The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, May 01, 1913, Image 3

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TURNS HIM LOOSE GOVERNOR BLEASE PAROLES ^ "PORTLAND NED" t A NOTORIOUS YEGGMAN ? Convicted of Bobbing the Knoree Post Oflice, and Is the Burglar Detective Heed Worked the Dictagraph on Hani J. Nichols About liast Year ?t Spartanburg. James Johnson, alias Edward Murphy, alias Edward Howard, alias Edward Smith, alias Georgo Howard, alias Portland Nod, the yeggman whose pardon Detective Heed, of the W. J. IVurns agency, posing as H. N. Porter, a Chicago lawyer, alleged that he tried to buy last summer and failed, was Friday afternoon paroled by Governor Please during good behavior. Johnson, or "Portland Ned", as he is better known, is being held until a reply can be had from a telegram the (governor sent the Federal authorities asking him if they have further charges against him. If they have not he will ho set free at once. Johnson was convicted, largely through the efforts of Post Oilice Inspector Gregory, of robbing tho post office at Enoree, in Spartanburg County, and served a term of seven years in the Federal prison in Atlanta. AS'hen his term there expired he was tried in tho State Courts and given ten years in tho State Penitentiary in 19.11. This prisoner canto into tho limelight during tho sessions of the dispensary Investigating committee in Augusta last July. At that time Detective Iteed, of the W. J. Hums agency, gave the dictagraph proofs of a conversation ho held with Sam J. Nichols in Spartanburg, at which time, it is alleged, Nichols agreed to enter an associate counsel in the case and undertake to get a pardon for Johnson. Heed said that ho represented himself as Porter, a lawyer / of Chicago, and that they were anxious to get Johnson pardoned as he was heir to a large <>state in Chicago. It was during this sitting of the eommitte that Thos. R. Folder, the $r . Atlanta attorney, was presenting his charges against Governor Please and V Detective Reed was telling of an attempted "frame up" whereby they hoped to show that they could buy a pardon. Hut no pardon was obtained, and how that investigation, with its charges raised a storm in South Carolina is still fresh in the public mind. The scoring which the committee, Folder and Hums received at the hands of the South Carolina Governor in public speeches, charging that the whole Augusta business was an attempt to blacken his reputation and injure an innocent man, and how these speeches and subsequent developments fanned the campaign into white heat, is recalled by the paroling of the prisoner who figured in the unnuo f { nn n 1 rltof o trrn f not I m nn \? o I Augusta. "Portland Ned," from his cell In the Penitentiary, has addressed several letters to the people of Spartanburg, which were published in the newspapers there, asking for one more chance and begging them to use their influence to get him his freedom and give him another chance. Several strong appeals were made to the Governor in behalf of tho prisoner, begging him in the name of humanity to give him clemency. Tho Governor finally yielded and extended mercy. STATE UNIVERSITY FIRST. ? Wofford College Second and Furman University Third. The University of South Cprolina won first place in the annual Intercollegiate oratorical contest at Rock Hill Friday night, through her speaker, Mr. M. A. Wright. IMt. J. C. Hyer, of Wofford, took second place, and Mr. W. L?. Feaater, of Furman, third. The Judges -were Messrs. John Gary Evans of Spartanburg; J. M. Spears, of Darlington; P. A. Ronham, of Greenville; A. L. Geston, of Chester, and J. L. Douglass, of Davidson College. Rock Hill was alive Friday with college boys, pretty girls and gay colors, and a great audience assembled Friday evening to hear the contest. Mr. W. IT. Scott, chairman of the executive committee, presided, and the Rev. Dr. H. W. Ikays mado the opening prayer. Songs by the Winthrop College Chorus and Glee Club were a feature of the evening. Although it was after midnight when the speaking concluded, a brief reception was held in the College. A dance in honor of the visitors was given in Friedhiem's Hall. f . To Carry Out PI An. President Wilson and Secretary Houston have appointed Dr. T. N. Carver, professor of economics in ) Harvard university, to head a new bureau of service in the department of agriculture, which is to carry out the plan of co-operation in .buying and selling. LEAPED FROM TOWER | YOUNG I/OVKR8 CARRY' OUT Hl'ICIDK PART. N Jumped From Notre Dame Catherdal in Autwon>? Relgium, to Certain || and Hure I>eath. At Autwerp, Belgium, a youth 18 yearn old and a 19-year-old girl were the principal characters in a love tragedy enacted there Friday. Arm in arm they climbed to the clock gallery in the tower of the Notre Damo Cathedral and from a height of 180 feet leaped Into apace, fulling at the feet of passers-by. Every bone in the bodies of the ^ t>oy and his companion were broken. ' As they hurtled tho air several men and women who witnessed tho sight w fainted. Accordlug to the police the ' leap from tho church tower was in 1 accordance with a premeditated suicido pact. The tragedy occurred at a time J when the market, in front of the north tower of the Cathedral was ^ throng?Kl with pedestrians, a large 1 number of whom stood transfixed, helpless witnesses of every phase of v the drama. The youth and tho maid- ? en had purchased from the porter at J the entrance door, tickets of admission to visit the tower, from which a J* wide view is possible. The porter noticed nothing unusual In their de- ll meanor. The lovers placed five letters, one 1 addressed to the police commissary ? and the others to relatives, whore they could he seen by visitors to the 1 tower. Entering tho clock gallery ( the couple climbed up the stone ,bal- ' ustrado. With hands clasped they ? poised themselves for a moment and 11 then leaped downward into the mar- () ket place, striking the flags close to '' tho historic fountain. Ambulances were summoned, but n the surgeons declared both had died ^ InstnMly. The letters found in the tower show that tho youth was Elio Walkow and that his home was in 11 mat city. Tne girl has not t>een w identified. Tho letters, it is declared, stated that the young couple had been driven to their death because of a love affair. ? TilK li.WV AS TO FISH. When ami When Not to Catch Fish in Hi is Fart of State. For the purpose of classification tlio following fish shall be known as game fish, viz Jack-fish or pickerel, pike black bass or pond trout, striped bass or rock fish, warmouth, redbelly, robbin, beam, copper-face or ball-faced beam, banded beam, redfin trout or yellow porch, rain-bow trout, speckled trout, llyer. crapple, rook boss, goggle eye and white perch. Hereafter no person or persons shall cast, draw fasten or otherwise make use of any soino or drift net, fike net of any other description, or use any other appiicances for tho catching of game fish in the waters of this Stato other than privately owned ponds or lakes except hook and line and ordinary fiy, or by phantom minnow, or by artificial bait, between the first day of April and tho first day of November of each Provided, That in the counties of Bamberg, Berkeley, Clarendon, Colle- r ton . IlnrphPHtor ?nil WHHftmsKnrtr i ? ^ w. V?. n the close season shall be between i the lirst day of April and the first t day of August of each year. For ( violation of this section, the party so t violating shall be fined twenty ($30.- 1 00) dollars or Imprisoned (30) i thirty days for each offense: i Provided, that this section shall * not apply to such person or persons 1 as are catching game fish with a net ' or other appliances for the purpose of ' stocking a pond or other streams not 1 for commercial purposes: Provided ! that in the counties of Bamberg, Her- 1 keloy, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorches- 1 ter and Williamsburg fish may bo sold: * Provided, also that any or all per- ! sons engaged in the catching of fish ! for the purpose of stocking a pond or 1 stream must notify the nearest game warden or magistrate of his or their 1 purpose to so catch the fish: Pro- ! vided, also That no game fish shall he sold during the months of April, 1 May June: T'rrivWlrir? fnrthor Tlinf tnia atiall not prohibit the catching of any kind of fish in a private pond not erected on a navigable stream in any manner ' by the owner of such pond or by permission of owner at any season of the year. ? Will Have a Park. Reevesville will soon have an upto-date park. On the site donated by the Southern Railway the ladies of Reevesxllle have planted a variety of flowers, which will give the spot a beautiful appearance. The park is located just below the depot, opposite the Reevesville Hotel. Orangeburg needs a park the worst kind. ) ? ^ # Drowned in /? I*ake. Henry Harris, a ominent young man of Voldosta, ' was drowned Wednesday at noon in a lake near that city while seining with friends. The body was recovered an hour later. Mr. Harris was 2 6 years old and the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Harris, formerly of Hawklnsville. HAKES HIS ESCAPE IOTED THIEF WALKS OUT OF BLEASE'S OFFICE VHILE MARSHAL WAITS 'ho (Jovornor Onlors "Portland No<lM Whom Ho 11 ad Just Paroled, to 1h? Brought to HLs Office, From Wlioro He Dodged an Officer Waiting to A r refit Him. James Johnson, alias "Portland ied", walked out of the private ofc? of Governor Please Saturday, hlle a deputy with a warrant for ebbing a post otllce in North Carona waiting in the other otllce to arest him. Although the Columbia olice and the county officials are dong everything possible to capture Portland Ned," who was convicted olice circles, nothing had been eard of him up to the present time. Announcement was made in The tate Saturday morning that the govrnor had granted a parole to James ohnson, known to the yeggmen as Portland Nedd," who was convicted a Spartanburg on the charge of ousebreaking and larceny and senenced to 10 years in the State pententiary. It was also announced hat officers of the United States post flice department expected to arrest ohnson immediately following his eleaso from the penitentiary on the hargo of robbing a post office at Mymouth, N. C., in June, 1 898. The fficials at the penitentiary had been otified of the intention of the post Hico inspectors and the warrants ad been left with Sheriff McCain of tichland county. The inspectors did ot arrest Johnson, the reason being ;iven below. "The governor ordered James ohnson brought to his otllce this norning, dressed In citizen's clothes nd under the care of a guard," said 'apt. 1). J. Griffith, superintendent of he penitentiary, Saturday. The prisner was brought to the governor's fllco by Guard Kohhins of the penientiary, accompanied by two officers eprosenting the postal oiflicials. lie vas carried into the private ofllce of he governor and delivered into the are of the chief executive according o ('apt. Grilllth, by Guard ltobbins. ^ater \V. 11. Sondley, captain of the ;uards at the penitentiary, notilled t. Beverley Sloan, United States ommissioner at Columbia, that the ;overnor had ordered Johnson irought to his ofllce at the State louse. Mr. Sloan immediately teleihoned to the sheriff's ofllce, and ipon being informed that Sheriff rlcCain was out of the city, deputized t. S. Hipp, rural policeman, as a leputy marshal to serve a bench warant on Johnson, ohagring him with obhing the post office at Plymouth. "I was sitting in the corridor outide the governor's oflice," said Mr. lipp, "when the governor sent a legro out to tell me to come into his iffico. I went in and he asked what cind of papers 1 had for Johnson, vho was seated hy the governor's losk. I handed the governor the Jnited States warrant. He looked at t and asked mo if I wasn't a rural loliceman. I told him that I was. rhe governor then asked me what ught I had to serve United States >apers and said I had better attend o my own business before i was out if a job. The governor warned me not 0 put my hands on Johnson, as ho lad a letter from Cochrane and told ne to go on and attend to my busiioss or I wouldn't have any job. All his took place in his private oflice, which I would not have entered except for the fact that he invited me in. I walked out of his oflice and met United States Deputy Marshal 3enn, to whom I turned over the warrant for Johnson. I believe it was my duty to arrest Johnson when 1 had been deputized by United States Commissioner Sloan to do so find tho warrants had been in the sheriff's o<ftlce ever since Johnson was put in tho penitentiary." Later Commissioner Sloan went to the governor's office with a warrant sworn out by II. T. Gregory, post office inspector for the arrest of Johnson. He was accompanied by Charles I) Spnn denntv mnrshall Commis wiener Sloan turned over the warrants to Deputy Senn and instructed him to wait until Johnson came out of the governor's private ofhee and to make the arrest. Deputy Senn took a seat in the anteroom to tho governor's private otllco to await Johnson. In a few moments the governor came out from his office, leaving Johnson. He talked for several minutes with some visitors and then returned to his office and found that Johnson had disappeared. It was said that Johnson made his escape through the door connecting the governor's office with the corridor. R. Beverley Sloan, United States commissioner, made the following statement Saturday: "Capt. Sondley telephoned mo to-day from the ponitentiary that the governor had requested that James Johnson be sent to his office. I immediately communicated with the sheriff's office and deputized R. S. Hlfpp to serve a bench warrant as the sheriff was out of town. I instructed Mr. Hipp to go at once to the penitentiary and accompany the prisoner to tihe gov ernor's office. 11? took a Mr. Hellams along with him, to assist him. Mr. Hipp says that they went to the governor's olllce along with Mr. Hobbins, from the penitentiary, who had the prisoner in charge. I was informed that upon arriving at the governor's olllce the governor forbade Mr. Hipp to serve the warrant and ordered him out of his olllce. As to the truth of this I can not say. Tho governor's private secretary telephoned to me and 1 at once went to the governor's olllce, taking with me a warrant sworn out by H. T. Gregory, post office inspector, and in company with Deputy iMiarshal Senn. I was informed and was shown telegrams the governor had from Judge 11. A. M. Smith. United States Marshal J. Duncan Adams, and District Attorney Cochrane substantially to the effect that there were no other charges against James Johnson. In justice to tiov. Blease I will say that these telegrams were in response to other telegrams be sent these parties bofore the parole was granted. When I arrived at the governor's ofllce I immediately sent into him the warrant which Inspector Gregory had sworn out. At this time I understand that the governor was in conference with James Johnson in his oflice. I could not get access to him. Immediately 1 sent Mr. Cochrane the following telegram: 'Have warrant sworn out for James Johnson by Gregory on 2<>th February, 1913. Wire governor at once.' I then turned the two warrants over to Mr. Senn and instructed him to wait at the governor's ofllce until Johnson came out. I came back to my ofllce and called Mr. Cochrane up over the telephone. He informed 1110 that he had wired tho governor to please detain Johnson. Hut I am sure that the governor did not receive this telegram until after the prisoner escaped. My recollection is that at the time I was talking to Cochrane over the telephone Mr. Senn came to my oflice and told me the prisoner had escaped, lie stated that he was in the governor's anteroom and the governor came out of his private otlice to speak to a lady. The governor then went hack into his private offlco and immediately returned to the anteroom and stated that. Johnson had walked out of the door in his private otlice leading into the hall of the State house and could not be found. 1 called up the governor's oflic and verified Mr. Senn's report as to the fact, that Johnson had escaped. I at once communicated with the Columbia police department and requested them to use every endeavor to apprehend Johnson. In .addition I deputized W. T. Marsh, a constable of this city, who knows Johnson personally, to serve the warrant." (lovernor Hlease makes the following statement: "I was sitting in my otlice, and Col. John K. Aull, my secretary, came in and stated that there was an officer outside who wanted to see James Johnson. 1 told him to come in. He walked in my office. When he came in I asked him to let me see his papers. He showed his warrant to me. I saw it was a warrant issued by the United States commissioner. I also saw that lie was a rural policeman for Richland County. "I said to him 'are you not a rural policeman for this county?' He said, yes, sir.' 1 said, 'haven't you enough to do to attend to your own duties as rural policeman without trying to run the business of the United States Government and of the Governor's office?' He said he supposed so. 1 then said, 'well, if you want to hold your job you had bettor try to attend to the business of Richland County, for which you are employed; I don't know of any business you have serving warrants for the United States Government when you are in the employment of the people of Richland County; and don't you in your position put your hands on this man Johnson.' "With that he left the office, and the next I heard from the warrant 1 learned it was in the hands of the man who was sitting in the outer office of the Governor's offices when Johnson walked out of the other door. Rural Policeman Hipp was not ordered out of my office and was not treated Impolitely either by my secretary, so far as I know, or by myself. I spoke positively to him, as 1 always speak positively on a matter of immediate business to everybody. "Neither I nor my secretary or stenographer have any duty to perform either as detectives or as marshals or policeman, and if the marshal sent by the United States commissioner wanted to sit down in the outer office, to which I was called by my secretary on a matter of business, while James Johnson walked out the other door, it was none of my lookout and none of my business." Whore Is Your Hoy, To-night? The Sumter Herald says: "The sad tragedy In Greenville was an eyeopener for some of the parents in this land of ours. There are parents in this city who know as much about their boys' habits as an old grey mule. They know they have gone "down street", but where, is another question. And the sad part about it Is, they don't seem to care." Where is your boy, to-night? ? The Kowesvllle school and the South Goodland school each has been i allowed one hundred dollars from the State fund for term extension pur poees. THEY BLAME TAFT MOOSE CLAIMS THAT HE CAUSED THE TROUBLE BY UNDOING TEDDYS WORK IVotfresMvo Ko|>ul>lionn.s Declare Thoy "IIhv? tho Goods" on President Tuft in Si^uin^ ttwo Itecont Treaty With Jupun und Wlilvli is CtkiisiiiK so Much Feeling. HrwjKYiisihility In pkioed directly utinn I .? - ..,,w.. inf ouuuiuurs 01 wiiiiain Howard Taft for embarrassment Buffered by the federal government In the present situation in California relative to the Japanese question. The Hull Mooaors are the ones who tlx the blame on Mr. Taft, and they say they "have the Roods". At the time of the difficulty over the admission of Japanese children to the public schools of San Francisco, it. will be remembered that President Roosevelt fixed up the matter of restriction of Japanese immigration by means of a gentleman's agreement with the Japanese government. It devolved upon President Taft to negotiate a treaty to continue that agreement, and he did so thru Secretary Knox. Hut, according to the claims of those closest to 'Mr. Roosevelt, Taft made a mess of it. This is explained by the fact that in the Roosevelt arrangement, while it was agreed that the United States would accept the word of the Japanese government to see to it that the tide of Japanese emigration to this country was stopped, there was a reservation of the right to restrict the Japanese by legislation. In the treaty negotiated by President Taft mi (I Secretary Knox (his was left out. The self-spoken Japanese ambassador appears to have argued to the president that since the reservation of the right to apply harsher methods was not harmonious. Tie, therefore, suggested that it bo left solely as a gentleman's agreement, and that the reservation of legisratlvo authority bo stricken out. About this time Colonel Roosevelt heard of what was pending, and although bis relations with the White House then were not of the best, he considered the emergency so urgent that ho sent a special messenger to Washington from Oyster Ray to warn the president of the grave error he was making. The messenger, however, reached Washington too late. While he was en route from New York to Washington the treaty was consumated with the smooth suggestion of the Japanese ambassador incorporated in it as one of the salient provisions. The colonel's messenger wired his chief "too late". Ever since then Colonel Roosevelt has known that the treaty contained possibilities of indefinite trouble for the United States. As it stands it gives the Japanese government the undoubtable right to protest against legislative acts in this country that in any way apply to tlie restriction of Japanese rights. If Colonel Roosevelt's reservation had been retained, the Japanese government would have no tangible ground upon which to stand while presuming to interfere with American legislation. It is on this point of the existing treaty. It will do the Wilson adminrassment of the Wilson administration conies in. Treaty was ratified and promulgated and is in full force. Japan is a friendly country To legislate against the Japanese is si breach of the express terms of i solemn international covenant. To legislate against them even un der cover, California may prove e technical violation of the treaty, sub Ject to revision by the courts. Ir any event the situation is quite a? nasty and undesirable as one admin istration possibly could pass along tc its successor. That Roosevelt and Governoi Johnson have been astute enough t< use the loose work of the Taft admin istration to their own political advan tage In California is only another o the injuries Mr. Taft bestowed upoi Mr. Wilson. If California legislates Japan wil undoubtedly allege violation of th< treaty. It will bo the Wilson admin istration little good to claim lack o responsibility for the acts of a state for a treaty in the supreme law o both Japan and the United Statei and Japan will hold the federal gov em men t to account. It can do ho either in an interna tional court of arbitration or b; force of arms. Hut that it will do s< much ho accepted as a certainty. I was this situation which was fore seen by Colonel Roosevelt when h made his ineffectual attempt to in terfere in the negotiations betweei the Japanese government and th Taft administration. \ ? ^ Kxplodes Willi Fatal Results. Fifteen or twenty men are estl mated to have been killed or wound ed by the premature explosion Sat urday afternoon of twelve tons o 1 dynamite between Pedro Miguel loc and the Mlraflorea locks of the Pane ma canal. HONORED IN GERMANY ( THIHUTK TO THE OKXIUH OP I>R* J. MA HI ON KIMS. Who Wiw (lie First American I'liyslriiui Ever Consulted bj the Hoyalt/ of the Old World. The New York Sun bays It 1b gratifying to note that the (lay on which the pioneer of gynecology naw the light has been remembered in that Heverely scientific nation, Germany. The great regard In which men who have accompliHhed things for the world's betterment am held In that wuiur/ coairiDuieo materially to tho renown and prosperity of itfl people. Our republican simplicity haw at times revolted at what la euphemistically called horo worship. It is u significant fact, nevertheless, that the achievements of Its citizens are the most valuablo assets of a country. Regarded even In this unsentimental light the courage and genius of our J. Marion Sims in originating an entirely new branch of surgery deserve to be commemorated and to be held up to the present generation as an examplo for emulation. Dr. J. Marion Sims, a native of Lancaster, S. C., emigrated to Montgomery, Ala., in order to enlarge his field of practice. Thero ho devised a method of surgical procedure for the repair of serious injuries which in that proantisentlc day was made possible only by the substitution of tho silver suture for the silk suturo. So fruitful was this and other work of Dr. Sims for tho welfare of suffering women that his fame spread to Kurope, and ho was the first American physician consulted by royalty. Those whose happy privilego it was to know this grand man personally were not surprised that he rapidly uwniuo tne vaiuea adviser of tho nobility. In him woro discerned all those element# of character which are the attribute of true nobility; simplicity almost childlike, sympathy almost feminine, courtesy without ostentation; tho charming manner, the kindling eye, the cordial handgrasp bespoke a great soul, as did his deftness betoken the great surgeon. The Muenchner Modizinische Wochenschrift in a recent issue published an excellent portait of I)r. Sims with an appreciative sketch of his life, concluding that "America is ontitled to honor in tho history of operative gynecology. The names of Mc-Dowell, Nott, Battey, Emmet, Bozeman, Edebohis and Kelly will be known for all time, but none shines with such lustre as tho name of J. Marlon Sims." CHESTER VETERAN MURDERED. John (i. Lewis Victim of Foul Deed on Thursday Night. John (r. Lewis, an old Confederate soldier, was murdered at his home, three miles west of Corn well in Chester County Thursday night, tho motive evidently being robbery, as a watch and pistol belonging to the deceased woro missing. Friday morning the murder was discovered by James Dove, a farm hand, when he went to the house to perform morning choree, and tho alarm was spread hurriedly through the neighborhood. It was at first thought that it might havo been a ease of suicide, but tho finding of two wounds, on* in the side and the other in the back, discounted this theory and the coroner's jury brought in a verdict of death at the hands of some unknown party. However, it was necessary to continue tho Inquest on account of ' scarcity of testimony. Mr. Lewis lived alone at some dis1 tance from the nearest neighbor, and 1 as ho was a man of some means it in tho general opinion that he was murdered for money that ho was suppos1 ed to have on the premises. Most of his money, however, was in the bank 1 at Chester, and tho sum of forty dol4 lars, which was in tho house, was not found by the murderers. > ' ? ? i THINKS SOUTH SUIGHTEIh r No Ainbassudor or Minister and (Vmsuls From This Section. f l Senator Johnson, of Alabama, has asked tho Senate to have the foreign 1 relations committee investigate the 3 geographic distribution of ambaesa dors, ministers and consuls. 11? dt>f clared that, not an ambassador came , from the South and only SO consuls f from 1 1 Southen States despito the s competitive examination system. Sen ator Williams declared that the Senate should hold up nominations If r the South were ignored. Upon his y suggestion, Senator Johnson amendo ed his resolution to inquire into the ' t politcial faiths of the present consuls - but, with objection by Senator (lale linger, the resolution went over. n Shot at "Peeping Tom". e Dr. S. D. Parson, president of the Dank of Woodruff, found a man up a tree peeping into his hoxse Thursday night and fired a shot gun at him. 1- The man dropped and fled. A poeeo I- searched vainly for several hours. _ ^ ^ m >t The new tariff law puts many k things the farmers use in their bueii ness on the free list, which will make them cheaper.