The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, July 17, 1912, Image 1
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'-be rescinded.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