Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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15*“ THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OP BARNWELL COUNTY TMa mw tea tte l«Mt tm tkfa aawtetty W _ NEWS. rSATURBS ate ADVER TIRING SERVICE—«f tte PUR US HERR AUTOCARTER StR- VICE «* Nav Yarfc Cite <*- Consolidated June L 1925. Ju»l Like A Member of the Femlly M LIFE INSURANCE VOLUME L. BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAy. APRIL 7TH, 1927. NUMBER 52. BIRTHDAY TO BE OBSERVED COL. BROWN SUGGESTS EXER CISES IN SCHOOLS. Would Have Local Speakers Co-oper ate in Nation-wide Observance of Jefferson’s Birthday. Barnwell Ladies Have Narrow " Escape in Automobile Wreck »• i . t— ■ _ **• Cat Driven by Mrs. E. D. Peacock Turns Over Near Dorchester ' ^ * r •* .• \ *•/ •» While En Route to Summerville.—Mrs. Peacock Suffers _V_ 6 .* Painful Cut on Hand, Other Occupants Bruised. Col Edgar A. Brown, county chair man of the Democratic Party has re ceived a letter from R. S. Stewart, State chairman, in which the sugges tion is made that Barnwell County co-operate in a nation-wide move ment “looking toward - the education of the people in the true meaning of Democratic principles — the funda mental things upon which the party was builded/ r and id this connection, Mr. Stewart states, efforts are being made for the proper observance of Thomas Jefferson’s birthday on April 13th, the plans including appropriate exercises in. every county o(f the United States. v CoL Brown has suggested that suitable exercises be held in the vari ous schools of tlje county on the morning of the 13th inst., and that some local speaker be fftvited , to make a short address. If these exer rises are held, the superintendents are urged to give them as much pub licity a* possible and invite the pa trons and general public as well as the students to be present. In endorsing the movement. Clem Shaver, chairman bf the Dempcrftic National Committee, writes as fol- lowa: “When Americans become so obsessed with the notion ihst getting r nd spending is the be-all and end- nil; when they find excuses for enor mous funds supplied by tariff indus try barons «nd public utility bosses to elect United States Senators; when they are heard iq praist of European dictatorship and other forms of ab solutism, it is high time forjwlievers in democracy to warn against tendencies similar in their nature to those which Jefferson fought.” Five Barnwell ladies had a narrow escape from serious injury and pos sible death, when a Hudson coach driven by Mr. E. D. Peacock turned over on a sharp curve near Dorchester Saturday, morning'. Mrs. Pbaioock suffered a severe cut on her hand from broken glass, but the other oc cupants of the car escaped with bruises, allhough all were greatly un nerved - bjr—the shock. They were Mesdamea R. S. Dicks, R. L. Bronson, J. B, Armstrong and Ella Anderson. The accident occurred at the point where the St George-Dorchester high way intersects the Orangeburg-Char-. leston highway, the road at that point being more of an angle’than a curver Mrs. Peacock lost control of her car in negotiating the turn, the machine turning upside down. The ladies managed to extricate them BIGHAM GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE r , ACCUSED SLAYER 6f FAMILY ENDS FIGHT- Long Drawn Out Legal Battle Comes to Close at Conway With -Di selves and stopped ^a passing car, whose driver carried them on to Sum merville where medical attention was given Mrs. Peadock at the hospital All of the ladies returned to Barn- weil Saturday afternoon except Mrs. Peacock, who returned Sunday,, and is now recovering from her injuries at |ier home here. The car was not greatly damaged and- was driven to Barnwell under its own power. The fact that it was a closed car proba bly saved the occupants from more serious injury. A diamond worn by Mrs. Peacock in a ring was cut from‘Its setting’Rnd lost. Mrs. Bronsob had a similar ex perience, but found the stone at the scene of the accident. The party was en route to Summer ville to attend the U. D. C. Conven tion at that place. Verdict of Guilty Forecast Heavy Boll Weevil Infestation Survival of boll weevils in hiberna tion during the winter will be higher than usual, the department of agri culture Monday in pubitsh^ -forrhe best essay”written by i tenth ing the result of its annual survey. “Temperature* throughout the cot- ten belt have been unusually mild during the past winter and undoubt edly as a consequence survival among those weevils actually in hibernation v will be higher than usual” the re port said. Is Offset is Some Sections. “This is offset by the fact that ,n the people i man y actions last summer and fall ' conditions were such that the number of weevils entering hibernation was much lower than usual. Consequent ly spring infestations are going to depend to an unusual degree upon conditions last fall in each locality. Rear-end Collision | Wh "' Y " ww,,u year the spring emergence will be One Man Injured in Barnwell School Boy Wins District Prize Ethel A. Birchland, of Westport, Conn., is national secretary of the American Road Builders' Associa tion and in charge of headquarter^, at Washington. She is the only woman highway official in the world. The district prize of five dollars of fered by the Library Extension of the State Federation of Women’s Clubs One. person was injured and two lor motives were damaged as the i result of a rear-end collision at White i Pond early Saturday afternoon when two l-comotives crashed into the rear of Southern Railway fl eight train No. 55, whiA was headed for Au- > gusta. The two engines were double- heading to Augusta to pick up an ex cursion train when the freight train was encountered at the water tank. According to information received here, the fireman, Fred Bolcherse, sus tained a breken ankle. Other mem bers of the engine crew eecaped by jumping. 1 heavy. “The Mississippi Valley territory may expect a somewhat heavier in itial infestatkb than was experienced in 1926, the infestation decidedly de creasing to the eastward," the report continued. “However, in the easteui areas sufficient weevils will be pres ent to cause serious damage provided weather conditions during the cotton glowing season are favorable for weevil development. “In Texas especially in the cen tral portion the weevil population was decidedly increased by favorable weather conditions during the latter ton, undble to see the freight train, owing to a curve in the track and high winds and dust that prevailed at the time the accident occurred. The cab cf the freight train was entirely de molished and the first engine of the grade student was won by Ben Davies, Jr., of the Barnwell High School. The subject of the essay was “The Evolution of Book:" 1 Each year a similar prize is awarded by the ex tension fer the best paper of five hundred words on some subject that will tend to promote interest in books in the high schools of the State. This is the second time time that a Barnwell student has won the dis trict prise and it is hoped that Ben Jr.’s essay, which has been entered in the State contest, will win the prise in that. Miss Ruth Riddle, teacher of Eng lish in (he high school says that the was well pleased, with the interest that the pupils showed. a s there were many splendid papers submitted. Rev. Jesse Hammond Goes to Ellenton J9 . The Rev. Jesse Hammond, pastor of Crswfordvilie. Ga. t Baptist Church, has accepted the unanimous call ex tended to him by the Ellenton Church. He will enter his new field of work May 1st. Mr. Hammond preached his first seimon there about two months ago and immediately the church invited him to be its paster. His decision. Conway,“April 4.—Edmund Bigham, alleged slayer of his mother, brother, sister and two small children, was found guilty of the murder of his brother, Smiley Bigham, in a directed verdict returned by a jury late today. The verdict caried a recommendation fop mercy. _ . — ** An agreement was reached in the afternon session of court on the dir ected verdict. The verdict with its recommetndation carries a sentence of life imprisonment. A few minutes after the verdict was made known, Bigham was sen tenced to life imprisonment and the other indictments pending against him were, nolle pressed. i Six-year Fight Eads. Sentence marks the close of the six-year case against Bigham, indicted as the slayer of five persons in a tragedy of 1921 which nearly wiped cut the family of L. Smiley Bigharg, late planter of the Pamplico district and formerly a State Senator. 1 Wednesday, the 30th u’.t., will long A few hours after Bigham went on be remembered by the Barnwell Ccun- trial a third time for the alleged sky- ty Council of Farm Women, this being ing of his brother. Smik\y Bigham, the date of the Bpring meeting which the indictments charging, that Big-1 was heW m the Rest Room at the ham murdered his mother, Mrs. Msr- Court House in Barnwell. Although gery Black, a sister, and her two lit- the weather was very i .dement, six- tie adopted boys were nolle prossed. teen ladies were present * nd all voted Bigham will be taken back to tW | it one of the best enund's ever held. County Council of Farm Women Meet According-Lc te-ixpoct frqm WilUv. *“ rt of the i, the crew of the double-header was an< * 8<>mew ^* t heavier initial infesta- or not the other churches of the field, tion is expected this season. double-header great extent. was damaged to a Master Sold Tracts ♦ of Land Here Monday Two le^al sa’es were made by the Master, G M. Gretne, Esq., her.* Mon day, both tracts of land being bid in by Brown and Bush, attorneys, as ' follows: , W. T. Aycock, vs. B?ssie .!. Vea- Prof. Self Resigns as Superintendent Prof. M. B. Self, superintendent of the Williston-Elko school jjystem for the past several years, tendered his resignation to the trustees a few days Branch, ys. R. L. Ussery, Ar- thersbee and Metropolitan Life In surance Co., three lots in the town of Barnwell, ^ror $250. Bank of Western Carolina, Barn- rington Bros. Co., Farmers Union Mercantile Co. and Emmie M. Porter, administratrix, of the estate of J. A. Porter, deceased, 92 acres of land in Barnwell township for $1,000. ago. Mr. Self moved to Williston quite a number of years ago as the principal of the Williston school and since his residence in that town has seen the school almost double its reg istration and a fine new high school building added. Mr. Self was reelected for another term by the trustees at a meeting see- In disagreeable contrast tx> the eral weeks ago, and it was generally weather that prevailed during most Matlock and Millbrook, would extend a call. He preached for them and they tco voted call him.* The entire community will join in welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Hammond to Ellenton. They come highly recom mended, net only from Crawfordville but wherever they have worked. Their former home is in Columbia. The Ellenton field hag been without a pastor for eleven months. The Rev. Robt. H. McKinnon, former pastor, •resigned the work there last April and Ibecame pastor cf the Cross Hill Baptist Church. Election Next Tuesday. High Winds Last Week. understood that he would remain there for the next session, but he re ceived a very flattering olfer from a school in the ncriher/> part of th'i State, whirh be '*** accepted. The of the month of March, high winds that at times reached almost the pro portions of a gale ushered in fair April. With only a slight lull Fri day night, the wind increased in trustees of the Williston-Elko school intensity Saturday, filling the air system have not held a meeting since his resignation was tendered and it L not known what plans are being made. Mr. Self is recognized as a thor oughly competent superintendent and tyith great clouds of dust, making it extremely hazardous and difficult for travelers on the highways. Some daqiage was also done to young cropp, especially on light lands. Fortunate- The People-Sentinel has been re quested to announce that R. S. Dicks, B. W. Sexton, J. Julien Bush, Solomon Blatt and M. B. Hagood are candidates for positions on the Boat'd of Trustees for the Barnwell School District. Five trustees are to be elected in the. special election to be held here next Tuesday, ♦he 12th inst. AU of these gentlemen are well known business men cf Barnwell' and ♦her candidacy ^hould prove acceptable to the patrons <rf -tbe~school. State penitentiary whefre he spent forty-seven months in the : death houde awaiting execution following his conviction of murdering his bro-* ther at the two previous trials. Pale and haggard from his six years behind prieon bars, Bigham re ceived the sentence stoically and had nothing to say before sentence was passed upon him. He told Judge Mil- ledge L. Bonham, who passed sentenre, that his attorneys had spoken for him. # Dramatic Ending. The announcement by Mendel L. Smith of defense counsel, that the State, and defense had agreed on the direct^! verdict brought to a dram atic close the long litigation during which Bigham had three times es caped execution by intervention of the Supreme Court. Twice the ver dict of the lower court was reversed and another time when sentence had been passed, following refusal of the Supreme Court to allow a new trial, the high court changed its decision when defense counsel contended that new evidence had been found. Five witnesses, heard today before the directed verdict was sought, gen erally reiterated the testimony given TMBft tWiTr The testT- mony of Dr.’ W. H. Poston, physician who was called to the Bigham home foiowing the sleying, was read by attorneys. Dr. Poston being ill at his his home. In asking tht directed ve -d.ct, Mr. Smith declare 4 that at this time th*» defense had decided that it would be best and that no better verdict could be hoped for in toe trial. He said that sentimenz in the e^Min wns un- favorable to the prisoner, and that the wish of the defence was to save his life. Presenting the view of the prese- cution, Solicitor L. M. Gas |UC said that though he had at first strenuous ly opposed en■:»•>£ such an agree ment, believing that Bigham should be punished for the crime for which he had been twice convicted, the case had been long drawn out and the State did not wish to appear to be seeking blood, and finally agreed to the request. Court Ruling Cited. Turning to the jury, Judge Bon The meeting was called to order by Mrs. G. M. Greene, president of the County Council. After a short pray er and sotig. Miss Elisabeth McNab, Home Demonstration Agent, made the welcome address, the respottba be ing by Mias Eunice Greene, of Den- berton. After the business session a splendid program was carried out va rious phases of the work being taken up and discussed by representatives from five of the women's clubs, aa fal lows: “Benefits derived from my Shcrt Course at Winthrop College,” Miss Julia Warren, of the Double Pond Club; “Marketing and Gardening,” Miss Eugenia Black, of the Hilda Club; “Exterior Beautification,” Mrs. Charlie Hartzog, of the Double Pond Club; “Club Story, giving the.'exper iences of the speaker as a club girl and now ai a member of the Hercules Women’s Club,” Misa Ina Sanders; “What Chib Work Has Meant to Me,” Miaa Eunice Greene, of Greene's Acad emy; “Some Hindrances to Club Work and How They May Be Over come,” paper by Mias Ruth Ratteree. of Sand Hill Club; “High Culture,” by Mias Everdell Hartzog, of Dquble Pond Club. ~ During the recreatlonat riod -aavgraL club, seciga were as a nd a reading was given. During the dinner hour a delicious lunch was served picnic style. Tom Bolen, manager of the Vamp Theatre, presented each club member with a pass to the theatre. The following out of town dub wo men were present: Mesdames Char lie Hartzog, B. V. Donald, J. T. Still Horace Hutto, Ernest Hiers, Jas. V Still, W. W. Hart, L. H. Hartzog Misses Everdell Hartzog, Julia War ren, Eugenia Black, Eulalie Black Eunice Greene and Itia Sanders. GASOLINE PRICE DOWN TWO CENTS CUT ANNOUNCED TUESDAY BT GULP REFINING CO. • Redaction Comes as Result ef Anti- Trust Law Amendments Intro- _ duced by J. E. Harley. The Gtflf Refining Co. announced--a . decline of two cents a gallon in the ‘ price of gaaoKne Tuesday morning, making the retail price in Barnwell 23 cents for ordinary “gas" and 26 •ents for No-Nox fuel. This repres ents a decline of four cents a gallon in the. past two months and of five cents from the high level of last fall i and puts this State about on the same basis as Georgia. In making the anoupcement of the reduction, VG. R. Nutty, vice presi dent of the Gulf Refining Cov stated in a letter to John M. Daniel, attor ney general, that hit company pro poses to comply strictly with the State’s amended anti-trust laws. The company’s decision and the price cut were, the letter seta out, the out growth of a recent conference be tween the attorney general and rep resentatives of the severs] larger dealers in gasoline in the State. The conference, called at the insti- gaticn of the attorney general fol lowing the approval of the bill of Represetative J. E. Harley, of Barn well, amending the anti-trust laws, was in* response to various ‘allega tions of irregularities in the sale of gasoline and was designed, the at torney general said, to allow gasoline companies operating i n the State an opportunity of complying voluntarily with the amended law. Failure to bring some relief would, he informed the companies' representatives, force the State iato court to teat the legali ty of the several practices complaiui ed of. It wHl be recalled that The People- Sentinel called attention several fcs ago to the big difference ia the price of gasoline existing hi this Itate and Georgia and persuadad Col. Harley to start •» investigation that resulted in his introducing sauinil menu to the anti-trust la art ia aa effort to bring about a reduction in trice. Since that time the price has teen reduced four, cents *a gallon. This paper, therefore, ia all due modesty, takes credit for its part la helping bring about the reduction. Death of Little GirL The many friends of Mr. and Mrs Edgar Delk will sympathize with them in the loss of their little five- year old daughter, Jewel, who passec away at seven o’clock Monday even ing at the home of her parents near Ellenton, after a short illness o: malaria fever. Her body was laid to rest at two o’clock Tuesday afternoon in the Double Ponds Churchyard, the ham said that under a ruling by the | services being conducted by South Carolin a Supreme Court a man I ^e ®e v * C* K. Turner, of Barnwell Believe This or Not. it is with a great deal of regret that ly, however, only small acreages of his services will be lost to the Willis- cotton had come up. .A similar wind ton community. visited this section about the middle Advertise in The People-Sentinel of last May and killed hundreds acres of young cotton. of Hummel Harley, who was thought to be the champion “banana eater" of Barnwell, has requested us to an nounce that he has surrendered that title tp James Hcgg, who, Hummel says, beat him to the tune of two ba nanas, James eating s grand total of seventeen bananas at one sittig. This paper will glad to hear from other claimants of the title. had a right tc accept such a verdict if he wished, and he instructed the fore- ( man of the jury to write a verdict in accordance with the agreement. The court was soon adjourned, and the Besides her parents, she is surveyed l>y one sister and two brothers. his wife and daughters were at the home when neighbors arrived and al crowds of spectators filed out to re-1 testified that the mother before dy- tur n home. Many of them had come ing, told Edmund that Smiley luu from distant parts of the county gnd killed them. The next <Uy the body from Florence. of Smiley was foumj on a ditch hunk The Bigham tragedy occured cn [ in some woods in front of the house January 15, 1921, when Mrs. M. M. The State contended tihaj^ Edmund Bigham, her daughter, Mrs. Black, killed all five in an effort to gain the and the. t dopted‘ children, John and property, but the deftnae asserted that Loo McCracken, were found dead AI Smiley was the real slayer sad ha the Bigham home. Edmund Bigham. * «*»■».-a. ^——***■* * Hcfd Up and Robbed on Ellenton Highway According to* * report received ia Barnwell, a man giving his uaare aa J. C. Phillips was hold up sad robbod $700 on the Ellentou-J way 'Saturday night to have been driving a Buick Phillip* was found Sunday asoraiug In a semi-conscious ecuditioh by the Rev. B. M. Foreman near Matlodi Baptist Church. It has not boon kurnad where Phillip* i* from or whether he was able to give a description of tho parties that he claimed robbod bit. He was leading geVferml mules on tho highway when attacked. It ia under stood that the alleged robbers wont toward Augusta. 1 W ft . Barnwell aad Dunbarton He. j-Witll the score 12 to 10 in favor of the visitors, the fhmbarton-BarnweU baseball game was called in the last half of the eighth inning Tuesday af ternoon on account of the storuy At the end of the seventh •’ inning the sccre wa§ tied at ten each and, there fore, counts as a tie game. Dunbar ton, with a combination of hits and er rors on the part cf Barnwell, scored eight runs in the first inning, but tho visitors then settled down and played very good baseball. Dunbarton, it ia said, has a goed team qnd will proba bly render a good account this Spring. Windstorm Tuesday Afteraoon. An unusually bad wind and sand storm passed over this section Tuesday afternoon, coming out of Northwest Dense dark clouds warning of the approaching which broke shortly after six *’( and lasted for about 15 or 59 The air was filled with sand and which brought far aa ia is