The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, February 06, 1903, Image 1
ESTABLISHED 1865. NEWBERRY, S. C., FRIDA Y, FEBRUARY 6, 1908 TW A WEK
HUMAN LIFE IS CHEAP
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
FATHER AND'SON SHOT TO DEATH IN
FLORENCE.
In Presence of Wife and Mother.-Then
William King Snaps Pistol at
Woman's Head. -And It
Was All About
a Dog.
(Special to the State.]
Florence, Feb. 4.-William K'ug
shot and killed Samuel Rogers and
mortally wounded James Rogers,
father of Samuel Rogers, about
seven miles from here on the planta.
tion of Alonzo Hewitt late Saturday
evening.
From the evidence at the coroner's
inquest the following story of the
killing is obtained: Mrs. Hewitt,
who was an eye witness and in whose
yard the shooting occurred, said:
"I was at home when Mr. Rogers
came up in front of the house in the
road. Mrs. Rogers was with him.
Samuel Rogers, his son, had just
come from Florence and about to
turn his mule loose in the lot. About
this time Mr. King came up and
spoke to Mr. Rogers. Mr. King
asked Mr. Rogers about a dog. Mr.
Rogers told him that the dog was
down at the house and that he could
get him if he would go with him.
Mr. Rogers told Mr. King that as
he was a poor man he would ap
preciate it if he would give him a
little something for the care of the,
dog, as he had kept him for some
time, not knowing whose dog it was.
Mr. King replied: 'Yes, I will pay
you for keeping my dog and will pay
in lead and I will give it to you now.
He then drew a pistol and fired at
Mr. Rogers: Just as he fired young
Rogers said to King: 'If you shoot
papa you will have to shoot me.'
King quickly turned and pointing his
pistol at young Rogers, fired. Young
Rogers fell on his knees and then to
the ground. King then turned to
wards old man Rogers and opened
fire again on him, shooting him three
more times. I saw Mr. Rogers fall
to the ground. Mrs. Rogers theu
ran up and said to Mr. King: 'You
have killed my baby.' Mrs. Hewitt
then said to her. 'Yes, and he ha'
killed your old man.' King then
turned with his pistol still smoking,
and said to Mrs. Rogers: 'Yes, and
by God, I will kill the wholQ Q*-d
family." As he said so ho shoved
the pistol in Mrs. Rogers' face, and,
pointingit at her head, snapped it
oL.ce or twice. Had there been more
cartridges in the gun he would have
wiped o"A the entire family, as he
had stated, for there were only three
-father, wife and son."
The Rogers family lived several
hundred yards from Alonzo Hewitt
in a log cabin with one room. They
were poor people but hard working
and honest. The story as told by
Mrs. Rogers is practically the same
as told by Mrs. Hewitt.
Mr. Rogers also made a statement
which corroborates that of Mrs. Hew.
itt and Mrs. Rogers in every particu:
lar except that Mr. Rogers stated
that the dog in question had taken
up at his (Rogers') house. He did
n~fot know whose dog it was until in
4'lorence yesterday when a manr
~sknd him it he had a setter bitch at
~is house. He told him that he had
nie there that took up there but he
~~id niot know whose dog it was. The
~.~an, who, as he afterwards found
~out, was William King, who shot
him and his soni.
Mr. Rogers said further: "'King
told me in Florence he would give
m~re a little something for carmrig for
.the dog. That was all that was said.
z Have never had any trouble or wvords
with King, and never knew him until
yesterday. Never hadl any words
~with King before or during t hi
sh~ooti ng. There was no one present
but my son, Mrs. Hewitt and my
wife, but I believe that Mr. Thomas
.Hewitt camne up with the man King
and after the first shot lie begged
King not to shoot'.'
Young Rogers was shot only one
time and died within ten minutes
~after he was shot. TPhe bullet took
.weffect in tihe stomach and ranged
<downward. 01(d man Rtogersi was
shot four times, the first two shots
disabled both arms and .he last two
entered the body, and his life blood
is slowly ebbing away. He was re
pgrted to be dying late this after
noon.
It seems, too, that there is another
part of the story of the shooting.
King did leave a message for the
sheriff with his wife saying that he
did not mean to be taken and did
not want to lie in jail, so that he had
left the State. He said further that
if he was sure that the witness would
tell the truth that he would not mind
coming to Flrence and giving him
self up, but he would not risk it. It
it is also said that all parties had
been drinking and that when Tom
Hewitt drove up the Rogers, were
raising a row and it is said that King
claims that they both came on him
with knives and that he shot in self
defense. There is also a pitchfork
spoken of, and there are witneses for
the defense, as well as for the prose.
oution. Both sides, as nearly as
can be gathered, are presented to the
reader.
THE GOOD ROADS BILL
Killed in the House On Tuesday Morning.
Strongly Defended by Mr. Aull.
The Bill introduced in the House
by Mr. Aull, of Newberry, providing
for special elections in each county
in the State to decide whether or not
such county should issue bonds for
macapamizing and permanently im
proving the public highways, was
killed on Tuesday. The following
account is taken from the News and
Courier of Wednesday:
"Mr. Aull took up his road bill
and made one of the best speeches of
the session in favor of good roads.
He said:
A PLEA FOR oOOD ROADS.
I have listened with a great deal
of interest for the past three weeks
to the discussions in the House, espe
cially those bearing upon the sub
ject of roads and road improvement.
Judging from expressions of mem
bers on this floor, I should conclude
that the sentiment that something
should be done for the improvement
of our high ways, is strong through
out the State. Two bills have passed
this House on this subject which are
in the right direction, an-1 which will
help to improve the con .tion of our
public roads. The one a permit the
increase of the commutation tax and
the other to permit convicts up to
ten years to be sentenced to the
county chain gange. If I had my
way I would place all the convicts
now in the penitentiary, except the
women and children aind those too
feeble to perform hard labor, on the
public roads, and sell the State farms,
except a sufficiency to maintain the
conivicts whom we would be obliged
to keep within the penitentiary for
the reasons stated. Wthile the in
crease in the commutation tax will
help, yet I believe the only way and
the right way to secure good roads is
by a property tax. Why should the
State require or expect the non-prop.
erty holder, the negro and the poor
wvhite man, to keep up the public
roads and exempt the property in
incorporated cities and towns and the
railroads and other corporate wealth
froms bearing its proportionate share
of the' public burdec and contribut
ing its part in this public be'nefac.
tion. ? Tho benefits to this class of
property would be as great 'as to the
propert y in the rural dlist ricts. Every
bodlv neos the public road. It is the
sonree of all commerce and the small
artery which leads up -to the centre
of trade anud the feeder for the big
railroads which t ravers.' ou r country.
The public road is na much the pub
lie property as the Court House or
the jail, andc the burden of its build
ing anjd its n. aintenanice sh( nld rest
upon all the popl( and all the prop
erty alike.
For t hat reason the bill has b)een
introduced and it does not propopse
to) fasten tooe burden upon the people
excep)t b)y their consonit, but I want
the peoplo of each county t.o have an
opportunity to sny for themselves
wvhet her or not they want to take
this gre'at advance step and make an
iunvestment which, whilae it will in
crease their taxes, will pay them in
return ten fold, yea, a hundred fold,
not only in the comfort and conve
nience, but in the actual saving of
money. I do not know what the
conditions may be elsewhere, but I
know in my own county the public
highways are in a more deplorable
condition than they have been in my
recollection.
It will no doubt be objected that
this bill will. increase taxes and some
gentleman has said, that he did not
want to leave a debt to his children.
It will increase taxes, but it will in
crease them where the people are
willing to bear the burden and where
they can see and enjoy and reap the
benefits of the money they pay.
The biggest tax the people of this
country are paying today is the mud
tax.
All I ask is to give the people of
each county the privilege of saying
for themselves whether or not they
desire to continue to pay this heavy
mud tax or whether they desire to
take a forward step and get out of the
mud and by improving the public
roads increase the value of rural
property, make the country, as it is
Ly nature, the ideal place to live, and
stop the rapid de[opulation of the
rural districts. That is- all. Why
should we halt or hesitate when
everybody wants to see the roads im
proved? There is nothing more im
portant, for this General Assembly to
do than to provide the way for the
people to do something for the im
provement of the public highways.
After they are secured no one will
regret the cost or be willing to give
the reads in exchange for the money
-spent. Proper and equal assessments
of property and good schools are all
to be desired, but first of all, and in
order to secure the best results from
these other things, we want to see
our roads improved and put in such
condition that the people may reach
their local markets and railways and
perform their public duties with
some degree of comfort and satisfac
tion, not to speak of the saving in
time and in the wear and tear of
horses and vehicles.
I do not know how it may be else
where, but in my own county the
largest taxpayers are the ones most
ready and willing to be taxed for
road improvement. Not only that,
but under the present system the in
corporated towns, the railroads and
the corporations contribute not one
cent to the building or maintenance
of the public highways. They would
be as much benefited as the people
who, under the present law, are re
quired to keep them up, and, I sub
mit, are willing to contribute their
share if you will permit them to do
it, not because they are so philan
thropic in their interest in the wel
fare and comfort and convenience of
the people who live in the rural dis
tricts, but because it will pay them
to do it. S9me of the great railroad
systems of this country have already
spent large sums of money in making
experiments in road building, so as
to encourage the people, because
they know that good highways tribu
tary to their lines will increase their
business.
Tlhis is also a [nati( nal question,
and the General Godvernment has
added to the department of agricul
ture a department of good roads in
qjuiry, and Mr. Brownlec nowv has a
bill in CJongress providling for national
aIid under certain conditions. But
we- must at last dopenid uiponi our
se'lves for this great work. It is true,
hosvover, that something must be
done if we are to get the best re
suits from the free rural mail service
which in the past, few years has
grown so rapidly anmd isu such a con
venirence to our farmers andl of so
great practical benefIt to this coun
The condit ionis of ou r public high
ways is an essential factor in the ex
tension and oflicienicy of tis service.
The Post master General in a recent
report, in speaking of this subject,
said: "Good roadts become indis
pousab1le, andl thc-ir improvement is
he essential condit ion of the service."
In the State of Newv Jersey, one
of t.he leading States ini this move
merit, alnd where they have a com
missioner or public roads, arid o
property tax for macadamizing and
permanently improving the public
highways, the commissioner said in
op- of his reports: "The people
seem to be so wonderfully impressed
with the idea that by good roads the
value of land will be increased, trans
portation cheapened, travel and busi
near attracted, school houses and
churches filled, and civilization ad
vanced, that they are praying as
earnestly for them as for great riches."
The trouble is to keep them from
over burdening themselves. I want
to say to the gentleman who said the
other day that he did not think it
good business judgment or right to
leave a debt to be paid by his chil
dren, that if he will leave an inherit
ance of bonds, the proceeds of which
have been invested in good and per
mauent roads, his children will owe
him a debt of gratitude which they
can only pay by further improve
ment of the public roads for the
benefit of their children even if they
have to transmit to a succeeding
generation this inheritance of bonds.
It is a saying amongst the Arabs
that "lie who drinks of the Nile must
ever after thirst; no other water can
ever again quench or satisfy." So,
Mr. Speaker, if we give the people of
South Carolina a taste of good roads
they will never again be willing to
plod their way through mud and
sand, unless the two be mixed so as
to make a Macadam road.
Mr. Speaker, if we are to have
good schools, if we are to expect our
people to remain in the country
and the sturdy yeomanry of the rural
districts have ever been the bulwark
and defence of our country in times
of peril-we must do something for
our roads. We are two thousand
years behind the times. We are told
in history that the strongest ties that
held the Roman Empire together for
so many generations were the old
Roman roads, ana in later years they
were of great bene'it to the com
mercial interests of Rome. We lead
all the nations of the world in many
things, but. the condition of our pub
lie roads today, after more than a
century and a quarter of national
existence, is a blot. upon our civilira
tion.
This bill simply gives the people
of any county the opportunity to de
termine for themselves whether or
not they desire to take a forward step
and get out of the mud. It lays no
burden upon them except, as they
may have the wisdom to lay it upon
themselves. If any county does not
desire to do it there is no compul
sion. I am fnlly persuaded that tax
ation is the only plan by which we
can accomplish any results. I fur
ther believe that it is the right and
the equitable mode, I believe that
the farmers want it. I know that it
is right that they should have a prop -
erty tax for road building. "The
farms of the United States coi'npose
less than one fourth of the total
property of the country, yet that
small fraction pays the whole cost of
building roads. The injustice of the
system is not fully appreciated by
the farmers." I hope the bill will
pass.
Mr Williamnu and Mr Mauldmn op
posed the bill because of the dangers
of bond issues.
Mr Pearmani, of Andeorson, wvanted
the House to panse before placing
more debt on the people. '[le coun
ties are improving their roads as they
can afford. It is arn easy i ng to
get in debt, but hard to get out.
Mr Wingo saidl it was frightful
the way people were willing to go
into debt. lHe vigorously opposed
the bill.
Mr Lyles oppos4ed the bill buecause
the counties were already bond1( bar
dened, anid lhe feaired it would get
the negro back in to polit ics.
Mr Cooper- had no fear of the ne
gro vote. T[he simple quiest ion was
whether the various countiesd should
thems~elves be allownd to vole upon
a bond issue for good roadsH. Thuose
wvho do riot want such a bond1( issuf
need niot vote that way.
Mr D)eBruhl regarded this as f
most (dangerouls proposition.
T'he hjll was killedi.
Bags of gold make steady ballasi
for theoretic phianthr,-py.
STATE GOOD ROADS
CONVENTION MEETS.
GOV. HEY WARD ADDRESSES DBLB
GATES AT THE OUTSET.
Memorial to the Genera, Assembly Adopted
-Officers Reelected-Other Business
Of Importance.
[The State, 4th.]
The annual convention of the South
Carolina Good Roads association is
now being held in this city. All of
yesterday morning and a part of last
evening was consumed in addresses,
organization and the formulation of
suitable resolutions to submit to the
general assembly. Remarks on the
work being done in many of the
counties were made at the evening
session by the supervisors present.
The convention was o 9ned with
an impressive prayer by Rev. J. F.
Beasley.
An address of welcome was made
by Hon. Francis H. Weston and
Governor Heyward then spoke for a
few minutes in an enthusiastic man
nor upon the purpose of the conven
tion and the subject with which it
was dealing. Governor Hey ward be
lieves that the success of the move
ment can be accomplished through
taxation and by the bond system.
He assured the members that he
would heartily render them any aid
in his power.
Mr. F. H. Hyatt, the president of
the association, then addressed the
meeting chiefly upon the Brownlow
bill recently introduced in congress
providing for a national appropria
tion for the good roads movement.
The roll was called by State Geolo
gist Earle Sloan, the secretary, and
about 40 members responded.
The minutes of the meeting held
at Greenville on December 19 last
were read and the former officers
were then reelected -y acclamation.
They are F. H. Hyatt, president;
Earle Sloan, of Charleston, secretary,
and B F. Talley, of Anderson, treas
urer.
A committee of live was appointed
for the purpose of drawing up suita
ble resolutions and memorials to be
submitted to the legislature. The
members of the committee were J.
M. Major, Greenwood; C. D. Smith,
Greenville; E. McI. Williamson, Dar
lington; S. H. Owens, Richland; W.
P. Cautwell, Charleston, and the
president, ex officio, chairman.
The convention then took a recess
until 7.30 o'clock last evening when
the resolutions prepared by the com
mittee were submitted and discussed.
The resolutions as adopted read as
follows:
Whereas the development of the
resources and industries and the ad
vancemnent of the highest civilization
of this State largely depend upon
the highways and the condition of
these highways at p)resenit renders
them oxtremely difficult of travel,
the improvement of these highways
becomes an imperative ne'iessity for
which the present stat utory provi
sions are lamentably inadequate,
therefore be it
Resolved, That the honorable leg.
islature now in session be earnestly
morialized to enact such legislation
as will r-elieve the oppressive burdeons
of almost impossible travel to the
mnart of trade, to the school houses
and to the churches. T1hat th i- hion
orable body be petit ioned accordinigly
to grant the following prayers, to
wit:
1. That the respective counities be
authorized1 t.o i.sue county bonds(1 for
the b)ettermnenit of thiir public hiigh.
ways and bridges, provided the ma~
jority of such qunahlfed electors as
are freeholuders may so dlecido in an
election to be called by the county
comm issioners.
2. That the respetive boards of
county commiisoers of t his State be
anthoriz,ed to institute a tax levy for
the improvement of their respective
roadls ando bridlges.
3. That the honorable legislature
will enjoin upon01 our representatives
ini congress the imnportance of accord
ing their earnest support to the
measure now p)endling before that
body which provides for national co
opuerationi ini the improvement of nah.
lie highways, the same being essen
tial to the ready transmission of the
United States mails.
4. That the honorable senate be
urged to enact the measure approved
by the honoreble house which pro.
vides that all convicts under sentence
to penal servitude for a period of 10
years or less shall serve on the cha'n.
gangs of the respective counties in
which they have been convicted.
5. Resolved, That the chairman
thall appoint a committee, of which
he shall he cx officio chairman, to
bender a copy of those rotilutions to
the appropriate committees of the
ienate and house and to urge that
hey grant the relief herein prayed.
The second section at first indi
3ated that each township might be
,axed at the discretion of a majority
)f its free holders but this was
hought inadvisable and that section
vas so altered as to force the richer
ownships to help the poorer ones in
ase of a tax levy.
The following resolution was tinan.
mously adopted:
IHosolved, That the most earnest.
4xpression of grateful appreciation
>) extentded to his excellency, Gov
)rnor D. C. Heyward, for his warm
ympathies and very activo coopora.
ion with the Good Roads Associa
ion of South Carolina, and that we
hank him for his able address on
he subject. of "Good Roads."
The president announced that the
3ounty supervisors would then be
iear(1 from in nl phabet ical order, an
o the progress of the good roads
niovenent in their respective coun
Ass. Each gentleman's talk was
)rief but of great interest to the
nembers of the convention. The
mubjecits chiefly dealt with were road
natorial, food for convicts, their shol.
er, the cost of keeping them, the ad
rantage of State prisoners as coim
>ared with chaingang prisoners, long
,erm men as compared with short
term men, free labor, hired labor,
road machimes, etc.
County Supervisors 0. I. Nickels,
)f Abbeville, ). C. Bruce, of Bam
herg, J. 0. Carby, of Chester, Owens
>f Clarendon, J. B. Mc Bride, of Flor
?nce, J. H. Road, of Georgetown,
J. E. Speigel of Groenville, and
J. M. Major of (iroeiville spoke.
.rho convention t hen took a recess
antil thin morning at 10 o'clock,
when the remainder of the business
will be disposod of.
Among those in attendanco upon
he convention are as follows:
Abbeville---G. HI. Nickels.
Bamnberg-D1. C. Bruce.
Barnwell -A. W. Barker.
Berkley-J. H1. itairly.
Charleston-WX. P. Canitwell.
Cherokee-J. V. WVhtlhol.
Chester-Ji. 0. D)arby.
Cl arendon-Owens.
Colleton-J. V. Moore.
Dorchester-J. HI. Knight.
Fairfield-A. F. Hood.
Florence-- - J. B. McBride.
Greenville--J. E. Speigle.
Groonwool-J. M. Major.
Lancaster-L--t. J. Boyd.
Marlboro -M. E'. Coward.
Orangeburg--0. M. D)antzler.
Pickonii-L. D). Stephens.
Ric,hland-S. II. Owens.
Saluda-B. Matthews.
Sumter-W ~. HI. Seal.
Will iamsburg----J . ,J. (Graham.
L,ee--J. 0. Djeflant.
D)arlington-- . M. Winsron.
l"lorenmce--- 1). HI. TUrexer.
GbreonvilheE.J L. Walker, C. D).
Smithb.
Oconee- ---0. F'. Stal vey.
I(ichmland-- -D). C. Soutsburg and
B M. D)ouglas.
Snmtor---Q. T1. McNeil.
Iteflections of a Blachelor.
A pretty face for a sweetheart, a
pure one for a wife.
When a mian is poor he has a large
sense oIf his responsibi lity to his fol
low men: when rnot, of the responsi
bility of his fellow nme. to him.
There is such a curious twist to a
woman's mind t hat she cani make her.
self b)elievo, one of her fibs is the
truth wheni she can't make ainybody
else hali,, e it.Nw York 19..
CHARLESTON MAY BE
SAYED FROM CRUM.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE NOT LIKELY
TO VOTE ON HIS CASE.
Chances of Rejection Greater Than those
Of Confirmation-The Committee to
Consider the Case.
[News and Courier.]
Washington, Flruary 3.-There
seems one very good chance by
which the citizent, of Charleston may
escape having Dr. Crum made col
lector of the port. This would be
through having the committee on
commerce fail to take a vote. In
that event the Crum nomination
would die so far as this Congress is
concerned, and the President will
have to face the alternative of mak
ing a new appointment. He could
either appoint Dr. Crum over again
or select some white man who would
be acceptable to the business com
munity. In this way the Senate
would avoid the appearance of an
tagonizing the President and the
President would not have the
humiliation of seeing his selection
for the place rejected. Should
this come to pass it is believed
to be doubtful whether the Pres
ident would reappoint Dr. Crum.
lie would have an opportunity of
naming someono else, and yet not be
iii the position of having been forced
to do so by a Senate coin posed large
ly of his own party. It was definite
ly announced today wiat the Presi
dent would under no circumstances
withdraw the nomination of Dr.
Crum under pressure. This state
ment was m- de by Senator Depew,
of New York, a member of the com
mnerce committee.
The President would be gratified to
have Dr. Crum confirmed. At the
same time he is conscious of the
criticism the appointment has pro
voked, but. insists that he has not
been at all radical in showing favors
to the negroes of South Carolina.
Dr. Crum is the only South Carolina
colored man whom he has appointed,
and this is a more conservative re
cord than any previous Republican
President has made. The commerce
committee at the present stands
eight to eight. The committee i3
comp1)ose(d of ten Republicans and
six Democrats. The Repm'olicans
are Frye of Maine, Elkins of West
Virginia, Nelson of Minnesota, Gal
linger of New Hampshire, Penrose
of Pennsylvania, Hanna of Ohio,
Mason of Illinois, Dopew of New
York, Jones of Nevada arnd Perkins
of California. Trhe Democrats are
Vest of Missori, Berry of Arkansas,
Turner of Washingtoni, Martin of
Virginia, Clay of Georgia and Mallo
ry of Florida. Senators Jones and
Perkins are siding wvith the D)emo
crats and are in favor of rejecting
the nomination. This makes the tie.
Nelson and Elkins would be in favor
of the committee taking no action
until the (death of the present Con
gross, in the hope that the President
would then make the selection of a
white Republican. Senators P.en
rose and Gallinger believe that the
appointment is an injudicious one,
but will not make any move to break
with the President. Th'us it is seen
that unless the position in the comn
mittee changes it not likely to re
port oni the Crum case this sessioni.
If there is change it is quite as likely
to be in favor of the rejection of Dr,
Crum as it is to be0 in favor of his
con firm at ion.
SlIoN 01 sOMETIiN( TO 1nH IONE.
There i mst be "somet hing dloing,"
or about to be done, as Cript John
Capers anid Postmaster Harris, of
Charleston, are hero mingling with
Senator McLaurin. The trio occu
pied a private b)ox at the National
Tlhoatre tonight to witness the per
formance of Ethel Biarrymore. In
the box immediately under the South
Carolina triumvirate were Misi, Alice
Roosevelt, Secretary and Mrs Rot',
Col and Mrs Clarence Edwards. It
is said that. Capt Capers and Post
master HarrriA are hero in conneet
tion with the Crum case which conmes
up for consideration before the Sen
ate comtmerce co mmiittee on 'LTm urs
day next