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VOLUME XXVII. i NUMBER 51 ?SOLICITING COMMITTEE FEELS ENCOURAGED OVER PROSPECTS FOR SECURING CHICORA Enthusiastic Meeting Held Yesterday Evening In the Court House, When Every Phase of the Sub m ject was Gone Into and Arrangements Made to Secure the Entire Amount Necessary to Meet the Demands of the Chlcora Trustees. Another enthusiastic meeting was held in the Coort House yesterday evening and the soliciting campaign and other matters In connection with the movement to secure Chlcora col lege were discussed. The soliciting committee, which has been at work since last Tuesday evening, announ ced at the meeting that they felt very much encouraged over the outlook and were conlldent that the conditions would be met. The committee on sites reported that they hud secured options on a number of line pieces of property. During the past few days nearly everybody in the city has been ap proached in the Interest of the col lege. Such a unanimity of opinion and spirit, of cooperation has been evi dent as lias never before been seen In the city. The people are as one in favor of having the college. Besides the subscriptions made In Laurens, n number of handsome sub scriptions have been made by generous and farseeing citizens is other parts of the county. A committee will in all probability make a canvas of the dis tricts around Laurens today or to ?rrow, and when it is hoped that many subscriptions will bo taken from farmers and others in the county. In till probability a committee will be sent to Oreenvllle Friday evening to appear before the board of trustees when the city of Greenville will ask that the resolution be recently passed '-be rescinded. Of course, the com mitteo from this place will be given a hearing and it is confidently expect ed a favorable hearing. THE LANDING OF^ COLUMBUS. Great .Historical Event to be Pcdicted ^In Moving Picture Films at Opera Jdlouse Friday. .The much heralded three reel film, The Coming of Columbus, will be at the moving picture show Friday af ternoon and evening. In order that the crowds may be accommodated without rush or overheating, the reels will begin tobe shown at - o'clock in the afternoon and will be shown dur ing the afternoon and then again at night. Because of the great historical interest and the magnificence of the scenes of this picture, it is expected that the largest crowds yet seen at the moving picture show will be pres ent. The films have been extensively advertised and the fact Is well known throughout the county that they will tto snown on that &u'<,v. A large nurn her of people, in the country have nev er taken advontage of the cheap pric es at the picture show to enjoy what 1 Mr. Lavender offers, but it is hoped that they will take advantage of this fine film to make a first visit. Those who happen to be in town that day will find It well worth the price of admission to sec this great life like moving picture. ThlB film is claimed to be the great est one yet put out by any picture con cern. A great deal of expense was gone to in getting it up and no pains have' been spared to make it true to lij^ and to the facts of history. It Is stated that the total cost of it was around $50,000. The prices for this show will be the same as at other lines, f> and 10 cents to all. NEW MEMBERS ADDED. /jf\feBt* of Pythian Having: Excellent '^meetings Each Week. The Laurens Chapter Knights of Py thias has been holding some interest ing meetings during the past few months and many new members have been added. Last Monday night the second and third degree were given to new members and on next Monday the first and tMrd degrees will be con ferred. Tho meeting next Monday will be an especially important one as busiress of great Importance will be transacted. All of the members are urged to be present. NEAR BEER CASE WON BY CITY Temporary Restraining Order DJs solved by Judge Unry Friday After noon. In the court of common pleas here Friday afternoon Judge Gary effective ly l>ut the brand upon the sale of near beer In this city, when he ordered dissolved temporary injunction against the city interfering with the sale of that fluid. The city of Newberry was also freed from the injunction order at the same time. The order means that if the sale of any kind of near beer is again attempted in this city, that the seller will lay himself liable to punishment under the city ordi nance. In a trial of a case of this kind, it will not be necessary to show that the beer is intoxicating. B. B. Mill, who secured the temporary in junction sonic time ago, was given until the 18th of this month to close out his business. Only three other cases were tried during the term of court. Nearly the entire time of the court was taken up with the trial of the two suits of $X0, 000 each against the Clinton cotton mill brought by Mrs. Nannie Tucker for the death by drowning of her two little boys in the mill pond. The first suit, In which came the trial for dam ages for the death of Hoy Tucker who jumped into the pond to save his smaller brother and who was drowned, a mistrial resulted. In the second suit, where damages were asked for the death of Thomas Tucker, the smaller of the two children who fell into the pond, a verdict of $800 was rendered against the mill. The atorneys on neither side were satisfied with the verdict of the jury. The attorneys for the plaintiff thought the verdict too little and the attorneys for the defend ant thought that the plaintiff should not have received anything at all. Moth sides, therefore, appealed for a new trial and it was granted. Messrs. Can non and Blackwell represented the plaintiff, while Mr. P. P. McGowan and Rlchey & Rlchey represented the defendants. In the case of C. C. Anderson vs ,T. J. Dendy, In which a verdict of $17;'. was renderd for the plaintiff, Judge dray has handed down an or der reducing the verdict to $7.r>. OFF TO ANMSTON. Triiynliam Guards Left Monday Morn ing for Summer Training Camp with Full Quoto of Men. The Traynham Guards, Capt. W. R. Rlchey, Jr., left Monday morning for Spartanburg where other companies of the First Regiment of t South Carolina national guard wilt on met and from there the entire regiment left for Anniston, Ala., in a special train. The company will remain there for about ten days joining in the annual triaing exercises of the national guard. The company left J^aurons with a puota of men above the militia requirements, about forty five men answering to their names. At the national drill grounds at An niston they will be joined by other southern regiments and regular war maneuvres will be gone through. While the boys generally look forward to these trips with a great deal of pleaa ure, it is a matter of fact that the drills are not play work by a very great deal. The companies have a reg ular program to be carried out each day and by nightfall it has been the ex perience that every man Is eager to reach hia cot. The officers demand real work In return for the large amount of money expended. Meeting of W. 0. W. Laurens Camp No. 98 "Woodmen of The World will hold a meeting Thurs day night July 18th, 1912, for the pur pose of balloting on and receiving ap plications. NEWS OF THE WEEK JN TOWN OF CLINTON Personal and Local Mention of People and Events of Interest to People All everthe County and Elsewhere. Clinton, July 15.?The congregations of this town have agreed to unite in the evening aorvlceB during the sum mer. The first of these services was held Sunday night in the First Pres byterian church and the congregation was fortunate in hearing an excellent sermon from 'Dr. James Moffatt, pres ident of Erskine college. Interesting Anniversary. The Rev. Dr. Jacobs celebrated the 50th anniversary since he preached IiIb first sermon in Clinton by reading the sermon to his congregation at Thorn well Memorial on Sunday afternoon, prefacing the reading with an enter taining account of the times in which it was written as well as the circum stances attending its composition and early delivery, it was the first ser mon be ever wrote, and at the time he preached it here he was a student at Columbia Seminary spending the va cation in l.aurens with his father, who was then president of Laurensville Fe male college. . . . Hiverside on Knorcc. Riverside cottage, the property of the Thornwell orphanage, has been added to and improved so that more of the children can enjoy the pleasures of the river this summer than ever be fore. The additions include a largo living room and (lining-room combin ed and a second story for bedrooms for the ladles and older girls. Hoy Scouts. The boy scouts in their picturesque costumes are among the interesting sights on the streets just now. Under the leadership of their captain, Thom as Jacobs, and advised by scout master 11. L. Scaife they have many good times. Social Pleasures. Two lovely receptions were added this week to the list of the season's entertainments. On Wednesday after noon Mfft-^TOnaWe^ittle and'Mr* James R. Copeland entertained for Mrs. A. R. Shockley, one of the most admired of Clinton's daughters. On Saturday afternoon Mrs. J. Q. Phillips, Miss Agatha Davis, and Mrs. W. Watts Da vis received at the home of Mrs. Phil lips. A great addition to the pleasures of the town Is afforded by the attractive tennis court on the Baptist church green. Tennis is an exceedingly pop ular game here. Visitors in Town. Miss Carrie Farr of Atlanta is visit ing her mother and brother. The Misses Douglas of Hlaekstock have returned home after a pleasant visit to their brother. Dr. I). M. Doug las. Mr. and Mrs. II. A. Copeland and children of Columbia are guests at the homes of Mr. J. C. Copeland and Dr. J. H. Young. Miss Ssther Jeter of Santuc has re turned after a pleasant visit to the home of her uncle, Mr. W. B. Barr. Coming and Going. A party consisting of Messrs. J. F. Jacobs. W. J. Bailey, Cyrus Bailey, Wil liam Jacobs and John Voting left Sat urday for a two weeks' pleasure trip to New York city. Mrs. F. II. Bamett returned to her home In Atlanta today after spending the past three months with her daugh ter,,Mrs. A. V. Martin. Mrs. W. B. Owens left Saturday for a short visit in Montreat. Mr. S. }V. Sumerel is in Montreat. Miss, Tallul.ah Neville visited Mrs. Wll)ian*'/^ehcnck in Newberry the past weeto^:*i*</ Misses OrKW^Bees Little and Flor rle Burdette l^tem pi ate a visit In the mountains of/^Horth Carolina soon. Miss Fronde Kennedy is making up a party to go to New York. Philadel phia anu Washington the second week of August. ' Miss Sallle Wright returned from Atlanta Saturday. Mrs. Wright is con tinuing to improve and will shortly return home. Mrs. J. S. Constlne has returned 'rom the funeral of her brother In Klngstree. Stood Olemnon Examination*. The following young men stood the examination for Clemson scholarships last week: Paul Washington, J. A. Dritt. Clayton Young, l^eon Yeorgln. Frank Poole. Herman Henderson, Sam Thornton, Nlles Clark. Marvin Arm strong, Laurens Taylor, Dramlett Wood. Thomas Freeman, Sloan Rag well, Fred Armstrong, Wilbert Wood. MR, ROBT. H. HUDGEINS PASSES TO THE BEYOND Well Known Citizen tof thh Place IMcd Saturday Horning After an At tack of Paralysis a few Days Before. Mr. R. H. Hudgens, a prominent and infiuental citizen of this place, died at his summer home a few miles from the city Saturday morning at three o'clock, after an illness of only a few days. Wednesday afternoon Mr. Hudgens was driving to his homo in the country in his automobile im provised for carrying his farm pro duc and home supplies. He left here with a large load of materials Just before a shower of rain, which he later ran into. Getting about a mile from home he was stricken with paralysis on the left side. Stickiug grimly to his machine, he succeeded in driving it all the way home and in to the shed when assistance came. He gradually grew weaker and weaker until this morning when the end came. The funeral services were held at Chestnut Hidge cemetery Sunday after noon, the services being conducted by Rev. W. B. Thayer, assisted by Rev. A. T. Jamison, superintendent of the Connie Maxwell Orphanage. Here his wife, who proceeded him to the grave 26 years ago, and other relatives are buried. The services were attended by the largest assembly of people ever seen at a funeral In this county. The floral offerings were inagnilicient and bounteous. Flowers came front num berless friends both in this county and elsewhere. The Southern Cotton Oil company sent a inagnilicient cluster of flowers while several other large boxes were received from different managers of oil mills both in South Carolina and Georgia, Mr. Hudgens was 65 years of age and was still healthy and strong when stricken. He was born in Chestnut Ridge section of this county and at the age of fourteen years went to the fron with the Confederate army. Be ing but a boy at the beginning of the war, he kept at the side of his brother but as soon as he. became large enough he took a man's place in the conflict and fought througout. the war. Returning to his native county, he took up work upon the farm and was very successful. Moving to Laurens In the early nine tics, he became interested in differ ent enterprises. He bought the old Laurens iron foundry and machine works and later a ginnery. These enterprises he conducted very success fully. The Laurens Bonded Ware house was built by him. Dining the nineties he bencmo interested in the' present plant and became manager of it for a stock company. When the company sold out to the Southern Cotton Oil company he remained as manager and held that position at his death. All of this time, he conduct ed his farming operations using pro gressive methods and producing re sults. At bis death, Mr. Hudgens was the possessor of a considerable prop erty. In his early life, Mr. Hudgens mar ried Miss Nannie Harksdale. died in 1880. Their children arc Mis. C. H. Roper, Miss Fay Hudgens a matron in the Connie Maxwell Orphanage, Messers A. L. and E. S. Hudgens, Mrs. W. E. Meng. Mrs. B. V. Roper and Miss Nannie Kate Hudgens. Mr. Hudgens was a prominent figure in the life of Laurens. During his early and middle period of life he took a great deal of interest In what ever tended towards the progress and wellbeing. He was several times an alderman and one time an intendent of this city. He unselfishly worked for its advancement, giving his time and money whenever needed, though in latter years he had left this to younger hands. He was very liberal and charitable, though giving in a quiet and unostentious way, never turning down a call from one In need. He was a substantial business man, always honorable and upright in his dealings. His friends were unnumbered and his enemies few. He was a real credit to the community and one whjpsc loss will be felt by all. Lucky Thirteen. Laying aside all jokes and dicta phones, and beginning a back-to-the farm movement, there Is no doubt but that Mr. H. Terry was showing yester day the finest bunch of tomatoes that ever tantalized an onlooker. The bUDCb, 13 on one vine, weighed six pounds. They were raised by Mr. John O'Dell of Spnrtanburg and sent as a present to Mr. Terry. STARTUNG TESTIMONY BY DETECTIVES IN THE EMPLOY OE THOMAS B. EELBER W. J. Burns, of International Fame as a Detective, Has Been on the Trail of Bleaseand His "F riends" for the Last Few Months?Alleged Dlcto- - graph and Other Testimony Introduced to Show that Blease has Accepted Graft and that Pardons are Bought With Money. (By Joe Sparke In The State. 1 I Augusta, Ga., July 12.?Backed by William J. Burnes, the detective of In ternational fame, and the dictagraph that has played such an important part in the conviction' of grafters In the United States, Thomas B. Felder, the Atlanta attorney, today began his of ficial attacks on the record of Cole L. Blease, governor of South Carolina. "Wo are going to clean out the Augean stables today," he said. Previously Mr. Felder had prom ised the people of South Carolina that ho Would, when be got on the wit ness stand, "lay Cole Blease's record bare to the bone." William .1. Burns, the detccllvo who put the liOS Angeles dynamiters | behind the bars, uncovered a dyna mite conspiracy extending across one side of the United States, and has fig-( ured in the apprehension of more big criminals than any other one man In the 1'nited States, was quoted from the witness stand as declaring that the San Francisco graft case was in finitesimal "compared with the con ditions which have existed In South Carolina." Charges Startling Conditions. Piece by piece Felder, in his testi mony, charged alarming and startling conditions of official corruption In South Carolina. For five hours or more he was on the witness stand and In a connected story made the charge of unlimited graft, legislative "syndi cates" controlled by Blense as sefrn tor, of money demanded by the "syn dicate" to block legislation, of par dons alleged to have been purchased from the governor, one in Charleston having cost $2,000; of corruption money collected from railroads for engineering out of the legislature1 bills the railroads didn't want, of a' frame-up made In Atlanta by Blease and ?Hub" II. F.vnns with Blllthen tbal & Blckcrt, a wholesale whiskey bouse, for adding rebates to the cost of whiskey sold the Slate dispensary so the rebates could be turned over to the board of control by the whole salers; of $4,000 in one lump sum paid Into the bands of Cole I- ?lease and Hub Kvans by Monroe Blckcrt, when the deal was; first framed on the occasion of a visit to the liquor I house In Atlanta: of the schedule of protection tax levied on the Charles I ton blind tigers by Blease. and (,f his j share with Chief Constable Stothart in that monthly tax. The Parting- Shot. Finally the session closed tonight with the testimony of William J. Burns, whose parting shot was a di rect statement in reply to a question from Representative Cary, that Cole L. Blease is a grafter. The commltteeman had asked: "Will your records (referring to the dictagraph records and affidavits) show that Cole T,. Blease has grafted, ns senator and as governor, under the liquor laws of South Carolina?" Mr. Burns' reply was plain, short and pointed: "Yes, they will." The hearing had adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning when Detective Reed, of telephonic device fame, will go on the stand. Several sensations for the Besslon tomorrow were promised tonight by Mr. Felder. More of the dictagraph testimony will be presented, and It Is known that several well-known South Carolinians will he Implicated. The session will be resumed tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. The committee has restricted Fel der to the official record o* Gov. Blease and has conslstantly refused to hear testimony bearing on pri vate life of the chief executive. (By Joe Sparke in The State.) Augusta. Ga., July 12. -Appearing before the dispensary investigation committee today, Thomas B. Felder of Atlanta, former attorney for the wlndlng-up commission, submitted in documentary form evidence gathered by detec.lveK on the force of William J. Burns bearing on the word of Coleman L. Blease as a state Senator and governor which is of a sensation al nature. Part of the evidence In troduced by Felder is to the offect that tbe "blind tigers" of Charleston raised a fund to elect Blense gov ernor of South Carolina and that Chief Constable Stothart personally paid to the governor each month's sums aggregating betweon $:i,f?O0 and $r>,000, which were collected from il licit liquor dealers in return for pro tection. The testimony Is the result <>f conversations with Stothart and "Blind tigers" either face to face or overheard on the dictagraph by Mr. Bailey, one of Burns' detectives, who posed as a gambler and "blind tiger" in Charleston. Olio of the documents introduced says that Charlton Wright of Co lumbia told Burns' detective that he knew Blense was a crook because when tlie governor was in the senate and he was working lor "Abnoy" he had given Blcasc a check for $500 for blocking some railroad legisla tion. Felder told of a conversation he had had with Senator Blease per sonally about stopping a bill affect ing the interests of the telegraph companies in which the need of the "quid pro quo" was mentioned as tbe only means to the end. Folder said he told Senator Blease he was not manuging that end of the business for the telegraph company he represented. Mr. Folder said that several months ago ho and W. J, Burns had a con ference at Augusta with two leading South Carolinians, at which time they spent over a day in conference, going thoroughly over many records, and that at its close Mr Burns said that in his 30 years <>f experience he had never before seen as much graft OH there was in the South Carolina sit nation. The Han Francisco graft, ho declared, was Infinitesimal in compar ison with the boldness and character of the grafters in South Carolina, j Mr. Fehler stated thai Burns said he usually did not take charge ot such cases, hut on account of the con dition of affair:-, he would personally take charge of the situation. Put Men at Work. He said thai Mr. Hums put two men to work in South Carolina, Mr. Felder aslso said that, the two South Carolinians had promised to ius sist him financially in bringing those responsible for conditions of affolrs to justice, but the assistance was not. forthcoming, and In had finished the matter alone, lie proposed to continue it to the end and bring the culprits t<> justice. "When this man is unfrocked of tbe robes of his office," said Mr. Fel der, referring to Blease, "I propose to lay tlie evidence which I have gath ered before some grand jury in South Carolina that he may be brought to justice." Ho referred to Blease as the spirit and genius of tlie plundcrbund. and charged that tbe governor had re ? ceived rebates. Mr. Felder said that he understood that Blease hod some letters purport ing to reflect on Felder and the attor ney general. Mr. Felder announced that if Blease bad such a letter It was forgery and be defied him to have It published. Mr. Felder started to read some affidavits concerning something which happened during the Southern Commercial congress in Atlanta, . but the committee would not allow thorn to be read, and they were privately handed to the committee and turned over to them. These affidavits con cerned the conduct of Gov. Blease during bis visit to Atlanta on the oc casion of the conference referred to. Mr. Felder said that following the I Augusta conference Hums put two men to work in South Carolina: that one of them operated In ond oround Charleston for several months, posing as a big gambler ond blind tiger nam (Continued on Page Three.) I