Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Efje &btoerttsier iscrlptlon Price is $1.00 per Year Payable in Advance. S. E. BONE Y, Editor. published MY auvertiskr print1k? company laukkns. s. <:. .tes for advbrti8ino. Ordinary Ldvortisements, p?1'* square, one Insor Hon, $l.00j each subsequent insertion, ?0 cents. Liberal reduction made for .arge advt. tisoments. ?Unarms: All over 50 words, one cent a word. (tes of thanks: Five cents the lino. ttcrcd at the postoflke at Laurens, l&i C. as second class mail matter. tiURENS, S. C. DECEMBER I. 1909, ??let mi: iiam:. ,u hoe." Down In Col I e ton county lasl week ?as hold a trial thai lias Interested he peoplo throughout the entire state, phn W. Messervoy, who bad shot and [lied two state COItStablCS, was called tjion to explain to ('.!?? state why the tilling had ocenrri d. .\i ?. rs. ET h mm" ami Alitnan, rogular olllecrs of .he law, had sol'/ed a harrt I of alcohol hat Messervey was attempting to lake (rom the express olllce, it being con signed to liim and he having arranged with tiie express agent to get it at this particular time while Constable Alt man Was at supper. However, his reckoning was wrong for Constable PlshbUI'lie had been apprised of the matter and was on hand to assist Alt man. When the two olllcors attempted ;;. seize the alcohol. .Messervey shot ami hilled them hoth; houce, his presence in the courts of justice to explain the killing, 'l ie- del. use was that the de fendnnl shot to protect his own life; that the oUlcers were just about to ?..hoot him lor resisting arrest. Kvi dently the jury did nil believe the tale, for the verdict was guilty ol man slaughter. The sentence of the court AVUS that lie be confined to the state penitentiary at such l tbor as he was able to perform, sine* he was crippled, .tor a period of twenty years. It was when sentence was passed that an unusual scene was enacted in the court room. According to the correspondent of The News and Couri er the defendant broke down and cried and called upon Hie judge to let him hang, "'Change it to hanging, judge; let me hang, judge; there is no use for mo to waste my life up there for I'm rot guilty; I'd rather be dead.'* .And the newspaper man went on to describe the scene, saying that it was pitiful indeed to see this man. a crip ple and with just one eye. crying ami .sobbing and begging to be hanged. Yes. we agree heartily with our brother in the profession: It must have been a pitiful scene, and one ral < lltatcd to move the hearts of many. Messervey i.-. we understand, about thirty, and when his sentence is com pleted, if il ever shall be. there will be l?de left in years and usefulness for the condemned man. It is pitiful yes, to to hear a man begging to lie bang. Mcssorvey sit., in judgment in his own case; ho declares himself Inno cent even though n jury of his peers have declared hint guilty. He ad mits lite killing of two human beings, and his explanation failed to satisfy those who sat iii judgment ngainsl hi':'. Hut of course lie has poor opinion of the law ; he was once convicted of polling liquor against the statutes of the state, lie served a term on the Chain gang: ho said that was unjust, und even wi at so far as to say that no justice could be got out of the courts. Hi this statement we toe per suaded to agree, particularly in Mes servey's own case. Prom the testi mony we are almost constrained to re lieve that if justice, full and complete, had been done in the case, this same ?lohn YV. Messervey would In the c ourse of thirty days hang by the neck until dead. Hut about the patnctlc scene that the correspondent has so beautifully and well pictured. Of course, it was pitiful; and wo guess our heart would have been somewhat touched, had wo beheld it. Hut, tmiBt the law take In to account the pathos of a sceno in the <'onrt room? Many sentences are doubt less much lighter Just becauso the conditions arc such that a pathetic scene is enacted. Judges are human and their hearts must often be stirred by the events that transpire before them. Hut must the law reckon with these feelings? Why not recall the pathos of those scenes in the homes of the two murd ered men? Picture the events of that .Inly evening around the hearth stone in those two homes, when the kindly neighbors brought the sad news that the husband and father of each had been slain by the hand of a violator of the laws. Think of the reason be hind this scene in the court room; why was It necessary; who caused it? In whose power was It to prevent such s\ scene? We are too much Inclined to forget the wrong that has beea ' done nnd sympathize with the living who are Buffering or are about to suf ? for the consequences of their own deeds. Mercy? Yes. we should judge mercifully; but mercy ami luxness have fostered crime in this old state of ours. "Lei me bane. Judge". No. Mossor vey will not hung, but the law says that he must KOI'VO a term of twenty years in the p fllltOUl iary. "'rilOI'C is no use for me [o waste my life up there." No. Mr. Messorvey, your life Is not to be wustn I. Vou have commllted an offense against the laws of South Carolina, and those twenty years "up there" will be spent in satisfying the law's demand. You are indebted to the slate for this: be sides, you are adjudged unlit to have that Uod.given liberty Hint was once yours ami that you have abused. ? ? ? "PROHIBITION'S KKAL I.V. VI)Kit." Following the am ual state fair, there is always a meat deal of politi cal talk, some of Immediate moment ami some pertniiiing to campaigns yet a year off. As usual this year, the political pot began to boil when "the leaders got together in Columbia." Messrs Manning, Fontherstone, Ly on and Please are (he " probables" for governor. It is by no means certain, though, that either Mr. Manning or Mr. I..von will offer for this olllce. And now. Hint Mr. HI ease has been elected mayor of New berr>. he may be satisfied for a time at least with his political honors. Maybe? The Advertiser will support Mr. FoathcrStOllC for governor: first, be cause WO believe he is the 11 blest man so far mentioned; and second, because he is a I,aureus man. We have al Ways believed in his ability as a law yer, and hi ; equipment to handle bus imss affairs of large proportions. A great deal is being said ubotlt "a bus iness governor ": the Columbia Stale, some days ago had an editorial arti cle on the BUbJect. As a business man and one altogether lltted for the duties of the odlco we believe Mr. Fcathcrstone to be superior to any of those thus far announced. I nder the heading of this article, are the views of this papi r expressed in the issue of February I2lh. 1908: Rapid Changes have taken place in the South Carolina political situation during the past ten (lays. The senate has passed the resolution calling on the Democratic party to hold a prim ary on the whiskey tratlic question, and before this article is printed the j house will probably pass a similar resolution. Humors are afloat that Governor Ansel will he opposed by a straight prohibition candidate, and there seems to be some doubt as to what Governor Ansel's platform will be. though justice to him requires the. assumption that he will stand for lo cal option. Wo do not advise a pro hibitionist to enter. Our platform is local option. Including the option of licensed saloons, ami we believe (hat the vexed whiskey (raliic question will never be settled until the people coll sent thai each separate county ami city determine for itself how the traf lie shall be regulated. Many believe that a period of state prohibition will be quickest way of reaching that de sirable conclusion. Gov. Ansel has made an excellent chief executive and it was fortunate for the State that his candidacy was available for the reg istering of popular condemnation of (he infamous stale dispensary in 15100. If the prohibitionists must have a candidate their candidate ought to be Mr. c. c. Fcntherstone, for two rea sons, either of which alone should be sulUcicul to Influence thorn to concen trate upon him. In the first place Mr. Feathers! ono completely outclasses any prohibit ionist in South Carolina in all-around ability and equipment. They have no man who is his equal its a ready, vigorous, aggressive and resourceful stump speaker. On the stump he can hold his own with any man in South Carolina, and few men can hold their own with him. He is a successful and practical business man; he Is one of the strongest law- I wen; in the state; he has had experi ence In the direction of large affairs; his reputation is unspotted; he has common sense. Ho is no half-way aian In anything and. rcgardlea* of his views In the liquor traffic, he would administer the affairs of the common wealth In a wise and successful man . nor. Wo know of no niau who has loss of the fanatic In his tempornmont, and as governor his course would bo directed by the same broad-gauged Judgement that would make him tho successful head of a plantation, a bank or a railroad. In the second place. Mr. Feather stone has done twice as much for the cause of prohibition as has any other living man in South Carolina. When the prohibition campaign of 1808 was ; HbOUl to collapse Mr Keatherstono seized its fallen banner and the race he made lor governor was one of the most remarkable In Hie recent history of the state. The people discovered then that he was a man of power, and in spite of the domination of the state dispensary lie lacked only about three thousand votes of defeating the lato ! Gov. Kllcrhc, who had also the seeond I term sentiment in his fiver. In 1900 i / Mr. Featherstooe exerted himself to th<> utmost to bring about the election of the late. Col. James A. Hoyt, and ?iul ing his whole career lie bat been not only a consistent but a working prohibitionist. Fiaukly. we have HOt the greatest faith in tin* political mi. gaclty of a prohibition party The prohibitionists often take the wrong step when the right step |y plainest ami easiest, and if they cllOOSC any other leader than Mr. Feathot' stone, In' consenting to be their candi date, they will richly deserve defeat lor their want of ordinary discern ment. The Advertiser bus nol a word to say about GoV. Ansel, except that he has made a good record, but The Ad vertiser would support Mr. Feather Ktouo should he he induced to enter the contest, regardless of the opposi tion to him. We would support him. although he does not represent our views on the w hiskey tratllc question. I W hile this proposition is shaped large ly by personal considerations wo could not lake it were Mr. Foather stono not exceptionally lilted Tor the leadership in the affairs of the slate ami worthy of the clntidcncc of all intelligent voters ami taxpayers. ? * ? \\ HO IS THE BOSS ! Our esteemed contemporary, the Manning Times, rather surprise.-; us With tin1 bold declaration that there Is a mau in Spart an burg who controls the political situation in South Caro lina, and nay aspirant for the gover nor's otllce must secure his endorse ment, if he hopes lo win. There might have been a day in this slate when OltC could dictate as to the disposition of public favors, but if we gm ss aright that day has passed. Who is the political boss, that our friend refers to? Well, well: It has just dawned upon us. Possibly it means thai the Rev. .1 I.. Hurley, of the Anti-saloon league controls the situation, Why were wo so slow to guess? Great is the power of he league in this state; ami its mandates must be obeyed. Col. Feoth erstoue, get down on your knees be fore the lord ami master of South Carolina politics, or forever "hang up your hopes" for the governorship. No. dear friend. Tin? prohibitionists in this state are not bound to the Anti saloon league; while the league may have given valuable assistance to the cause, it is by no means master of the situation. The league may have accomplished some good, and doubt less has: and as we have often said, in spite of the lack of wisdom on the part of Rev. .1. I.. Harley; but the lea gue does not control the politics of South Carolina. The prohibitionists of the slate have been lighting a long and hard struggle and their efforts will be rewarded. There is glory enough for the old time prohibitionists, for the new con verts, ami for the members of the league. Col. Fentherstone devoted his efforts lo t'ne cause long before the league was ever heard of in these pans, and the people of the state know it. * * ? Fl'Otn Hie Associated Press cone. spoudence at Union, s. c we have the very latest in good Knglish: "The negroes had Mown.". * * ? Oh. you Cl'OSS Hill chicken lighters. * * * i Cook won glory for discovering the pole; now the man who will discover Cook will thereby write his name on the list of Immortals, Vdvcrtiscd Letters. Arther. Miss Morlo; Andrews, T. w.. Cunningham, Miss Daisy; Fuller, Mat tie H.; Cilctioso, Ceo , llillyrtm Henry j ?loly. Kiiiina; Heir Sam Q.S Martin, Kllntl, (2); Mills JltO. B.; Patterson, W. M.; Patterson Moggie; Randall L. I w.; Suceninn, J, N.; Stocey, llttrso; Thompson. C. H.; Wallace. O. N.: Wil son. T. O.; Young. Sobun; Young, .lillie; Yarhrough, Klla. The above letters have remained unclaimed in the post office at Laurens S. C., for the term of two weeks ending Nov.27th, 1900. Persons who desire any of them can get theirs by calling at the (Jenl. delivery window; state that said letter or letters have been advertised and pay one cent. Respectfully, Oeo. S. McOravy, P. M. Nov. 28th, 1909. Note of Thanks. Mr. and Mrs. O. L, Hunter through the columns of The Advertiser, wish to thank each of their friends for the kindness shown their daughter. T. Cralg Hunter In the "Great Popularity Contest", and we Invite you all to call round and share the results of the contest with us, though we may be rocking in the comfortable "Rocking Chair". Long live The Advertiser ! Roller Family Reunion. The members of Mr. L. H. Roper's family enjoyed a happy reunion in this city Thursday, at. the homo of Mr. C. 11. Roper, the eldest son. Those pres ent, including the twenty-three grand Children, were Mr. L. II. Roper. Mr. ami Mrs. ('. If, Roper of Laurens. Rev. and Mrs. L. M. Roper of Spartanburg. Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Roper of Laurens. Mr. and Mrs. P. .1. Roper (And Mrs. D. B. Roper of Fountain Inn. \Mrs. B. F. Roper of Laurens. OUR SPECIAL NOTICES, For Sale One house and lot in frown I of Mountville. will soil for rash or i exchange for farm property. Also ! Beveral houses and lots In city of Laurens, and quite a number of farm lauds very cheap. Call Oil Anderson & Blakely If you need any property or have any to sell. Copyright Dour, Is a '"our of Qual ity, when you buy Copyright you should fool satlsllold. Von have bought the BKST value money can buy. For Kent Dwelling an t Farm of 10 acres, located on South Harper street. Property formally owned by Mrs. Tallulah Irby. Now having uousi thoroughly repaired & painted. Woul I sell the dwelling & lot. Ap ply by letier. t. i) Darlington, Lau rens, S. C. For sale or Kent storehouse in Mountvilo, s. c. VV. \V. Werts. Salesman Wanted To look after our Interest in Laurens and adjacent counties. Salary or Commission. Ad dress The Harvey Oil Co.. Cleveland O. Wanted \ live hustling man to represent us in this section in hand ling monuments and cemetery work. We have a good proposition for the right man. References required. Ad dress Owen Dros. Marble Co., Green wood, s. e. lt;-;:t For Sale Controlitlg interest in a well established furniture business, satisfactory reasons for selling, Apply to it. k. Humphries at the Cntne & i'it;s Furniture Co. 17-tf For lfe.it Two up-to-date store rooms, several olllces, splendid dwell ing newly re-covered and freshly painted inside and out: in two LdoCkS of square, W. II. Dial. 4t Professional llorse-Slioer For blaeksmlthing and horseshoeing come to my shop. I have a professional horse-shoer employed; he heats the world. C tieral btacksmithillg ami re pair work done. ROBFJRT I.. WIIITLOCK, it Mount* llle, s. C. Registered Berkshire Hoar Ready for service. Fee $2.00. D. K. Todd. Laurens. R. F, D. No. 1. 2t-pd Notice Don't fail to read the special Offer of _?"> per cent reduction at pres ent on Far rand Pianos. Notice Don*t fail to read the special j offer of l'."> per cent reduction at pres I out on Fnrraud Pianos. For Sale Us acre farm with dwell ing, tenant, house and other Improve ments, located miles east of Reedy River Power company and known as the Cunningham place. Price $-?"> pet acre. Andrew C. Phillips. Laurens. It. F. I). No. ?;. It COLLEGE STUDENTS ENTERTAIN, Hoys Give Their Friends A Joll) Good Time Proceeds $35.00. Clinton. Nov.2!? The college stu dents gave one of the joiiiest enter tainments ever seen here last night at the college. The affair was modell ed on the carnival. A short play, it fortune teller, barkers, fortune wheels on which people won roses, a burles que shooting gallery, and a burlesque art nailery, an ice cream and cake parlor, were the features. Mrs. Ma/.yck. Miss Fronde Kennedy and Miss Tallulah Neville helped. The proceeds amounting to about $sr>,C0 go to the v. M. C. A. and will be used to help semi a delegate to the national conference at Horhester, N. Y. Bottling Works Sold. Mr. w. II. Gilkerson, Jr. of this city has sold his interest in the coca cola bottling works to Mr. C. W. Bills of Greenville, who will in Hie futuro con duct the business in connection with I the plant in Greenville. Iloweve there will be no apparent change in the business Here, for Mr. C.uy L. Watson, who has I.n the elllcieilt manager for some time, will continue in that capacity. 185 Barrels Flour guaranteed first patent at prices to move it, we need the room. See us for your Christ mas Goods and Cake Ma terials, full line everything kept in a first class Grocery Store and everything fresh. J. W. Payne & Co. The Cash Grocers. Dial?Gray Block. Sow Vetch and Alfalfa Get fresh seed from me. A fiUl line of Fountain Syringes Dr. Posey's Drug Store Laurens. S. C. I The Best Gift You Can Give. | ^% You Cannot Make a Present to Those ^ ?C N'ear and Dear to Von on ^ ^ Christmas Day || ? that will be more appreciated by them than a good 'portrait ^ ? of yourself. Why worry? One dozen pictures will take ^ care of one dozen friends or relatives. That much ofi ]^ \ (>ur mind. The Nichols PKoto is tHe best Come to-day We deliver when promised regardless of weather. I Nichols Studio * LAURENS, S. C. J.W.& R.M. Eichelberger We desire to call your attention to the fact that we have on hand a full 3tock of the best grade of Lime, Brick, Cement, Plaster, Crushed Stone for all Concrete and Pav ing purposes. Also, the best grade Blue Gem and Jellico Lump Coal delivered promptly anywhere in citv. The best Dry Pine and < )ak Wood, cut for stove or fire place at reasonable prices. Give us a trial order and you will become one of our regular customers. We appreciate and z'wx- all orders large or small our pe rsoual attention. We make Drayage a Specialty. J.W.&R.M. Eichelberger Old Santa Claus ! Has arrived and will make his headquarters at my store. He w\ill be opened up and on display \on ! Saturday J., L. Hopkins