Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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U F. O.Stacy. PrcsUUmt. J. (J. W'AHm.AW. V'Icp Froslden THE NATIONAL BANK OF GAFFNET. Capital $50,000.00. Wn.i, I)uy county clulnis, receive deposit anil tii!tl><' llbcjii! [1:1ns on unproved paper 1>. < Uo.-s, Cashier. The Ledger SEMI-WEEKLY-PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. WE GUARANTEE The Reliability of Every Adver tiser Who Uses the Col umns of This Paper. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. ESTABLISHED FE!!. 16, 1894. GAFFNEY CITY’. S. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8. 1899. $1.00 A YEAH. Mff-f* IQ ! , •\ j MLL’.sL 3 0 U ii «i • 1 ij i * 1 stake mim Murderer of Mrs. Lashbrook Hcets Awful Death. VICTIM’S HUSBAND LEADS Shrieking Criminal Drugged Through thn Simi Jk, His Eyes Cougid Out, und Kinaily, In the Prescnco of -Nlany Women, e'l’eniatcd. Mav.svii.lk, Ky.. Dec. Dick Cole man, the negro murderer of Mrs. Lash brook, was taken from tho oilioors by a mob of 1,000 men today and burned at the .stake. The mob, led by the hus band of the negro’s victim, dragged tho shrieking criminal through the principal streets of the town, bound him to a email tree, set firo to brush and tow about him uud stood guard uutil ho was dead. Coleman has been kept in the jail at Covington, Ky., since his arrest because of fear of mob violence at Maysville. H'.s trial was set to begin at Maysvillo today and Judge Harbeson had ordered that he bo brought to Maysvillo Tues day night. A telegram, however, from Maysvilie, caused tiie sheriff to delay starling until tnis morning. Coleman was in mortal terror when he was handcuffed today to be put in the train. He begged piteously to be allowed to stay in Covington ]aii until after his trial was ended. It ■was understood that relatives of the Lashbrooks were in Covington last night and were on board the train to day for the i urpose, it is supposed, of giving information in case any effort Was made to change the destination of the i risouov. Co email arrived at 10:20 this morning under a special guard of deputy sheriffs, sworn in by me sheriff, including De tective Fi til Jerald, Constable Dawson, Chief of Police Donovan, ail the police force and two deputy sheriffs. When they arrived at the coarthouso they were met by a mob of fully 1,000 people, headed by James Lashbrook, the hus band of the murdered woman, and went immediately up Second street through the central portion of tho city to tho hill, followed by fnlly 5,u00 of tho citizens of this city uud county, ili-gget! For Mercy. Ail was done that was possible by tho sheritf and his guard to prevent a lynch ing, but in the face of such a mob of people, irrespective of color, it was uso- le;8 to attempt to do anything save de liver him op, which was done. They grabbed him and threw a rope over his head and took him up above the city. The wretch could Vie heard above the cries of tho mob pleading for his life, but the mob ouiy heard the cries of Mrs. Lashbrook. The mob carried Coleman to a small hollow near the railroad tracks, where they bound him tightly to a young sap ling. Tney then heaped a huge pile of brushwood and timber around him and fired the stack, while his eyes rolled hor ribly. Irome one cut out his eyes and in a moment his head roiled around and he was believed to be dead. The scene was an awful one, and around the funeral pyre were thousands of maddened people, headed by the hus band of the dead woman. A dozen torches were applied simultaneously and huge tongues of fire swept up and around the agonized wretch. Before the roasting began Coleman was almost dead. The rope had torn and lacerated his neck and his face was terribly beaten up. About 250 men were at tho Chesapeake and Ohio train last night expecting him, but as ho fatled to come they waited for him this morning. There is no telling what would have been done had they suc ceeded in getting him to jail, as there would undoubtediy have been several killed in any attempt to sterm the jail doors. Tho crime for which Coleman was burned was the murder of Mrs. James Lashbrook, who had given him a home and food. She was enticed by him to enter a shed to see about some work, when ho knocked her down and as- eaulted her. Tho blow was struck with an oak stave. It was not effective and Coleman dragged her to a bed and amid her cries for mercy went to the house and procuring a razor cut her throat. He was immediately removed to escape mob violence. W as Hoiiso Servant. He lad been employed on the farm in n confidential manner, doing farm work and al-o acting as h^use servant. He had tho complete confidence of both Mr. and Mrs Lashbrook. On the day of tho murder Lashbrook was not ac home. Mrs. Lashbrook baa gone to Maysviile for the mail and had just returned, when Coleman enticed her into the hou.-o ami committed his awful crime. He then v. oat to the neighbors and told u story of mysterious murder, but was that night arrested and was kept from a, mob by being hurried to Covington. At tho Covington jail Coleman made e fuli confession which left no shadow of doubt of his guilt. Coleman was burned near the spot •where Charies Collins was hanged 40 years ago for a similar offense. The place is now used for cricket grounds. It is already announced that Judge Harbeson wili call a special grand jury at once to consider charges against the leaders of the mob today. Blue vitric 1 and cayenne pepper were thrown into his eyes and his taco was smashed in with a chunk of wood Coleman said 15 minutes before he was set afire that he had nothing tonay. His death was slow, and writhing in terrible agony, ho was hooted and glared nt by thousands of people standing on the edge o f tne pit. Many women were present. H* died at 10:50 a. m. His eyes uftor the pepper and vitriol were thrown into them, were gouged out and some £ay ho was horribly mu- tinted. Just before lie died he rose to a sit ting posture and said: ‘‘If you takes tho fi lines nwav, 1 want to say somethings” then he sank back and died. PHILIPPINE OUTLOOK NO ABGREEMT ON IS NOT FERY HEIGHT 1 TIIE FINANCIAL BILL Hope of Promptly Ending the War Again Fades. Leaders Fail to Set a Date For the Debate to Begin. REBELS HAVE A DIG FORCE TUESDAY WAS PROPOSED Much II.is Heen Accomplished lie* Ceutly, but a Rather Gloomy Story Comes From Mini11n ( Which ludi. cutes More Hurd Work Ahead. Manila, Dec. 7.- Hope of ending tha insurrection and halting military opera tions, which seemed so bright u few days ago, has again faded iuto the uu- certain futnre. Much has been accomplished. Daring tho last tow weeks tho campaigniug lias I been almost phenomenal. In dreadful weather through a devastated country, j across swollen rivers, along roads that were impassible for wagons, artillery | and in some cases for cavalry, tho ad- | vances of the troops have been so rapid and in so many directions that they have often b:ou beyond tiie military telegraph lines and operations have necessarily been independently con ducted by tho field commanders. Tho army is rightfully proud The insurgents have had a series of routs and disaster. The slaughter has been great. They have lost a large quantity of supplies and munitions of war and morn tnan 1,000 of their armed men have surrendored or boon captured dur ing their retreat in the last few weeks. Their government has been scattered or captured. What of it is at liberty is in flight. A portion of Aguinaldo’s fam ily are in our lines. Aguiualdo himself is a fugitive. Notwithstanding all these things, there is no reason for an extreme opti mistic view of the situation. Nothing more is heard of having the rebellion stamped out in the course of a few days. That sort of talk only lasted while tha insurgent leader was slipping away last week. Field commanders now think that the end is still afar. It is admitted that httlo is definitely known of the present strength or where abouts of the insurgents. Aguiualdo’s aimy is estimated at from 20,00.) to 30,000 armed men, scattered throughout tiie islands. There are 45,- OOt) American soldiers now in the Philip* pines, 35,000 being in Luzon. These are already so greatly scatter* ’ " tho recent operations, with the ex'.v, those in Manila, whore 12,000 are o. ceutrated, that they seem like a mere handful. Still we hold less than one- third of tho area of Luzon, but what we have is tiie most desirable urritory. Indications are that Aguiualdo es caped to the north with a much larger body of troops than was at first sup posed. This force, reported at from 2,000 to 3,000 men, was originally re cruited in the northern provinces and the men are reputed to bo good fighters- Not one of our columns is in direct contact with tho enemy. It is a game of hide and took and a weary game it is. Cavite province will be tiie seat of an active campaign when enough troops arrive to shut off all avenues of escape unless an unexpected surrender occurs. All tho 05,00') American troops will bo easily absorbed in active campaigning and garrisoning. The army cannot continue its present exertions another month with noor food found in the country without much ill ness. It is the general opinion that the five i known insurgent organizations of more i than 2,000 men each will at tho present | rate be disintegrated into guerrilla bands within 30 days. It is the impression of tho military authorities that 20.000 men will bo suffi cient to garrison Luzou a few mouths hence. Field officers and others insist, how ever, that unless the natives surrender tliei!’ arms Luzon must be garrisoned to Aii by town, while protection must be guaranteed to the natives now on the fence until a reaction in favor of the Americans begins. LOWER COURT REVERSED. Right of nuildlng nnd Loun Concerns to C'lu-.rgH Iiiti-re«t. Memphis, Dec. 7.—Several months ago a suit in equity was brought in tho United States circuit court in Little Rock, Ark., by H. M. Rector against the Southern Building and Loan asso ciation, a corporation formed under the laws of Alabama with its home office at Huntsville and also operating under a statute iu that state, for making clear the right of building and loan associa tions to charge certain premiums and a certain rate O' interest. The plaintiff had borrowed money from the company and alleged that the contract was usurious. Judge Williams held the contract to be usurious and also held that the law of Alabama un der which the company was operating was void. The decision precipitated a great amount of litigation, the opinion at tracting attention and being given wide publicity. The case was taken to the United States court of appeals, the Eighth cir cuit, holding at St. Louis. Judgo Cald well has handed a decision reversing tho rulings of the lower court. Geiii-rni Young Ilfiiril From. Washington’, Dec. 7.—To the relief of the war department General Young has been heard from after a week’s ab sence in the interior of Luzou. General Otis cabled this morning as follows: “General Young reports iiis arrival at Vigau ou tho evening of the fifth, hav ing encountered a torco of tho enemy at Narbacan, 12 miles soutli of the city, whom he drove to the eastward of the same into Sun (Quentin canyon. His troops are now’ pressing them back. Country is extremely rough and strongly intrenched.” Young UitukliiMKl Aniioiiiicp*. Huntsvillk. Ala., Dec. 7.—William B. Bankhead, a sou of Conreasmau Bankhead, has announced his candidacy for tho legislature from Madison county. He is a Morgan candidate and will vote for John T. Morgan for senator if elected. No opposition to Bankhead and John 11 Wallace, Jr., has yet ap peared. METHUEN IUS NOW RESUMES GOMANS Is Nightly In Communication With Kimberley. BOER DEFEAT REPORTED ARGUMENTS BEFORE CAPTAIN KING'S Mr. ILcliunlsou, the Minority Leader, OIJ -eted to Tills and Insisted That the Measure Go to Committee Be fore Coining to the House. Washington, Dec. 7. — Before tho house met today the Republican uud Democratic leaders attempted to perfect an agreement for tho dehato ou the financial bill, which is to begin next Monday. But tiie negotiations failed. '1 he Republican leaders then decided to resort to a special rule to be brought in tomorrow. Mr. Overstreet of Indiana, who is to have charge of tho bill, Introduced the forma! resolution for a special order upon which the committee on rules will act. It provides for the consideration of the lull beginning ou Monday and continuing until a date to be decided upon by the committee on rules. After the reading of the Journal, tho speaker announced tho appointment of the committee on rules as follows: The speaker, Mr. Dalzell of Pennsyl vania and Mr. Grosveuor of Ohio, Re publicans, and Messrs. Richardson of Tennessee and Bailey of Texas, Demo crats. Mr. Meyer of Pennsylvania announced that be had been incorrectly recorded as voting “aye” on tho Roberts resolu tion on Tuesday. He had voted “no.” Mr Overstreet of Indiana, in charge of the financial bill, then arose for the purpose of reaching an agreement, if possible, for the consideration of the measure. He asked that an arrange- ment be made for commencing the de bate next Tuesday. Mr. Richardson, tho minority leader, said the proposal was most unusual. It was proposed that a most important measure, perfected iu all us details dur ing tho recess, by members of tho other side, should be brought into the house without being considered m committee ami taken up ou two day’s notice. Ho insisted that the bill should go toa com mittee for first consideration. He ob jected to tho proposed arrangement. Mr. Overstreet asked unanimous con sent to urint m The Record an analysis f rho bill. J understand the gentleman desires tu^onjeot a stump speech in Tho Record?" observed Mr. Terry of Arkan sas. “1 object.” Upon the motion of Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio the resolution was adopted to print 5,0u0 copies of tho opinion of the su preme court in the case of the Addystone Pipe and Steel company ot. ul. appel lants versus the United States for tho use of the house. This is the antitrust decision of the supreme court. Sir. Slercer of Nebraska then an nounced the death of tho late Repre sentative Greene of Nebraska and after the adoption of the customary resolu tion tho house at 12:55 p m., as a further mark of respect, adjourned. The Rev. Stowell L. Bryant of the M. E church pronounced the invocation at the opening of todays’ session of the senate. An invitation was extended through President Pro. Tern. Frye to the senate to attend tho George Washington cen tennial memorial services to be hold in this city ou Thursday. Doc. 14, under tiie auspices of the Improved Order of Red Men. Senator Depew is to deliver the oration upon the occasion. Mr. Chandler of Now Hampshire offered resolutions instructing the com mittee on privileges and elections to in vestigate the right of William A Clark of Montana and Nathan B. Scott of Vir ginia to seats in the senate and to take testimony. The resolutions were re ferred to the committee on contingent expenses. At 12:50 p. m. tiie senate went iuto executive session and at 1:05 p. m. ad journed until Monday. TAYLER COMMITTEE MEETS. Case of Brlgliiiui Roberts Is Discussed Behind Closed Doors. Washington’, Doo. 7.—The special committee of tho house to investigate tho charges against Mr. Roberts, the Mormon representative from Utah, held its first meeting today behind closed doors. Tho meeting was called for the pur pose of determining the method of pro cedure in tho case. It was presided over by the chairman, Mr. Tayler of Ohio. All the other members of the committee were present, Messrs. Mor- riss of Minnesota, Freer of West Vir ginia, Littlefield of Maine, McPherson of Iowa, Landis of Indiana, Republi cans, and DeArmond of Missouri, Lan- hnm of Texas and Miers of Indiana, Democrats. Little progress was made at the meet ing today and an adjournment was taken until tomorrow at 10 o’clock. It has not yet been decided whether Mr. Roberts is to bo allowed counsel or whether the hearings will be open or private. The determination of the lat ter question, it is believed, will depot d upon Mr. Roberts' wishes. Mr. Roo- erts also will doubtless be allowed counsel. Awaits tlir Quay Decision. Dover, Del.. Deo. 7.—In an interview relative to tho appointment of a senator from this state iu case ex-Scnator Quay of Pennsylvania is seated, Governor Tunnell sai 1 that while he had given the matter no serious consideration, he would under no circumstances make the appointment until the case of Quay had been settled at Washington. Whom the governor would appoint he deolined to say, but the impression among the politicians tnroughout tho state is to the effect that it wouid bo Willard Sauls- bury of Wilmington. Melliuillst Confi-reuce On. Moisile, Doc. 7.—The sixty-seventh annual session of the Alabama confer ence of tho Methodist Episcopal church, south, is beinc hold in this city with Bishop Warren A. Gaudier of Oxford, Ga., presiding. Some 300 members ure present, almost the entire roll. Rumor Current ut Durban to the Ef fect That Gnucral Joub<»rt Made a Final Ellul t to Capturs Lad) smith uud Was Repulsed. London, Deo. V.—The war office here has received the following message from General Forester- Walker, the British commander at Cape Town, un der date of Dec. 6: “General Methuen wires today that ho has resumed command and is nightly in communication with Kimberley. The health of the troops is excellent. ” A story was current at Darbau on Tuesday, Dec. 5, to the effect that the Boers made what is thought to have been their final effort to capture Lady- tmith Dec. 4 and were defeated and ro treated. As tho story was brought by Manners it should be received with reser vation, as the unreliability of the “kattirgram” is notorious. According to them, tho Boers opsned a furious bombard ment during the morning of Dec. 4 and continued it for hours, when the British finally silenced the Boer guns, made a sortie and hard fighting followed, the Boers retreating after very heavy losses, estimated at hundreds. According to a dispatch from General Scuaikburger’s laager, dated Dsc. 3, the French and Austrian military attaches had armed there, while tho German attaches had gone to join the Boer forces along the Tugela river, where a collision was momentarily expected. Perhaps an explanation of the retire ment of tho burghers from Natal can be found in a dispatch from Modder River Dec. 3 e-aying that a strong Boer force, estimated to number 3,000 men, was reinforcing General Cronje from Natal. The same dispatch says every thing points to the fact that a great en gagement will be fought at Spytoufou- Cein. The Boors are massing on tho hills there, are vigously building stone fences and are digging rifle pits iu every direction. The Boers’ redoubts on Lazaretto ridge, west of Kimberley, »ro also being extended and strengthened, showing that the rumors of the intentions of the Boers to abandon tho position to stem General Methuen’s advance are un founded. The British have shifted their camp tv few hundred yards away from tho battlefield and are settlingdowu for a week. There are some ca.^ej. of fever among the troops. Much depends on General Gatacre’s advance. There Is undoubtedly a largo concentration of Boers ahead of General Methuen. Prac tically the whole of their Mafeking forces have joined the Kimberley be siegers. An official account of tho sortie at Kimberley Nov. 28. when tho British Cast •des as cabled yesterday occurred, say.'. “The British demonstrated towards Wimbledon rifle range. Tbe enemy’s guns wore positioned from the ranee at Spitzkop to Wimbledon siding. Major Scott-Turner, with tha mounted troops, attacked the enemy's right flank, cap turing a lancer and throe redoubts. The enemy iu a fourth redoubt made a stub born resistance, when Major Sootfr-Tnr- uor was killed. The British captured many shells and destroyed old stores.” Tho raino dispatch gives reports from Colonel Kekewioh, dated Dec. 8 and ^ showing iho Boers were Increasing fh numbers around Kimberley. TUGELA BRIDGE IS RUINED. British Armored Train >tnk«s feveral Sorties From Klin b*rlry. Pretoria, Transvaal, Dec. 7.—OflF clal dispatches received here from the different Boer forces say all is quiet ex cept at Kimberley, where on armored train made sorties this morning. The Orange Free State has proclaimed the annexation of Dordrsoht, about 50 miles north of Queenstown,Cape Colony. The Tugola bridge, it is also an nounced, is so completely ruined that It will bo a work of great magnitude for either belligerent to restore it. Tho British fired ou some republican scouts south of tho Tugela this morning. There wore no casualties. A newspaper correspondent named Lynch, who entered the Boer lines at Ladysmith on Monday with tho al leged purpose of exchanging newspa pers, has been made a prisoner and will be brought to Pretoria. Ktiicd Kor Psuliig a Pass. Raleigh, Dec. 7.—An opinion has been rendered by the North Carolina supreme court holding tho Southern railway liable to tho law imposing a fine of $1,000 for issuing a free pass in this state. The case was sent up on appeal from Burke county, the South ern railway being there indicted for giving a free pass to T. N. Hallybnrton, while he was doorkeeper of the house of the North Carolina legislature in 1897. The Southern railway has onco before had to pay a similar lino for this offense. Drops Child From Wind on-. Bealtokt, N. O., Dec. 7.—A 2-story frame dwelling belonging to and occu pied by Richard Monroe was burned yesterday. Nothing was saved except his coat and a mattross, which were thrown from the window. A 5-year-old child was tho only one in the house at tho time. A negro preacher, who ar rived first, ran in and dropped the child from tho window unhurt. Monroe had saved up some money, which was in tho house, and lost it also. Accused of Train Robbery. Orangeburg, S. C., Deo. 7.—Bartow Warren, a white man of unknown an tecedents, charged with robbing an ex press train near Brancbville last Friday of $1,700, was arrested in Charleston and brought hero yesterday. A Charles ton merchant identifies Warren as the purchaser of a sledgehammer left on the mail car by the robber. Warren asserts his innocence. COMMISSIONERS END Hargis Closes For Democrats at Frankfort. SURPRISE MAY BE SPRUNG Reported That tho Court of Appeals W'ill Baud Down a Decision Declar ing Void an Election la Which Tissue Ballots Ware Used. Frankfort, Ky., Dec. 7. —Arguments In tho election cases were concluded at noon. A decision from the commis sioners is not expected before late at night or some time on Friday. It re quired all of this morning for Judgo Hargis to deliver tho closing argument for the Democratic side and then the commissioners spent much time in go ing over tho authorities cited by the at torneys. During all of yesterday, Com missioners Eiiis and Pryor made copi ous notes with the evident intention of looking up tho authorities themselves. All sorts of rumors and stories were flying around last night and this morn ing regarding a surprise that the Demo cratic party would spring today. By some it was said that an injunction would bo secured restraining Mr. Tay lor from acting as governor in case be received the certificate of election. Others declared that the court of ap peals would today hand dowu a decis ion in a case from Ohio county, where tiysuo ballots were used iu a local election. The court, it was assorted, would de clare that tho election was void on ac count of those ballots. This decision would, of course, bo of immense service to the Democratic cause by establish- lug a precedent upon which tho state election commissioners would he almo-t compelled to declare void the election in the counties of Knott, Johnson, Pike and Magoffin, where it is certain tho tissue ballots wore used. Tho senate chamber today was, if possible, more densely packed than yes terday by interested listeners to tho de bate. Judge Hargis began his argument at fi:4l) o’clock. He opened his argument with a strong arraign ment of the tactics alleged to have bseu pursued by the Republicans in the city of Louisville. He declared that by reason of tho militia and the United States marshals who were gath ered in the city, tho Democmic ticket was deprived of 10,000 votes. Ho de clared tho conduct of tho Republicans iu Nelson county wu# a deliberate and criminal usurpation of power. Tho judicial acts of Judge Toney, in is mug orders of court directed against Democratic election officials, were also declared to bo unlawful assumption of at thority. Judge Hargin then turned his atten tion to tho Republican state officials, w ho had, he declared, filled the streets of Fraukfort with a “drunken and law’- less mob” on the first day of the meet ing of tho canvass board for tho purpose of overawing the board iu tho discharge of its sworn duty. FOWLER GIVEN A PARDON. Armlifts Forger Set Free by Gov ernor McSwecney. Columbia, S. O., Doc. 7.—Rev. A. R. Fowler, Ihe armless forger, perhaps the most notorious convict ever confined in the South Carolina penitentiary, is free with tho governor’s pardon iu his pocket. Fowler is from Greenville. He at tended the Presbyterian Theological seminary at Columbia and later edited a religious paper at Clinton, then went to preaching In Greenville county. He movad to Georgia and there shot off one arm While hunting, collecting consid erable accident Insurance. Then ho lost the other iu the same way, and tho in- aurance companies refused payment. The case was compromised. While he had one arm, Fowler forged the name of his brother-in-law in Green ville, getting $1,000. He was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary in the fall of 1897 for three years. Since being in prison ho has learned to write with a pen fastened to tho stub of his ai*m at tho elbow and has written several newspapsr articles and a history of his life, “From Pulpit to Peniten tiary.” He says he hopes to regain the confi dence of hla people and resume preach ing. FARMER SLAYS HIS WIFE. He Also Shoot sand Srrlously Wounds Bis Mother-ln-L «\v. Lituonia, Ga, Doc. 7. — Hiram Sharpe, a farmer, shot and killed his wife, 3 miles from here yesterday. He had gone to his raother-iu-law’s home for his wife, who had separated from him, and while she was in the act of returning home with him and was say ing over and over again, “Hiram, I will go with you,” and while tho old mother was ated gun. Tho first load of buckshot passed be tween the two women, nearly tearing their anus from their bodies, and the second load pierced his wife’s heart. The murderer fled and later was found secreted in the loft of his son-in-law's house, 4 miles from the scene of the crime. He was brought safely to this town, and from here taken to Decatur. Sharue had had frequent quarrels with his wife, and they had separated a number of times. GALLANT DEED. He Defends a Woman at His Own Peril. A BRUTTISH HUSBAND- piteously oleadiug with the infuri- i man, he fired both barrels of his A Boy Defends His 3Iotlier. Luverxe, Ala., Deo. 7.—William Jones and John Pruitt, two young white men, went last week to the dwell ing of the Widow Rhodes, who lives near Salsoda, iu this county, and while in a drnnken frenzy forced tho family from the house. Last night they re turned and undertook to re-enact their performance of a week ago. Mrs. Rhodes’ 15-year-old boy ordered them to desist, but they secured a fencerail end broka in the door, whereupon the boy fired upon them, killing Jones and wounding Pruitt, who, however, con trived to escape. Ho Mistreats u Pretty Young Wife and Caused Her to Leave Home and Seek the Protecting Care of Stronger Arms— A Thrilling Story. Etta Jane, Nov. 28.—We have no doubt but that tho readers of The Ledger will pardon us for taking off our hat and thanking C-apt. J. N. King, our well known bridge con tractor and builder, for his manly defense of a poor, frail woman from the cruel treatment of a brutish husband, who, no doubt, had made her life miserable by his actions toward her. The names are kept from the public in deference to the wishes of the parties concerned, but we will let theCaptain tell the tale in his own way, as lie did to a Greenville news reporter. He said: ‘‘You see it happened this way,” began Mr. King, lighting a fresh ci gar. ‘‘Lust May as I was driving alone through the country to West minster in my buggy J met a good looking young woman who appeared to be completely fagged out after a long walk. She was accompanied by a little boy. She asked me the way to Westminster. I not only told her, but invited her and the boy up to seats by me in the buggy. I questioned her as to who she was and why she was out so laie, but she gave me only monosyllabic answers and they were unsatisfactory. I saw that something was up and I made up my mind to let her out of the buggy be fore I got into town. ‘‘Presently I heard a horseman hit the steel bridge just behind us. He cleared it in about three jumps. I turned and saw that the rider was coatless and that he carried a double- barrelled shot gun on bis shoulder and was wearing a plow line like a marshall’s, sash. It was beginning to get dark then, and 1 paid no par ticular attention to the horseman, and he did not at lirst recognize us. But just as he passed the buggy, the little boy said, ‘‘ ‘Mamma, there's papa.’ ‘‘Then it was that I saw what was up, and I trembled. “The horseman wheeled about on me at the sound of the boy's voice and leveling his shotgun at mo said : “Oh, yes; you , you. It’s you that’s running away with my wife is it; I’il just shoot your G— d— heart out right here.’ “I was trembling visibly then. A second more and I would have been killed; and oh my, such a sensation as would have been published in the papers about my being killed while running away with another man’s wife. The true condition would never have been known. “But in the crisis that little frail woman saved my life. Just as the husband spoke she jumped from the buggy and said to him : “ ‘Here, if you are going to kill anybody, kill me. That gentleman there knows nothing about me; he simply picked me up awhile ago in the road and offered me a ride be cause he saw that I was tired and worn out.’ “I got out of the buggy,” continued Mr. King, now puffing vigorously at his cigar, “and edged around” until I got mv horse between me and the man with the gun. “Then the husband began to swear at the woman, who had refused to go home with him. He told her that if she did not go peaceably he would carry her forcibly, dragging her by neck to the end of his plow line at his horses heels. “I said he would do nothing of the kind, but I guess I did not say it with much spirit, because I was still looking at that shotgun. “When I spoke the fellow turned on me and asked me what in the hell I had to do with it and said he would kill us both. “I told him I did not have any thing to do with it, but just didn’t approve of his way of escorting a lady home. “Just then I heard horsemen com ing up the road from the opposite direction. Looking up I saw two riders with shot guns, “I said to myself, Oh, Lord, now I’m in for it sure enough.’ "When I turned my attention to the first rider again ho nas off like a shot, and just as he turned the bend of the road, with the other two men hot after him, they fired at him twice. “Presently ihe two horsemen who turned out to be tho father and brother of the woman, returned and everything was explained. The woman’s husband had been beating her and she had written for her father and brother to come for her and take her back homo. But there was a delay in the delivery of her letter, and she, fearing that the let ter had been misplaced, started out to walk the way. Tho relatives had received the letter a day late and were on their way for her at the time they ran upon us. The woman ac companied the father to his home and I went on to Westminster, still feeling a little uncomfortable.” Capt. King is well known as a jolly good fellow—a 300 pounder—who would make a splendid target for the shot gun of an enraged wife beater. But fortune was on his side and the Captain is now happy over the result of his late experience. We are having a lot of bad weather just now. Farmers have about stop ped outdoor work and gone to mak ing fires and setting by them. Miss Bet-tie Blair has a very large school now. There seems to be a great want of system in the way our schools are conducted. It too often happens that some schools do not start until others have taught out part of their term, and thus some children have the advantage of two schools while others have only one and it crowded at that. We do not attribute the blame to the school officers. They are prac tically powerless to correct this trouble. The patrons are not to blame on the contrary. We admire in the parent a disposi tion te send his children to school whenever he gets a chance to do so. It is frequently the case that they can’t tell whether they will have a school or not, and to send their chil dren when a school is in reach is a praise-worthy act. We learn that Miss C.irrie South ard, of Jonesville, will teach the Sun- nyside school. We congratulate the people of that section in being so fortunate as to get one so well quali fied to discharge her duty in the school room as Miss Southard is. J. L. s. -PROGRAM Of Iho Sunday School I'nion of tho N. S. of the It. K. It. A. Martinsville, Dec. 1 —The next Sunday School Union of the Northern Section ot the Broad River Baptist Association will meet with Buffalo Baptist church on Friday before the fifth Sunday in December at 10 o’clock a. m. The following is the program: 1st. Introductory sermon by C. M. Teal, R, J. Tate, alternate. 2d. Organization, 3rd. Intermission ; 45 minutes. afternoon session. Devotional exercises, 15 minutes by tho moderator. 1st query :—“How are we to obtain a better knowledge of the Bible?” Speakers, Willie Martin and others. 2nd query:—“What should be done with a member of the church who does not contribute to the sup port of the gospel?” Speakers, E. B. McSwain and others. Question box. Dismission. SATURDAY'S SESSION. Meet at 10 o’clock, a. m. Devo tional exercises, 15 minutes by the moderator. 1st query :—“What would be the result if every church member would take an active part in the Sunday school work?” Speakers, R. E. Porter and others. 2d query:—“Do we, as Christians, look after each other’s interest both spiritually and temporally as we should?” Speakers, A. C. Cloud and others. Intermission, 45 minutes for din ner. AETERNOON SESSION. Devotional exercises 15 minutes by the moderator. 3d query:—“What benefit would we receive by contributing more for State Missions?” Speakers, G. P. Hamrick and others. 4th query :—“Do we, as Christians, contend as earnestly as we should for the faith once delivered to the saints?” Speakers, J.F. Quinn and others. Question box. Dismission. Sunday’s session. Meet at 0:30 a. m. Devotional ex ercises 30 minutes by the moderator. Sunday school mass meeting con ducted bv the moderator. Essays by Misses Edna Martin and Eva Humphries on subjects of their own choice. Missionary sermon by W. G. Ezell, J. M. Bridges, alternate. Collection for mistions. Respectfully submitted, J. S. Harris, for Com. BLOOD CURE SENT FREE. A Cure for Hlood and Skin DIxeitHe, Krzciim, IMnipIi-s, Scrofula, Hlood I’oNon, Cancer, By addressing Blood Balm Compa ny, 233 Mitchell Street, Atlanta, Ga., any of the Ledger readers may obtain a sample bottle of their famous B. B. B.—Botanic Blood Balm, the greatest, grandest, best and most wonderful Blood purifier made. 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