Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1 I I t ? U 1 jL P* VOLUME XXXVI. FINISH INQUEST ON D. F. DAVIS Jury Exonerates Nor Blames Anyone for Killing Deceased in Finding DETAILS SHOWN BY TESTIMONY Ml ' u ? Deceased Came to his Death by Gunshot Wounds at Hands of Prescott The inquest was finished as to the cnuse of the death of Fulton Davis last Tuesday at the court house, beginning at 10 o'clock and winding up about 12 o'clock. The jury returned their verdict as follows "That David Fulton Davis came to his death by gunshot wounds at the hands of Charley Prescott." W. L. Richardson was foreman of the jury. The testimony taken at the inquest was as follows: In the matter of the inquisition upon the dead body of Fulton Davis, proceedings continued at the hour of 10 o'clock on October 11, 1921. Stafford H. Jenrette, being sworn said: The shooting was on Sunday night two weeks ago. 1 was at White O/.k church at prayer meeting and I >aned a fellow my horse to take a girl home. While I was waiting on him me ar.d lyeon Jones got together and was it walking along the road with him. We got up with A lock Bourne and yulton Davis along the road. Aleck was .. ofiA I.nnn naked him what CUl/tlllK ? owvn. ... ho was going to do with it. He did not tell him. He and Fulton went right on down the road toward . Charley Prescott's. When nic and , Leon got to Charley's, Aleck and Fulton were laying down right in front * of Charley's gate, Charley Prescott's. j. Leon Jones asked them what they were going to do. Aleck said they were going to lam hell out of jj Charley's house. Leon told him he i* had better not. Leon said to me that if they were going to do this we had I I, better get away, and we went on ' ^ down the road and we got about 200 yards from the house, I guess, and j heard a stick or something hit the house, and looked round and I saw the fire of the gun At Prescott's house. Then Aleck ran down the road to me and Leon and wanted us to go back and help take the boy up, hut we did not go back. 1 have seen Fulton since then. Saw him 011 Monday morning after he was shot. Had no talk with him. Did not hear but one rap on the house. Did not go ir ck lo the house that night .after the shooting. Never heard any threats made bv Prescott. " " iPXTDl^'PIi! II STAIfl''. 11. <i?iiiJLvui .... I Leon Jones l?oi 11/4- sworn said: I was at White Oak <;n the night I of Sunday two weeks 1 got up I with Staff Jenrette and we were go ing on next home up the road, and V ho said he had loaned a boy his horse to take a vcirl home and we walked I on together, and when we got on up the road there we saw saw Fulton I Davis and Aleck Bourne. Ale?:k was I cutting a stick, and I asked him what I he was going to do with it and he [ di<l not tell us. Me and Stair walked t on and when we irot to Charley Pres*rott's house, Aleck and Fulton were f laying down at the old man's gate. | I asked them what they were going | to do and Aleck said they were going I to lam hell out of the old man's I house. I told them they had better 1 come on. Aleck told us to get on up the road and we went right on up I the road, and after we got up the ' road about the church somewhere a I stick or something another hit the house and before the sound of ihe stick was gone the gun fired. Then Aleck came to us up there and wanted us to go and help get the boy up. I told him I was not going. Staff said he was not going and he, myself and Staff went on up the road. I don't know who shot Davis. The gun wont like it was there about the house. I heard no threats about his bothering the boys if they bothered 1 1?1 1 Ulrrt if WM.K II him. The stiCK iookvu i.n.*, ? about three or four feet long- and I large enough for a common size walk[ ing stick. Did not see Davis any more until after he was dead. I did not see Prescott or anybody about | Prescott's house that night. LEON JONES. Dr. J. K. Stalvey being sworn sadi: I asked Davis who shot him. His answer was Charley Prescott. I asked him where he was when he was shot. He said lie was leaning on the fence in front of Mr. Prescott's. Also he >ftaid Mr. Aleck Bourne was with him ' % /* Ifl -{and that he was leaning on tne i?ncc kJ too. I heard that the boys had been Kl chunking the house and I asked DajvJ, vis if this was so. He said or asked i.1 ;ne who said so, and never answered |i| the question with "yes" or "no." BeOf t'<?ye he was taken ofT I said to him Ey that he did not know whether he Hi would live or die, and asked him if Kg] he and the boys were teasing the old Jpj man or not. He never answered that j ouestion. I then said to him that if Hj the old wiun would let him alone in H the law would he bother him, and he HI said 1 certainly will. He would !et In the old man alone so far as the law ]H| was concerned if the old man would (the 'et him alone. He was free to talk except as to answering those questions. Testimony of witness as to examination of Davis is hereto attached and dated October 9, 1921. J. K. STALVEY. Aleck Bourne being sworn says: Sunday night was two weeks ago I was at White Oak and we left the church. We left the church together, myself, StalT Jenrette, Leon Jones and Walter Cannon. We went on up fVtn VAful ml ?nn ?nrl l^iilf/\n V1IV* I mm IIIV UIIM i vi l lvm I n (li f\l \ t past the others. T stopped up there and cut the stick and we started on up the road together and we, Fulton and myself left them again and we got to Charley's house. When we got to his house we set down in the jamb of the fence about the first or second jamb from the bars. In the front of his gate is sand and 110 grass and we would not have lain down there not hardly. They asked us what we were going to do. I did not say anything to them. We stopped there by the gate until they got, I reckon fifty or sexenty-five yards from us, and Walter he stopped there with us. I waited at the bars and Fulton went four or five steps inside the bars and chunked the house and the time the chunk hit the house the gun fired. T don't know who fired the shot. It was from toward the house. Fulton was hit. I asked him if he was killed and he said, "Oh! my Lord, I'm dead." I got hit in the left hand with one shot right at the wrist. 1 went on up the road about 200 yards, I reckon and asked them boys to let's go back and take him up. They said they were not going back there for old Charley to shoot them. I never heard of Prescott's making any threats that lie was going to shoot any of us. Davi-; was about six or seven feet inside the bars where the blood .was when he was shot. The bars is about forty or forty-fivr* yards from the house. 1 | have one of the shot that wa.; in my inn. Looked to me like a buckshot. ALECK B0U11NE. Walter Cannon being sworn says: About two weeks ago, prayer meeting at White Oak. Aleck Bourne went outside the road and cut a stick and he said he was going to lam hell out of that house. When the stick hit the house the fiun fired and 1 was about 200 yards up the road. I hoard the gun and 1 heard the stick. Charley Prescott shot him. I did not go there to help take up Davis. I] was about 200 yards on the other side of the house. I did not hear of any threats by Prescott if they went in there bothering him. There was no reason stated for lamming hell out of the house. WALTER CANNON, lv. W. McCracken being duly sworn says: On Sunday evening two weeks ago I went out to my farm. Left home about dark. T was out there till about 0:30 and was setting on the nnl'pll 111 m\' r. 1MV, mn r*.... V.. itv . I I c? I III IIIU <11 1*1 l? I I I J VJ V I LI 11 lor. Wo hoard a gun shoot. A (tor tho pun shot, a follow hollowed. I said wo would po and see what tho rouble was that some one was hurt. When we passed tho negro church wo passed some hoys in the road and we asked them what was Iho trouble nnd some of them said Charley Prescott had shot a fellow down there about his house and we went down there, and when we got to his pate the boy was laying over on the inside with his head leaning up against the bars and I asked him what was his trouble, and he snid Charley Prescott shot him. He .askod me to get him to a doctor and 1 tried to pull him up and could not do anything with him. Told Willie Gunter to get help and when we got him in tho truck we asked him what doctor and he said Dr. Stalvey. Just before we got to town the boys with us said we had better stop at Dr. Burroughs's as he i.\ i j - ? i-i ? > wuuiu nave to go lo a nospiuii. ur. Burroughs asked us to take him on to another doctor as ho was in bed with a sick headache. We took him to Dr. Stalvey. At the request of the doctor we took him to his office down the street. Dr. Stalvey took charge of him when we left him in the doctor's office. Saw nobody in and around Prescott's house. There was blood on Davis' clothes and a little ran down right at the gate. R. W. McCRACKEN. Fred Dew being sworn says: On Sunday night two weeks ago T was at White Oak Bay prayer meeting. Fulton Davis was there. When we broke up meeting me and him and a few more boys went on down the road. About fifty or a hundred yards from the church Aleck Bourne stopped and called Fulton Davis back. We! boys went on down the road I guess 200 yards from where the shooting #i i n _ a. a_ f . 1 _ A Ci ~ ~ I | was none ;il rrescous nouse. oume , of the hoys said lot's wait on Fulton and Aleck. I said no, lot's go on and j set up with the sick. We went on down there to a colored man's house ! and there was a colored woman out there in the road asked us who was that shot. I told her that I did not know that anybody was shot. About; that time Mr. McCracken came along with his tuuek. I went down there with McCr.acken and Davis was lying inside with his head against the bars. He was laying in there and praying and wanted some one to get him out. Me and Olen Todd went in there and got him and put him in the truck. He said Charley Preacott shot him. Heard no theruts made on either side about it. FRED DEW. $ 0 IT CONWAY, S C., THURSDAY, TWO ARRESTED FOR GRAVE ACT Magistrate Cannot Let to Bail and Both Lodged In Jail OWE IS WHITE. ONE COLORED White Man Employes Attorneys Who Apply for Bail Before Judge Last Monday morning A. B. Elliott, white, and Luther Pink, a negro, were both arrested on warrants sworn out in the Magistrate court at the suit of a negro girl, both charged with a very serious offense against thi:> girl. Both parties were lodged in the county jail. Neither waa allowed bail owing to the serious nature of the crime alleged to have been committed. Elliott, however, employed attorneys who at once took steps to apply for an order for bail from a judge of the circuit court. The alleged crime was alleged to have been committed about 10 o'clock on last Sunday night in the negro quarter of Conway, sometimes described as the "hill." The mother of the negro girl is said to have .stated that the alleged victim is under the age of sixteen years, and thus there is a statute that will come into play when this case comes to be threshed out in the courts. Rural policeman, V. D. Johnson, was called up late at night and asked to arrest the defendants. He took both of them into custody, but the white defendant not until Monday morning at the time of opening a store which he conducts on the Race Path. Klliott denied all knowledge of the affair when arrested. The officer took the defendants in this warrant to the house where it was alleged to have occurred and the prosecutrix still told the same story that she had related to the officer before that. Luther Pink is a shiftless necro who has been working at various odd jobs from time to time, and who has been in trouble in the criminal courts (|uite frequently. He will hardly be able to make bail for his appearance at the next session of the court of general sessions, and therefore, is likely to remain in the county jail and be fed at the public expense until next February 1. He has served several terms on the public works already. NOW I?\ USE. The new school building at Green Sea is a credit to that progressive community, ft is now in use and has been for some time since tho work was nnisnca up Dy the contractor, H. P. I.ittle. Such a school house as this is adequate to t/ike earn of tho educational needs of a 1ar<re and prosperous com in unity and it ;s hoped that other communities in this count\ will follow the examnle of Green Sep and build fine school buildings. CARD OF THANKS We wish to thank every one wiv so kindly helped us during tho fir Sundav afternoon. ' Mr. & Mrs. B. B. McWhite. 1, J. K. Stalvey .M. D. of county ,?nd state aforesaid being duly sworn herebv test ifv that: Tf wnc ^linrloir ? * i 4- O.l i-l? ?i* * %' '? "O 1*1 IC /?*JLII til September, and as T recall nearly 11 o'clock when a truck, driven by Mr. Bob McCracken, stopped at my residence and I was hurried out to see Mr. Fulton Davis whom tliev informed me had been shot and was almost dead. I asked Mr. McCracken to toko him on to my office, where I proceeded to examine and treat him. After removing sufficient clothing I discovered that there were two wounds which I took to be gun-shot wounds, one of the shot taking effect underneath the left scaula about six inches below the highest point of the shoulder and about six inches to the loft of the median spine. This shot entered from the back, ranging straight toward the front, as near as 1 was able to determine. It being rather superficial, am of the opinion the chest cavity was not pentrated, therefore no important organs or structures of the body damaged, hence this wound was sterilized and closed with the usual surgical dressings. The other shot also was from the back taking effect slightly to the left of the median spine in the upper section of the dorsal vertebra. It was impossible to determine how this shot ranged, but from the fact that Mr. Davis was paralyzed in both lower extremities, complete Iosb of motion and sensation below this wound hav i up; occuvred at t.he time ho was shot was proof positive that there was damage to some extent to the spinal cord. After arresting hemorrhage shock and surgically treating his wounds 1 endeavored to make him as comfortable as possible until the necessary arrangements could bo made to take him to the Florence Infirmary, which was the next day. (Signed) J. K. STALVEY, M. D. Conway, S. C., October 9, 1921. I I { OCTOBER 13, 1921. MONKEY RUM PLAYS PART I Bringing About Shooting Affrays in Adrian Section of Township JOHNSON TAKES DOUBLE STILL Robert Mishoe Placed Undei Two Heavy Bonds For Higher Court Oil Wednesday of last week, October 5, Rural Policeman V. I). Johnson took a whiskey still which ho found located on land of '<V. J Dorsey not fav from the village of Ad rian. In addition to the still itself he found one barrel of what is known us sour mash, the material that is ready for distilling. The outfit was what is known as a double afVair consisting of two gasolene barrels and capable of turning out about twice as much monkey rum as the usual single casting. This still was located on Long Branch about one-half mile from where this branch empties into a swamp close to the township line between Conway and Bayboro. According to statements recently made by officers, this whiskey still and its product is held responsible to a great degree for an affair i?i the Post O'Tice at Adrian, when the life of J. J. King was threatened and was largely lesponsible for the shooting affair that took place between Bob Mishoe mul G. K. Dorman on the night of Sunday, October 2. There had been hints of trouble about whiskey in this same community for sometime and the shooting on Sunday recently seems to have brought it out. On Monday of last week Robert Mishoe was placed under a $1,000 bond for his appearance at court on a charge of having shot G. K. Dorman with intent to kill. This being the affair the details of which ap peared in tho last issue of tho Herald. I He nvule this bond without any ap-1 parent difficulty. Later on Wednesday of last week a warnant was sworn out containing a charge of conspiracy against Robert Mishoe, his two younger brothers and one sister. The conspiracy was alleged to consist of their combining together to kill G. K. Dorman. An arrest w.as made under this second warrant and as a result Robert Mishoe was placed under another bond in the sum of $500. The operations at this whiskey still, it is thought, may not be capable of sufficient proof in the State Court of South Carolina; and it is thought that prosecutions v. ill be started in Hie Feder.il Courts by obtaining warrants from Commissioner C. P. Qur.ttlcbaum. It is said that the brothers of Mishoe, and also a sister, were concerned with him in the affair at tho residence of Dorman. i wru.-.,, c-fili \"i> -i iViimil rind do >? I Id I VI 1\" ovii' stroyed it was charged and in readiness for running off a lot of monkey rum. RIG eattler" - KILLS A MULE Child Narrowly Escaped Being Bitten hy Repti'e One of the largest rattle snakes ever killed in this county was killed recently in the Adrian section of this county just after the snake had bitten a mule belonging to Scarborough Ludlam. From the bite the mule died after suffering several days from the poison. This snake was more than five feet Jong and had between fifteen and twenty rattles on his tail. The mule belonged to Scarborough Ludlam who is absent, and the mule was being used with another mule in mowing hay. The small son of Derrick Booth was running along behind, the machine and a minute before the snake bit the mule, asked to get up on the mower with the driver, which was done. Thus the child may have missed the dose that the mule got. FALSE ALARM. I^ast Sunday, just after noon, the alarm was given that the residence of Mr. and Mrs. B. B. McWhite was in flames. Many hastened out to the place to render what assistance they could. The fire was soon extinguished and very little damage was done. DESTROY COTTON STALKS .Clemaon College.?THE EARLY PALL DESTRUCTION,. OP.. COTTON STALKS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE STEP IN ANY FIGHT AGAINST TI1E COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. So .-says Prof. A F. Conradi, entomologist, who add that it has been shown time ami again in practice and by experiments thirt, the most favorable conditions for tlie boll weevil to pass the winter successfully are found in those fields in which the cotton stalks, together with grass weeds fullon leaves and other refuse ar.? left undisturbed until nearly time , to plant the following; season. U:i such fields the greatest number of weevils will survive, and ever> farmer should ask himself the question, "Will I permit my farm to be a winter hotel for the pest?" j In other words, will the farmer choose to destroy the weevil this fall or have the weevil destroy his cotton next season? he earlier the stalks are destroyed the fewer weevils will survive the winter. In infested fields it is common to find weevils at the rate of five thousand to twenty-five thousand per acre at the time of first frost. It i is a well known fact that the wee- ' vils drveloninir Into in th<? f?11 ?> !? the ones most likely to survive the winter, as they are not \vorn out by long flights and the rearing of the young as are the older weevils For this reason, development of weevils in late fall must be prevented as the first, step in making the next cotton crop. Therefore, we should start now a cleaning campaign such as South Carolina has never before witnessed. The boll weevil is a pest with a terrible amount of fight, and to meet this situation our farmer; must develop the best fighting spirit of which they are capable. Early stulk destruction and clean farming with cover crops, constitute the most powerful gun that can be used against the pest at this time. Whatever method of cleaning is emploved. one thing icertain: TWK WEEVILS' WINTER HOTELS MUST RE HE STROYED. In the words of General Neville before Verdun, "THEY SHALL NOT PASS." RIVERINSPECTED BY ENGINEER Trip From Red Bluff to Conway Made Pleasant as Possible SNAGS MARKED, SHOALS NOTICED This Investigation May Lead to Great Improvements On Our River A thorough inspection of the Wac cam aw River from Conway to Star Bluff was made on September 19 by Maior G. R. Young of Charleston, United States District Engineer Major Young came to Conway at the instance of the Chamber of Commerce with a view to determining the amount of work necessary to provide an adequate channel from Conway to Star Bluff. While not inspecting the river from Star Bluff to Pireway it is likely that whatever plans the government may have would include the improvemnts of the channel to that place. It is understood that a fairly satisfactory channel now exists between Pireway and Star Bluff. Major Young reached Conway on Sunday evening, September 18, making the trip from Charleston over the inland waterway in the government launch Dawhoo. The river transpovtation committee of tho Chamber of Commerce, of which MrMcQueen Quattlehaum is chairman, had made very satisfactory plans for the Major's visit. Early Monday morning Maior Young was carried to Star Bluff by automobile by Mr. H. W. Ambrose. A rowboat had been previously carried to that point and this was used by Major Young, his friend, Mr. Farrow of Charleston, the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Cox to nvike the twelve mile trip down the river from Star Bluff to Red B1 uff. This trip consumed four hours and ten square inches of skin off the hands of those who did the rowing. The inspection showed a presence of a good many snags in the river and occasional shoals. The engineer marked each snag and shoal on his map of the river so that he now has an accurate record as to the amount of work necessary in improving the channels between those two points. At lied Bluff the party which had paddled down the river was met In Major L. D. Magrath, Col. C. P. Quattlebaum, Paul Quattlebaum. G. M. Anderson, Walsh Marlow, Hoy* McMillan and E. J. Sherwood from Conway, and several citizens of Star Bluff. Mr. McMillan assumed charge of the culinary department and a very fine pine hark fish stew was ?.</vnn i.nrl fwli fV-lllfht; hv YV. (). - Davis and Mr. Cox. This stew was served with all of the necessary accompaniments. Major Young and party then: boarded the Hirdie, in charge of Captain Dusenbury, and came to Conway, making an inspection of the riven en rouHe. At Conway the Charleston visitors and several citizens of the town were guests of McQueen Quattlehaum at a delightful supi>er served at the New York Cafe. Mr. McQueen Quattlehaum as chairman of tho water transportation committee is now preparing data reequested by Major Young with reference to the importance ot I river transportation between Conwav | And Pftevmy. TVs is to l>e placed in the hands of government officials :no. 2C CH AS. PRESCOTT IS ARRESTED Following News of The Death of Fulton Davis Last Saturday DAVIS DEAD FROM WOUND Severed Spinal Chord First Paralized Him. Death Resulted from Injury Fulton Davis, who was shot by Charles Prcscott on the nijrht of September 25 /it the home of the latter several miles out of Conway and not far beyond the McDermott farm, died at the Florence infirmary last Friday night and the news came here by telegram at an early hour last Saturday morning. His remains, following hi? death, h;ul been sent to the undertakers and it was uncertain as to when the body would reacn Conway. Coroner L. W. Cooper was notified later that the remains of Pavi-? would arrive in Conway on the noon train last Sunday and he at one * sent out notices to nil of the witnesses to meet the train at the hour of J 2 o'clock, or Sunday. Davis had lingered between life and death after being taken to the hospital, examination having disclosed that one of the buckshot with which he was hit had severed the spinal chord. From this ho was paralyzed from the time he was shot, or it was repi.-rted that he was at least from the waist downward. This wound, it is believed, finally resulted in his death as above recorded. Just after the shooting the brother vi t>ihi11^ i-/civijs iuok ovii/ (i wan ant before Magistrate Chestnut, charging Prescott with .assault and battorv. This warrant was not served. It was held by the officers pending the results of the wounds of Davis. In the meantime Prescott was ill at his home where the shooting occurred. Several substantial men said they would go bail for Presscott and would be responsible for his forthcoming at any time. On these conditions the defen| dant was allowed to stay at his home awaiting the recovery or death of I Davis, in which latter event he would be charged with homicide and not assault and batterv. As soon as the news reached Conway that Davis w/is dead, Prescott was arrested on the warrant which had been taken out for assault and battery and he was in the Horry county jail long before noon last Saturday. Upon leaving his home to come tothe j.'iil with the sheriff, Prescott expressed his fears for the safety of his family while he was absent. The officers assured him that members of his family V/OUld MARION AGAIN BEATS CONWAY Ball Grounds at Marion Scene I of Another Defeat for i Conway Team Ma lion.?Marion outclassed Conway Friday afternoon when the two teams clashed on the East Marion athletic tiehl in the initial game of the season, defeating the visiting team by a score of 13 to 2. Conway played a good defensive game, but was unable to gain through the Marion line and all attempts at forward passing were broken up by the Marion backs. The work of NorI man Holliday, fullback for Conway, featured the playing of the visiting, team. Notably among the plays whick were imido worn "?"i ? .. ?. ? ^ v i \j i niiiii from Whittington of Marion to Martin of 20 yards each and a trick play at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Whittington took the balL around right end for a touchdown. o BRUNO MUST WEAR TAX TAG Owing to conditions at the court c. where the work in the tax department has greatly increased durincr frhr? inoi <v... " ? .?o?, years, tne ttUC duplicates will n~>t l)e ready for the taxpayers** until between the first and fifteenth of November. A tax notice will be published very likely in our next issue jjivinjr the assessments and other information. There is a chancre in the dotf tax. The doj? is returned at the same time that other taxes are paid, and the owner must pay the tax of $1.25 and pet a tn-^r which he must nlace on Bruno with a suitable collar, of course. Lfttvl it is hoped that considerable Improvement of thq river channel may lie undertaken.