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C«MoHdat«4 Jana L 19a. Barawell People-Sentinel i 'Juflkt Lika a Mam bar tha Family'' VOLUME LIV. BARNWELL. SOUTH CAROUNA. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 23. 1930. NUMBER 8. Albert J. Bennett Is Acquitted at Aiken « . . .,1.- Case Collapses When, Stated Witness es Refuse to Take Stand Against • , c.1 Former Mayor. . It ** Aiken, Oct. 21.—Trial today in the ourt of general sessions of Albert J. Bennett, a former mayor of Barn- '-well, fcr the alleged theft of several baleg of cotton from a farm near Aiken, resulted in an acquittal for the defendant when the State’s case collapsed. Four negro prisoners, al leged to have previously turned State’s evidence and said they were hired by Bennett to steal the cctton, refused to. testify. The statements they had made to the sheriff could not be used in the case, as they also face charges, under a separate indictment/ cf the theft of the cotton. The trial of the case consumed most o: the day, the State charging that Bennett had stolen five bales of cot- t m the night of January 27, last from the farm of N. A. Stewart, five miles from 4 Aiken on the Columbia high way. The bales had been removed in a truck and Mr. Stewart discovered his lc« s early the nertt morning, the truck, wrecked in a ditch and partially burned, being found shortly after wards five miles further up the road. Bennett testified that hig truck was stolen the night of the theft and that he was at home all cf that night. Shortly after Bennett’s arrest in the case, the four negroes, arrested on another charge, made aff^avits to the erfect that they had been hired by and accompanied Bennett on the ex- tvdition and had stolen the cottcn, but were forced to abandon it and the truck when it was wrecked. They re fused to repeat the statements today arid Judge Thomas S. Sease, of Spar tanburg, presiding, ruled that the negroes had the constitutional right «f refusing to testify if they thought i: would incriminate them. The ne groes will probably be tried on their charge in a few days. The Tonsil-Adenoid Clinic. The tonsil and adenoid clinic, which was held at the Baptist Hospital in ( tiumbia last Friday, with Dr. Clar ence L*. Kjbler operating, was quite successful. Twelve children of the < unty had tonsils and adendids re- rr.oved at that time and are doing nice- Black Seeks Damages for Alleged Slander % ; j • Williston Man Brings Suit Against Fellow Townsman, Q. A. Ken- nedy, for $25,(TOO. \ »y. Because we are llow'ed to take only 12 children at a time with these clin- i s, we were unahJe to take several children whose parents asked for reg- i-tration after our number had been rt-ached. So we have arranged with Dr. Kibler apd the Baptist Hospital to h >ld another tonsil and adenpid clinic < n Friday, October 31. Tha special rate of $25 fcr each child will cover c st of operation and hospitalization in each case. Thi s special rate is al lowed only school and pre-schocl chil dren of the county. Mothers will be allowed to stay with their children and the county nurse will accompany them. Those wishing to take advantage of this clinic will please consult with the family physician about child’s need for >uch operation and" register children referred for operation with the county nurse within the next few days. Virginia Anderson, R. N., ' ' County Nurse. Ellenton Philathea Class Entertained. A suit that ha s excited considera ble comment in Barnwell was institut ed last week when Capt. W. D. Black, of Williston, through hig attorneys, Brown and Bueh and Harley and Blatt, of this city, served a complaint on Q. A. Kennedy, also of Williston, in which the plaintiff asks damages in the amount of $25,000 for alleged slanderous remarks. Among other things, the complaint sets out the # following: “(2) That at Williston, South Carolina, on or about the 1st day of October, 1930, the defendant, Q. A. Kennedy, ’ did wilfully, wantonly, falsely, maliciously and slanderously say, state and utter to, of and con cerning the plaintiff in diverse places in the presence of numerous resident^ and citizens ofjibe town of Williston, among other^thing, the following false, slanderous and defamatory lan guage, to-wit: “ ‘See here, I want to show you something. You read a letter I wrote to Captain Black. I want to show you a letter from Mr. J. M. Farrell, of fiiackville, South Carolina. Captain Black collected thig m-’mey and two- thirds of it was mine, and one-third of it was his and I have never gotten my part of it.’ “(3) That the said letter from J. M. Farrell, which was then and there read to the saidrdiverje person? pres ent, stated that Two Thousand and 00-100 ($2,000.00) Dollars had been paid to the plaintiff by check, the said (heck being payable to the de fendant and the plaint tf, and that the said check had been endorsed by the plaintiff and had gone through regular hanking channels and had been paid. The said check being dated in February, 1924. That the slid de fendant by his language and conduct meant to charge and did chirgc the plaintiff, W. D. Black, with being dis honest in his business dealings with others, and the crime of stealing money belonging to the defendant, and breach of trust with fraudulent intent and that said language ard conduct was so understood by those who were present and heard it. “(4) That the defendant wilfully and maliciously uttered the .-aid slanderous and defamatory language to, of and concerning the plaintiff, wilfully knowing that the same was false, and the defendant did thereby greatly wrong, injure and damage the plaintiff by bringing reproach up on his heretofore good name and repu tation and damaged him in his busi ness to hi s actual and punitive dam ages in the sum of $25,000.00.” Commissioners of Public Works To Again Operate Water Plant Won’t Fix Price* on Annual Pool Cotton Beginning next Satusady, October 25th, the Commissioners of Public Works for the town of Barnwell will take over the operation of the local water work s plant from the People’s Water Service Company. This an nouncement wa s made Tuesday, "foT- lowing a meeting of the City Council and the Commissioners Monday night. The active management of the plant will be under the direction of P. W. Price, who has had considerable ex perience in this line of work. When the people of Barnwell voted to sell the municipal power plant, the water plant wa*s leased to the South Carolina Power Company and the general impression was that the power company would furnish both power and water to the consumers. Subse quently, however, the power company leased the water works system to the People’s Water Service Company. Some dissatisfaction was voiced here on the occasion of two or three fires, when it was alleged that insufficient pressure for fire-fighting purposes was being maintained by the operating company. This charge wag denied by the company. Several months ago, city council served notice of cancella tion of the existing contract with the water service company and being un able to negotiate a new contract sat isfactory to both parties, it was decided that the ^Commissioners of Public Works again take over the operation of the plant. It is hoped that, with careful and efficient management, the plant can be made to show a profit instead of the losses which are said to have been responsible for the high cost of elec tric current here prior to the sale of the power plant. Material Improvement in Prices Must Take* Place First, Say Co-op. Officials. Chooses Main Street for Suicide Attempt Mrs. E .H. McDonald Perhaps Fatally Wounded Herself in Barnwell Early Sunday. Barnwell Baptists Association Meets Financial Repart Show sThat Member Churches Contribute More Than in 1929. CONGRESSMAN HARE WORKS FOR HIGHWAY Elleton, Oct. 18.—The Philathea class of the Baptist Sunday school was delightfully entertained Monday after- j noon by Mrs. Hal Buford, assisted by Mrs. Claude Buford at their lovely country home near Ellenton. Mrs. Arthur Foreman, the newly elected president of the clgps conducted de- votionals and preftded over the busi ness session in her usual charming way. In assuming her duties, Mrs. Foreman'promised her best a B leader of the clasp and asked the coopera tion of each member in the work for the coming year. Mrs. E. E. Mc- Ccrkle was elected assistant teacher. It wa t decided to appoint a financial committee to attend to raising funds for the data, the members at the e mmKtee u» be announced later. Folio wing the hastaaei a^aatag Malleveea aba «afi by Mies G lady a Owen* m and Mrs Feoaaaaa at a AMffr Mbs flaataee Mi Congressman and Mrs. Butler B. Here and »son, Joe, passed through Barnwell Sunday afternoon en route to Ridgeland, county seat of Jasper County, where the former is interest ed in a federal aid project to rai.-e the present roadway as a protection against flood conditions such a s pre vailed in that section during the floods of 1928. It is understood th % at Mr. Hare has given the matter careful attention and is of the opinion that the question that might be raised of ‘back water” would nflt arise in this case inasmuch as much cf the area affected is al ready unproductive. He recently ap peared before the war department in support of the project and the matter has been referred to government en gineers for investigation. A Correction. currwd A typographical error appear ed in the quarterly report of the County Directors, published last week, making ft appear that the janjfor at the court house was paid $100. la setting the re port, the hoatype operator ia- advartetly ctbiped two % of the item*. Noe 181 sad 8tt. The report abepid base road oo fekWws "081 Geeego Jamaa. jMflPf. 822.18. tm fte we ppd Mm8i eamtff aWeeaerya 91 <8 80 * YW tWa** Iwwueus m gmd is •. »■ Elko, Oct. 17.—A financial report to the Barnwell Baptist association, in annual convention at Elko, Tuesday indicated that during the nine months of 1930 the churches of the associa tion, numbering 36, have contributed considerably more money to general denominational causes than during the, whole of 1929. This fact was remarked upon by Rev. W. S. Brcoke, representative of the Baptist general hoard. 0 X Dr. Robert Black was reelected moderator of the association, this being his eighth year to hold this of fice. Rev. W. R. Davis, of Williston; H. J. Crouch and Ralph Johnston, were respectively reelected vice mod erator, secretary, and treasurer^ Dr. W. M. Jones, of Barnwell, con ducted the devotional, followed by the report on VQhristian Stewardship,” and woman’s work, by Dr. A. F. O’ Kelly, of Denmark, and Mrs. John McMillan, of Ulmers. The annual association sermon was preached by the Rev. S. W. Danner, cf Orange- burg, taking his text from John 20: 20-22. In the afternoon, Rev. Mr. Rruce, of Sycamore, conducted the devotional. A short report wa s made by the com mittee on missions. The repoH was discussed by the Rev. Mr. Brcoke, and the Rev. W. M. Whiteside, superin tendent of the Baptist hospital. Short Talks. The following were recognized and made three minute talks: Dr. R. F. Terrell, of the Baptist Courier; Buel Webb, president of Edisto Academy; Sam Smith, Connie Maxwell-orphan age, and the Rev. Mr. Hair, represen ting the church insurance depart ment. Dr. W. T. Derieux, tht honored vet eran of the horiie mission beard, was also called upon. The doctor in com ing to the association, suffered afr in jury in an automobile collision, but attended the session yesterday. Wednesday morning, after a devo tional by C. J. Fickling, of Blackville, the Rev. W. R. Davis made the re port on benevolences, which was fol lowed by a general discussion of the topic. W. W. Carter made the Yeport on Christian education. • Several rep resentatives of State Baptist colleges were present and spoke briefly on the report. In the afternoon, following fhe de votional by the Rev. J. N. Tolar, of Springfield, Mrs. F. H. Hitt read the report on social service. This was followed by the report of the execu tive committee and gpeciaj. committees made their report*. It was generally felt that while the contribution* have been leas th*n hoped for, the ftn*nci*l *ff*ir» of the ***oci*tk>n ( were quite gratifying. The giving of money was not atremaed during the •easkma, but rather the mutter uf stewardship and the work uf nnul invmg. ami Mt Calvary Mb Bba ■ dmMr Ms I Bamberg Borrows Money for Schools Present Condition Described as Grav est Problem Since That County Was Organized. A few days ago the county of Bam berg negotiated a loan through the Bamberg Banking company for $30,- 000 for the schools. The schcols of the county are in a most embarras- ing situation, due largely, it i s ?aid, to the failure of the people to pay their taxes. While some of the dis tricts have a balance to their credit, most cf them have deficits from last year, and under the system of operat ing the schools in the past, the school treasury is bare of funds, and even the districts which should have a balance, have no funds with which to meet the expenses of the present ses sion. The county owed, practically all for schools, $48,000 previous to the present loan, carrying the total to $78,000 at present, and the present year’s taxe s are pledged fcr the pay ment of this money. The net result is that the schools now have $30,000, with the hope of securing very little from taxes this fiscal year. The present funds will last only about two months, and what wilj be done at the end of that time is perhaps the gravest problem the county has been faced with since it became a county. At the same time the grand jury committee i s working on a full audit of the school affairs of the county. The accounting firm of W. H. Rous seau and Co., of Orangeburg, has been employed to make the audit and as sist the grand jury in getting the school affairs straightened out. The school deficit, taking the county a s a unit, is nearly $30,000, distributed among about 14 districts.—Bamberg Herald. Barnwell Defeats Augusta. Winning its third victory in as many starts this season, the Barnwell high school foot ball team defeated an aggregation from the Augusta Y. M. C. A. on the local field Friday after noon, 14 to 2. Barnwell scored early in the first quarter and for a time it appeared that the game would be a one-sided affair, but the resistance of the visitors was stronger in the second and third periods and the locals were i unable to score again until the fourth J quarter. The Augusta boys made their only score t>f the game when they were forced to punt after a drive that threatened a touchdown and the Barnwell receiver fumbled and was thrown for a safety. | The visitors had some good mater- • ial but the team las a whole showed a lack of training. It is understood that Barnwell will play Ridgeland in the capital of Jas per County tomorrow (Friday.) Before leaving for their future home in Washington. D. C„ the latter I part of this month. Judge C. C Simms I and family are spend lag a few day* l with Barnwell friends. Mrs. Simms I i* the gneot of Mrs. M C Diaaoemd ! and Mrs. Rafus Jatfcaan; Judge BMmm • Ma gwnot of Mt. aad Mfu. M h>.«. vase mmd 8 It has come to the attention of the South Carolina Cotton Growers Co operative Association that certain rumor s are being circulated about the State relaive to the sales policies which are being followed by the Am erican * Cotton Cooperative Associa tion. E. F. Creekmore, vice-president and general manager of the American Cot-* ton Cooperative Association, announc ed from New Orleans <m October 15th that it was the policy of the American Cotton Cooperative Association not to fix prices on any Annual Pool cot ton .until a material improvement has taken place in the present price situa tion. This announcement ifbom Mr. Creekmcre should have quieted any feara which members of thu South Carolina Cotton Growers Cooperative Association may have regrading the sale cf their cotton at present prices. J. S. Hathcock, general manager of the South Carolina Association, who wa s present at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Cotton Cooperative Association in New Orleans on October 14th, states that no cooperative cotton is going to be sold at present prices. The policy of the American Cotton Cooperative Association is to sell cotton from time to time as demand warrants, but it is not contemplated that any prices will be fixed on Annual Pool cotton until there is a substantial improvement in cotton prices. However, Mr. Hath cock added, this does not mean that a limited quantity of spot cotton will not be placed with the mills or sold to the mills. In order to develop a direct to the mill business, it is nec essary that their orders be filled from time to time, but the fact that spot cotton is delivered to a mill does not mean that the Cooperative Association has fixed the price on that cotton. Practices long standing in the cotton business make it necessary that some cotton be sold on call and it is true that the Cotton Coops are selling seme cctton in this way, but every member should understand that the price is I not being fixed on such cotton. If a mill wishes to buy at a fixed price', the American Cotton Cooperative As sociation is replacing such spot cot ton with purchases of futures con tracts so that the members /nay bene fit from any improvement in price ! during the next several months. It is also being rumored to Some | extent in the State that the policy qf the Cotton Cooperative^ is to sell- all cotton during the cotton year and make final settlement with the mem- i bers not later than next July 31st. Such rumor s are without foundation, and no doubt have grown out of a misunderstanding of the Association’s | policy in regard to the time of selling. The policy of the Association under normal conditions in normal years is to complete its sales within the cot ton year and make final settlement with the members, but as has been pointed out in meetings throughout the State, thi s policy was not to be followed during abnormal years such as we are now experiencing. Mem- | hers have been assured at those meet- i ings by officials of the Association that it is impossible to tell when all sales of 1930 crop cotton will be com pleted and final settlement made. The Association proposes to carry the deliveries of«1930 so long as it is nec essary in erder to obtain as much more money as possible for the member. This may necessitate car rying 1930 cotton for one year or per haps two year 8 before the final set- . tlemenfc can be made. Only the future course of prices will determine just how long the members will have to wait for a final settlement on the ' 1930 crop cotton. Members are being advanced approximately 90 per cent. . of the full value at the time of de- I livery and it is hoped by the manage ment that all members are delivering with the knowledge that this cotton will have to be carriod until such tune aa it can be sold to the best advantage aad at the highest possible price. Mrs. E. H. McDonald, whose home i? in the country several miles from Barnwell, shot and perhaps fatally wounded herself on Main Street here Sunday morning at three o’clock, the weapon used being a 38-calibre pistol, the property, it is said of her brother, Willie Carter. She fire only one shot, the bullet piercing her left lung, nar rowly missing her heart. She wa# carried to a local drug store, where first aid was administered by Dr. H. A. Gross, who later carried her to the Baptist Hoapilal in Columbia. Re ports from that institution are to the effect that her chances for recovery very alight. Dr. Gross said Sun day the he feared Mrs. McDonald would develop pneumonia. There were no eye-witneases to the tragedy, although J. C. Hogg, night policeman, reached her within a min ute or two after the pistol was fired and found her lying on the street close to the sidewalk. Questioned by Policeman. Mr. Hogg says that he was in Fitz patrick’s barber shop on Main Street shortly before three o'clock and his attention wa 8 attracted by the sound of an automobile being driven several times around ‘‘The Circle, 0 a park in the business section of town. He walked out on the sidewalk just as the car same to a stop at the curb. He recognized ‘ Mrs. McDonald and asked her what she was doing out at that time of night. The woman made an evasive reply, telling Mr. Hogg that he would see her again. She drove off and the policeman went back into the barber shop. In a few minutes, the car stopped * in front of the barber shop a second time and almost immediately there after Mr. Hogg heard the report of-a pistol. He hurried outside and saw the woman’s body lying several feet away. She was still conscious and af ter he had put her back into the au tomobile, Mr. Hogg summoned Sheriff B. H. Dyches and Dr. H. A. Gross to the scene. Refuses Reason. Mrs. McDonald was asked repeated ly why she had shot herself, but re fused to answer, other than saying that she did not wi?.h to live any longer. The officers got in touch with mem-’ ber s of the woman’s family, who, in company with the attending physician, left here about six o'clock Sunday morning for the hospital. Mrs. McDonald, who is about 85 years of age, is the widow of the late E. H. McDonald. She has several children by her first husband, J. W. Riley, who died a number of years ago. She is the sister of George H. Priea- ter, of Swansea, who shot and killed a Washington, D. C., school boy several months ago when he alleges that he found the lad tampering with the oil pump in front of his filling station. She is said to have inherited a considerable sum of money from her second husband, since whose death she has been making her home on a farm south of Barnwell. Has Chance of Recovery. Later reports from the hospital in Columbia are to the effect that Mrs. McDonald’s condition is “fair” and she is said to have a chance cf recovering from her wound. SOUTHERN MAKES SCHEDULE CHANGE Beginning Sunday morning last, the Southern railway made two im portant changes in the schedule of its early morning trains between Au gusta and Branchville. The train which formerly arrived here at 7 o’clock from Augusta, has been changed to 6:23 a. more than an hour and a half earlier, while Me train from Branchville to Augusta now arrives in Bamberg at 8:88, whereas it formerly arrived at 8:88. On account of its early arrival, it it t nan eared at the ae mail will he r it her dispatched mm Augusta, hut i %• to