills and Malaria, Only 85o.
/
1 pi
T, SEPTEMBER 23, 1909.
SIMPSON CREEK SWAMP
Movement Is on Foot to Drain this
l.nrgv miiiI Fertile Swamp.
It has been said that if Simpson
Creek swamp was drained and in a
state of cultivation it would make
sutllcient corn to support the township.
Now, the question is up to the
land owners of the said swamp how
they will proceed to drain this
swamp. This work will roach from
the llardee formerly the Shelly mill
down said creek as near the river
us will be practitable. Thero was a
petition written up for our representatives
to consider at the last
session of tho legislature but failed
to reach them for their consideration
.
Now, citizens what will you do to
got this good, fertile land in shape
so as to bo productive. Will you secure
legal advise, vote special tax,
secure government aid, or take
your own force and go hand in
hand with ouch other. Make up your
minds as this is one of the best
movements this county could make.
Lets ask some of our more intelligent
men such as Mr J. J. Carter,
Dr Watson, and others to look into
this matter and suggest a meeting
and all come aud talk the matter
over and put our talents to work
for the benefit and upbuilding of our
county, Star.
The Cotton Oil Industry.
As an industry with a promising
future, we can think of none comparable
with that of oil milling.
Cotton oil is now a recognized
staple in the four quarters of the
world, and what is htill further interest
is the fact that at last the
intrinsic merits of cotton oil areas
well known throughout the interior
of our country as an article of food
for cattle.
It is certain that the demand for
those products from the human
being and the domestic animal kingdoms
are susceptible of very considerable
increase, in so much as it is
certain that the oil mill industry
will increase in importance and
value accordingly as the years roll
by'
Therefore, the oil industry should
be seized upon by every farmer and
citizen, and wherever possible
the erection and organization of
mills pushed to completion; as oil
milling has a great and glorious
future before it, and it is annoying
to think that one American citizen
of our eighty five million should
conceive and advocate the idea of
exporting our cotton seed to other
counties and States. The idea is
as unpatriotic as it is sensoless
We must keep our seed for use in
our own mills, thus helping ourselves,
our town, our country, and
encouraging home industry and
homo manufactory. The idea of
the impossibility should be cast to
tho winds, and everybody come together,
and pull together, for that
which they most need?an oil mill
in Horry county. Let there be no
selfish motives, no unpatriotism,
either in town or country, to comf
in and bar one mite of interost from
this movement; but letsall be liberal
supporters and co-operators, too,
actively, as far as possible.
Who will be tho first Horry citizen,
after reading this article tc
come out broad minded and generous,
and say how much stock he wil
take in the interprise, be it ^reat
or small. The Editors of both the
county papers have offered thou
columns for articles on this important
subjoct, and why not more o
our citizens take it up and expresi
themselves one way or the other
Respectfully
J. B. Prince,
Columbia, S, C.
A Hurry Up Call.
Quick! Mr Druggist Quick! A bo)
of Buckleu 's Arnica Salve Here's,
quarter-For. the love of Moses
hurry! Baby's burned himself, torri
able?Johnnie cut his foot with the
axe-Mamie's scalded?Pa can't wall
from piles?Billie has boils?and mj
corns ache. She tfot it and sooi
cured the family. Its the creates
healer on earth. Sold by Nortoi
Drug Co.
Board of Trade Meetlnjr.
The Conway Board of Trade hel<
an imnnrtnnt, rr??pt.i nir ln?t. ThnroHm
evening and several important mat
ters relating to Conway were dis
cussed. One of the things whicl
came before the body was the rail
road connection at Ay nor with th<
Seaboard Air Line. It was sfcatet
that this could be brought about am
when accomplished would make com
fietitiye rates at Conway. Anothe
mportant matter was the inlan<
water ways, and the Secretary o
the Board was instructed togetii
communication with our Congress
men and others, so as to insure th
Waccamaw being used as a part g
this inland water way. There wa
also some important discusion as t
( the streets and sidewalks of the tow
( besides other interesting subjects.
H S Collins has moved baok t
his cottage near the Gully stor<
Vit 1 ll v
lilffii
Gathered by a Herald Man
on His Rounds.
CAUGHT ON THE BOUNCE.
Stray Bit* of Ncwh (lathered J?y
(lie Wayside for the In for til a
tlon and Instruction of Herald
Readers- Happenings of Interest
About tlie Cltv. ?
W M Hayes was a caller last week
J I) Booth was in town one day
last week.
T)r Marsden Anderson is back
with Norton Drug Co.
Mrs A T Collins, has returned
from Hendorsonville, N. C.
Dr D T Uilcy, of Florence, spent
several days in Conway recently.
S W Monroe has resigned his
position with Norton Drug Co.
11 i trh prices paid for seed cotton
at KlondyUe,, S C.
W. B, Woodward.
Mr and Mrs I A Bell, of Bayboro,
spent last Friday in Conway on
legal business.
Wm Lay, a prosperous farmor of
Columbus County, N. C , spent last
week in Conway.
Miss Powell, of Fair Bluff, is
attending the Burroughs Graded
School.
/^i a n T r* _ ? i i * ni i
uupt u j a?ppsreturned last inursday
from an extended trip abroad
on business and pleasure.
There seems to be a guessing eontest
going on all over the country
as to how much tobaccoNeal& Dixon
will sell this year.
Attorney M C Woods, of the
Marion liar, was in Conway again
the latter part of last week.
J M Fortescue has resigned as
Chief of Polieee at Con way and will
hold a position elsewhere.
Two new residences which are
now well underway are those of I)
M Burroughs and E J Sherwood.
Mr J. C Spivey is still working
on his 2100 bales of cotton and making
fair progress. See his letter on
last page.
Mr L. D. Magrath, manager of
the Walker Chemical Works, left for
the Borough of New York the latter
part of last week on a visit to his
mother.
Mrs J S. Causey will have her fall
opening September 29th and 20th.
The public and especially the ladies
are invited to call and see the latest
and most fashionable creations in
fall millinery.
A 13 McCoy has purchased a lot
il..x ^ ~ , 1 l t i -i -l
iiL-ur iii?? new senooi uuuuing, and
will soon begin the erection of u
? nice dwelling.
K. C. Horn, of Pages Mill, S. C.,
sold tobacco in the rough for good
prices with Neal & Dixon? ungrad<
ed leaves.
1330 pounds for $143 87.
The county chain-gang is still a
} work on a section of road just acros*
' the Lake bridge where Suporvisoi
' Murrell is completing a very gooc
' job of work.
r The new addition to Conway* Bar
. gain House is now rapidly nearinj
f completion. The outside work i:
a about through, and the inside finish
iug will soon begin.
J R Bowles is still doing a 1 ivol;
business in selling tobacco at tin
r t m,. i it 1 f
nurry iwuuuw yv areuousu. oomi
of tho farmers are now bringing th<
last of their crop to market.
In a preliminary investigatior
14 last week beforo Magistrate Sweo
? Putney Johnson and Oliver Ander
son were bound over to the Court o
; General Sessions charged witl
{ violation of the Dispensary law.
f
a The Bank of Horry is now occupy
t ing its handsome new quarters anc
i the new fixtures which are costl;
and elaborate will soon be put in
and add greatly to the interior ap
pearance.
1 Tobacco must be selling mucl
1 better at Mullins. Laren Hatchell
" of Datta, S. C., sold 1508 pounds o
" ungraded leaves with Neal Sl Dlxoi
J the other day for fiHa.au. Averagit
$12 50 per hundred.
3
1 Lost, or Strayed One black an(
i red tan hound dog, white tip on en(
- of tail, long scar on left shoulder
r answer to name* of "BOSS" o
\ "DOC." Reward if returned t<
f Bre&lauer, Lachicotte & Co's Can
n ning Factory, at Murrell's Inlet.
J. M. Marsh, of Savage, Floronc
^ county, sold tobacco high with Nea
1 & Dixon lust week.
s 188 pounds at $18 00 $33 81
? 408 " u 20 00 81 00
n 180 " " 22 00 30 00
172 ? " 25 00 43 00
o 048 pounds brought $198 04
| Averaged $20 89 per hundred.
. *^1
li
t'M
? ,J'J
No. 24
C. U. Pa^o ?fc Denton, of QaPvants
Perry, sold tobacco in tho
rouj?h for oi< 1 time prices with Ncal
Dixon last Friday ? Ungraded
leaves.
212 pounds at ?10 0(1 #24 20
204 " 41 10 nt) 2144
210 " 44 11 00 27 0(5
31(5 44 44 12 50 4.4 25
310 44 44 12 75 30 52
l.'UH pounds brought $15f) 47
10 T FiOwis and family have mov.
<d to Columbia. S. C.% whore Mr
Lewis has accepted a position with
the Street Car Company.
Dr C I) llanna, who has been
working at. Con way TXtitf Co during
his vacation, loft last. Monday for
the Medical College at Charleston.
News from Mullins sounds liko tobacco
is selling much bettor. It is
also said by those who izo to Mullins
that Noal iV Dixon is selling
more tobacco than any place they
ever saw and handle big breaks so
? v .
Fi\emore l,ooal Far mors Unions
verc organized la:>t week bv Mr
Parrott, at Gideon, Hickory Grove,
Dabana, Dogwood Neck, and Tilly
Swamp, Tnis. makes thirty-one loc
lis, Mr I'arrolt is in tho upper
pari of the county this week
J From all reports Neal iS: Dixpn,
at. Mullins, must be the livost warehousemen
in the Stato. Their capacity
for the warehouse business
must be unlimited.
Special Deputy .1 C Br u ton went
to Doris one day last wuek to arrest
a man who was charged in that
section with assault and battery,
but in tho mean time the criminal
had 11 ;d, and the Deputy returned
without his man.
The moving picture shows which
was started again recently in the
Quat tlobaum'building, had to be discontinued
on accouut of the ordor
of the insurance agents. They refused
to let the instrument bo run
in the building unless onelosed in ametal
box.
W P Vick has purchased the
Richards residence on Elm Streot
from W A Freeman. It is the same
residence which was recently occupied
by Mrs Bryan. Mr Vick in
turn has sold his building lot near
the residence of Mr and Mrs J 0
Spivey.
M. (?. F1 a ve?, of Pages Mill, S, C ,
was mad" happy List week when ho
sold tobacco with Neal & Dixon for
ncarlv double what, he expected.
T)K pounds v % 7 f>0 $ 4 85
'217 " " 1100 23 70
212 " " 23 50 50 87
510 pounds brought $84 08
Averaged $10 40 per hundred.
The old Baptist church building is
being dismantled in preparations
for removal. The trustees have
kindly consented for the congregation
to use the auditorium of Burroughs
School until the new house
is conploted. Regular services will
therefore bo held there next Sunday
and of course until further noI
tice, VV. J. Langston, Pastor.
Tlie Itoad to Success.
IIlis many obstruclions, but nono
I so desperate as poor health. Success
? to day demands health, but Klectric
r Bitters is the greatest health builder
1 tin; world has ever known. It compels
perfect action of stomach, liver
kidneys, bowels, purifies aocl en~
riches the blood, and tones and in"!
vigorates the whole system. Vigors
ous body and keen brain follow
their use. you can't afford to
slight ICleetric Bitters if weak, runv
down or sickly, Only 50c. Guare
anteed by Nort m Drug Go,
3 Farmers Union.
Kditor Herald- Please announce
t in your pu>er that the Horry County
Farmers Union will be organized in
Conway, Thursday September UObh,
, at 11 o'clock. J. II. Lambert, of
j Marion, State Rxcoutivo Coinrnifcteom
in for this district will prosido.
All union members in good standing
- will be seated in the convention.
1 Mr Lambert will speak at tho 4y
mile school on Wedneeday night to
, the Mary local union.
S. F. Parrotfc,
Deputy Organizer.
COINWAY PARLOR MARKET
f; W. I> Woodward. Jr.. Prop.
1 Best prices paid for chickens and
1 eggs and country produce.
The choicest fresh beef always
. on hand and the best attention to
j city orders given.
Ice delivered anywhere in the city
p at any hour in the day and only tiil
10 o'clock on Sundays.
# *1
Notice.
o Tho next regular county teacher's
d examination for certificates will bo
held Friday, Oct 1st, 1009
If Court has not adjourned, Prof
llunter, Supt of tho graded school
kindly offers the use of tho auditorium
of the school building, come
early.
S. H BROWN,
Superintendent of Educat'oa,