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HON. THOMAS 0. OOWER. A GREAT L1OS8 TO GREEN VI MjE. Full and Complete Sketch of IIIh Lille? What a Man of Energy Can l>o i'oi- a Community?Ilia Labors In Many Directions. Tho death of Hon. Thomas C. Gowor, of Groonvillo, is a serious loss to tho city whero his onorgioB wore oxpondod for half a century, but it is also a great loss to tho State of which ho wu9 au adopted citizen. Tho following sketch of his careor was writton throo years ago from data furnished by Mr. Gow or, and wus published in a book en titled " Eminent and Ropresontativo Men of tho Carolinas": Hon. Thomas Claghorn Gowor, -ono of tho prominent and influential busi ness men and honored citizons of Groon villo, S. C., was born at Abbott, Pisca taquls County, Mo., April 23, 1822. liv ing there until ho was ninoteon years of ago, receiving his common school education there and at Foxeroft acade my. On leaving tho academy he taught ono term of sohool, ut tho closo of which ho came to this placo, arriv ing January 19, 1842, having boon twonty-ouo days on tho trip. As times and mot .iods of travel have so chaug od since thon, wo glvo a sk.iteh of tho trip. Ilo left home (abmt twonty miles 80vith -of Moosehead lake) with horso and sleigh, traveling in that man ihm- to Groat Falls. N. H.; the snow not affording good sloighing from that point, ho wus forced to oxchango the sleigh for a light wagon, continu ing tho trip via Boston to Dedhatn, whero ho sold his turnout (comprising ??H?r so, wagon, harness, roboa, etc ), taking stago coach for Providonco. On -reachiug Vrovldonco tho journoy was continued by Washington, D. C, thenco down tho Potomac to Aquia creek, there taking the stago for Frodoricks burg, Va., rosuming travel by rail thon to ltaloigh, N. C, thenco by stago again via Greensboro and Lincolnton to Groonvillo. In eonsoquonco of tho bad oondition of both rail end stage roads and the slow schedules of tho former, tho trio occupied twouty-ono days, which could now bo made in forty hours. Greonville County bos boon his homo since bis first arrival, which in a few months will complete a half century. At this day thoro is but one man living in Groonvillo who was in business horo on Mr. Gower's arrival. Ho went to work with an indofatigablo ororgy and pluck, first sorving a two yoars' apprenticeship at carriugo man ufacturing in tho Greonville Coacb Factory, which was established in 1835, by Thomas M. Cox and E. N. Gowor, an oldor brother of Thomas C, who had romovod to South Carolina from Massachusetts in 18.'I4, and was by trade a blacksmith of rare skill. This factory, is still nourishing, and is now ownod by Henry C. Mark ley. On July 2?, 1844, Mr. Gowor married Jano Jones Williams, of Williamston, Anderson County, S. C, a daughter of West Allen Williams, and grand daughter of Samuel Williams, tho lat ter giving her a farm in Groonvillo County, fourteen milos south of what was thon called Greenville village, tho fall succeeding thoir marriage, to which they movod in January, 1845. There Mr. Gowor farmed during tho souson of. 1845, but in consequonco of anatmest entire failure in crops that year, owing to a general and long con tinued drouth, und a loss of several hundred dollars thoreby, he determin ed to resume his trudu and establish a a carriugo and wagon factory on his farm, in which enterprise ho wus vory successful, during tho four yoars that ho continued in it. in January, 1840, bo roturned to Greonville, and became a partner in tho Groonvillo Coach Fac tory, tho firm name becoming Gowor, Cox & Gowor. Tho business was very prosperous for that day and time, and at tho commencement of tho war, by dint of hard work, untiring onergy and rigid economy, Mr. Cower had accumu lated about $00,000. At tho first eall for Confederate volunteers, ho prompt ly responded, joining tho Brooks Troop, and after drilling for several weeks the company left horo on tho (Ith of Juno, 18(11, and was mustered into service in tho Hampton Legion. His business intorosts wero left, in charge of hiswifo and eldost daughter, tho latter hnving just graduated from tho the Laur msvillo feraulo cnlloge, and who is now tho wifo of Capt. O. P. Mills, ol Groonvillo, S. C. Mr. Gowor sorvod O'io year us assistant quarter master of Hampton's brigade, at tho end of w'iich time ho was detailed by tho Confederate govormnent to roturn homo, and manufacture for tho quar termaster and ordnance departments, supplies, consisting of ambulances, wagons, gun carriagos, caisons, sad dles, otc., continuing in this until tho closo of tho war. It may hero bo stated that in the spring of ; 18(55. tho ordnanco depart ment paid to tho firm of Gowor, Cox, Markley & Co., somo $(10,000 or $70,000, which wa9 then worthloss as Gen. Leo hod already surrendered, a fact that neither tho ofiloors of tho government nor members of tho firm wero awaro of; about a liKo amount was duo them from tho quartermaster's dopartmont, which is still unpaid. In censequonee of lossos alroady mentioned, and othor heavy lossos Incident to tho freeing of slavos, tho condition of tho firm was reduced to a vory low ebb, in fact it was a financial wreck, as was tho con dition of most othor Southorn business mon at that timo. To add to tho trou bles and alllictionsof Mr. Gowor, about this timo his wife sickened, nnd after an illness of a year, died, August 4, 1860. Notwithstanding thoso depress ing circumstances, financial nnd do mestic, Mr. Go wer, with tho samo pluck nnd onergy that had character ized his previous careor, sot about anow to rebuild his ruinod fortunes and regain his formor condition of com fort and independence. Tho firm re established itsolf, and for soveral yoars did a prosperous businoss, but in con* sequepoe of becoming socuritv for a largo amount of debts, mostly ante 'lum, ho was obllgod to suspend busi ss. The debts, of which tho ante lum woro chiefly for nogroos, ag igatod botwoon $40,000 and $50,000. i had beeomo obligated for theso bbi boforo tho breaking out of the ur, and it was tho emancipation of tho -slavos that ruinod the men for whom be hud beeomo surety, causing him to lose heavily. Ja the mean while, February 2(1, 1807, Mr. Gower had married Bottle 8. Rowland, nee Brooks, daughter of John Wesley and Melissa Duncan Brooks; sho died Novombor 27, 1872, and Ootobor 27, 187.M, he married SuMo A. Martin, daughter of John Campboll Martin, and Mary A. Starko, of Abbe ville, 8. C; sho fortunately had some means of her own and with theso oaino to her husband's rescue. In the pay mont of his debts, howevor, only Mr. Gowor's individual means woro used, and tho fact that they wore finally paid in full is ono of which ho has just reason to be proud, allowing jam to re embark in business as extensively bb before bin troubles. Bis efforts havo boon attendod with Iiis usual proaperl and he has fully regained tbimaol/, boing now in as good financial condi tion as over before. He has nearly reached bis three score and ton years of ago. but is yet as vigorous as a man of fifty, and conducts personally allot bis business interests which are exton slvo. During his connection with the Greenville Coach Factory, that estab lishment passed tb rough sovoral pro Erlotary changes. The firm of Gower, ox & Gower, which was formed on his accession, was succeeded in order mentioned by the firm, Gower, Cox 6c Markley, Gower, Cox, Markloy <& Com pany, and Gower, Cox & Markley. Mr. Gowor's connection" with it ceased in 1877. Meanwhile in 1875 be had form ed a partnership with a Mr. Sumner, and the firm of Gower & Sumner estab lished a sash, door and blind business. In 187fi Mr. Gower purchased the inter est of Mr. Sumner, and January, 1878, tbo firm of Gower, Shumate & Rollly was formed. Mr. Shumato retired in 1882, after which tbo firm continued under tbo namo of Gowor & Roilly un til it was dissolved by tho death of Mr. Hollly in 1880. Sinco then Mr. Gower has taken bis oldest son, Arthur G. Gowor, as his partner, and the busi ness is conducted under the namo of T. C. Gowor & Son. This firm, besldos dealing In sash, doors and blinds, all kinds of building matorial and coal, does a largo insuranco and drayago businoss. Thoir main warehouse is a two-story brick, 87x120 feet, raotal roof with storage capacity for 11,000 bales of cotton, for which purposo it wns origi nally built. Tho ofileo is located in it and tho wholo is fitted up with all noedod fixtures to facilitate businoss. Adjacent to this is another substantial building usod as tho stable of tho Greenville Street Railway Company, of which Mr. Gower is owner, a public hall in second story and adjoining lot is usod by them as a coal and supply yard. Thoy also havo a ware house octagonal in form and of large capa city, near tho Air Line depot, which is likowiso used for tho storogo of thoir their heavy goods, euch as lime, co nsent, dressed lumbor. shingles, laths, etc. Thoy do a gonoral drayago busi noss in connection with the Btreet rail way, ut'lizing twonty wagons and about thirty head of horses and mulos. In tho insuranco line they represent sov oral of tho leading companlos of this country and Europo. Mr. Gower was olected mayor of Greenville in 1870, upon tho issue of whether or not a bridgo should bo ereetod at tho Main stroot crossing of tho Reedy rivor. Ho was in favor of the bridgo, while his opponent was against it. After a warm contest, Mr. Gowor was elected. Ho pushed ahoad and contracted for tho structure, not withstanding tho fact that tbo alder manic ticket, opposed to him. was oloctod, and he had thoir opposition to surmount. Tho bridgo took tho namo of tho man who was responsible for its oxistenco, and has over since boon known as tho Gowor bridgo. It has been so popular that in 1880 it was re placed by a handsome iron structure, which goes to show that Gowor's course had mot with public approval, and that the bridgo is regarded as in disnensable. Mr. Gower has also been activo in educational matters. At tho first meet ing of tho citizens in 1885, culled to de cide whether or not an additional tax should bo levied for tho purposo of es tablishing a graded school in tho city, ho was an ardent udvocato of tho tax. and was, with others, instrumental in oft'ecting an educational organization. Ho was olected a member of tho board of trustees and was chosen its chair man, which position ho still holds. Soon after this public meeting the State Legislature was petitioned by the citizous to authorize the issue of bonds to moot tho expense of erocting tho graded school buildings, but that body refused its sanction on account of a protest signed by many ot our prom inent citizens. Mr. Gowor took up the work anow, and in 1887 secured an elec tion in tho city, by which a nearly unanimous veto was cast in favor of issuing tho bonds. Yielding to this unanimity, tho Legislature pussed a bill authorizing and requiring tho city council to is9uo the bonds. Thoy wore issued to tho amount of $18,000, and placed in Mr. Gowor's hands to nego tiate. Ho sold tho bonds and purchas ed tho most oligiblo and desirable lots on which buildings were erected, to tho approval of all tho people. Mr. Gower was chairman of tho building commit tee; largo and commodious buildings wore erected, but owing to tho pros perity of the city and tho increaso of pupil, those buildings are already in adequate to moot tho wants for which thoy were erected, and application was made to tho Legislature, and thoy au thorized tho city council to*issue $7,000 moro bonds to orect now buildings for tho colored schools and onlargo tho others. Upon the resignation of Capt. E. A. Smytho, in 1880, as president of tho board of trade, Mr, Gowor succeeded to that position by virtue of tho olllco ho held prior to that timo which was that of first vice-president. He has sinco been twice elected to that posi tion and is now tho president of the board. The Gowor family is descended from an ominently respectablo English lino, many mombors of which woro marriago six children woro born, throe of his second and his prcsont wife has brought him five. Mr. Gowor has boon an elder in tho Presbyterian church for thirty-nine years and ho is a mom her of tho F. & A. M., tho I. O. O. F., and tho Democratic party. < THE ACQUIA TltAlN ItOBUEKS. Two Men Accomplished the Daring Deed?The Oonfusslon ofSoaroey aim Discovery of the Stolon Donds. Ono of tbo train robbers who made such a haul at Acquia Crook, betweon Frodoricksburg and Washington, has mado a full confession, and tells how tho robbory was accomplished. His namo is Charles J. Searcoy, and ho was arrostod at Cumberland, Md. His accomplice was a man namod Morgan Uold, and ho was takon up as a buspoct in Ciucinnuti. Soarecy was carried back to Virginia, and beforo ho was takon to tho jail in Frodoricks burg ho mado a confossion to tbo au thorities. Thero woro but two men concerned In tho robbery. Morganfiold and Searcoy. They had known oach other beforo und had talked of a scheme of that sort, but Seurcey for somo time refushed to go into it. They finally mot in Washington and thero agreed to rob a train, but fixed on no particu lar ono. From Washington they went to Frodoricksburg and hanging about thero for two or throe days, staying in tho woods most of tho time, but going into Frcdericksburg sovoral times. On tho afternoon of tho day of tho robbery they walkod to Brooks' Station from Frodoricksburg and there waited for tho northbound train. They got on tho train at Brooks in tho dark nops, behind the tender, having boon hidden noar tho pickle factory under a box car. Whon tho train stopped they bad no particular rcuson for selecting Acquia Crook as tho spot for tbo robbery. Morganfiold blow open tho car door with dynamite, using a half stick with fuse and cap in Of Mr. Gower's first tho end. Morgunfield also en tu rod tho car, wllo Soarcoy stood outsldo aud terrorized tho train orow and pas sengers. Aftor tho robbery thoy got off tho engine and struck northwest over tho country road, going to Calverton Sta tion in Fauquior County and then to Midland and Balaton and on by tho Fauquior Whito Sulphur Springs, following the telephone line to Front Royal. Near Calverton, they hid in tho woods some of tho goods they had gotten from the oxpross car. After being taken to Calverton, Searcoy oiforod to go where thoso things, consisting mostly of bonds and bank drafts, were hlddon. On Monday ho was taken in a team from Fred ericksburg with Mr. Robert Pinkorton of Now York, Sergeant C. W. Edring ton of Fredoricksburg and Mr. W. Soyraour Whito, Commonwealth's attornoy for Stafford County, over tho route travolled by him in trying to oscSpe, to ondeavor to locato tho spot whero the bonds had boon hidden. Monday night the party spont with ex-Sheriff ilugh Adlo of Stafford. Af ter broakfast with Mr. Adie, the party sot out to find tho placo whero Mor ganfiold and Soarcoy divided tho money and hid tho express pouch con taining tbo bonds and drafts. Up through the Stafford roads, thoy went by Stafford's storo on to Bristowburg und to Calvorton, Soarcoy trying to romomber tho road ho and his pal travelled and the placo ho loft tho road. From Calvortion, tho party drovo to Catlett's and from thoro back on the road to Stafford's storo. About threo milos from Catlett's, Soarcoy identified whoro they loft tho road, and took to tho woods. Driving into a field, tho horses wero tied bo hind a hay stack, and tho soareb for tho bag began. The shade; of ovoning wcro fulling and Searcey, handcuffed to Pinkorton, with Sorgeant Edringtou, ox-Sheriff Adio and Commonwealth Attornoy Whito spread out through tho pines. Searcy had described the spot exactly, but an hour's search fuilco to find it. It was gotting quite dark, wJien Mr. Adie called out that ho had found tho 6pot, and all parties hastened up to whoro, uudor the roots of a blown down troo, just as Soarcoy had doscribed, tho bag was taken out. Its contouts wero not examined. Tho paity drovo at onoo back to Calverton whoro tho bag was sealed and shipped to tho Aiams Express Company at Washington. ESTIMATING THE CHOP. An Export Says Nine Million Hales or Less?-A Statistical Review of Condi tions. Tho Now Orleans papers publish a circular of Mr. A. J. R. Landuaer, ono of tho largest exporters from tho South of American cotton, estimating tho commercial crop of the current season at 0,885,000 bales. Mr. Landuaer estimates for Texas 2,700,000 bales, or an incrcse of 041,000 over last year ; for tho group of othor Gulf Statos, ombracing Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tcnnosseo 2,700,000 bales, an inoroaso of 484.000; and for tho Atlantic States, embracing North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama 3,485,000, an in crease of 210,000. Calculated by percentages, ho muk?s Texas gain 31 per cent., other Gulf States 22 per cent, and tho Atlantic States Hi per cent. His views are pre dicated on porsonal observations mado while traveling through sections of North and South Carolina and Geor gia, Alabama, Tennesseo, Mississippi, Arkansas und Texas and in addition to the reports of a largo numbor of ex perienced correspondents throughout the South. Referring to reports promulgated re lative to this season's growth, Mr. Landuaer says : ''From my own por sonal observation and from what I learn from reports recoived. I feel sat isfied that the yiold of the present crop is exaggerated." Ho says tho fact that 5,000,000 bales wore markoted from States othor than Texas last year, notwithstanding tho vory poor yiold of tho Mississippi Valley bot toms, indicates that some vory lino crops must have been raised in many sections of thoso SUitos, leading' to tho inferonco that while good results may be obtainod this soasor''./they must be considered in good ma ' cases in com parison with like con lions last sea son. He finds Toxusj Louisiana and North Carolina ahead of all other States, while tho hill lands of Arkan sas promiso indifferent and, in many cases, poorer crops than last year. Georgia and South Carolina crops are very much spottod, somo good, others not bettor than last year, while tho gain in Mississippi is principally in bottom lands which promiso better than for years, while tho uplands will givo an increase Mr. Landunor says tho Egyptian and Indian crops will equal last season, while the Asiatic crop promises to prove disappointing. He claims that the spinning trado in England and Germany is improving ; Franco reports good trado with prospects of mills con tinuing to work full time und that in Russia many of tho most prominent spinners and manufacturers havo con tracted ahoad for their entire output for 1895, somo having contracts up to March, 1890. In Amorica ho looks for a consider able improvement over last season. Bo estimates tho takings for tho year hy foroign and domestic spinners at 8,000,000 bales of American cotton and calculates on this basis that should tho curront crop roaoh 8,000,001), the visiblo supply, Oetobor first, 1895, will not havo increased moro than 350.000 bales over that of Ootobor 1st, 1894. Ho claims that with continued low Ftrices, India will not ship anything ike the quantity sho has shipped the last two years and that with a reduc tion of thoi Asiatic crop, the dornend for for cotton from othor centres will natu rally increase added to which ho points to tho probability of plantors holding back a groat deal of tnisyoar's product ou account of low prices, and as cotton cannot bo raised at present vnluos unless thoro is an lmprovomont, next season must witnoss a considerably reduced ucrcago. Ho claims that the present heavy movomont to murkot is not an indication of tho crop, as it might bo oven greater with an eight million crop, and expresses tho opinion that it i< suicidal to sell an article which bus gone far below tho price of production, concluding as follows: '* Amoricun cotton has no competi tion, and henco Amorica is in a far Setter position to dictate tho price of this article than any othor sho ox ports. As a matter of courso, if plant ers eontinuo to rush tholr ontiro pro duct to market at oneo, if thoy aro so frlghtenod by current prices f\9 to de moralize othors, then it is ovon possi ble wo may witnoss ovon lowor prices yet. On the other hand if thoy mar ket gradually and hold a portion, thoir risk h certainly only nominal If any, and if no great advance bo established we might, for a time at least, uxperl enen steady markets, followed by a honlthy advance." ?The general election takes place on Tuesday, November 0th. GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY ? TIIK DAUIilNOTON RIOT. Trial of CoiiBtablo Mcljendou for tlm Murder of Frank Normont?No BUI AKainst O. 8. McCullotijrh. Special to Columbia Register. V . Daklington, Oct. 25.?TbeYtrial of Constable Me London for killing Frank Normont in the Darlington riot com uienccd today. Thoro is great interest taken in the trial and the court bouse was crowded with spectators during tho hearing of the testimony. Whilo tho interest is intonso there is no ex citement. Judgo Norton presides and when court was opened McLendon was ar raigned and pleaded not guilty. Tho constable looked bad and it was gen erally remarked if ho didn't get a trial at this torm ho would not livo to get ono at all. There was no trouble In soeuring a jury. Tho Stato exhausted its challenges and the defonso.raost of thoirs. One juror was sot asido by tho court at the juror's request, he say ing that ho could not givo the caso tho calm considoration that it deservod. Solicitor Johnston conducted the pro secution and was assisted by Mr. C. S. Nottlos. Col. Robert Aldrfoh and Mr. H. H. Brunsen appeared for Constablo McLondon. Tho first witness for the Stato was L. S. Welling. Ho tostlQcd that ho was at tho dopot on March :io and wont there with Frank Normont and C. S. McCullough. Ho notlcod Willie Floyd there and ho appeared much excited. Chief of I'olico Dargan was present and said a fow words to Floyd. In a few minutes Paul Rogors, Turnor Henry and Lewis Redmond ca i.o up. Floyd came from tho platform trying and said "ho could not tako it." Mc Lendon was standing on tho end of the platform. Rogers said Floyd '"was a -." Tho chief of police sail that thoro must bo no row thoro and tho crowd commenced gathoring around. About this time fourteen or llfteon eon stablos oamo up. Frank Normont said to tho hoys that thoy must not havo.a row. Redmond said that Rogors could whip Floyd in a fair fight. McLondon ran his hand in his pocket, pulled out somo money and otTored to bet that ho could not. In a few minutes Floyd callod on Mr. Battle aud asked him whether he had boon treated fair in his fight with Rog ers before. Boforo Battle had time to reply Rogors said' that ho had boon taken advantago of. Some ono asked him by whom. Pointing to McLendon he said : "That-." McLendon called him another and said : " I can't take that." Ho pulled his pistol and commenced firing in tho direction of Frank Normont, who was standing about four foot in front Of him. The crowd ran ant. witnoss ran with them ii.to tho dopot. About twenty shots wero fired but ho didn't see tho result. Perhaps one of tho most important witnesses was C. S. McCullough who was charged with killing Constable Pepper, His testimony dovoloped somo interesting facts about the riot and tho action of citizens of tho town. Ho tes tified that ho was standing two and a half or three foot in front of Frank Normont. Rogors or Redmond cursed McLendon and said that he was to blame for tho whole trouble (rcforring to the fight botweon tho boys). Mc London cursed back. Frank Normont said something and added : " Yes, he is to blamo." McLondon called him '?a d?n lying-." McLendon kept his haml on his pistol and when Normont ourscd ho said, "D? n if I can stand that," and di ow his pistol. Somo ono said : " Me don't do that." McLendon roplled : "No, G?d d?n it, lot 'er roll." He then fired in tho direction of Frank Normont who was standing in front of him. Witness had kept his eye on McLondon. Saw him pull his pistol and us soon as ho popped at Normont, witness shot at him and hit him in tho stomach, ho thought. Witnoss then ran into tho depot with the crowd. On cross-oxamination somo impor tant testimony was brought out from tho witness. Colonel Aldrieh said he dosirod to show tho conditions exist ing in Dariington two or three days previous to the riot. Ho proposed to connect tho deceased with thoso pro ceedings. With tho understanding that thoso conditions should bo shown to bo res gestao, Judge Norton per mitted it to bo brought out. The witness said that tho oxcitc mont was on account of tho presence of tho constablos. Thoy woro suppos ed to be hunting for whiskey. He said there was an understanding botwoon citizens that if tho constables wont to soarch residences thoy should bo re sisted. Ho admitted also that there wus an understanding that tho town boll* should bo rung in caso constables ontored privato residences to make searches. In rcsponso to a question, "Thon what?" witness said: "Wo woro to do what wo pleased. You can imagine what wo would do, I rockon." In ro sponso to a query as to what tho ring ing of tho boll meant, the witness said : " Wo woro to assemble in tho square and bring along whatovor wo wanted?a cannon if a man had ono. This was to bo dono only in case a privato residonco was to be soarohed." Continuing, ho said only two resi dences had been soarohed and thoy bolonged to colored people. Tho pri vate apartments of a gentleman had been searched, but thoso caused no ex citement as it was suspected that whiskey was boing kopt. Tho con stables wero to be resisted only in caso thoy attempted to soarch privato re sidences. Dr. Garnor, tho noxt witnoss, testified as to the wounds of Normont. L. M. Normont, brother of Frank Normont, after describing the killing of hisbrothor, which was substantially tho same as othor witnosses had re lated, testified that ho too was shot whilo lifting up his brothor's body. Seeing that ho was dead, ho tu mod to go to the depot and as ho turned ho saw Redmond kill Constablo Popper. A- C. McFall, M. Rich, conductor on tho Atlantic Coast I,inc. and othor witnesses were oxamincd, but in the main, nothing more than tho above was developed. Tho testimony was about the samo as dovolopod at tho Inquest. Tho Stato has oxamincd nearly all of its witnc?sos. It is oxpoctod that the trial will consumo sovoral days. Tho oaso of C. S, McCullough, oharged with killing Constable Pepper, camo to an end to-day whon tho grand jury brought in " no bill." Dakmngton, Oct. 2<>.?Tho socond day of tho t'ialof Constable McLendon wim not markod by any unusual ovont, nevertheless tho court house was packed with pcoplo from tho opening until tho oloso, oager to hear tho testi mony of tho dofen8o. McLondon was tho first witness called by Colonel Aldrioh. Ho looks very pale and omaoiated, and hit; voice is nt times so low as to be inaudible only a few foot away. Notwithstand ing tho fr.ot that all the people of this city are naturally biased against Mc Lendon, all admitted that ho mado a I most oxcollont witness. He told his I Ti -j-? I .-tory of tho difficulty in a stralguV' forward manner, with an earnestness of speech that mado oven hisoppononts feel less bitterly towards him. Solicitor Johnston made several at tempts to trip him up In his testi mony, but did uot succeed to any grout extent. MoLendon stood tho search ing cross-examination splendidly and upheld his side of the story with great posltlvoness and stuck to his state ments with a determined grip, not withstanding all efforts to trip him up. Tho defense relios upon tho pleu of self-dofonso and undor the able direc tion of Colonel Aldrieh and Mr. H. II. Brunson a vory complete chain of circumstances has boon forged around the prisoner tending to show that ho shut in defense of his own lifo. The constablo took the stand at 10 o'clock and for an hour and a ha'f. or a little more, lie answored questions and.explalnod various situations on tho ovontful and fatal day. Ho stated that ho was from Orango burg County ; that ho had been a Stato constablo and was In Darlington for eight or ton days before the trouble. Ho was ordered hero and did not como of Mb own accord. Witness said that he found.tho peo ple muoh opposed to tho law and there was so much feeling against tho con stables that they concluded to got the Sheriff to servo all warrants so as to keep down .a disturbance. Four places had boon raided on Wednesday, and other proposod searches had to bo abandoned because tho work was being interfered with by crowds of people who followed them all about. Some two or three hundred would follow them cursing und threatening thom. They did not havo u sufficient force to coufluet tho boarches and tho chief and tho Governor woro telographod I to for reinforcements, which woro sent. He detailed other instances whoro tho constables woro callod tho vilest names and said he saw men armed walking in groups about tho streets. He also saw white men give pistols to ncgroos and tell them to shoot the constables. This was on the occasion of tho raid of a colored man's house. Coming down ' to tho fight at tho depot ho said Floyd and himself wero standing on the upper end of tho plat form talking. Thoy walked to tho othor end and heard somo one say that Rogers had cursed o?T Floyd. The latter asked Rogors what ho had said and Rogors said : "I said you wero a damn rascal and I'm man enough to stick to it." Floyd hit Rogers in tho face and broko his eyeglasses, making his face blood. While thoy wero fighting a mulatto came up and started to separate tho combatants. Witness told him to stop. It was a white man's fight and ho had nothing to do with it. Rogers went up street, but soon re appeared with eight or ton men or probablv more. They came whero wo woro. Rogers said something about Floyd. The chief of police stopped him. Ho asked Rogors who had in terfered with him and the latter pointing to tho witness said: "There's tho damn rascal." Ho told tho chief it was not so, ho had not interfered. About this time Redmond came up and said : " You are a damn liar, you did interfere." Witness cuioed him back. Things had quieted some what when he saw a large man elbowing his way in the orowd'and pushing them aside. Ho came up in front of witness and said: "You G?d d?n-, you caused ull this trouble," and at the same time-he pulled a pistol. " Thon I shot," said tho witnoss. " I emptied my pistol. The firing im mediately became general. I cannot tell who fired tho first shot. I may have done so, but to tho best of my belief we fired at about tho same time. Thoro was hardly a second's difference. I fired as quick us I could. I learned afterwards that tho man I shot at and who shot me was Mr. Normont. I didn't know Mr. Normont. I had no thing against him. i shot .him because ho wus about to shoot me and I did it to protect my own life." Witnoss said ho did not tell Dr. Gar ner ho firod tho first shot. I told him tho man I shot first pulled his pistol. I can't toll who fired'first. It was done at about tho sumo time. He didn't know bow many wero engaged in the scooting. It was general. Ho was getting weak, lay down on tho platform, was taken to the waiting room ami afterwards to jail. On cross-oxamination Solicitor John ston attempted to pick inaccuracies in his testimony. He denied that he had offered to bet that Floyd could whip Rogers; ho did not say to Floyd that ho was his friend and thus encourage a row ; ho heard white men offer ne groes a pistol to shoot constables, but ho did not know the men, they were in a big crowd. As far as he could recol lect one was a medium-sized man. It was tho time they raided a negro's houso. Ho stood guard at tho gate and was told to admit no one. A negro cuine up and said he had a room in tho houso and wanted to go to it. He was refused. Somo one told the negro to go ovor tho fence. " 1 told him I would shoot him if he did." Solicitor : " You would have shot him ?" "Yes, sir." "What! Shoot a man for going over tho fence to got to his room ?" " Yes, sir. My orders were to admit no one and I would have shot the ne gro rather than sco him go in." Witness did not remember how many warrants tho constable had, but he I know somo wore not served on account I of tho excitomont. Ho oould not ro- i member any place whero they wero actually prevented from making searohes, but ho knew that the sheriff had stopped making thorn on account I of tho condition of public feeling. In answer Colonel Aldrieh nsked wit I nose other questions, Ho told why ho 1 ordered tho negro away from the light. It was a white man's fight and a nigger had nothing to do with it. Tho shots between Normont and himself wero fired almost simultaneously. Ho didn't know who firod first and didn't care for ho was defending his own lifo. Constablo Rolloway corroborated MoLendon, He hv. ?rd tho man curso MoLendon and the luttor pulled Iiis pistol. Ho grabbed at his arm and just then tho firing bocamo heavy. He didn't know who the man was that cursod McLondon nor did ho seo either ono of them shoot as ho had turned, but he judged that tho two first shots wero fired simultaneously. Constable Beaoh gave similar evidence Sheriff Scarborough described the raids mado under his direction. Thcro woro crowds about, but ho never paid any attontion to thom. Thoro was In tense oxeitomont in tho town and ho took tho constables to his home as ho thought itb st for their safoty. On cross-oxamination be said he nover had any troublo In executing the laws in Darlington. Ho did not noed any holp from tho outsldo to do so. He judged that th? Intense fooling was caused largely by thecompany of armed constablos in tho city. lie had been obstructed by tho onlef of polico in making arrests shortly after tho fight, but what that obstruction was Judge Norton refusod to admit becauso it wan irrelevant according V> his ruling. THE COUNTY GOVEBNMENT LAW. THE NEW SYSTEM IN OUH STATE. A Review of the Main Points )in tlio haw?The Publio Roads ami the <Jliuiii-Uanjt Eeaturc. Piedmout Headlight. One of tho greatest reform measures passed by our last Legislature, and Srobably tho least uuderstood, is tho mult \ Govornmout Law. Four.years ago the constitution was amoudrd by abolishing tho oflieo of eouuty cotuiuis alouers and roceived a large majority of tho votes of the people. Grytt dis satisfaction was maujjf??*'*^ "towards tho old system ???v-ejunty government by re**co2"*tfiTts inefheieney and irre sponsibility. It will only bo neossury to comparo tho two systems to convince any ono that wo have indeed a model, as compured to the old style. . Herotoforo our county affairs wcro entrusted to thrco men who received about $300 eueh per annum for manag ing tho Qnancos of tho county, tho poor house and working tho public roads, besides tho many othor onerous duties devolvod upon tbem. It is an axiom that whonevor responsibility is divided the sorvico is correspondingly made incfticlont. Such was tho case with these three commissioners in many counties. What was everybody's business was nobody's business, and whenovor a complaint is made.by a eiti/.mi of the county to ono of the officials it was always tho other fel low's business. Our roads woro noth ing jut ditches, worked in an irre sponsible manner, under no system whatovor. Our farmes well know that whenovor a hole was made In the road it was simply filled up with a few pine tops and covered with dirt, and in a few days its condition was worse than whon first touched. Whenever a tree blow down across the public highway it was allowed to remain for months, and a road had to bo made arouud it, simply because no one know what particular commissioner's business it was to look after this road. It could not bo expected that this system would bo more efficient for tho reason that no good man could afford to take tho ollico, leave his homo and family, and attend to tho public business for $300 and sometimes less per annum. Tho most important matter to our farmers is good public roads. They are of moro importance than railroads, and tho most prosperous peoplo in the world are those who have the best roads. Our new county law has this feature moro prominent than any herotoforo existing, and wo are satis tied that if tho law is fully carried out in a fow years our peoplo will have tho best roads in tho South. Tho vexed question of what we shall do with our convicts, so as not to com pote with frco labor, is settled by this law by putting them to work on tho highways. Let us review tho law. Tho lirst and second sections provide that tho peoplo shall every two years elect ono county supervisor, with a salary of $1,000 in tho county of Spur tanburg. Upon this man is devolved the duties of tho old board of county Commissioners, qualified as hereafter explained. Thus we have one good man with a salary aufholent to enable him to leave his other business and attend to the county affairs and sup port his wife and children.. This man is plaoed under a bond of $5,000 for tin use of tho county, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties. So there oan be no doubt as to who is responsible for the condition of affairs. He is given general jurisdiction over all public highways, roads, bridges and ferries, over the paupers ai d all matters relating to tuxes and disburse menta of publio funds for county pur poses, und in any other ease that may ! bo necessary for internal Improve ments und local concerns of their counties, Tho Governor, upon the recommon- | dation of the Senator and members of the House from each county, appoints three discreet freeholders in each j township in the county, who are known as the board of township coininis- | sioners. No person Is required to | servo more than once in four years, and ho is oxompt while in office from ! road and jury duty. He receives as 1 compensation the same per diem and mileage as tho county bond of assess ors formerly received. This board takes the place of the old township board of assessors, and the chairmen of tho various township hoards con stitute tho board of county commis sioners, of which board the county BUrpervisor is chairman. This hoard takes the place of the county board of equalization, which board is abolished. They meet quarterly for tho transac tion of business. It is tho duty of the supervisor witli the chairman of the township board of commissioners to lay off the roads into convenient sections which shall be numbered for the purpose of letting out the same to be worked under eon tracts. The board advertises for bids from responsible parties for perfor mance of work, and t he lowest bidder gets the contract. He is required to give bond for the faithful performance of the work and for the use of the county, and if any injury is done to any person by reason of bad roads this contractor is liable under bis bond and tho oounty exempt. Thus we have the responsibility narrowed down to ono man. A commutation tax of $2 is levied in lieu of all road duty, and the money is sot aside for tho road fund. Those persons who dosire to work out their time instead of paying this tax are allowed to do so, and they can only bo made to work six days in a year. The road contractors are forced to take any and all such persons and pay the county 50 cents per dleiu for their labor. Those counties which do not adopt the contract system Of working the roads are allowed to continue the old system under overseers, but it is safe to predict that once the contract system is adopted it will never be de parted from. It will enable our farin ors to take these contracts and work tho sections of road near their farms on rainy days whon Hey oan not per form farm labor, and thus put many a dollar in their pockets which, under tho old by stem, was thrown- away. Any farmer will be able to contract to koop In repair two or more miles of road adjoining his farm without the slightest inconvenience and give to the county the best roads In the South. Tho next feature of tin law, and the more valuable one, is tho chain-gang. It has been demanded in almost every State in tho Union that convicts should be mado to work the public roads, and in tho Stato of North Carolina and Richmond County, Ga., ono may see this featuro of the law in practical operation. Mecklenburg County, N. C., and Richmond County, On., have the host roads in our section of country, and they owe It all to this system. The writer has visited thoso counties, and it was a revelation 'to him toaeo how perfect a system oan bo had with a few convicts and a modern road machine. The convicts can he secured and maintained at a nominal cost, and the results are surprising. Ked hills aro converted Into macadamized turn pikes and tho sand bods are mado equal to shell roads by simply mixing clay with theui. If our supervisors will organtzo thoir chain-gangs and work one of tho principal roads, leading to tho court house or cotton' mills in tho country, where our farmers do most of the hauling, in a few yoars wo would have perfect roads and a saving to the farmers in tnulo flesh and wagon ii x i uri s sulllclent to support the ontire penitentiary. On a good road ono mu v can haul to market as much as four under our present system of roads, and this means a great saving to our people. This law has boon approvod by several road congresses which have convened sinco its adoption, and wo are satisfied that if it is properly on forced it will bo of moro benefit to our peoplo thau any moasuro enacted in tho history of our Legislature. There are other featuro of the law which wo will call to tho attention of our readers at another timo, and which to elaborate now would make this article too long. Lot our county supervisor got a copy of the law and study it, for lie' has a chance to make himself famous by giving to our poo plo good roads, which tho law oou tomplates. THIS COPES ASSASSINATION. Governor Tillman strikes a Trail ami Orders the Arrest ol'u Suspect ed Man. 'Hie ?tute, 24th lust. Governor Tillman has received pri vate information hearing on tho Or angeburg assassination, which to all appearances comes nearer to solving the mystery of tho identity of the as sassins than anything that has yet de veloped under tho most powerful searchlight that the people of Orango burg, working night and day, have been able to secure. Yesterday morning it was mentioned that the 'Governor had telegraphed to tho sheriff of Orangeburg instructing him to hunt for und detain one Manuel Williams, a white man supposed to bo an escaped convict from Alabama, and also the man who committed tho murder in the ujmcr edge of Orange burg county near?io Legington county lino a short time ago. When Gover nor Tillman was asked about it ho gave information which makes out a stronger case against this man and a pal he had, so far as the assassination of Treasurer Copes is concerned, than anything that has yet been found con necting any one olso with tho crime. Tho facts which seem to make out such a strong case against Williams and bis pal are as follows: Williams has lived in that section of the State nearly all his life. Ho is said to be an all-round crook. Some timo ago ho disappeared, going, it is thought to Florida. Some four or five days before tho murder Williams , came into Blaokvlllo, accompanied by a pal. They hud beat their way in on j a freight train. The pal's name is not known. He was a small fellow, about live feet four inches in stature, and bad just such a foot rs indicated by , the tracks found at the scene of the description given of the tracks of the murder. Williams' tracks also fit the ' other man. Both had very small feet. NOW the information that tho Gover nor has is to tho clTect that Williams' pah Was seen to leave Bamberg, sitting ' On a wagon going in the direction of the Edisto swamp. lie said he was going way up into the swam]) to hunt. Bamberg is about twenty miles from the scene of the murder. He ,had a doublo-barrolod shot gun. Ho left Hamberg, it is said, on the third day previous to the murder. Another significant thing is that Bamberg was said to be the only place where the peculiar kind of shell used In the assassin's gun could bo purchased. And Bamberg was the ,>lace tho fel low started out from. Williams was not seen after this time. Neither of these fellows have been jn since tho murder so far as any i .e knows. Another significant thing is that Williams, having lived in that section of the country all his life, knew all about the trips of tho treasurer at this time of the year, | knew the roads and the localities, and oven every foot of the swamps thor- ' oughly. This is the information upon which , Governor Tillman has based his orders ' to have Williams arrested ami held 1 till he can prove clearly that these circumstances do not fasten the crime I upon him and his pal. Williams was | once tin? town marshal at Sulloy, and | later at Springfield. Williams is a man about live feet, eight inches tall, of dark complexion, has dark hair, eyes | and a slight black moustache. Most of tho time he goes unshaven and dirty. A POPULAR UAILHOAI) MAN. Cnpt. MoBoc in Mado a General Offi cer of tho Seaboard Alt' Line. Captain V. E. MoBoe, formerly su perintendent of the Richmond and Danville linos in North and South Carolina, has been appointed general Superintendent Of transportation of t he Seaboard Ait -Lino system, with head quarters in Atlanta. Tlic exact date of the assumption of his duties bus not yet been announced. This position will place him next in rack to General Manager .lohn II. Winder, of that sys tem. The office to which he has been appointed is a new one said to have been created for him. The Seaboard Air-Line system formerly had no trans portation suporintondonts, but the du ties of such Officers were conducted by the nuisters of t rains. Captain McBeu is known as a railroad genius, and his great abilities for tho management of men are everywhere recognized. He began his railroading when he aided in the building of the Western North Carolina road. He then became super intendent of tho Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta railroad and raised it out of the mire. Then he became superin tendent of the Central of Georgia, re signing that position to become super intendent of the Richmond and Dan ville lines in North and South Carolina. This position ho held until the rt c< nt change in management under the u - ination of the Southern rail way. Tin Is no man more generally loved South Carolina than '* Hi.noli " McB as he is familiarly called. He is u ne phew of Senator Butler and is a strik ingly handsome man. The Atlanta Constitution makes tho following comments upon the appoint ment : " The appointment of Captain V. E. Mcliee as general superintendent of transportation of the Seaboard Air Line causes quite a deal of interest in the railroad world. "Captain MoHoo is the most noted railroad superintendent in the South, perhaps, and is liked by everybody. Ho is a Napoleon when it comes to manipulating tho transportation de partment of a railroad, and did as much to make the old Richmond and Danville as perfect as it was in this line as any man in the entire directory of officers. The fact that Captain Me Boo has accepted a position with a rival lino of his old company, tho Richmond and Danville, springs the prediction at tho first blush that ho will be ovor alert, to ? A make all the moro porfoct the condi tion of tho schedulo of tho Seaboard, for it is likely that the whole story about Captain MoBeo's resignation from tho suuerintendonoy of tho old Richmond und Danville has uevor come to light. Tboro was a good deal of talk about it at tho timo. Cuptuiu MoUoo had douo a great deal towards making tho old Richmond and Danville what it was. Ho was looked upon as tho best superintendent in tho seetion. And yet whon tho Southern bought tho old Richmond and Danville with a sudden ness mystorlous to contomplate Cap tain McUeo sont in his resignation to tho company. " Tho full story may or may not have over come to tho top surface, but It is believed that the recent appointment of Captain MeDoe to tako charge of the transportation departmeut of tho Soaboard, a deadly rival of tho South ern, will mean that ho will work just a littlo harder to 'do' hi-.rival than bo would under ordinary circumstances." STATE MOWS IN BRIEF. Interest log Notes from Various Sour ces. * ?The State Fair will open in Colum bia on November i2th and continue for four days. ?Col. Waddy W. Thomson has been acquitted for the killing of Prof. P. E. Rowell at Greenwood lastspring. ? ?A dispensary has boen opened at Mayesville, Sum tor County, which makes about seventy in the Stato. Constable Nowton Cluntou seized about 200 gallons of blind tiger whiskey at Kershaw, Lancaster County, last week. ?Mr. Nix Medlin, who lived about live miles north of Pickens, died on v the 23rd iustant at tho advanced ago of 90 years. ?Rev. A. A. Marshull, formerly of Anderson, has accepted a call to Jack son Hill BaptisChurch, anew organiza tion in Atlauta, Gtt. ;*">s"--. ?The South Caroli?a_jmnoual Con ference of the M. E. Cn?>M'i South, will convene in Laurnes. S. C-^NoVit+ik bor 2ist. Bishop J.c Keener will pre-s* side. ?Dr. W. D. Ktrkland left Columbia lust week for Nashville, Tenn., where he goes to assume control as editor of the Sunday school literature of tho Methodist Church, South. ?The Winnsboro News and Herald says that a firm at that place recently shipped the heaviest bale of cotton over known or heard of. It weighed 1,000 pounds and was packed by hand. ?Five hundred gallons of whiskey and live hundred bottles of beer wore seized last week by Constable Fant in a warehouse in Columbia. Tho liquor is valued at $1,000, but no one hits laid claim to it. ?It is said that thero is a proba bility of the reduction of tho price of board at Clemson College, as the trus tees have boen investigating it and found that the cost does not amount to $7 per month. --Saloon keepers throughout the State uro applying to Commissioner Traxler for Certificates to prevent the seizure of tho whiskies they have on hand. During the last week he has issued over 100 certificates. ? M. W. H. Hunter, who has a posi tion in the government printing nftioo at Washington, and who was hurt a few weeks back by aoablo car in that city, arrived in Newberry last week. Ho is able to get about on crutches. ?F. F. Whitikon, civil engineer of T tones tu, Pa., was in the mountains last week on a tour of inspection, look ing out the timber lands i>? ascertain if there is enough hare woods to justi fy the establishment ol a factory at Pickens. ?The railroads have givon better rates to the State i lir th - ..ear than last year, and are going to aid e "?ory effort to make it a success. It is i bio that some arrangement "wir/' made whereby the Clemson Collego cadots can go to the Fair. Secretary of StatoTindal says that the acts of the Legislature and the hound copies of the revised code will soon be sent out to the various elei ks of court in the State for distribution among the members of the lust Legisla ture In the several counties. ?The Secretary of State has been furnished with a map of the proposed new county, which is to have tlonoa Path as a county seat. The new coun ty takes in Donald's Helton, and Due West, besides several smaller towns. It will have (>2N square miles. ?Governor Tillman, in speaking of the whiskey seizuries, says all that is necessary to kill out the blind tigers is to got one of the illicit dealers with "Stripes" on him, and that would set tle the business. He said that he had one man near the penitentiary. Mrs. Minerva Dial, of Laurons, an aged and highly respected lady, and relict of the late Lewis Dial, deceased, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Maiinda Crews, on Wednesday, 21th lost. Her remains were interred in the Cemetary at Chestnut Ridge. ?Col. William Izard Hull, for many years a resident of Sumter County, diod at the residence of bissen in Char leston on thd 21st inst.. aged M2 years. He was onoon m. n of Immense wealth and a leader in social and political cir cles not only in bis community, but in the State at large. About throe miles from Salley, Aikon County, on tho 23rd inst., H. F. Sally shot and instantly killed Henry Clover, colored. A few words were passed and Clover struck Sally a dan gerous blow with an iron hammer in the head. Thereupon Sally drew his pistol and fired, the bullet taking ofToot in the neck. Mrs. Sue .Maxwell Pickens, wife of Dr. T. J. Pickens, died at her home in Pendleton, S. C, Tuesday morning, October 23rd, from congestion of the brain. She was the only daughter of the late Samuel E. and Julia S. Max well, and was born at the old home stead of Capt. John Maxwell, on Seneca River, November 17th, 1*12, ?The Pickens Couty Democratic ex ecutive committee at a recent meeting, pa BCd a resolution to submit to the voters of the county at the general election the question of disponsary or no disponsary for Plokons County. Th is vote is to instruct, the repres entative;, to the Legislature. A box for the purpOSO will be provided by the managers at each precinct. A leading cotton seal oil manu facturer while talking about the OfToct of the reduced prices of cotton on the cotton seed market, said that at tho outset of the (Season the manufactur ers raised the price of seed and bad kept it Up us long as posslbio. The general demoralization of tho market bad reduced tho prico of orudo oil vciy m ich ntiil II Was found ab solutely necessary to make a reduction of 10 PQP cent in the prloo Of 00t< 10, good. Tel.-, besaid, was a high pri and much more than was being paid in tho Southwestern States for soed?