Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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he ~~ Ae riser. 12 PAGES. PART 1, PAGES 1 TO * VOLUME XXIX. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, MARCh 18, 1914. NUMBER 34 COURT ADJOURN[D SATURDAY_[Y[MIMG Business Was Dispatched With Rapidity. THE GRAND JURY MAKES PRESENTMENT Recommends Change in Undergrade Crossings at Two Points on C. & W. C. Railroad and Again Recommends Improvements to Court House Piaza. The court of general sessions ad journed Saturday afternoon after a week of unusually hard work. A num her of lengthy and hard-fought cases were tried and the court established a very fine record in disposing of bus iness. Judge I. W. Bowman, the pre ekling judge, was very particular to make every moment of the court's time count for something and much business was dispatched. He was sec onded in all of his efforts by the other officers of the court. The record of eases tried will be found in other col umns of this paper. Grand Jury Presentment. The grand jury made its present ment Thursday afternoon in which sev eral recommendations were made as to railroad crossings. The condition of the court house plaza was again called to the attention of the court with a recommendation that grass be planted and suitable walks laid off. The presentment is as follows: 'Po His Honor, the Presiding Judge: We have passed on all bills banded us by the solicitor except that of the State vs Sallie Robertson. We de eire the presence of L. 1C. Moore and J. M. Miller as witnesses, and recomu mend that the bill be carried over till the next term of this court and that these persons be bound over as wit nesses to appear at, the next term in aid case. We recommend that the Charleton and Western Carolina Railway ' i yany be required to alter the i -r ground passage for the highway lead ing from Laurens C. H. to Cold Point near Dadgett Creek so that such pas eage shall permit full view of the highway for persons travelling same from either side, the passage to run in the same direction as the highway instead of being at an angle to same. That the said Railway Company be required to change the benches un der trestle across Warrior Creek where said trestle crosses public high way so that such benches shall be parallel with general direction of highway or make such alteration in said crossing as will make same less dangerous than it now is. We recommend that the county jail be wired for electric lights at once, and that the County Board of Con mnissioners make the necessary con 'tracts to carry this recommendation into effect. We recommend as heretofore that the court house grounds be planted in grass and that walks be laid off as approaches to the Court House. We also recommend that the City Council of the City of Laurens be requested to provide by proper ordinance for fining or' punishing trespassers on the court house grounds outside of the walks and aplproaches to the court house. We recommend that this present ment and the final presentment of the Grand Jury at the September, 1913, tert of this court be served on all persons who were recommended to take any action in either present ment. We have appointed proper commit es tn look into the different mt ters proper for our consideration, they to report at somne subseeuent term of Ols court. We thank all, the' officers of this court for courtesies shown us. J. 'E. Philpot, F'oreman. Report of Commissioners. The annual report of the board of county comnmissioners was put into the hands of the court, being dated March 10th. A general review of the eomimission's work is made, closing with a report on the magistrates of the county. In this it will be noted that Magistrate W. T. Crews, of Lau rens township, was reported for not making reports as required .by -law and for not making settlement with the county treasurer. The report of the board of e-.anmissioners is as follows: To His Honor, the Presiding Judge, and the Grand Jury: The County Board of Commission ers of ILaurens Counity beg to report as fellows: As to Poor House, we would report that contract has been renewed with Afr. W. B1. Motte as Superintendent for *o peer house for the ensuing fiscal rear, on same terms as .for last year, 1. e., the superintendenft is to turnish~ ettabo diet, do the 1washing and (Continlued on Page Four.) BABCOCK GOES OUT STRAIT GOES IN Dr. Babcock Sends in his Resignation and Governor Accepts It. Dr. Strait Succeeds Him. Columbia. 'March 13.-Gov. Blease today -accepted the resignation of Dr. James W. T'abcock, superintendent of the State Hospital for the Insane, and appointed in his stead Dr. T. J. Strait, of Lancaster. This turn in the events of the Asylum came as a climax to the two days' session of the board of regents. Dr. Babcock became sup erintendent of the -aylun by appoint ment of Governor Tillman August 13, 1891. Dr. Strait is the senator from Lancaster county and was a member of the legislative committee that con ducted. the recent investigation into affairs at the State Hospital. Governor Bl ease was asked wheth or he had any statement to make with regard to the asylum situation. He said he had none but would be glad to furnish copies of the official cor respondence between himself and those at the asylum, since the letters are a public record which anyone is entitled to see. At this time the governor said he had no statement to make. His secretary furnished the copies of the oicial correspondence and the 'oficial notice to the secretary of state indicating the appointment of Dr. Strait as he new superintend ent. Dr. J. L. Thompson, the first assistant physician at the asylum, will have temporary charge of the superintendency until Dr. Strait qualifies as superintendent. TO REMODEL HOTEL SOON. Architects In Town Monday To Look Over King Hotel Property. Messrs. Stilwell and Myer, archi tects of Hendersonville, were in the city Monday conferring wvith Dr. H-. K. Aiken and Mr. J. D. Watts prepara tory to drawing plans for the remodel ing of the King Hotel property. They left the same evening to begin work on the plans which will require sev eral weeks and immediately, said I)r. Aiken Monday, the contract would be let for the construction. Though no final decision has as yet been made as to the plans, Dr. Aiken was able to give a general idea as to the work which will be done on the building. The metallic exterior on the front of the building will be r moved and a decorative pressed brick front will be put in, both on the hotel property and the two store rooms. The gabled roof will be removed so as to allow for a straight sky-line, this line to be slightly higher than the build ing occupied by H. Terry next door. The present lobby will be re-arrang ed in several particulars, a tiled floor being among the improvements. The two store rooms will also be lowered and improved. Instead of adding other stories to the building, an addition will be made in the rear. In this will be six spa cious sample rooms and sixteen bed rooms. The extension will be abou$ '76 feet long. The rooms in the pres ent building will 1)e overhlauled and changed around considerably, so as to allow for additional bath roonms. Whlen the building is completed, about one half of tile rooms will be provided with private baths. Though no deci sion has yet been made as to steam heat, it la thought that a comp~lete "heating plant will be installed. The owners expeoct to make the luilding comfortable, convenient and modern. Christian Endeavor. The Christian IEndeavor of the Pres byterian church will iold a business meeting at seven o'clock Wednesday evening in tile Sunday school room. There will also 'be a regular mbeeting Sunday evening at the same, hour. A full attendance is requested. New Rural Policemen. The four new rural policemen and A. D). Sullivan, who was reappointed, will be sworn Into office Friday and will immediately begin their duties. The appointment of these men has been widely commended by citizens who know them and they are expect ed to (10 good work. Measuring Party at (Gray Court. There will be a measuring party at the home of Mr. andl Mrs. Julius Cur ry on Wednesday e, -'ning, March 25th. Tce Cream and cske will be for sale. Th's is In thn interest of thle Gray Coun -Owi ngsm PSchool Impr)ovemenODt as Isocdation. The public is cordially in vited CORNELIUS EDWARDS CLEARED BY JURY Plea of Self Dlefense Accepted by Jury in Cuse of Killing of Sharpe lroth. ers. Cornelius Edwards, who shot and killed the two Sharpe boys, Ernest and.Hunt, near Barksdale Station Oc tober 27th of last year, was declared innocent of murder by the jury which sat on his case Friday and Saturday. The trial consumed all of Friday and a part of Enturday, the jury rendering its verdict before the noon recess Sat urday. They remained in the jury room hardly over five minutes before returning to announce the verdict. The State was assisted in the con duct of the case by the law firms of Richey & Richey and John M. Cannon, Esq. Solicitor Cooper took part in the examination of the witnesses, but was prevented from making a speech by a severe cold. Ferguson, Featherstone & Knight conducted the case for the defense. * As recited in The Advertiser follow ing the tragedy, the killing grew out ol hard feeling existing in the families of the Sharpes and Edwards after Cornelius !Edwards had compelled Ernest Sharpe to marry Edward's sis ter in Greenville. Ernest Sharpe was 22 years of age, Duncan Sharpe 18 and Cornelius Edwards 21. Both the state and the defense Intro duced testimony to show that both sides had indulged in threats prior to the killing, though the state was un able to develop convincing evidence of continued hard-feeling on the part of Cornelius Edwards subsequent to the marriage In Greenville. Several witnesses were put up by the defdsse to .tell of threats made on several oc casions by Ernest Sharpe, it being tes tified that he ordered a pistol specially to put his threats into action. Cornelius Edwards went on the stand in his own defense and made a cool and collected witness, telling the story of the tragedy and the incidents lead ing up to and ,immediately following. In answer to questions of counsel, his testimony was substantially as fol lows: Cornelius Edward's Testimony. I am 21 years of age and live at Barksdale Station. Mother is living but father is dead. I live in the house with my mother, my brother (Claude Lamhert) and sister. I work for Mr. Arthur Putnam. On the morning of the 27th I was ordered to take a four mule team and go to the Armstrong place to get a load of wood. I met Ernest and Hunt S'harpe after leaving the main road at Knights Station. I was riding left hind mule. The place where I was gding to get the wood was about a mile from the home of the Sharpe boys. About 1 3-4 miles from Knights I looked up the road and saw Ernest and Hunt Sharpe coming in a buggy driving a mule. I com menced to pull the front mules out of the road and they became fright ened at a gully. I succeeded in pull ing the mules out of the road, but not the wagon. The Sharpe boys passed me and ran out on the bank of the road. I bad double set of lines of front mules in left hand and guided the rear mules with single rein in right hand. Didn't notice Sharpe boys as, they passed. There was barely enough space to pass. They passed on right side of the road, being my left side. When they got to rear end of the wagon, Ernest says "Hold on". I was not looking back. I had my right foot over the horn of the saddle. I wheeled around and saw a dlouble bar rel gun pointing at me. I saidl, "Oh, Lord, pardner, I haven't a thing against you". Er'nest Sharpe relied "I have you." I had my left shoul der to them. lie shot me. I fell on the ground on outside, near the mule's front leg. I -fell on my right knee. I was shot In the shoulder and( nec'k. They jumped out of tihe buggy and came running at me. I said "Don't shoot anymore". Ernest had shot gun in right 'hand end pistol in left hand. Hunt had a pistol. Erndst pressed the gun to my side and asked "How bad are you hurt? Ho0w does It feel Dad Jim you, I'll shoot you again." I then shoved his gun off with my left hand and shot him with my right. I shot Ernest first, Hie ran Into the bushes on the side of the road. Hunt ran up and shot at me. I was still on my knees. - The flash from Hunt's gun burnt my jaw. I wheeled and shot at him. He jumped to the side of the road. I jumped up and started to run. (Continnnd on Pagrn Eig-ht.) SOCIAL AND PERSONAL CLINTON HAPPENINGS Many Things of Interest About the People of the Neighboring Town. Clinton, March 17.-On last Wed nesday about 1 o'clock D. E. Tribble & ICompany's building was completely destroyed by fire. When the fire was discovered the flames had burst through the back end and the wind was very high and strong and made it impossible to get the flames under control though the fire company work ed faithfully and (lid save several buildings near. It is not known how the fire started unless in a negro cabin next to the Tribblo building, which was also destroyed. The second floor of the Tribble -building was stocked with cof fins, caskets and undertaker's sup plies. Some of these were gotten out but were ruined by water. The in surance on the building will cover about one 'half the loss. About 9:30 o'clock the fire whistle blew for the second fire which was a warehouse and was put out in a lit tle while without damage. And at 5 o'clock in the morning the whistle blew for a third fire In the "Home of Peace" at the 'Ihornwell Orphanage caused from a defective wire. The young ladles who discovered the fire put it out before the company got there. Mrs. Frances Stone, wife of Mi. W. A. Stone, who lives near here, died at her home Wednesday at one o'clock. after an illness of several (lays. Mrs. Stone was a woman of lovable char acter and admired by all who knew her. The funeral services were held at Hurricane on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Mrs. Stone in survived by her hus -nd, Mr. W. A. Stone and the follow ing children, Messrs. C. W. and J. It. Stone, I). E. Tribble of Clinton and Mr. E. W. Stone of Union and Mrs. Mamie Finney and Mrs. Sallie Horton of Clinton. Mrs. Ellie Copeland Webster, daugh ter of Capt. J. W. Copeland, Sir., of this city, died Saturday morning at 5 o'clock, after an illness of one week, (leath being due to pneumonia. 11er unmtimiely death caused a great surprise and a feeling of profound sorrow among her many friends. For the past few ve:rs Mrs. Webster had been liv ing here with her father, her huts band having died at Chicago their former home, four years ago. She was a ('h ristian woman of many noble traits of character. The body- was carried to Statesville Saturday afternoon, where the fun eral was held Sunday morning, inter ment being by the side of her husband who preceded her to the grave just four years ago. The body was ac companied to its last resting place by the parents and relatives of the de ceased, as well as a number of friends. Mrs. Webster is survived by one child, little Frank Wallace Webster, aged 4 years; by her parents, Capt. and Mrs. J. W. Copeland, and by three sister, Mrs. Dave Craig of S'tatesvillo, Mrs. Bunting of Baltimore Miss Corrie Copeland of Statesvillo, and one brother, J. W. Copoland, Jr., of this place. GOING TO SP'ARTANDURO. For Meeting of State Teachers Asso clation. Laurens a Strong Contend er for Trophy Cup. A large number of the teachers of the city and county are making pre parations to attend the state teachers association in Spartanburg Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week. Spe cial effort is being made to have a large attendance from this county, as this county is contending for the trophy cupi being offered to the coun ty with the largest percentage of its members present. Besides the promhutent South Caro linians to be present, two national figures will attend the meeting and make speeches. They are lHon. P. P. Claxton, U. S. Commissioner of Edu cation, and Mrs. Cora Wilson S'towart, who will speak on "Moonlight Schools." Company Inspection. The Traynham Guards, the local military company, will 'be inspected by Adj. Glen. Moore and an officer of the regular army on the night of the 23yd. The company has been drilling regu larly for the past few months and ex pects to make its usual fine record. W. Rt. Richey, Jr., Is captain, 0. Roy Simpson, first lieutenant, and Joe Smith, secnd lieutenant. INSPIRING MEETING COMES TO CLOSE Revival Services Came to an End Sunday Evening, After Forceful Sermon by Dr. Jenkins. The revival services which have been in progress at the First. Baptist church for the past two weeks came to a close at the Sunday night service. Monday morning )r. Millard A. .Jon kins, who has conducted the services, and Prof. Bell, who has led in the singing, left for their respective homes, followed by the best wishes of those who learned to know them while here. Sunday afternoon )r. Jenkins con ducted a special service for men which was very largely attended. lie preachedi a strong and forceful ser mon which was given the closest at tention by his large audience. Again Sunday evening the church auditorium was filled to overflowing with men, women and children, marking a fitting close to two weeks of church revival. Much interest was aroused in the entire meeting, the congregations i growing larger each night as the ser vices progressed. Dr. Jenkins put a great deal of thought into his mes sages and delivered them with tell ing effect. Very encouraging results were attained, numerous applications being made to joint with the church. Besides those connecting themselves with the church in which the services were conducted, others signified their intention of connecting themselves with the congregations of other de nominations. Taken withal, the ser vices were productive of much good to the entire community. AS TO TOWNSHIP CONTESTS. In the County School Fair. Laurens and Hunter in One Class, Other Townships In Another. The committee on prizes for the county school fair to be held April 17, has announced that the county will be div'ided into two classes in the compe tition for township prizes. Laurens and lhunter townships will be in one class, known as Class A, while the remaining townships of the county will be grouped in another class. known as Class B. This division is made in order to place all the schools on an eqlual footing. To the school in each township scoring the greatest number of points will be given a prize. Out of a total of 100 points, the literary contest will count 42 points, the athletic contest 21 points, the exhibit of school room work 21 points and domestic arts and manual training 16 points. Judging from the enthusiasm al ready aroused over these contests, nearly every school in the.county will be represented. NEW CI[AIR CAR SERVICE. Provision Made for Summer Travel by the Charleston & Western Carolina Railroad. Pullman chair cars were attached to trains No. 1 and 4 of the C. & WV. C. railroad Sunday, running between An gusta and Ashville. These cars con nect with the Carolina Special at Spartanburg allowing for travel from Auigusta, Lau rens and intermediate stations to -Ashville without change. The addition of these cars gives the travelling public splendid service on the C. & W. C. Very recently this road equip~ped its principal passenger trains with new and modern passen ger coaches with steel underframes vestibuled from endl to end, giving now, with the additional chair cars, well equipped, comfortable and even luxurious service. It is understood that further im provements in the service is contein platedl at no distant (late, improve ments wvhich were planned before the absorbtion of the C. & W. C. by the At lantic Coast Line. The nature of this service has not yet been made public. lting Found After 22 Years. The engagement ring of Mrs. F. M. Donnan, of Laurens, that was lost 22 years ago on the Donnan farm in the Tylersville section, was found by one of Mr. F. L.. Donnan's little daughters a few dlays ago. The ring is as bright as new. Cotton Market. The cotton market has ben. rather .strong for the past few (lays and a steady rise has been experietteed. Apots were bringing around 13 1-I on the local market yesterday. A number of holders are unloading. TRIED FOR MRD[R GETS lIfE_SNT[NCE Junk Caldwell Goes to Chain Gang for Life. TO TRY GREENWOOD ROGERS FOR ARSON M!aniy ('uses :Ilisposed of by Court, of ('eneral Sessions. Btob (loner Re celres Senutence of Ion Years for his ('onnection with larn Iurning. Junk Caldwell, implicated along with the two other negroes, Green Wood Rogers and Tom Young, in the killing of Mr. Geo. F. Young near Renno on January 9th, wiis placed on trial -Wednesday morniism following the conviction the night before ot' Greenwood Rogers. lie was also found guilty anl rcoilmhenided to tho mercy of the court. Caldwell being without counsel, the court appointed W. lR. Richey, .1 r., of the local bar, to defend him. Mr. cooper was assisted, as in the trial of Greenwood Rogers, by Senator 'Macbeth Young;. of Un ion, and ('ol. .1. H. Ferguson. Follow.. ing the announcement of the verdict, Judge Bowman paid a high tribute to the intelligence and manhood of 1bau rens county juries, also taking occa. tion to commend the young attorney for the defense 'because of his ablo conduct of the case. The court also spoke In very praiseworthy terms of the attorneys for the state. The testimony in this case was in large lart a repetition of that in the Greenwood Rogers case. Torn Young, the third negro implicated in the case, went on the stand again and re iterated his confesson as to the crime, stating that he, Junk Caldwell and Greenwood Rogers laid the plan to kill Mr. Young several nights be fore the tragedy, that they went to the -house about one o'clock in the morning and that G .menwood Rogers tired the shot that disabled Mr. You ng as lie sat in front of the tire-place reading. He went further into tle incidents inmmediately following, by relating that Rogers took the burn ing coals out of the fire and scattered them over the house in the attempt to set it on tire, after hitting Mr. Young in the head with the axo and robbin; him. lie also related how lie and Junk Caldwell went to the woods nearby to secure broom straw and pine needles and placed these under the corner of the 'house to make it burn faster. lie related again the in cidents as to the distribution of the money by Greenwood Rogers and the carrying of the stolen meat to the house of Greenwood Rogers. Junk Rogers went on the stand in his own defense and attempted to make out an 'aibi. lie claimed to hava been at home the entire nigh., but he failed to account satisfaetorh'y for his whereabouts between eleven o'clock anid early dawn. lie repudiated a con fession p)reviouisly testified to by Mr. Stobo Young, son of the deceased, and. Deputy Sheriff Reid, saying that it was made undler duress andl that 'ho did not realize its import. Junk Caldwvell wvas sentenced to life i pirisonment by the court and was sent to the county chain gang Saturday. Thursday afternoon counsel for Greenwood TRogers mnade a motion for a new trial, but, It was dleniedl by the court. Solicitor Cooper has given no tice, however, that Rogers will 1)e in dicted beftore the grand jury for ar.. son, so this negro will have to remain inl the county jail until next term to stand trial on tis charge. lie ep peared to be the ring-leader in the entire affair. Like an Indictment for mulrder, a verdict of guilty of arson. without recommendation to the mercy of the court woluld mean a death puen alty. Tonm Young, the third negro impli cated in the case and the one on whosn testimony the other two have been convicted, will hardly be -brought to trial until the cases of the other two negroes have been finally disposed of. 'de is now in the olmty Jail. 11o1 (lover, who was indicted alone, with his mother, 10lmma (lover, for arson in connection with the burninag of Mr. M. 11. McCuen's barn near Princeton, was found guilty of ar~n in the crimine l couirt Thursday and rec- -mended to the mercy of t'h'e (Montinund on Page ~'linr,)