Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The trouble with pulling strings is that you never know who is pulling at the other end. Just about everything around the modern home is now controlled by switches except the chi'dren. VOLUME 20; NUMBER 21 NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1957 + $2.00 PER YEAR By The Way By Dorts A. Sandora COUNTER-ATTACK Although I wasn't there, I un derstood that during the Monday afternoon session of Criminal Court, “the newspapers” were at tacked for the publicity that was given the Willingham case, that it was inferred by the Solicitor that “the newspapers were all wrong about it” and that an at torney made the charge that the papers were “pre-judging the case.” The Solicitor, lunderstand went on to explain that there was an agreement at the last term of court among the prosecuting wit ness, his attorney, th i attorney for the defendants, (tie Willing hams) that the case would not be presented to the Grand Jury because the defendants’ attorney was to be out of town. For those who are not familiar wnth court procedure, there is a difference between presenting an indictment to the Grand Jury, and in bringing up a case in court. Before a case can ever be entered on the court roster, or a person held for an alleged crime, the in dictment must first be presented to the Grand Jury which hears evidence, then decides whether the indictment will be a “true bill;” that is whether there is sufficient ■evidence to try the person against whom the indictment has been issued. If the Grand Jury decides there is not, it returns a “no bill” and the person is exonerated. If there is, they return a “true bill” and that case goes on the court roster. Then comes the time for asking continuance of a case. After cases are on the roster, they are fre quently continued by the presid ing Judge and for many reasons, the chief being that the defend ant’s attorney was not able to be in court. Had the Willingham case gone before the Grand Jury in the June term, it could easily have been continued and there would have been no adverse criticism by newspapers or the public be cause it is an accepted procedure. Now, since as a newspaper re presentative I have been publicly attacked, I feel I have a right to set the record straight. I was told the day after the June term of court adjourned, by the lawyer for the prosecuting witness in that case: “I received a call from an attorney on Thursday (before Court convened on Monday.) He told me the Willinghams had been to see him and that he might take the case and if he did, he might want to hold a preliminary hear ing. He asked if it would be satis factory to me if the case were not presented to the Grand Jury. I told him it would be all right, but that I had nothing to do with the criminal case.” The attorney with whom I talked further stat ed that his client, the prosecut ing witness, had returned from National Guard Camp and was in court to testify before the Grand Jury Monday morning of the June term. When I contacted the Solicitor in Greenwood the same day, he first told me “the sheriff asked me not to present that case to the Grand Jury.” When I asked if that was his statement for pub lication, he said “wait, let me call you back.” About ten minutes later he called back and gave me the following statement for pub lication: *T received reliable information that attorneys for the prosecuting witness and the defendants re quested that the presentment not be made to the Grand Jury at this term of court.” Alsoi on that same day, I con tacted a circuit judge and asked if there was any good reason for not presenting a case to the Grand Jury. His answer was “the only reason I could think of would be if a preliminary hearing was re quested and that should be done ten days before court convenes.” Incidentally, a preliminary hear ing was never requested in the case. So. you have the entire story unA you may draw your own con- lanning tor the opening ot the Regional Home office of Calhoun Life Insurance Company Newberry Tuesday morning were, left to right, Mrs. Betty Shealy, secretary; T. J. Harrelson, execu tive committee member of the Board of Calhoun Life; A. P. Paris, vice-president; Edwin H. Cooper, chairman of the Board, R. H. Lovvorn, president, and Bill Reid, local real estate agent. Messrs. Harrel son, Paris, Cooper and Lovvorn are of Columbia. (Sunphoto.) Calhoun Life Insurance Co. To Have Regional Office Here May I state to those who made larges against the newspapeis tat they should be thankful there still such a thing as “freedom l the press’ at least in some darters. If it were not for fear- i88 ■s i eporting, there would be inch Wore rottenness in this nat- n than now exists. I know enough about Courts to >alixe that this particular “crime gaiasjt the dignity of the state” ould not go unpunished at least > some extent and I have never (Continued on page 2) Calhoun Life Insurance Com pany officials announced today that a regional home office to serve the upper half of South Carolina will be opened in New berry immediately, with A. P. Paris, a vice-president of the com pany in charge of the Combination Division, transferring to Newber ry as vice-president in charge of the Regional Home office. Mr. Paris is formerly of Newberry, where he served as superintend ent of the Combination Division of Newberry Life and Health In surance Company before that company was bought by Calhoun Life. He moved to Columbia and was promoted to a vice-presidency in Calhoun Life. Sites are now being looked over by company officials for a suit able location on which to construct a modern office building. In Newberry Tuesday for this pur pose were Edwin H. Cooper, chair man of the Board of Calhoun Life; R. H. Lovvorn, president; T. J. Harrelson, a member of the Board’s executive committee, and Mr. Paris. Mr. Lovvorn stated that the principal reason Newberry was chosen for the regional home of fice was its central location to districts which will be served from the office. These include Aiken. Greenwood, Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Clinton, Spartanburg, Gaffney, Union, Whitmire, Newberry. Rock Hill, Chester and all towns in-between. Each of these locations now has, or will have a branch office and there will be two division offices, one of which will be in Newberry, the other in Laurens. ‘ “Everything will be handled through the regional office in Newberry,” explained Mr. Lov vorn. “Claims will be processed and paid here, making possible the payment of claims in a day’s | time.” Calhoun Life handles life, hos pital and accident policies. Ap proximately 75 to 80 employees will be working in and out of the Newberry office and this number is expected to increase. The pres ent location is at 1119 Harrington street, but Mr. Paris stated that additional office space would be needed until the new building is constructed. Calhoun Life’s monthly and weekly collections, at the time it purchased Newberry Life and Health, averaged $3500 weekly, according to Mr. Lovvorn. The col lection now averages over $20,- 000 weekly, reflecting the rapid growth of the company in the combination division. The com pany has an annual premium in come of $1,400,000 through the first eight months of this year, with almost $40,000,000 insurance in force. It is expected that the location of the proposed building will be announced within the next few days. HAS SURGERY IN ATLANTA Ellerbe Pelham, who has been ill since the latter part of July, underwent surgery in an Atlanta hospital where he remained for three weeks. He has returned to his home in Doraville, Georgia and is reported to be feeling better. His mother, Mrs. W. E. Pelham, has just returned to Newberry af ter spending several weeks with her son and his family. COTTON GINNINGS Census report shows that 213 bales of cotton were ginned in Newberry County from the crop of 1957 prior to September first. ! Newberrians To Attend Safety Conference Paul H. Blaisdell of New York City, director of the traffic safety division of th* Association of Casualty and Surety Companies, and also head of the nationwide volunteer group which inaugurat ed the international “Slow Down and Live” program, will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming South Caroliha Citizens Safety Conference, which will be held at Drayton Hall on the University of South Carolina campus September 27. Representing Newberry at the conference will be Mrs. Richard L. Baker, member-at-large of the South Carolina Highway Safety Commission and a member of the Community Safety Organization Committee; also Mrs. Louis C. Floyd, Mrs. T. P. Crooks, James F. Coggins, James A. Burton and James Nance Parr. J. Willis Cantey, chairman of the sponsoring State Safety Com mittee, said -yesterday the confer ence will be attended by leaders of statewide organizations and other prominent citizens throughout the state. Also to be featured at the con ference will be a message from Governor George Bell Timmer man Jr.; a welcome address by Chief Highway Commissioner Claude R. McMillan, and a presen tation of the State’s Traffic Safe ty Inventory analysis for 1956. Those attending the conference will form into discussion groups to talk about various traffic safe ty problems. These groups will make recommendations for the de- Clerk Of Court Resigns, Pays *300; Burke Wise Is Appointed First Baptist Church To Celebrate 126 Anniversary Edwards Speaks At Kiwanis W. G. Edwards of Columbia will be guest speaker at the regu lar meeting of the Kiwanis Club to be held Thursday, September 19 at 1:00 p. m. in the Community Hall. Mr. Edwards is vice president and general manager of Southern Bell Telephone company, heading up the company’s operations in South Carolina. He is a native of Batesburg and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Mr. Edwards joined Southern Bell in 1926 at Spartanburg. He served in various assignments in Charleston, Columbia and Char lotte, before being named Colum bia District Manager in 1945. In 1953, he was elevated to South Carolina Commercial Manager. He was elected a vice president and general manager early this year. Active in civic affairs, Mr. Ed wards is a past president of the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce in Columbia. He is a trustee of the Carolina Children’s Home and is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church at Columbia. Bundrick Rites Held Wednesday Jessie Survan Bundrick, 68, of Route 1, Silverstreet, died early Tuesday morning at the Newberry Hospital. He had been ill for the past six months. Mr. Bundrick was born and rear ed in Lexington County, a son of the late George A. and Luvenia Lever Bundrick. He had lived for many years nea* Silverstreet where he was a member of Trinity Met hodist Church. He was a farmer He was twice married, first to the former Vinnie Ophelia Amick. who died a number of years ago. He was later married to Mrs. Annie Davenport Bundrick, who survives. Surviving besides his wife, are 2 sons, Johnny Bundrick, Silver- street and Thurmond Bundrick, Newberry; 4 daughters, Mrs. John L. Pitts, Silverstreet, Mrs. Wood- row Moore, Columbia, Mrs. Mayes Derrick, Newberry and Mrs. W. E. Metts Jr., Lexington; 2 sisters, Mrs. Emma Lee Price, Joanna and Mrs. L. M. Shealy, Lexington; 3 brothers, Arthur Bundrick, Col umbia, Haskell and Elwell Bund rick, Prosperity; 3 step-sons, (Continued on page 2) velopment of a traffic safety ac tion program for the future. Griffin Sent To State Hospital For Thirty Days Mental Observation Herman Lee Griffin, charged with the murder of his wife, who was shot five times with a 21 calibre^ semi-automatic rifle on Sunday afternoon, September 1 at their home on Lee street, was not tried at the September term of criminal court. A court order was issued, committing him to the State Hospital in Columbia for a 30-day observation period. The only other murder case on the current docket was that of James Dillard, colored, 31, charg ed with the death of Lucille Swit- tenberg, 21, last April 5. Dillard entered a plea of guilty to man slaughter and was sentenced by presiding Judge T. B. Greneker to serve eight years. Testimony at the coroner’s inquest in this case was that the woman was beaten to death with an automo bile fan belt; and that, according to Dillard, she submitted to the beating “to show him she would stop drinking.” In the case of Olin Willingham, Earl Willingham and John Wil lingham, charged with assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying concealed weapons, by agreement of the Solicitor, the prosecuting witness and attorneys of the defendants, the case against Olin Willingham was nol pressed; the case against John Willingham and Earl Willingham was reduced to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, to which they both entered a plea of guil ty. They were sentenced to six months, suspended and placed on probation for 18 months. Guilty pleas entered, and sent ences handed down by Judge Greneker included: Carrie Mae Gallman, assault and battery of a high and aggra vated Mature, sentenced two years, placed on probation. John W. Edwards, drunk driv ing, $2000 or three years, upon payment of $250 or service of four months, placed on probation. Carl O. Smith, operating a ve hicle under the influence, third offense, $2,000 or three years, suspended on payment of $300 or service of six months, placed on probation for three years; Elbert Burton, operating a vehicle under the influence, one year or $1,000, suspended, $250 or four months, two years probation; Nathan G6- ree, violation of the liquor law, $300 or three months. Also, Forrest Caldwell, assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying concealed weapons, six months or $300; David August Ruff, operating a vehicle under the influence, third offense, $2,000 or three months, suspended, $200 or three months, probation for three years. Also, Burl Mason Rollins, oper ating a vehicle under the influence second offense, one year or $1,000, suspended, $300 or three months, probation for three years; Jack King, bastardy, ordered to pay $5 week for support of child; Ralph Edward Frick, operating vehicle under influence, second of fense, $1,000 or one year, sus pended, $300 or four months, pro bation for two years. Also, Allen Gallman, violation of liquor law, $200 or 60 days; Claude Gray, violation of the li quor law, $100 or 30 days; Trox- ell Gaffney, violation of liquor law, $200 or 60 days, suspended on payment of $100 or 30 days, probation for two years; Willie James Elkins, peeping tom, three years and probation for five years; ;Harvey Geter, assault with intent to kill and carrying con cealed weapon, one year, suspend ed, probation for three years; John Clint Harper, assault and battery with intent to kill, two years, suspended, probation for three years. Also, Willie White, assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying concealed weapon, 18 months; James Price, pointing firearms, six months, suspended, placed on probation two years; Raymond Brewington, non-sup port,/one year and $1,500 suspend ed, ordered to pay $25 a week, placed on probation. Also, Clarence Davenport, non support, one year or $1,500 or pay ment of $15 per week for support of family; Eddie C Miller, non- support, one year or $1,500, pay $25 a week, placed on probation; George 0, Hiller, non-support, one year or $1,500, suspended on pay ment of $15 a week; James Rob ert Brasington, operating vehicle under influence, second offense, one year or $1,000, suspended on payment of $250 or three months, two years probation. The First Baptist Church of Newberry will observe Homecom ing Sunday, September 22. The services will begin with Sunday School at 10 a. m. and preaching service at 11 with the sermon to be delivered by the Rev. Grady Summer, pastor of the Mountville Baptist Church. He is a native of the Chappells section of Newberry County. Special music will be rendered by the choir under the direction of Prof. Kerney Wessinger of the music faculty of Newberry Col lege, who is director of the church choir. Dinner will be served on the grounds immediately after the services. The occasion marks the 126th anniversary of the church which was organized September 30, 1831. The church constitution was adop ted at its first meeting. The First Baptist Church haa the distinction of being the oldest church building and congregation in the City of Newberry. This oc casion is also the anniversary of the Sunday School, organized many years later. It is hoped that the handsome new educational building will be completed in time for homecoming. The modern new building erected at a cost of approximately $80,000, will fill the needs for the crowded condi tion of the present facilities. The First Baptist Church has been served by 22 pastors during her 126 years. The Rev. Clarence O. Lamoreux is the present pas tor. Frank Sutton is general chair man for plans for homecoming. Other chairmen of committees are: Mrs. P. D. Johnson Sr., program; Mrs. Roy Anderson, dinner; Clar ence Wallace, registration; T. E. Epting, welcome and Mrs. Louis Floyd, decorations. Baptist students at Newberry College have been invited to be the special guests of the congre gation. All former members and friends of the church are also ex tended a cordial invitation. First Baptists Threaten To Withdraw SBC A committee appointed by the First Baptist Church of Newberry several weeks ago to study the report of the Christian Life Com mission on integration to the Southern Baptist Convention when it met during the early summer in Chicago, 111., rendered its report Sunday. The committee was com posed of Frank Sutton, chairman; A. W. Watkins, T. E. Epting, Jack Hughes, Clarence Wallace, Mrs. P. D. Johnson Sr., Mrs. Ev- erette M. Corley* and Earl H. Ber gen. After hearing the report of the committee the following resolu tion was adopted: WHEREAS, this nation of ours, the United States of America, was founded on the principle of free dom of worship by our forefath ers who came to this new land because they were prohibited from doing elsewhere; wad, WHEREAS, fro mthe beginning of the United States of America, until May 17, 1954, this nation made far more progress in indus try, education, science, social wel fare and Christianity than any other nation of tile world ever dreamed of; and, WHEREAS, it is our belief that this progress was largely due to the fact that each man, woman and child had the right of free worship of any faith and with whomsoever he or she may have desired; and, WHEREAS, since the United States Supreme Court decision of May 17, 1954, which ruled that segregation of the races in the public schools is unconstitutional and some of the churches of Am erica, including the Southern Baptist Convention, have indicat ed their desire to apply this,doc trine to the church, the church school and other such organiza- (Continued on page 2) CHARLES E. BOWERS O’Donnell Dies In Georgia Robert Leavell O’Donnell, 40, Newberry native, d^ed earlyWed- nesday morning at a hospital in Thomasville, Ga. He had been ill for a year and seriously ill suf fering acute leukemia for the past several weeks. He was the son of the late Harry and Hattie Leavell O’Donnell of Newberry. Besides his wife, the former Willa Taylor of Thomasvilje and a seven-year-old son, William, he is survived by an aunt, Mrs. Kate Leavell, a first cousin, Mrs. Ruth Dickert and other relatives in Newberry. Funeral arrangements were in complete at press time, but will be held in Thomasville. Ja Calendars Again this year, the Newberry Junior Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a “-birthday calendar” to raise funds for its various youth activities work. This project was undertaken successfully by the Jaycees last year, but they plan toYnake it even more successful with the 1958 calendar. The calendars will sell for fifty cents each. Persons who wish to list birthdays or anniversaries to be printed on the calendar may do so at the rate of twenty-fivecents each. Meeting dates of organiza tions will also be listed. An extensive campaign to se cure orders for the calendars as well as for dates to put on the calendars will be made next week, according to Kenneth Cook, who is chairman of the Calendar pro ject. Jaycees and others represent ing the group will begin solicita tion in various wards Monday night, September 23rd. They will continue their efforts un Tuesday night, September 24 and Friday night, September 27. Anyone who is not contacted cm one of those nights may get in touch with any of the committee members listed below to place an order. Ward 1: Irvin Satterwhite Jr., chairman; Walter Wallace, Billy Parr, Ollie Moye, Bobby Schum- pert, Tommie Setzler, Joe Wel- born. Ward 2: Paul Folk, chairman; A1 Bedenbaugh, Wilmer Hite, Bobby Sligh, Jim Atkison, Fred Lester, Eld Young. Ward 3: Billy McSwain, chair man; Charles Altman, Bozo Pay- singer, Ferd Summer, Fred Green, Gordon Leslie. Ward 4: Foster Eubanks, chair- map; Henry Cannon, Jr., Dave Morison, Stuart Merrick, Jim Clamp. Ward 5: Howard Cook Jr., chairman; Fred Weir, Jr., Hous- eal Jay, Eddie Westwood, Ellis Davenport. Ward 6: Meredith Harmon, chairman; Jim Miskelly, William Heller, Peter Bishop, Emory Bed enbaugh, William Franklin. Mollohon: P. K. Fuller, Doyle Long, Noble Teireil, Heyward Davis. Oakland 4 Bobby Underwood, Hugh Wessinger, Buddy Gist, Jimmie Davenport. Prosperity: Bill Leaphart. Pomaria: John Huggins. Advertisement committee: Wayne Martin, chairman; Jim Parr, Rembert Parler, Bobby Summer. Bobby Underwood is Jaycee president. Charles E. Bowers resigned as Clerk of Court of Newberry County Wednesday morning, and his resignation was accepted with in a few hours by Governor George Bell Timmerman, effective Wed nesday, September 18. The Gov ernor’s letter stated: “As request ed by you, I hereby accept your resignation from the office of Clerk of Court of Newberry Coun ty, effective this day.” At the same time, the governor appointed Burke M. Wise, who has been serving as Deputy Clerk of Court, to fill the vacancy “until the next general election for this office.” This would mean until the completion of the unexpired term in 1960. The chain of events leading up to the resignation of Bowers be gan after the filing of an audit re port on the Clerk of Court’s office last Tuesday, September 10, by C. Walter Summer, certified public accountant, who is conducting the annual audit of the county’s books. The audit showed a known shortage of $303.50 in the non support funds handled by the Clerk of Court. This was the third consecutive year in which audi tors have reported irregularities in fund-handling by the clerk. The audit report was presented to the members of the Newberry County delegation last Tuesday morning, and to the foreman of the Grand Jury, Leland A. Wilson, last Tuesday afternoon. The Grand Jury convened Mon day morning, and after disposing of a number of bills of indictment, called in the auditor, Mr. Summer, on Monday afternoon. Later Mon day afternoon, all day Tuesday and Wednesday the group confer red at various times with R. Aub rey Harley, State Senator from Newberry County; Solicitor WM- liam T. Jones, Clerk Bowers and Mr. Summer. Evidently most of this time was spent in a discus sion of the audit report. At about 10 Wednesday morn ing, the clerk turned in his res ignation to the Grand Jury. The following is a portion of the Grand Jury’s presentment Jto the Court: “Your Grand Jury has received a report from C. Walter Summer, Certified Public Accountant, New berry, S. C. This report was en titled “Clerk of Court, Newberry County, S. C., Accountant’s Re port, period ending June 30th, 1957,” and contained an alleged (Continued on page 2) BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Sept. 21: H. H. Ruff, Mrs. Eu gene S. Blease, Margaret Har mon, Tommy Riley, Mrs. W. H. Chapman, Mrs. Richard L. Bak er, Ansel Ridgeway, Mrs. J. R. Bedenbaugh Jr., Hoe E. Webb, Van E. Price, Minnie Lee Taylor, Mrs. J. H. Wallenzine. Sept. 22: Richard Andrews, Betty Kay Richardson, Lamar King, Jr., Esther H. Oats, Laurie F. Spearman, Lynn Mon roe, Mrs. Frank Smith, Marian Lipscomb, Mrs.M . B. Sessions, Ralph L. Epting. Sept. 23: Mrs. W. O. Miller, Susan Hawkins, Cecil E. Kinard, Jackie Clarkson, Mrs. B. B. Leit- zsey Sr., Robert Glymph, Ed ward Epting, Gerald Griffith, Ellen Derrick, Jimmy Kester, Mrs. Charlie Altman. Sept. 24: George Rodelsperg- er, Mrs. Edgar L. Hiller, Rob ert EL Wike, Barbara Way, Ton Stuck, Joyce Ann Swygert, Gary Bedenbaugh, Mrs. Carol Hipp, Patricia Graham, Beth Baker. Sept. 25: Strother Pay singer, Pinckney Abrams, Mrs. W. B. Goggans, Kay Dawkins, Tommy Lewis, Eddie Lominack, Mrs. Clem I. Youmans, William R. Buford, Mrs. Grace Graham Pence, Patsy Walton, Mrs. Marie ,Nicosia, Mrs. Earl Bozard, Mrs. 26: J. Ervin Wilson, Peggy Lominack, Harold Bow ers, Gail Philiipa, Susan Cook, Lynn Lipscomb, Linda Cannon. Sept. 27: Mina Franctee Jonec^ r Rev. Neil EL TrueadeD, Ruth- Roberta, BiDie Lathrop, Mrs. Carroll Eargle, Newton Dickert, Malcolm Amkk Sr., Kay Domi nick, Carolyn Lipscomb, Alice