Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

ITEMS OF INTEREST IN SOUTH CAROLINA Culled And Condensed for Busy Readers RESUME OF PAST WEEK Current Events of Interest iu This State Selected and Brief!) Noted For Advertiser Headers. Wart Shoals?Superintendent W, C. Cobb entertained the officers, overseers ' nod office force of the Ware Shoals Manufacturing company's mill at an elaborate banquet '.'a?t evening at his handsome homo on Dial avenue. The guests Rsembled about S o'clock and after about ;.n hour's talk, all ad- , joumed to the dining room, where a ; six-course dinnet was served.. Mr. Cobb's hospitality is well known throughout the Piedmont, and it is needless to say '.fin: the quantity and quality of good things to eat were the best possible. The after dinner I speeches were both witty and wise, j and many good suggestions were | thrown out concerning the future we! i fare Of our town Among the protnl- I nent speakers were: Rev Jas. M. Out- j las, Messrs. Frank Cogswell. Benj. I Riegel. Jas. F. MocEnroe, and W. C. j Cobb. After th< speech making the ! guests all retired lo the parlors, and j the remainder ol the evening was spe.nt In the relation of anecdotes and j jokes. The < v. ning was thoroughly I enjoyed, and was voted by nil pres- j cm one of the most pleasant of its kind ever .':::( nded. i r>elz(: It will he Interesting to note ', that the toWn o! P'dici bus kept strict j vital statistics for twenty-live years.. Those re.-ords a:e iir.pcr/Cnt and make 1 a mos: ? \'-< Iii i;'. sliowfjy g. It would bo well to compare th? 9 figures with 1 tiiose o; ;.ny (>:!:< r f wn of r?.ooo. I Pclcer is strictly n cotton mill com inanity, and that means a white pop- I t" iition. Capt. Ellison A Smyth, the preside] ' ?.! the Polxer prop< rty, !-as j always believed in giving the opera- ' lives at Pelzor ? very possible comfort. IU has. furnished the town with water ! by pipes, and every honst has a good, wholesome pupply of water by pipes iuid the strict policing has kept the t.twn clean. The record shows that I out of 0 population of little over 5,008 they had only 19 deaths and 239 j Idrths. Twelve of the deaths were infants, : ::.! one of G years; also one i each a! the ate of 17. 'J'!. ',7. C5 and j 75 years. Those health statistics ! have been carefully kept for twenty- j five years-, ami they show conclusively j the good health in the Pelzer mill vil- 1 l?ge. Las I year there was only one] death from consumption. This is 1 typical of conditions at th< larger cot? i Ion mills. Washington The census hureau to day issued a report showing 5,525,591 hates, counting round bales as half bales which bad been ginned from the j growth of 1001? to October IS. as com pared with (1,296,160 for 1908, and ?1,420,258 for 1907. The following arc comparisons of cotton ginned up to October is. 1909, with that of the same period of 1908. Slate 1!>0!) 1908 Alabama .. .. 513,545 694,104 Arkansas .. .. 327,045 345,468 Florid,-. 84,903 34,027 Georgia. 1,112,700 1,119,228 l.ouisi ,ia . . . . 144,673 27,002 Mississippi.. .. 393,414 621,399 X.Carolina _ 2(3,245 276,2221 Oklahoma .. .. 239,705 132,556] S. Carolina .... 622,570 660,678 Tennessee .. .. 110,109 131,073 Texas. 1,672,812 2,047,796 : All other states 19,700 2:i.f>2:t j in this report 87,854 round bales, were included as compared With 11S 720 for loOS. The number of Sea Is land hales included was 36,330 as com pared with .12,01.1 for 100?. The bu reau announced that individual re turns of ginners had altered the re port of cotton ginned to September 2">, so that the corrected number of hales ginned to that date was 2.r.tis. ir.o. House Numbers Arrive. According to a ruling of the city I council, additional numbers for the residences In the city were purchased, j preparatory to the freo dllvery of meils. Two thousand of these num- \ hers arrived Monday, shipped to Brooks k .lores, and the work will I commi ftCO at once. (Avant and Bigham Found Guilty of Manslaughter-" J Sentenced to Serve Three Years and Six Months i ' Florence Physician and His Friend of Murrell's Inlet, Convicted in the Georgetown Crimi nal Court for the Alleged Hurder of the Former's Young W ife, Hrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham. Defense Submitted No Evidence. "Guilty of manslaughter." paid the ', jury in Georgetown count}' last Friday I afternoon In the case of the state against W. B. Avant and G .('. Itighttm. charged with the murder >>: Mrs. K villi Crisp Bighaiu. This verdh t was reach ed after two hours' deliberation, tlx jury having retired at 2 o'clock ami returned at i In the attemoou. A motion for a new trial was made by Attorney J, \V. Ragsdale of the de fense, which was at once overruled by Judge Watts and sentence passed "The s< ntence of the court is that each of you be confined at hard labor in the state penitentiary for a period of three years and six months'. said Judge Watts concluding a short ad- j dress to the prisoners as they stood" before the bar of justice to hear the | words that should seal their fates, j However, attorneys for the defense Rt , once gave notice of an appeal to be Laken to the supreme court of the state pending which hall was asked. This was granted in the sum of $l.f>00 each, j Mrs. M. M. Bigham, mother of Dr. Dig,- ' ham and L S. Bigham, big brother, signed the bond thai made Dr. Big- \ ham a free man, for a while at least, | und Messrs. J. M. Hinge! ftnil Brick mnn and H. r. Carson are on w. U Avant .- bond The bonds were exe cuted within an hour after sentoue* hud been passed, the defendants re maining in lb" court room tie- while. And thus. Avant tool Bigham, while con,. i'd felons, are free men. until the court of last resort shall decide their fates. The trial ol Dr. Bigham t.nd Mi Avant in the city of Georgetown is of interest In Lnurens county for un reason (lint the slain woman, the wife | of Dr. Dig!.am. was before her lUtirrl age Miss liuth Crisp, daughter of Mr. Matthew B, Crisp, of Mountville. one of the county's best and most highly ; respected citizens! and that tin r-- are many relatives of the family and a large circle of friends residing in the county. Tin greatest inten I and deepest sympathy was manifested when the news was received 6tl S in da) morning of September 5th that Mrs. Bigham had been shot at Mur- j rol'a inlet, aceldentnll) a; it wan fust! reported Storj of (he Killing. On the evening ol September 4th of this yerii the ame being Saturday,' after the j-un had sei und while the shades of night were gathering', at MurrellM Inlet, a little nook on the coast 2b miles north ol tin town of Georgetown occurred a tragedy, the pathos and sadness of whith shocked the entile State. The report went out that W. B. Avant, in company with Dr. (1. (' Bigham, had accidentally .shot .'ind killed the young wife of Dr. Bigham Mrs. Ruth Crisp Dlghaih; that the men saw a figure pass the side of the home in the ddrkllOSS of the evening, that they hailed it. Where upon it lied toward the creek; the men. thinking it a burglar BCCUl'ed a shot gun and followed the. figure to the creek: there they said it crouched; Avant, who bad the gun. said 'n list I shoot." and Bigham said "shoot." They returned immediately to the house, and not finding Mrs lligham. secured a light and hurried bad to the scene, there to find theh viel in the wife of Dig' tin. Put the -?, u pic ions of the people were ur.n. |'sd ami the tale as fold by (ho men ,\..s not ' wholly credited: in spite of tie fact' that coroner Fletcher had exonerated the slayers, warrants were secured and the two men arrested They gave bond to the amount of $2,f>00 each for their appearance at the term of court that was completed OD Krida.' afternoon of last week. And this is why W. B. Avam ml G. C. Bigham were in the court re im last Thursday morning to cxpla if explain they could, why Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham is today in lor grave. The trial has been held, the v u-dk't rendered find the sentence pas- d, but the world is seti 11 asking "? as Mrs. Bigham killed." The outcome of the case Is fixed so far as t! aW is concerned, hut the killing I,is unfortunate, young woman h lOt been explained. Thursday Mornfm Thursdaj morning was for I the t: i;J of Avant and Bighau:. in I'm court, >iwi' which Judge Richard c. Watts of cr.< raw. formerly of Lau rei s presided, were gathered a great crowd, miiuy interested by reason of i relationship to either the deceased j woman or the defendants, and many . concerned because the story of what appeared to be ri great crime. w;.s I about to be told. The court room was crowded and continued so throughout j the trial. Most of the time, Mis. M. M. Bighara, of Harper's, Florence county, mother of Dr. Blghnm, and .Mrs. W. B. Avant, wif. of one of the j defendants were in the court room, seated beside the prisoners. The de fendants, after arraignment, had sests j with their attorneys, who Wi re Messrs. .1. Wiilnrd Rngsdeh of Florence and J. W. Wihghte oi th?- Georgetown bar. j The prisoners pleaded "not gulltx" of the murder of Mi's. Diphain and rested on God aud il.ei!- countrj for deliver ance, Hie Jury. Some delay v as encouiiU i > ?'? in re curing a jury, the first punel being exhausted, necessitating ti ? dfnwiug of a new venire. The majority of the jurors W? r< sworn oh their voir dire, under the strict questioning of i which several disqualified. Judge i Watts allowed Attorney Ragsduh to propound cptestioiis to the jurors. It wf.s almost i o'clock When the paiiehj was llnallj completed, Mr. F. l>. Ro st r. a merchant <?,? Georgetown i"-h.-g the twelfth; i?- was named its fore man. The juror^ were L. c lihehl-i i'otte, Jr.. .1 F. (Jowd. Francis Gowd. | \l:di '. L. I'o \i. Slon. Juo. 'i. Carraw'hy, Win. P. \ HlaUe. I. Mcfi. farrow ay. l-htgeno H. Croft ami I'. 1). Rob ?. It vv ; s appnr. - ettt that iiiituy did no' wish to >? <".i I this Case, i' being revealed in their aiiv.wer? to Judge Watts. Takeii as a whole the tury were far hb?Ve the i:average i:. iutemgeijee. and general fitness for jury service, judging from all outward fippCnrfthces. The faces, of tlje men seemed to lit die ate chat I they fullj realized the grave responsi bility upon ihCm, ah eagerness to !.--i at the truth; and a deterihitii'tiou to 1 do their duty. Second t onsiu on .lurj. 1' 'in"' the Jury had been completed. Solicitor Wells learned thru Mr. War 'P. Blake, one ot the Jttrors already sworn was a second COUifih to Avant one oi the defendants. in stating the situation to ti;.. court. Solicitor Wells said thai ?'.<? information had Just been reeeiv? d rind (hat the prosecu tion desl <<l his removal by the court, Although it i- within the presiding judge's discretion to remove a juror for cause .fudge Walts declined to do so. cnying that the objection enme loo late, and that the matter should have been Investigated earlier. it was a strange occurrence, for almost every juror had boetl sworn on Iiis ' voir dire. Mr. Blake was accepted by both state and defense without ques tion. The very first question of the oath la, 'are von related by blood or marriage to li e deCeflSed 01" the defen dants.'' aud in likelihood an aflirm ative answer would h ive disqualified, it may he remarked, however, that both solicitor Wells and Solicitor Cooper had Made inquiry regarding every juror on the list ami in every case Mr Blake was pointed out as a 'man who w is thoroughly conscientious ! and honest and who would do bis duty fearlessly. His relationship to Avant I was no' generally known: in fai t. Avant and Blake it is understood. I had not sei n each other foi about (en years. On the furo ballot in the jury I room, when (he case was being de cided, Mr. Blake evidently did his duty. [ for none stood for acquittal, K. Smith. I ii?) Witness. Shortly before the dinner hour the ; taking of testimony was begun. Mr. Edgar <;. Smith of Mulllofl being the first witness called. Mr. Smith is a Mni'loh county farmer; he often goes in parlies to Murrel's Inlet on camp ing trips or to spend a few days. There are a number of camp collages there on the creek thai these visitors occupy. Mr. Smith. With four white men and five negrors had gono down to the Inlet on this memorable Saturday af j tornoon. September 4tb, i<> spend Sun day: they had arrived just n little while before sunset. He did not know ! either Htghsm or Avant. Hit hough he knew the latter with his wife, occu pied Suunyslde, a large house mi tin hill overlooking the bench along the creek. He was In the front yard of Mr. Kd. Wilcox's place, where they were enmping; but had no view of the beach because of a house and boiiic woods intervening. While standing In the yard, just about a half hour afet sunset on this Saturday afternoon, he heard the re port of a gi n in the direction of the beach; In about three minutes he heard ;: ? ;;? : "Bring IUO a light, I have killed somebody." He w.,s 110 yards away. He ran toward the place, and at about 4(1 yards distance recognized figures on the beach; could tell that it Was a person. Beaching the group. i.>- inquired: "What is tin- matter?" "Willie Avant 1.; s killed my wife," said Dr. Bigham, as Mr. Smith later | learned he not kbowiilg oily 'if the party. i "At about 20 -'??;'s <?r* | >: w that he. Bighami had a lady i:- his arms," said Mr. Smith, which point Solicitor | who examined tie wittioWes emphn sized, wishing to show that it was Mill light enough to distinguish persons' at some d is'a nee. "When I reached the spot.'* Conthuud the witness; "Bif ham laid lier <!?>..s. on the ground and 'walked avie.j .. little piece Up ti.e hill. : cauf hi ? ? ? Hading th t there was .-'ill lit'.- ii !!:?? i.o::\. i e it* *t ??, Highnm telling him crying und when Mr, Buck -aid s lie wat, dead which was in Jn.-i a minute or so. . ?? i! ich; in' weld lil'OUnd a'.' : . ? :..!.? M U ? ? ' ' h .'( pi." "I mil a lliurd- r . ." a> : \ " I ' I'l a mit id-; I'lftlB oil i.. - e wi:. sail! Dr. Bigham th helped I the hotis?. : laid it out in Mrs. Blg I ham's room, Avant and i !th: !i. lend-j iing no ttssdstaiieo. In ti"' room o eh pied by in-, and m lit Bigham, Mr. j Smith saw an empty bottle, marked Shaw's Malte on th" du sei*; there' was about a lea spoonful ol whiskey 'in it: <v\m.t and Hicham did hot conn j in the roHhi. At the house that night he hoard ] Avant a.id HiglUilll t* i 1 how the shoot- 1 ling occurred. Dr. Bij '. had said: j "l saw some one cone- :round tie 1 corner of the hou < while we 'Avant j and Bigham) wCre sittil ' "I. I*>- fro. | I porch; I thought i: iva* Ko^ebotly try ing io do us dirt; we gilt a gun .and | [followed; going toward the creek we 'saw ah object oil the beach we hailed lit two or three limes, bill i' did hot an: w i r. Then AVll lit >? !ii(l u. I f I shoot,' and I said, ': 111 : .' Big I ham said lie knew it wn won.an j who passed the house, and thought she I was trying to decoy the mi from th<-? house while some one slipped In at i the bin k and did some devil mi lit I (in Cross examination b; Mi Itagf dale. Mr Smith admit ted mat people I hail lighted lathpi; i:. their house-; I also that ti.e; .. was a heavy forest at the Par' of Suniiysido, the Avant home. This was an < ndeavrn to prove thai It tvns dark- bight time. Mr. Smith, however, stuck to his de claration that it was no' loo dark to recognize a person at leu t 20 steps away. Said that lilt bod) wai .! or I steps from a tree, a scrubby oak. He said that there an- fence! running from the sid? s of Sunn, fide down to the water's edge, and thai the body was two or three step- l on; the little path running from the louse down to the boach, Had heard Avant say that Bigham wa- standing behind him when the shot wns Ored; that Bigham had told Mr Puck not to ask him any more questions about the ' .noting; said that they knew it wa :. *oim.n. that they had gone back to the house after the shooting before ? (Smith) reached the pot. Tcfl till 0(1 that he had tried to pour sonn- whiskey into Mr-; Blgtinm'fl mouth, hut denied that Dr. Bigham had handed him the whH key. On rc-dlrcet examination, Mr. Smith saht that the tree hoar which Mrs. Iligham lay was so small ami had such sparse Collage that it oast hut little shadow. Heard Avant say that ho was live steps from .Mis. IJighnni when ho shot. Heard Avant in the Sunnysidc yard after the shooting, say "Don't you think l acted foolishly"? Said that Mis. Iligham had on a dark hlue bathing suit and drop stitch stockings; she had on a Ion/] rain coal, which belonged to Mr. Avant The coal was produced ami Mr. Smiih said that it looked like ono she had on. hut that when he saw it. there was only one l?de in file back; now th? re were four. The hole was just about the size of a silver dollar The coai was later Identified and offered in evidence. Mr. Smith diil not complete his tes timony before the dinner recess he taking the stand again in the alter, noon. lie was on the stand honrlv three hours: was an excellent Wit ness and withstood the onslaughts by Mr. ItngsdiUc in an admirable manner. Mr. Itngsdale endeavored to ?. I alte his entire testimony. (.', \. l ehr. I'ndertaker. Mr. (I. V Lohr, (he undertake; at Georgetown, was the ilcxl witness sworn. lie had dressed the body of Mrs. Ilighnhl lor burial (111(1 shipped is to Florence, (be morning alter the shooting: had cNamiiied the wound. limling it about l)le si/' oi a silver dollar; shot had severed spinal Cbl ii in n. I tig ha in aiid Avant Ii ad brought body down to Georgetown on ? . it. Wit Hess ^ivinu evpei'l medical t<- ''. inony regarding wound. .1. I?. >l lire hi *>a || al' Marina. ? I. D. Murchison. a } a I ? ? eel's Inlet and had roihir* ilbWll In hi I oni oh i 1 e i bringing Mr. iuid MI'.-*-. thick nod ; 1 oih< r lady ; had : ri ived about i i down. I !<? V;: in. prii'ijig to . ? ' ?? ? in fisli with a strhiU '.i^i.i . I mid ; (it*1 n bud"!' bis automobile in unscrew soni'- taps'1 to take off iup ai d ear bob a tor; it was light enough to do ibis- without us ii v a lauierit (hi. wm iust a few minutes before shooting. Was dow n on the beach, up the < I'oek a litlle when ? !..?: wii? tir.-d. Sai ! it was then not rpiite drt'Jli chough for his light to be effective in striking lie saw the Hash of kite idown the beach; it range! upward After gun flash he recognized tin figure <>: Mr. K. (I. Smith over < lei [ aw Sty "There Was a silence rui' nboul three minutes after tlUi slit' was fired", said witness, then I lean! some one crv out 'Oil, Cod' We've killed a man; loin: .-on..- whisk.".. '' When witness iirrlved on spol lie found body <>f Nil's Hlghniii about lb leif from a little scrubby oak tree; Hicham was bending over lor. work illg her arms and chest. 11 card Av; oi say. "Oil, God! I have rrlmlt ted murder," lieiinl Itighfiill say, ''Yti'.i hav e killed my little w ife." Mr. MurchiSOIl said he Mid Mr IlltCK had sent their liegfo', .latik .'!? . ward, oul in boat to get oy ter: . am! that they could see him '? .'? van! aw ay it was b> Mr Murchisoh that the state Introduced strong evidence to show that i' was still light enough to recognl/.C persons, that il fh<- men had hailed Mrs. Iligham as they said, it Could have been heard by them and that it was Impossible to have shot the woman as (hoy said they did To this end. on last Saturday after* noon, before the Dial. Mr. Muri hi on wltti Mr. Muck and others had gone to Murrel's fnlof and made a number of tests, at the same time of after noon that the shooting occurred. Mr Mnrchison made a diagram showing the lay of the land and all distances which was introduced in evidence, lie said that he with others had stood where he and Muck stood on the day of the killing, had a man stand where Avant stood when the shot was tired: had this man fire a sind, standing Up; this Hhot ranged downward, and (Continued on I'OgO Fl VC ) VOTING CONTEST 18 NEARING ITS CLOSE Candidates Have Only Live Weeks Longer LIGHT VOTE LAST WEEK i.H'.ii I'opiilurlt* Co nil's 1 Continues .1 ii?? I I hr Wecks Longer Mosolej Mill I.OUlls ColltosllllltS. Tlio Advertiser's popularity contest will rotuo (<> a oloso on Novomb? r SOtli Just live wooks from yesterday after nooii. Hat still ihoro is lime I'oi some ;.'i><ii!. luu'U work; no lend b \<?> strong lo overcome In thai lime. Keep la mind (lie prizes; remember tliul I hey an- wrth winning; m> to see them. I in ring i lie j mo t week ' here w as somewhui <>f a slump in tlx' voting, iho usual number Of hnllois not bel?g renohed. Ilowover, this is but a temporary lull i? fore Iho storm bursts in all the fur.\ ihm will mark Iho close There i- goinfi tt> be a ?.ii! llllis'h SO look dllt 'lli<;.' luxl w. elw iii toll .-. tide "! sbine gretu woi I, some lair Id j i lierg) Rotund Muscle- si!i I-...!- with nboul I l 000 h lo! o\? : hi 11* fires! .competitor, Iiis vole being U7.'ISO; Mis.-* Muht' r i1 second uiid ' iiss Siiiif.|) i. third, Standing of Cniulldiiles. Roland Mii.? i,-v |.titir< ns ;s" Miss T i'.-a!'. Hunter, oi.i .. :, ? a;m Mis.- Mary Smith, Waterloo . M ;:?io Miss /. !!?? illnkol' La in m- I ,lil|'J Mi>:. Mary Siiiiivan, Muichi aii.710 Mil s P. ; i I M -ill. ok, I'l li.ii . . i 11,200 Mi: - Wilma i'i'bniiH . I.an . ni S.-lf*?> Mi: Sadie Kuli. .. Moiiiih illo . i...''. ?ll! I.S \I,T i I i; I \ 11 IM. Walts Mill. !ii l.ainvu Mill It nil Inn Rai s Vidi Mot cm hi r |sl? irv at'.- - . iii.iiiij; llicii |ii !n|uOl.lonit ii . Inj !" i . ? ill) i>i ii ? <i i'i'' i- ft III1- im ? i i I ?mopig it .Ii M; i. fan! i| . aal thill ' Mm ? v ? I 1 . Monday a million t ;? ? eovilte (Min und M SP"r?.'in If ?MIM' aail I.ni >'?lil ,1 N I .< ai. Acs! ? ??',' idaa, sold im i u* ? <???> I in lion i titid int <'?? Catli:;:?*?>*i ??:<>?: belonging to Mr, 0 !l j-'radj to Mi II A' in irnlig ol Craj ('miili the consideration hoi/iff M It, IHM.I I MJSV (Hl I ll I'll Wl :> Prosit-lorlali Nlnfaler al (i'ns? Uli.' '*'<? lb Harried \i \i I iiomIu). Criii Hill Oel ?' ? ib'V A Pier. hi Ma; ? !l wa- a Cm. I?'< \i .l"i la. * . :. . nl tin l it - Rev V I t las! < ll who w:. pastor ni the i'i" ?? ? " ' ?? ii oluifch I;, I inn a*. i lasl ThUr! dfii tu in tiki ?!.? hoinn Iii Atlanta Mi h \. \\ harlot v. ill he f'Up.V the I'll \ n. I ??: IdeiiOOi Mis I.- na Packet! has /old ftO/ platitaiion In flroenwoti?l coord/ u Messrs. i. c ;?!:'! Ii. I. MiiKwftln. M i. W \ lliit i.! :. n i . Six and Mrs. vYyrhi- Wilhill' Noting *vero mar rli?d la. t 'I n'-: da\ e\ en iig ll Hie ion Idoiieo dt Ro\ W P. 'I ii ? ' Mr Tur aoi* oillclatlng Mr. R. A Austin l"'i in ' 1'riday Attend the Kymid <<? (ho Presbyteriaii chnrcii Willi h in Co I Ii I larh I ton in . Miller attended M ?? rnoctlrip <>/ physicians and siirg?iin; ai Rnliigl last week. Mr W. (I. Iloilitl ? "ith went Atlanta last wi-eh tu Visit his si ' Miss Frances, who Is critically ? retUrUlng on Friday. Rev; c. m Holling iWOrtll and ? Minnie Clotfelter wnl he married i?x?. Tuesday, tin- 2nd of November, al the. home of the bride's pfircnl . near Co'J yers, (la. The COllpIn will retui tti Cross Hill on Th?r i?Jny Mr i. i\ Mcswain fllnd family moved into their m-w house,