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.

*- -- - e. x AL VOLUME XXIX. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1914.NUBR4 JOHN M. CAMNON HI[ COURT Y[ST[RDA Following a Quarrel Which Magistrates Court. Five of Col. Cannon, Killing I Sullivan Brought to Lauri John m. Cannon, a prominent law yer and member of the staff of Gov ernor Blease, was shot. to death yes terday afternoon at Gray Court by Joseph G. Sullivan, a resident of the Tumbling Shoals section of La'urens county and a former candidatO for the legislature from this county. The tragedy occurred about three o'clock in the afternoon within a few feet of the waiting-room door of the C. &. W. V. pasenger station at Gray Court. Five shots were fired. all of which took effect in the body of Mr. Cannon, four in the chest and one in the arm. The tragedy grew out of a case in Magistrate iellam's court in which Mr. Cannon had prosecuted a young brother of Mr. Sullivan. This case was the result of difficulties which took place at the Mt. Bethel school several weeks ago, this younger broth er, Humbert Sulivan by name, having been accused of striking the teacher, Miss Maude Sharpe, and using pro fane language in public. The entire community had been greatly stirred up over the affair and excitement ran high. The case was transferred from Magistrate Abercrombie's court in Sullivan township to that of Magis trate Ilellams in Dials because some of the interested parties were related to the former magistrate. The trial was set for yesterday morning and was held in the freight depot, this be ing the most convenient place. Mr. cannon represented the teacher in the prosecution and W. R. Richey the de fendant. The trial was marked by several heated passages and severe cross examination on the part of Mr. Cannon. At times the younger Sulli van. was restrained with considerable difficulty from rasing to protest against the severe arraignment. Feel ing in the improvised court room mounted higher and higher. but no un toward incidents occurred until af ter the trial when the tense situation crystalized in the tragedy which fol lowed. There were several eye-witness es to the tragedy but owing to the general excitomnt many conflict ing tales have been given. As near as possible the facts are as follows:-Mr. Cannon was standing within a few feet of the doorway of the Gray Court passenger station, when Mr. Sullivan ap'iroached and .began a discussion of the ease at point, accusing Mr. Can non of having made several false ptatements in his speech at the trial. Mr. Cannon replied that he had said nothing there that he intended to take back and that all he had said was true. Whereupon Mir. Sullivan called him a d-- l1iar, Plowvs followed and Mr. Cannon struck Mr. Sullvan across the head with the stick which he has carried sivaco his leg wvas brok th some hionths ago. At this point )it. Suilivan pulled his gun and began ii rapid-fire shooting. The first three shots were fired point-blank into Mr. Cannon's chest and the wounded man turned to get out of the way by dart ing into the waiting room only & cou 1)1e of stepts away. fter he had turn ed hie was shot twa inoir, both bd'1L *lets entering his bach. Mr. Uannon fell into the Whitlhi r'b-Wt bhhA his as sailant WAlked- away. - As 'sooh aA the tiiit ceased several rushed to Mr. th1inon's help, among them Drn. I). L. Bryson, who gave the \vounded mnan every possible attention. Mf'. 'Cnnon only spoke a few -words * before hie diedl, though he was eon .tcious to the end. HeT was sensible of his condition and remarked &o these standing around him that he was go ing to die and that he died in the de fense of the women of his state. A few minutes before the last he called for his little son, sbying that he would like to see hinm hefore the end. The following statement was madle before the coroner's jury b~y i'r. D. L. Bryson of Gray Court, who was the first to give medical aid: "Mr'. Clan non wvas shiot five times; two shots enlteredl from the hack nvid emerged In front. Twvo others tored the chest from the front. ae was also shot through the loft arm below the L[D IN GRAY XY BY J. C. SUtLIVAN Arose Over a Case in the Bullets Entered the Body irm Almost Instantly. Mr. ns Yesterday. elbow. lie died withi fifteen minutes after he was shot. Cannot say which wound or wounds proved fatal as no dissection was made." A Bystander Wounded. One of the shots, supposedly the lust before the pistol could be raised, took effect in the right leg of A1r. Archie Willis, a blacksmith of Gray Court, who was standing within a few feet of the tw o men as they were quarreling. Air. Timmerman, who is well known in Laurens, and is now in the freight depot at Gray Court was one of the closest bystanders. In fact he was so close that the powder from the gun stained his shirt. Mr. Sullivan made no attempt to escape, merely walking quietly to the back of one of the stores where he remained until he heard that his moth er. an eye-witness to the tragedy, had fainted. Shortly after the shooting he was brought to Laurens in an automo bile and was placed in the county jail. When approached in his cell at the county jail, he replied that he had nothing to say of the killing though he might make a statement today or tomorrow. Mr. Cannon's Career. John M. Cannon was the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Cannon, of Lanford Station, this county. He attended school at Lanford and later entered Wofford college where lie graduated. After teaching school for several years, he began the study of law in the ofice of F. P. McGowan, Esq. He was admitted to the bar about nine years ago and has practiced in Lau rens since that time. lie has always been promkiently identified with the public affairs of the county and serv ed one term as a representative in the legislature. He had a strong place in the hearts of a large number of his fellow citizens and was looked to by them for guidance and advice. lie was greatly admired by many who differed with him on public questions. Three years ago Mr. Canon mar ried Miss Jessie Huey, of Rock Hill, and she with a seven months old baby boy survive him. He is also survived by his parents and several sisters. The body was brought to Laurens yesterday evening and prepared for burial. The funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. CHURCH STREETEUS DOWNEJ). Taken Into Camp by the Olikerson House Stars Friday Afternoon. In a garrison finish the Gilkerson House ball tossers turned the tables on the Churdh street youngsters Fri day afternoon when the second or the qummer series went to the boarders by a score of 11 to 6. The Church street boys took the lead in the first few innings and held it until the last round when, wvith the score 6 to 3,. thd Gilkerson gang rallied and banged the pill1 to all corners of the lot. TPhe Church streetern $erO not able to "1tome back" in their half of the last Vree had~ t1'e game ended wIth the scoreo he per above. "Crip" Crisp bildhed a steady game until the last inning, when hits and runs began to get rather common. Gilkerson, J. started the game off for the boarders, but "Pat" Kinard took his pilace in the second, holding his opp~onents score less throughout the game, (except in the second inning when they made three runs). Following their great victory Friday afternoon the (Gilkerson aggregation was flooded with challenges from dif ferent aspiring nines. Such teams as the Quoin Counters, composed of hank presidents, etc., a joint stock company known as the Pill Rollers and Hide Openers, besides thme old riv als, the Church Streeters and others clamored for a chance at the board ing house boys, whjo have agreed to take 'em all on one at a time, Friday afternoon, weather permitting, the Quoin Counters will be entertained. Ladies and children will be admit ted to these games free of charge, hi t men Phould come pureparod to "divvy" up with about ton cents. The proceeds will go .to The B~oy Scouts., MEMORIAL DAY FITTINGLY OBSERVED Uraves Decorated Sunday Afternoon aid Honor ]toll of eYterans eand by Rev. C. F. Rankin. lon J. 31. Cannon Presided. Memorial Day was fittingly observ ed in Laurens Sunday with appropri ate exercises at the cemetery. The graded school children bearing wreaths and flowers gathered first at the school building and marched to the cemetery, where the elders had already assembled. The exercises here were pIr'esided over by lion. Joluhn M. Cannon and were opened with prayer by Rev. .1. 11. T. Major. pastor of the Methodist church. Rev. C. F. Rankin read the IHonor Iall or Confederate dead, naming those who had died since the celebration of the last memo ial day. The children of the graded school sang several patriotic airs dur ing the exercises and Rev. M. L. Law son closed with the benediction. Al ter this was concluded the women and children went from plot to plot lay ing flowers on the graves of the de parted soldiers. As is customary in connection with Memorial Day the ladies of the J. B. Kershaw chapter, U. D. C., assisted by other ladies of the community, served a basket dinner to the surviving sol diers of the county. Memorial Day falling on Sunday, however, the din ner was given Saturday preceding. Al though a number of the veterans were absent attending the reunion in .Tack sonville there was quite a large rep resentation to accept the hospitality of the ladies. The (lay was made un usually delightful for the old veterasn through the thoughtfulness of Supt. Jones and several of the teachers of the city graded school. The veterans were invited to be present at the school grounds at 11 o'clock as honor guests to witness folk and May pole dances by the children of the primary grades. The veterans sat In a circle surrounding the out-door stage and! watched the children as they went through their beautiful and graceful dances, showing by glowing counten ances and repeated applause that they were enjoying a real treat. After the dances were concluded 'Col. .1. ii. Wharton in a happy vein thanked the teachers and children in behalf of the veterans and Commander O. G. Thompson called for the "rebel yell" as an expression of appreciation and this was given with 'a vim. The vet erans marched to and from the school grounds escortedby by the boy scouts. At the ar'mo-y the veterans sat down to the usual sumptuous dinner which they have learr.ed to expect on these yearly occasions. The ladies had sparcd no pa1ins or expense in getting up the best to be had for the old he roes and when the call to mess was sounded such a feast was spread as left nothing to be desired. Manassas, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Appo matox were for the time forgotten while a heavy charge was made on the viands placed bofore them. After the dinner was concluded Col. WVharton 'was called on to make a few remarks and he did so in his custom ary manner, thanking the ladles for providing~ the dhmler. He also paid a fdrther tribute to the soldIers and wo men of the Confederacy, drawing con sidecrable ap~plause from the asqsem bledl veterans. The veterans then din persed in groups and enjoyed the re mander of the day in quiet conversa tion among themselves and other friends. WILL SPE AK AT TRINITY-RIDGE. Sec. IReed of theo State Farmers Union WilI Dscus Impiortant Topics There on ,May i6th.-Next Saturday. Secretary J. W. Reed of the State Farmers Union will address the Trin ity-Ridge Union of Laurens county next Saturday night, May 16th, at Trinity-Ridge. Mr. Reed will discuss 'the topic of farmers union and many other matters of the deepest interest to farmers and to business men. The publice is cordIally invited to come out andl hear Mr. Reed and it is hoped that every farmer and every business man that possibly can will be present. Increasedl ('apital Stock. Te Han na Manu fac turing Comp iany, of (Goldville,. this county, has been granted permission by the secretary of state to increase Its capital stock from $225,000 -'to $325,000. It is un dlerstoodl that the stock will be issued at a very nerly ate. TOMATO CLUBS TO HAVE RALLY DAY LoIal Quartette W1ill Give Eltertamill. Laurens on the sixth of Jutne. Sev eral Prominent Spenkers. According to an an noun lcelent made yesterday, the Tonato Clubs of Iau 1:e5 county will have A big rally day here on the Gth of June. Miss .Jayne (larlington, who is county organizer for the clubs, is making every pre paration to have a most successful and entertaining meeting. The exact progral has not yet b)een arranged but it. is understood that there will be exhibits of various kinds and spoceehes by prominenit men. A feature of the rally day will be the presence of a North Carolina can ning expert. who will demonstrate the proper methods of canning. lie will )ring with him all of the necessary tools for the work and his exhibition is certain to he both entertaining and instruetive. Among the speakers who have already accepted the Invitation to make talks are the following: Mr. .1. 1). W. Watts, Miss Edith Parrott, head of the Tomato Clubs of South Carolina, and Mr. Nivin of Clemson. Mr. Nivin will be remembered as hav ing given a most excellent exhibition here during the county school fair. Several other speakers of state-wide prominence have been invited and are expected to be here for the big rally. Miss Garlington is highly enthus lastic over the prospects of a success ful year among the tomato clubs. There are already fifty members of the Laurens county clubs and every member Is working hard for a ban ner year. Attention is also being giv en to the canning of other fruits. Al ready some of the girls have canned strawberries. Prizes for this Year. So far ten prizes have been donated for the Tomato Clubs. These prizes will be given next fall when the toma to club girls show their exhibits. 119. sides these prizes there are addition al rewards ;,r" good work in the way of trips to Winthrop College. Tic president of Winthrop has offered four trips this year to the prize win ners in Laurens county. These trips to die college last about tell days with all expenses paid and privilege of at tending the summer school. Two of these trips will be given shortly, the winners to be those who have tae best kept plat and the best kept record. The otihet two trips n il be awarded In tloe fall. SHIItNEIlS TO ATLANTA. Special Pullman Car Carried Laurens Shriners to 40th Annual Meeting of the Imperial Council. A special Pullman car left Laurens over the C. & W. C. Monday afternoon for Greenwood where it was attached to the special Shriner train going to the meeting of the imperial council in Atlanta. Besides those going in the 9pecial ear, severtal other parties had alreadly left by other routes, making a total of over thlirty Shrniners from Lau renis atteniding theo big meeting, llh sidecs the SIarinersq themselves, several other people went alon~g at the same time to enjoy the gaiety o fthe ocea sion. The travelers will begin to ie tulrn tonlight and by the end( of the week all of them wvill be at hlomei again. Amonig those that are attendling the council from here and~ adjoining towns are Mr. and Mrs. T. D). Darlington, Mrs. J. N. Hiudgenis, Mr. and Mrs. .1. W. Copeland, Jr.. of Clinton, Mr. anid Mrs. Brooks Swygert, Mr. and Mr's. P. B. Blakeley, Messrs. 0. B. Simmons, .1. Warren Bolt, H. S. Blackwell, 11111 Fisher, Hen ry Madden, J. S. Machen,'R. 'C. Gray, C. M. Miller, A. W. Teague, C. B. Shell, J. W. Fowler, II. Terry, RI. A. B. Sloan, 0. A. Gr'owning, Jr., of Gold Fleming, of Lanford, E. H. Moore, of Lanford, and others. Broughlt Conviet Back. tineputy Sheriff Reid retur'ned sev eral (lays ago from Greenwood wvth John Wallace, coloredi, who escaped from the county gang about a year ago. Wallace got into further troul ble after leaving his "job" here and hlad to servo time on the Greenwood chain ganig. Joint Picnic. Wadswvor'thl antd Youn igs schools will have a joint iclnic ait Wadlsworthl sciholhue on Saturday, May 16. Tile nlllic is cord(ially invitedl to attend. N B. DIAL FOR 1IMll TIlE STAT I Has Definitely Entered Rac tender Against All-Comer so as to Guarantee One a White Citizen. The friends here of N. It. Dial, ex ecentive com:nit teematn fr om this coune ty, have been urgiing him sinc the countny conventiott to ptt himself for ward as a candidate for chairn.it of the state exccutive coitiltee, and he has decided to "put his hat in the ring." IIe has gotten in touch with a nunber .of Infl iential friends over the state and has received considerable encouragement from those sou rces. Mr. Dial has been executive conit - teeman from thin county on several other oecasions and is well acquaint ed with the duties and responsibilities of the committee. Ills views on primary reform are well known, as he stated thema in em phatic terms at the county conven tion. While he does not look with favor on the movement to apply the qualilcations of the general election laws to the primary, he is in favor of such changes in the present rules as will guarantee an honest and fair election. In his speech before the county convention he stated that he would be willing to waive the prop erty and educational qualifications in the primary election laws, which have hitherto not been enforced, but that he was convinced that some changes were necessary in the rules of the party which would ensure a fair elec tion. The correspondent for the Charles ATTENDEI) WI NTIIROP MEETING. Laurens Couity had One 'ird of ill Delegates Present at Meeting on iomic EconomIcs. Fifteen ladies from this county at tended the conference at Rock 11111 last week to discuss home economics. Laurens county was more largely rep recentedl than any other county in the state, having over one third of all the delegatds in attendance. The meet ing was a very pleasant and profitable one and was greatly enjoyed by those who attended. Those attending from this county were: Hickory Tavern-Mrs. J. F. Thom ason. Trinity-Ridge-Mrs. J. D. W. Watts. Mt. Gallagher-Mrs. Jerry Martin. Gray Court---Mrs. Dr. Rodgers, Mrs. Efile Owings, Mrs. R. L. Gray. Watts Mills-Mrs. E. J. Jesse. Rock Bridge-Miss Young. Youngs-Mrs. Austin Abercrombie, Miss Lee Glenn. Lisbon-Miss Carrie Young, Miss Pear'l Corbott. Shlloh-.\iss Maurie simpsont. Barksdale-Mrs. Willis Yeargin. Ctoss 11111, Mrs. Conway Dial. WILL SING AT (110SS lIlLL. Local Quartette WIIIllive Entertain T[he local (iuartette composed of MessrA. 0. Hi. Iicks, RI. G. Franks, .. lC. Ilicks and .Jack McCravy htave sign edl up for an entertainment in Cross 11ill for Friday night, May 22nd. These popiular singer's have visited several of the towns near Lautrens within the last few months and at each per formance have made a great lit. They have selected an excellent program for these centertainments andl it is needless to say that thte entire pro gram Is well rendered. They are in communicatIon with sever'ai other schools and expect to make nmany more trips in thte near future. Miss Louise (artledge. Miss Louise Cartledge, sister of Mr. HI. 1F. Cartledge, cashier at the freight dlepot, diedl rather untex pecte1lly ini an Atlanta sanitarium last Wednes (lay morning. HeIr remains were ear iled to her old home in August a Thu rsdany afternoon and1( interred there. MIr. Cartledge, accompanied by Mrs. Cartledge, left for Augusta WVed non'd:ty aftertioont to lie present at the last rib's. Miss ('ariledge vIsite-d her brother here on several occasIOni an)d made 'many frIends who sytinaitize OMAM Of [CTEV COMMITT e and Will be a Strong Con s. Favors Primary Reform nd Only One Vote for Every ton News and Conlier had the follow ing to say of hit after a visit by Mr. 1 OI to (Col rmhia several days ago: Columbia, May l.-Mr. N. 13. Dial of Laurena. . hi e in Columb ia to-day annizou nced his candidacy for the (' airm ant liip of the Fate Democratic i( ecutive comiiatoe, regardless of who else m1.ay be in the race. Mr. Dial had nothing to say as to Nbo reported candidacy of for mver (Governor John Gary Evans for re-election, but stated that he was in the race. Mr. Diat u-m phasized the fact that h ;-as not a catldidat: for any o:iice tlli year. The State chairman is elected by t)h executive committee, which Is made up of one member from each of the forty-four counties, and the na tional comnmitteeman, who is United States Senator B. R1. Tillman. The State convention does not elect the chairman, as is said to be the impres slion in some quarters. The custom Is for the coinmittec to meet immediate ly following the adjournment of the State convention and select a chair man. In announcing his candidacy Mr. Dial camue out squarely for reform of the primary. Ile favors reasonable restrictions and says that he is tired and disgusted with the talk of the so called rich man and the so-called poor man. He said this is our coun try and every man has a right to speak out. TE AOI[ItUS BE-iLECTED. Trustees of City School Re-elect Alf of this Year's Teachers who Aippliett Again. The trustees of the city graded school met in the oflice of Chairman C. 11. Roper Saturday morning and pro ceeded to the election of teachers for next year. Several of the teacherisdid not apply for their old places, .but all of this year's teachers who applied for positions next year were re-elect e( by the board. They are as follows: Misses Emily Meng, Floride Harper. Ella Roland, Mary Bele Babb, Kittie Rich-ards, Dorcas Calmes. May Delle Barre, Fannie Creighton and Laura Barksdale, in the city school, and Misses Mary Simpson, Lila Hart and Irene Ray, in the Laurens mill school. It was announced some time ago that Supt. Jones would not accept re election and that Mr. 11. L. Parkinson had been elected in his stead. Others of the teaching force who did not ap ply for re-election wpre W. A. Barton, principal of the high school, and Miss es Annette Stover, Bessie Bar-nette and Bessie Williams. Their places hlave not been huled 'as yet. LAUJRENS NUIlSEM GRADUATE. Three L~aurenls ('ounty Young Womien Olet D~lils fromi Columbia Hlos lital. At the graduating exercises of the school1 for nuarses at the Columbia hos pital Fr-iday afterno1 on three Lauren s county young women received diplo mas, Miss Agatha Reid, of Laur-ens, lDallys Watts, of Cross 11111, and Mar garet C. (Gray, of Pr-inceton. All of theOso young ladie~s passedl their- ex aminations wvithl very creditable marks aind will doubtless do hoor to thiei r profession. IEight other nur-ses re coived dilormnas at tihe same timec. Thie gradluatinlg ex ercises Friday a f ternoon wvas a very hlapply occasion, the class5 room being plrofusely decor ated anld friends and relatives were~ pr-esent to extend congr-atulations. in or of thle gralduates to which a lar-ge nulmbor of people was invited. To Conduct Summer School. Misses May D~eile Barro and Emily Meng annbounce that they will conduct a suimmer school foi- two months, be' ginning June11 8th to teach childrenl who desire' addlitilonal training. Thley pr~opose to coachl puils oin anyi subljects ini whichi special work is IThey will furinlih any dlesired I, inetnll nn C enerin-la thhn s'clmot Arbi