Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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r *• ••i ••'T# > ••• • < TRADE IN Florence IT PAYS Weekly THE PICK OF THE NEWS CONDENSED AND INDEX ^ D FLORENCE The Fasted Growing City in the State 25,000 BY 1 9 & VOL. 1. NO. 7. FLORENCE, S. C., THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1922 IBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.00 A YEAu Florence Tobacco Market to Front Prominent Bankers Predict 6,000,000 Lbs. For This Season—The Warehousemen Elated Over Encouraging' Signs WORLD’S NEWS AT A GLANCE £*************** ******** £ Bernice Thompson * ic «>**************-******** HEADLINES FROM TWENTY OF THE LEADING NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTRY SENATORS STAND 3 TO 1 FOR THE BONUS—Washington, D. C.: In formal canvasses made by leading opponents of the soldiers’ bonus bill were said today to have disclosed a senate majority for the measure of practically 3 to 1. i j&ij M m AUTO RACE UNDER WAY FORD LEADING BY ABLE MARGIN IN CONTINENTAL OMFORT . RANS- W/Uj Florence Boys Win First Game CAROLINA BATTERY MAKE VIC TORY SURE—MURRAY STARS AT THE BAT Independent warehousemen are more confident than ever that they have taken the right stand on the to bacco question and are expecting their concentration of forces to mean the drawing to Florence of thousands of pounds of unpledged tobacco. They have been busy lately and claim that they find a very small per centage of the crop signed away. The first Kame played by the At _ The merchants, who under the spell t ^ of the spellbinders, promised to woik lant,c Coast Line team P roved a F reat for the Co-Ops seemed to have lost success in all ways except the at- heart after due deliberations. tendance, tnat part of it was d>s- Two of the most prominent and t . ouraginf , to the p romo ters who had conservative bankers in town have , , taken an active interest in making h °P ed for enough interest to at least Florence a great tobacco center. |P a y the guarantee of $100 that ,vas Read the following letter being « lven the Wilmington team to come sent by them to all the tobacco men— do ''7 1 to F l ore ^ e ’ . T herC ° n . ,y independent buyers and factory rep- a crowd. The balance had to be resentatives. Florence is thusly as- alade a P by t ^ ie promoters of the sured a splendid corp of buyers and ' oa ® t Line team. bidding will be brisk. The P ame ltse,f was a11 that cou,d The letter: Florence, S. C., June 12, 1922. Dear Sir:— Florence established the first to bacco market in South Carolina, and for a long time was the leading mar ket in pounds sold. Our sales have run as high as five and one-half mil lion pounds in 1903—since this time we have not kept pace with competing markets, although our city has grown by leaps and bounds in other things, until we are now the fifth largest city in the state. Our lands make tobacco of the best quality to be found in South Carolina, and our farmers are probably more experienced in growing tobacco than any others, therefore we are making a determined effort to make Florence tobacco market what it should be —the largest in the state be desired, neither side was able to tally until the sixth, when W. John son for Florence, in the role of pinch hitter, brought B. Johnston and Holland home with a sharp single to center, counting two for Florence. Florence tallied again in the seventh and Wilmington scored one in the eighth. Wilmington’s pitcher was going good except in the sixth and seventh. He fanned 14 Florence bat ters, having little trouble with any of them except Bill Murray. The Wilmington team looked well and had they been able to land on Jimmie Cal- cutt they would have evened up the score. Wilmington had a good catch er and second baseman, who worked hard and kept the pep going during .he entire contest. For Florence Bill Murray, who pastimed at second and in right field »nd led the Florence amateurs in hit- Shrine hosts are greeted in San Francisco. The city transformed into Arabian village as Mystic Nobles ar- ive for imperial session. Greeks may seize Constantinople. Coups rumored in Athens to forestall the Turkish political movees. Death of Lenine may add to chaos. Harden prophesies new dictatorship and revolts in Russia. Terms him an able ruler and thinks no one at pres ent «ould take the leader’s place and forestall calamities. Coal dealers yield before Borah threat. Bituminous distributors have agreed to voluntary price limitation and the senate inquiry is to be held up. Secretary Hoover announces he ;S being assured of cooperation. Harrison charges Republicans seek to “buy” a congress. “Get the money,” ‘more gas,” “step on it,” he says, are slogans of the party. Florence has not been disrupted or disorganized in any way by ' ri,v * ast seusor! ' waa t* 16 particular non! in wn nn now hiiilfiino I wn Atlirray ‘gUvnrVJtu TITltol’nUSC^f pool, in i'act, we arc now building two new warehouses to be independent, giving us three independent ware houses. There will ajso probably be built a pool warehouse. Our aim is not less than six million for Florence this year. We are writing you this in the hope you will give us buyers, who will keep our prices up to the competition and who will take a personal pride in four two-base swats in four times at the plate, besides playing a sen sational game at short. The John ston .boys, Bill Holland and Jim Cal- cutt also showed to good advantage Both Calcutt and Holland were on the University of South Carolina ’varsity baseball squad this year, Bill Holland being the regular ’varsity catcher. Both of these boys are former Flor- our market. Any suggestions you l ' >nce high stars and are well known would make in building a really big! t0 t h e Florence fans, Holland being tobacco market in Florence will be ^h e old original squad who started appreciated. We stand ready to do ind ke P l U P athletics at Florence our part, and will value an expres- hi P h school from 1914 through 1919 sion from you. w ith one year out for the war, Bank of Florence, W. J. Brown, Pres. Jimmie Calcutt was Florence high’s pitching ace last season when they Commercial & Savings-Bank, were cIose runner-ups for the state Frank Brand, Pres. championship. Calcutt is showing ! improvement in his pitching, the ef- Tsir y ;lects of the wise teachings of Bill Many LaSGS J.n I Clark, former Columbia Sally league " i manager, and now university coach, I niirt was shown >n the way Jimmie mixed dld-CM V^tFU.1. U b j s delivery and fielded his position yesterday. Charleston.—In comparison with Mr. Coleman, manager of the Coast the preceding days of the present Line team, says that he will have an- term of the Federal Court there was other game in a few days and he an unusual number of jury trials yes- hopes to have a better attendance, terday. The deferred sentence of The Coast Line boys intend to give R. V. Bray, Jr., who was convicted the public some good games of base- lately of violating a federal law by hall and they deserve better patron- interfering with a government offi- «Ke than they had yesterday. Fier cer was given, fining the defendant once has gotten itself into the habit $1,000 and one year imprisonment at n °t being willing to attend a the Atlanta penitentiary. game of baseball unless some noted John Williams was tried on a :>nd expensive pitcher is to be used charge of violating the national pro- It ’ s the wrong spirit, for many times hibition law and found not guilty. there are just as interesting and close After some argument the jury games played by the home boys as if found H. F. Ayers guilty of violat- ' ve had imported an expensive team ing the prohibition law, but the sen- to represent us. tence was deferred. Box score and summary Mrs. Worrell drops dead. Beloved Florence woman dies very suddenly this week. Florence water is pure. Health of ficer gets most favorable report from chemist. Wate absolutely free of impurities. H. Boyd Turner turns $1,000 over to judge of probate as directed by Judge Shipp in the June term of court here. This sum will support his alleged child. Turner was given the alternative of paying $1,000 or serving three years on the gang. French governess sought to clear the Ward mystery. Mme. Ziegler ex pected to tell what happened in the Ward home on night of the killing. Bankers to delay loan to Germany decision three months. International financiers will adjourn without tak ing :.'*y action. > ■> * tip*- r The members of the en’s Bible Class are enjoying a deli; £ul trans- manned by expert ch: curs and mechancians. At the end ' the sec- cond week’s run the tz -Uy little continental race in four s. • A Ford, which got off to a was in the lead and going F. Hays was at the wheel s grin ning from ear to ear. Ralpli loody gave all his time and attention ./ the machine and let the excited pa - gers do the cheering. Mr. W. J. Pax- Editor The Weekly News Review: y cars start, ■>•*. A. Must Bigham Die? Court Says Yes! Correspondent Asks Pertinent Questions— Has His Doubts—Claims Smiley Big ham Was Bad Man —Courtesy The News and Courier Reds even rifle the Czars’ tombs Jewels taken from Coffin of Cathe rine the Great. Forbear at Peter’s grave. Collins convinces premier. Irish leader satisfies Lloyd George that Free State is functioning efficiently Flying visit to London declared to have left but one big problem—Uls ter. Ship subsidy is condemned by reso lution. Talk of mobilizing labor’s political power to combat Harding administration, which is declared to lie the most reactionary in half century. Child labor today’s sub ject. Rickenbacker flight delayed by mishaps. Lightning hits plane. He hops off after repairs, but is forced down. On account of a search being con- Wilmington Ab . R. H. Po. A. E. ducted on another reason and date Griffith, ss .... 4 0 0 2 0 2 from those described in the warrant Young, 2b 4 1 1 2 2 1 upon which the federal agents acted, Burnette, lb 4 0 0 4 1 0 the court instructed that George Bob- Boswell, 3b ...4 0 0 1 1 0 let be found not guilty on a charge Bell, c 4 0 0 14 0 0 of violating the prohibition act. H. Burnett, If . .4 0 1 0 0 0 A case against the Ridgewood club, Dew, cf 3 0 1 0 0 0 of Columbia, and Charles Hughes and Jordan, rf 1 0 0 1 0 0 other employees of the club, was en- Gore, p 3 0 0 0 2 1 tered on the charge of violation of the prohibition law. After hearing Totals .31 1 3 24 6 4 the testimony and arguments the jury Florence Ab . R. H. Po. A. E. declared the employes not guilty, but Boylston, rf 5 0 0 1 0 0 the verdict for the club was guilty James, 3b 4 1 1 2 0 1 and a sentence of $300 and costs Murray, ss 4 1 1 0 4 1 given by Judge Smith. Another case Holland, c 2 1 0 9 1 0 of violation of the prohibition law C. Johnston, 2b ... ... 4 0 1 2 2 1 was tried against N. P. Coddel, who Calcutt, p 3 0 0 2 2 0 was found not guilty. B. Johnston, lb 4 1 0 10 2 0 Garfield Matthews, on trial for vio- Rutledge, cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 lation of an act of February 13, 1913, W. Johnston, cf o 0 1 0 0 0 in regard to freight, was found not Lewis If 2 0 0 1 0 0 guilty under instruction of the — court. Totals .32 4 7 27 11 3 The following, pleading guilty, were fined for alleged violatio nof the prohibition law: C. Harrison, $100 and costs; Oscar Moses, $300 and costs; and Mrs. A. Anagnostopolo, $40 and costs. Barringer files pledge; will run for congress. W. R. Barringer, of Florence, filed his campaign pledge with General Wylie Jones, treasurer of the state Democratic committee, as a candidate for congress from the sixth district, as opponent to Con gressman Stoll. Mr. Baringer is mayor of Florence. L. M. Gasque, of Marion, solocitor of the twelfth circuit, also filed his pledge Thurs day as candidate for reelection. Summary—Two base hits: Young Murray (4). Hits: Off Gore, 7; off Calcutt, 3. Sacrifice hit: B. John ston. Stolen bases: Dew, James. Left on bases: Wilmington, 6; Flor ence, 10. Bases on balls: Off Gore, 3; off Calcutt, 3. Reaching first on errors: Wilmington, 3; Florence, 4. Hit by pitcher: Holland, Lewis. Struck out: By Gore, 14; by Cal- eutt, 7. Wild pitch: Gore. Time of, game: 2 hours. Umpires: King and Martin. Attendance: 100 Instant death for young man. Fatal shooting affray in Barnwell. No wods precede killing. O. D. Moore of Snelling takes life of Virgil Weathersbee. Workers in Mexico on strike. More than 10,000 workers went on strike here in sympathy with the general strike at Progreso, in the state of Yucatan. Port operations are para lyzed and almost all commecial houses are closed. Citadel men get their diplomas. Fifty-four men in graduating class, largest in history of institution. Com mencement exercises at Hibernian Hall. 3. W. Young Out For House S. W. Young, prominent farmer and business man, has announce! for the House of Representatives. Mr. Young will be elected, no doubt. It isn’t often that a man who has demon strated such marked ability in man aging his own business has the time and inclination to work for tho pub lic welfare. We need hard-headed business men at the head of governmental institu tions and when one of Mr. S. W. Young’s calibre offers his servees the voters should respond. “Bobbie” Hard To Understand “Bobbie,” the wonder dog, was shown three times daily last week at the O’Dowd theatre. He barked with uncanny exactness answers to any questions asked him. He seemed positively mistake- proof, barking as many as 300 times at a performance without making one slip up. Bobbie has them all guessing. Mr. O’Dowd says he’s on to all the “princes of magic” but this dog is more in the supernatural class. Mr. C. H. Hofling, of Charleston, owner of Bobbie, says this is only the second time he has shown him publicly. He is a machinist at the Navy Yards, and not a showman. However, we expect to hear from that dog. Keith will no doubt head line him and scientists everywhere try to fathom his miraculous intui tion. TECH GE r 4& , THOMPSON BOY WONDER COMPLETES HIGH SCHOOL CAREER—STRIKES OUT 499 IN 30 GAMES Bernice Thompson, the McColl high school’s wonderful pitcher, has just completed his high school career, af ter having attended that school for six years. S. W. Carwile, superin tendent of McColl high school, gives a great history of the “wonder boy” in last Sunday’s News and Courier and coming as a tribute from teacher to pupil it is something of which young Thompson should be very proud. According to Mr. Carwile, Thomp son is an average student, neither brilliant nor dull. His best work has been done in mathematics and science. His conduct in school has always been of the most exemplary character. Thompson has never given trouble of any kind. He was presi dent of his class during the past season and has always been popular with his teachers and fellow students Thompson is quiet and unassum ing. Praise and the plaudits of the thousands of baseball fans that he has pitched before has not affected him in the least. He never refers to his pitching save to knock himself for not doing better in some games He is cool and steady at all times, winning or losing he is the same old Thompson in there trying to do his best. Thompson has pitched 30 games of high school baseball in the last two years and in which he struck out 499 batters. He has lost only two high school games in his career, one Florence high in 1921 by a score of 7 to 0, and one to Clayton high by a score of 4 to2. He defeated Flor ence twice after losing to them, so has the edge on that team. Thomp son allows few hits in the games he pitches, six usually being the maxi mum and that not often. The “wonder boy” is 18 yeas old, stocky built, weighting around 160 pounds. He never seems to have to exert himself in pitching, never seems to tire and is usually going stronger in the last of the game than in the first. He does not smoke, drink or use the so-called dopes at the foun tains, remaining in good condition at all times. The “boy wonder” has been besieg ed by big league scouts but has no other idea than to get a full college course. He has also been besieged by the college scouts who want him to enter their institution for his col legiate training. He has been down to Georgia Tech upon their invita tion and will go to Alabama with the Tech ’Varsity team. Thompson will stay with the Tech team for several weeks under the coaching of Kid Clay, famous Tech baseball mentor. But Thompson says he will not de cide before the latter part of August just what college he will attend. With all of the personal qualificat ions that the McColl lad is blessed with and his wonderful pitching arm it is a safe prediction that Bernice Thompson will make a place for him self in the collegiate world in both baseball and scholarship. rott guyed the boys in the big cars as the little flivver gave them its dust. Rufus Edwards pushed the Dodge into second place and with the help of C .K. Hanna, who is getting the car into perfect tune, expects to pass the winner on the next up hill pull. “Anything can make speed going down hill,” he remarked Sunday. The Cole 8 had a little engine trou ble and according to R. D. Sheridan wasn’t hitting on more than six last Sunday, but would recover its lost pace and position next week. Geo M. Hughes doesn’t blame the car or his mechanic but says he overheated her when she was new but will step on the gas hereafter. The air-cooled crowd seem to be more interested in the beautiful scenery that Joe Long raves over than to speed but L. F. Harrison is putting his faith in the durability o f a Franklin and says the race is too young to eliminate the quarter horses. He is of the opinion that when W. H. Garren gets her properly adjusted that the Franklin will be running good when the rest are overworked and laid up for repairs. Anyway thiS is proving to be one of the most interesting and effective contests ever staged by this remark able class. Last Sunday the attend ance was 230 and the services were unusually impressive and helpful. The singing lead by a good orchestra was inspiring and Jimmie Lynch’s discussion of the lesson stirred his hearers deeply. * The lessons now are being taken from the writings of St. Paul. The discussion next Sunday will deal with a particularly interesting and import ant topic. With every member keen ly alive to his opportunity of doing good by bringing a visitor the attend ance mark should reach a new high lM r ol. ' « n Boots Smith Is Back In Ring MEETS SAILOR PARKINS, THE FISTIC WONDER OF LAST THURSDAY’S BOUT T was in the court room Friday— sav. the throngs of curious there, the mob who like the usual mob, were not thinking of the case, only listening to their leader. Preachers were there, as at the first trial, smiling and nodding ap proval at every point the prosecution made; wagging a disdainful “no” at every effort of the defense, who was patting every atom of himself in the final fight to scale the wall of pre judice public opinion had built around his client. I saw Edmund pale and his at torneys wilt as the judge told them the solemn truth, that the technicali ties of the law forbid him granting a new trial. The much discussed let ters should have been at the first trial. Its a terrible pity that our lawyers have to become such tech nical experts and that we can’t have some good old fashioned justice based on common sense. I saw the sky darken, I heard the rumbling of the clouds—the sudden gusts of wind, the beating of the rain against the window panes as Edmund Bigham rose in the dock of the doomed and bowing his head to his inevitable fate at last, in a voice broken, compared his sentence to that given the “Man of Nazareth by Pontius Pilute.” He claimed the people had borne false witness against him. He de- Building Boom On In Florence $49,480 IN CONTRACTS PLACED— REPORTS OF $17,500 MORE COME IN TODAY There are no surer indications of a city’s growth than the Building Inspector’s report. Every house ami business house in town is rented. To get new people here, we have to make a place for them. Those with the means, who have made their money through their faith in Florence, are urged to keep building, turn idle lots that you hardly know you possess until tax time, itno paying invest ments. We are on the verge of a big boom. Many will want to come to a successful city. Be ready for them. The report from May 10th to June 10th, is as follows: Harry Farmer, W. Darlington, ad ding room and repairing, $360. T. Hill, Sumter street, adding room and repairing, $300. Mrs. L. Y. King, W. Cheves street, two story wood dwelling, $3,000. Ed Epperson, E. Palmetto street, one story wood dwelling, $1,200. J. L. Flowers, S. McQueen street, plored the fact that his rights in the one story brick dwelling, $7,000. estate would have deprived some of 1 Mrs. A. S. Hatfield, W. Elm street, the most damaging witnesses- of one story brick dwelling, $7,000. money which they thought more of D. J. Ratiey, S. Gaillard street, auto than to see truth prevail, and justice garage, $50. done. The spirit of the man is already dead. On July 14th the machinery of his body will be painlessly put out of the running. Many will discuss Dr. S. R. Lucas, Cheves street, re pairing dwelling, $200. W. M. Martin, S. McFarland street, repairing dwelling, $56. Norman Gregg, E. Elm street, one The boxing bout tonight promises to be the best of all offered yet at the Airdome. Manager H. T. Swann has gone to considerable trouble in order to get these two fighters to gether for a ten-round contest. The fans of Florence have seen both men in action and know that they will see one of the best exhibitions of the science of boxing that has yet been pulled off in this section. Boots Smith, of Charleston, has ap peared here twice, winning over Sey mour in his first appearance and over Jack Bradley in his last. Sailor Par kins is the same who fought here last week against Irish Berger and put up a great fight to a draw, the battle going to the w-hole scheduled eight rounds. The Sailor showed that he has the sticking ability as well as the punch and when he and Boots Smith meet tonight it is bound to be a bout worth journeying many miles to see. Several good four-round prelimi naries have been arranged before the main attaction, afterward there will be a match between two skilful col ored boys, the evening's entertain ment ending with a battle royal. Referee Theo. I. Stein will again be on the job and keep things moving along in good style. The management of the Airdome is contemplating putting on Cole Miller, of Hamlet, N. C., and Harry Fales, of Wilmington, N. C., in a welterweight contest, also Lukie Tenner, of Char leston, with a suitable opponent. This will all be done if the attendance at tonight’s fight justifies the chance on the expenditure necessary to pet such men to come to Florence. The management wishes to announce that unless there is a considerable im provement over last week’s attend ance the Airdome will be closed, as it is impossible to get the class of boxing here that is desired by the fans on the turnout showed last week. L. A. McCall, W. Cheves street, sleeping porch and one room, $600. Eugene Miller, Commander street, ane story wood dwelling, $1,000. T. R. Pealiou, E. Cheves street, one ->tory wood dwelling, $1,600. B. Washington, Crawford street, .dding room and remodeling, $400. A. B. Keiserman, S. McQueen street, jne wood store, $200. Mack Douglass, Griffin street, one itory wood dwelling, $700. Mr. Dabney, South Church street, ane story wood dwelling, $3,000. Howard Cannon, Sanborn street, one story brick tobacco warehouse, *11,500. James Heape, N. Dargan street, three one story brick stores, $4,500. W. R. Newbury, E. Evans street, re modeling store, $200. C. D. Bray, Berry avenue, repair ing, $175. E. B. Singleton, E. Evans street, one story house, $1,500. Total, $49,480. A. THIEME, Building Inspector. Opposition to McCumber bonus bill. North Dakota senator proposes amendments for straight-out cash payments and the issue of legal treas ury notes to extent of $2,500,000,000 to defray cost. Three plans of re payment. TEA ROOM MUST GO Florence’s Tea Room, the meeting place of many organizations, the quiet eating place of those wanting seclusion and home cooking, is to be scrapped. Like many products of our late war it has served its purpose. The ladies of the Red Cross deserve unstinted praise in their management of its affairs. The building is being remodeled to house the Sellers Elec tric Service Company. Luckily this prominent spot in our main business section will not be defaced with worn out cars and old parts. On the con trary, Mr. A. R. Sellers has let a contract with the Flower Shop to beautify the grounds as best he may. Mr. Tallehast can be depended on to make it one of the prettiest spots in tewn. and some will wonder—^“Suppose he story wood dwelling, $1,250. were inti'nctHtf Th > superstitious D. B.ilLiy, Howard atrest, one. story will recall the sudden outburst# of' wood tvwellicgi' $3,Cf&0. - • the elements at both of the sentenc- ings. How the sun came out just after they left the court room Fri day. There will be those who will say to themselves, “I could have add ed light to this case.” Why are there such hounding places? Why do lawyers try to make every witness out a liar but their own? Why do they frighten away those who could tell the truth? I’ve listened to all the evidences at the trial, have discussed the case all over our county, have tried to satisfy myself that all was well. But there are nagging tenacious doubts that cause me to ponder, questions I can’t answer, can’t satisfy myself on. zW’here was Edmund’s little girl when the wholesale killing was in pro gress ? Why did the testimony at the in quest and the testimony from same witnesses at the trial differ, so damagingly ? W’hy did Singletary, the ex-convict, have to be put in jail before he would say what the prosecution wanted him to say? If Smiley wasn’t at home at 2:30 why didn’t Mother Bigham ask his guardian Singletary at the time she gave him the vest, where he was? If the crime was committed by one temporarily insane, which of the two brothers seemed to be inclined that way? If it was cold blooded premeditated murder, which of the two brothers had the blackest known record? How mhny in this community for get the brutal murder of the negro boy on the Bigham estate? • How many know that Cleveland Bigham was heard to have told his wife he would kill her before she testified against Smiley? How many of you could have testi fied how eccentric Smiley was? How he could change in a flash from an apparent gentleman to an irrespon sible brute? How, though devoted to his family, he would turn on them while in one of his moods? Where whole families have been killed, have you ever heard of a sin gle case where the crazed slayer did- not commit suicide as soon as he realized what he had done? Has anyone ever explained the lone shot heard by Mr. Hyman directly in the direction where Smiley’s body was found? Has anyone ever explained why there was only the tracks of one man and those Smiley’s, down that ditch bank where the body was found? Why was it that out of five men who saw and some that helped wash the powder burns away from Smiley’s hair and temple, not one would testi fy to this fact; Mr. Steele telling it too late at the rehearing Friday? Why was the testimony of Mr. Haynes, one of the first to arrive at the Bigham home, the most reliable witness presented, hooted at; why didn’t the jury believe him. He said: “Those were Smiley’s tracks behind the haystack where the little boy was found.” He said: “Edmund’s draw was broken into where he usually kept his pistol.” He said he told Ed mund to put the pearl handled pistol from the mantel into his pocket, Smiley might come back to get the rest of them.” What became of that pistol? If Edmund wanted to get the other pistol (which was already missing, according to Haynes’ testimony) into Smiley’s hand, why did he open the solid wooden shutters first before cossing the road? • Why did McCracken write his mother on several occasions before the trial that if he could convict Ed mund he would be a rich man? » Who promised him money or show ed him where an interest in the estate would arise? Who of you in Florence county would like to be electrocuted on Singletary’s and McCracken’s testi mony? If Edmund had three signed deeds in his possession why was he worry ing about the estate? He wasn’t made a confidant in regards to Mrs. Black’s will, was he? Wasn’t Smiley the only man who would benefit by her death? Couldn’t he have killed her and then blamed it on Edmund, who had been known to quarr i with her? Couldn’t some of the others have caught him in the act, which caused the whole sale killing? Have you ever thought of the posi tion Edmund was placed in at his hurried trial? Didn’t he have to prove his innocence beyond a doubt, instead of the usual procedure of the state proving his guilt beyond that doubt? Do you remember the damaging article in the newspapers, prior to his trial, statements much stronger than the facts? Didn’t those articles and the nasty inhuman delight in seeing a fellowmun in trouble cause many a man to convict Edmund Big ham in their own minds, before he was ever brought to trial? Fellow-Justice-Seeking Citizens, he might be as guilty as H . But the greatest question of all in my mind is: Did he get a fair trial? CITIZEN.