Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A lot of marriages would work out better if the head of the house would remember to bring home some applesauce along with the bacon. Doc Holloway told Gramp^ears that pain in his leg was just a sign of old age. Gramps says that’s a lot of nonsense . . . the other legs is just as old and doesn’t hurt a bit. VOLUME 20 i NUMBER 31 NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1957 + *2.00 RER 1 EAR By The Way By Doric A. Bandar* MURDER A four-year-old child was murd ered in Newberry County three weeks ago. He was fatally injured in an automobile accident. But he was murdered. Who was the killer? The driv er of the car? As an instrument, perhaps, the driver was directly responsible. In court he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaugh ter and was sentenced. Who w^s the killer? Was it the person who requested that a drunken driving charge brought against this driver in the Sep tember term of court be contin ued? Was it the Solicitor, or the Judge who agreed to continuing the case? Perhaps that contribut ed, but that was not the beginning of this murder. Who was the killer? My guess is that it was the General As sembly of South Carolina. It was caused by politicians allowing drunken drivers on the highway without restriction, <to kill and maim innocent persons. Those who made the bill into law—they are the killers. Taking part in the Area 9 Alumni meeting of the Newber ry College Alumni Association Monday night at the Communi ty Hall were, left to right, Dr. C. A. Kaufmann, college presi dent; John F. Clarkson, retir ing area president, who presid- I ed; Dr. Mamie S. Summer, I chairman of the dinner commit- j tee and member of the Alumni Council from Area 9; Prof. T. E. Epting, guest speaker, who told of responsibilities of New- * berry alumni; and Philip T. Kelly, Alumni secretary. Offi cers elected to serve for next year are Robert Schumpert, president; E. Maxcy Stone, vice- president; and Bobby Under wood, secretary and treasurer. About sixty were present for the meeting. (SunphotoJ This is one example. Probably it has happened countless times. But this happened right here in Newberry. One Julius Gilliam was brought into magistrate’s court at some time in the past, on a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants. He was duly fined, his driver’s license suspended for six months, at the end of which time he was allowed to drive. Again, Julius Gilliam was brought, this time into the circuit court for a second offense of driv ing under the influence of intoxi cants. The Grand Jury returned a true bill. But the case of The State versus Julius' Gilliam was continued, because someone re quested that it be continued. Gil liam continued to drive his car unmolested. Three weeks ago, the car driv en by Gilliam was in a collision with another automobile. The in vestigating patrolmen promptly jailed Gilliam as “being too much under the influence to even know he had had a wreck.” So a third charge of driving under the in fluence of intoxicants was brought against him. The little boy riding in his car died the next day of injuries received in the wreck and a charge of reckless homicide was lodged against Gilliam. The question of Gilliam’s guilt was resolved in court Monday, when he entered pleas of guilty to drunken driving, 2nd and 3rd offense charges, and to involun tary manslaughter. He will be serving time for a while but after three years will be able to get his drivers license back again. And in the meantime, how many others are now on the highway with the same results possible ? There were five drunken driving cases, either second or third offenses, continued from the September term of court to the term which convened here Monday. How many will be con tinued this term, giving those who have been found guilty of drunk en driving in the past, free rein behind the wheel of an automo bile? This is the way the law works: if a person is charged with driv ing under the influence for the first time, he is tried at Magis trate’s court, usually the follow ing morning. If he pleads guilty, or is found to be guilty, he is promptly fined or sentenced, but he is not required to give up his license at that moment. He may go out driving again until the highway department gets around to writing and asking for his lic ense. I am told that this usually takes about a week, although It may take three or four weeks and, if the man has paid his fine, he is free to drive during that time. For second, third and fourth of fenses, it works the same way, except that the case is brought in Circuit Courts and the fines and punishments are stiffer and lic enses are revoked for a longer period of time. The difference is this: A person may be charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants just after the June term of court ends. There is no more court until the second or third week in September. If he posts bond, which is usually set at a fairly low figure, he is free to drive until court convenes again—and when his case is con tinued as it was in this instance, he is free to drive from the Sep- Pope Relinquishes Command Of N. G. Group; Wingard Promoted Colonel Thomas H. Pope, who has served as commanding officer of the 228th AAA Group, South Carolina National Guard, has re tired from active duty with the Guard effective December 2, 1957. He will be replaced as group commander by Lt. Col. Barringer F. Wingard, who is presently serving as executive officer of the group, and who has been serving as staff assistant with of fices at the local armory. Colonel Pope began his military career at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. He was commissioned as a second lieuten ant in June 1935 and remained in the army reserve until the activa tion of Battery H, 263rd Coast Ar tillery Regiment of the South Carolina National Guard, which he served as commander. The unit later became a part of the 107th AAA AW Battalion, and Col. Pope served as Commanding officer of Battery C of that Battalion. At the time the unit was called into active duty, he had received sev eral promotions in rank. During the war he became executive offi cer then eomrrfanding officer of the Battalion, which saw active duty in the European Theater of Operations, principally in North Africa, Italy and Sicily. .When the 107th was reactivat ed after the war, he remained as its commander until the 228th Group headquarters moved from Dillon to Newberry. At that time, he became a full colonel and commander of the group, a posi tion he has held since that time. Colonel Pope stated that his de cision to retire from active duty was due to the fact that business matters kept him from devoting the time to the Guard which the position of Group commander re quired. He is a prominent attorney of Newberry. Col. Wingard has recently com pleted over 29 years of military service, a total of six years active tember until the November term. During that final period in this ’case, a child was killed. It might have been your child. It might have been mine. All the talk about ways and means to cut down on traffic ac cidents will do little good until some provision is made to keep maniacal drunken drivers off the highways. All the talk of compul sory insurance is fine, but what amount of money will ever replace the life of your child? WE RE SORRY I suppose everyone makes er rors at one time or another, but the bad part about a newspaper making an error is that so many people know about it! We’ve done it again, and we apologize. Last week, under the list of “recent movings” we published the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Abel are now making their home at 1232 McMorris street. The article should have read -only Mr. Ashley Abel. We are truly sorry, and deeply grateful to Mr. Abel for his sympathetic understanding. Col. Thomas H. Pope, left, will relinquish command of the 228th AAA Gp., SCNG next Monday. He will be succeeded by Lt. Col. B. F. Wingard, right. (Sunphoto.) duty, and 23 years of National Guard and Reserve service. He began his military career in 1928 as a member of the reserve. In 1934 he joined the 263d Coast Artillery, and served in Company G until he joined Battery B 107th AAA Bn in 1936, and entered ac tive duty with the 107th at Fort Stewart, Ga. From 1941 until 1946 he served in various AAA units in the United States and the ETO. In 1946 he went to the re serve and in 1947 he joined the 228th Group and served until 1950 at which time the Group was call ed into active duty. In 1951 he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in Korea. In July 1952 he returned to National Guard status and has been a member of the 228th since that time. Col. Wingard was first commis sioned in 1928 and served as a first lieutenant until 1934 at which time he reverted to the rank of sergeant in Co. G 263d CA Bn. He again was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in 1936 and served as a Cap tain on active duty. He was pro moted to Major in February 1947 and to Lt. Colonel in March 1952. He is a graduate of Clemson Class of 1926, and has attended, a number of service schools. Since the new Group Command er may not also hold the position as staff assistant, Col. Wingard has resigned that position effec tive December 2nd. He will be come a member of the Whitmire •High School faculty on that date. Replacing him as staff assistant will be Major Julian Leland Well ing, Jr., now a teacher at Whit mire High School. Major Welling began his mili tary service with the 107th Bat talion in Newberry and was com missioned while on Active Duty at Fort Stewart, Ga., just prior to World War II. He served for a short time as commanding officer of the 131st Operations Detach ment which was located in New berry for the first six months of 1952. When the 228th headquart ers moved to Newberry in July 1952, he became Intelligence Offi cer, a position he still holds. A party in Colonel Pope’s fionor was held Saturday night at Haile’s restaurant. Hosts were officers of the 228th Group. Holidays To Be Observed Almost everybody will be hav ing a holiday Thanksgiving Day, and probably the hardest working group in Newberry that day will be the Newberry College football team. With kick-off time schedul ed at 2:00 p. m. at Setzler Field, the Indians wil be trying to hold on the Bronze Derby when they meet Presbyterian College. County and City offices, banks and lending institutions, all types of business in the city will be closed Thanksgiving Day as well as this (Wednesday) afternoon. There will be no mail delivery, either city or county, although mail will be distributed in Post Office boxes. The general delivery and stamp windows as well as the finance office of the Post Office will be closed. Beginning Wednesday, Decem ber 4th, mercjiants of Newberry will drop the half-holiday on Wed nesday and will be opened all day every day through December 24. Local business firms will close down on December 25 and 26 for Christmas and on New Year Day. Beginning the subsequent Wednes day after the New Year 1958, stores will again begin observing the half-holiday. i —t Church Services For Thanksgiving Joint Thanksgiving services have been planned by churches of several communities in Newberry. The City-wide Thanksgiving Service will be held this year at Central Methodist Church on Thanksgiving morning at 10:00 a. m. The Rev. Cannon McCreary, Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, will deliver the message. A Thanksgiving offering will be taken, to be distributed to the va rious orphanages supported by participating churches. Also on Wednesday evening at 7:30, Glenn Street Baptist Church, Summer Memorial Luth eran Church and Epting Method ist Church congregations will par ticipate in a community-wide Thanksgiving service. Host church wil be Epting Memorial. Rev. G. Bayliss Corley, pastor of Summer Memorial, will deliver the Thanks giving Sermon. The Community Thanksgiving Service at Prosperity will be held Wednesday, November 27 at Wightman Methodist Church with Rev. Thomas F. Suber, D.D., pas tor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church as speaker. Special music will be given by the Wightman adult choir. County Official, Operations Are Criticized By Grand Jury Court Disposes Of Number Of Guilty Pleas On Monday By MRS. A. H. COUNTS Judge T. B. Greneker of Edge- field heard several guilty pleas and passed sentences as General Sessions Court convened here Monday. The case of The State versus Herman Griffin, charged with the murder of his wife, Mrs. Onevia Montjoy Griffin, was continued due to the fact that his attorney is trying a case in Federal court in Columbia this week. Julius (Bill) Gilliam pleaded guilty to second and third otfense drunk driving' and to involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to $1,000 or one year on the sec ond offense drunk driving charge; to $2,000 or three years on the third offense drunk driving charge, and to 18 months for in voluntary manslaughter. All sen tences were ordered to run con currently and to be suspended af ter service of 18 months and Gil liam ordered placed on probation for three years. Other guilty pleas received, and the sentences handed down by Judge Greneker, included: Jim Hancock, drunk driving, second offense, $1,000 or one year, suspended after serving five months or paying $300 and placed on two years probation. John Adam Suber, drunk driv ing, third offense, $2,000 or three years, suspended on payment of $260 and service of three months afid' placed on three years proba tion. James Robert Andrews, drunk driving, second offense, $1,000 or one year suspended on three months service or payment of $200 and given 18 months probation. Raymond Caldwell, violation of the liquor laws, $100 or 30 days. Charles Hayes Summers, bas tardy, ordered to pay $8 a week for support of the child. Richard Osby, assault and bat tery with intent to kill and carry- Audit Report Says County J The audit of Newberry County Offices for the period ending June 30, 1957, filed Monday by C. Walter Summer, Certified Pub lic Accountant, showed all offices in good shape with the exception of the Office of the Clerk of Court, on which a special report was filed on September 10, set ting forth certain irregularities in fund-handling by the former clerk, Charles E. Bowers, who resigned on September 18. The audit was presented to members of the County Delegat ion as well as to the Grand Jury in compliance with its present ment at the September term of court. In his letter to the delegation, the auditor shows funds on hand as of June ,30, 1957 to be $454,848.04, a decrease of $23,916- 72 over funds on hand June 30, 1956. He states however, that Santa Claus Is Coming To Newberry All Christmas parades have been canceled, but there will still be a Santa Claus. Under the auspices of the Newberry Chamber of Com merce, Santa will arrive in New berry on Friday, December 6. He will have headquarters at the for mer headquarters of Western Au to store on Main street below Rose®. He will remain in the city Friday afternoon and Saturday and for the benefit of those who do not get a chance to see him next weekend, he will be back on December 20th and 21st, the Fri day and Saturday before Christ mas. Word of Santa’s visit has just been received and his schedule is not yet available. Time of his arri val will be published in next week’s issue of The Sun. ing concealed weapons, two in dictments, three years on each indictment, the sentences to run concurrently. Jessie Johnson, second offense drunk driving, $1,000 or one year, suspended on service of three months or payment of $200 and placed on probation for two years. James Swindler, car breaking, one year, suspended on service of three months, three years pro bation. Robert Eugene Whitaker, drunk driving, second offense, $1,000 or one year, suspended on service of four months or payment of $400, placed on probation for five years. Claude Simpson and Albert An derson, violation of liquor laws, $300 or three months each. Charles Henderson, assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying concealed weapons, 60 days or $150. David Wicker, pointing a fire arm, one year, suspended on service of 30 days and placed on probation for two years. Johnnie Heller, car breaking, six months. Mack Martin, assault and bat tery with intent to kill,one year, suspended and pieced on two years probation; James Lee Conwell, using a car without the owner’s consent, six months, suspended and placed on probation for two years. Wylie Sims Jr., bastardy, pay $6 a week for support of the child. John W. Thomas, violation of the liquor laws, three months or $300. The Grand Jury acted on a number of indictments handed it this morning. One of the indict ments, charging Kenneth Willis Henderson with reckless homi cide, was nol pressed. The petit jury reported for duty Tuesday morning. Filed Monday n Good Shape bonded indebtedness as of June 30, 1957 is $350,400, a decrease of $49,000 over last year. Collections of 1956 property taxes by the Treasurer was $466,013.27, according to the audit, approximately 90% of the total tax levy. The audit lists total expendit ures for the Newberry County Schools as $1,439,988.93 of which $183,249.36 was for public build ing expenditures and $1,165,947.86 was expended for general operat ions. Reporting on the office of the Clerk of Court, Mr. Summer made the following statement: “In view of certain irregular ities in the funds handled by Mr. Charles E. Bowers, Clerk of Court, we submitted a separate report entitled “Clerk of Court” Newberry County, Newberry, S. C., Account ant’s Report, Period Ending June 30, 1957.” In order to bring this matter to the attention of the proper authorities and having been informed by you (the legislative delegation) that your jurisdiction did not extend to this but that it was a matter for the Grand Jury, we filed this separate re port on Tuesday, September 10, 1957, and on the same date de livered a copy to the foreman of the Grand Jury. “The Grand Jury in this present ment on Wednesday, September 18 1957 stated that a cashier’s check in the amount of $300.00 had been received from Mr. Charles E. Bowers and that his resig nation from the office of Clerk of Court of Newberry County had been accepted by Governor George Bell Timmerman.” The auditor stated “The finan cial records of the various other county officials were adequate and well maintained by the proper officials. We would like to express our appreciation for the co-operat ion rendered by all sources.” One county official was chided for discourtesy and fault was found in several phases of the county’s operations by the Grand Jury which, convened here Mon day. In its presentment to Honcy-able T. B. Greneker, presiding over this term of General Sessions Court, the Jury committee on County officials submitted the fol lowing report; '“We have visited the various offices in the Court House and as far as we can de termine, all offices are run effi ciently and courteously with the exception of \the Supervisor’s of fice. It is reported that he has been very discourteous to persons requesting needed road and bridge repairs, namely, Howard Turner, Newberry, S. C. and Emanuel Werts, Chappells* S. C. Be it re solved by this committee that all tax payers at large be treated without prejudice or favor by above county officials.” The Supervisor, - S. W. Shealy, also came in for criticism from the committee on roads and brid ges. This committee reported: “It has been found that many of the roads and bridges are in poor condition, and it is recom mended that these roads and brid ges be repaired and improved at the earliest practical date. That more effort should be made to ward improving roads and bridges , than providing top soil for in dividual yyteis.” Next under fire from the Grand Jury was the county school system. The report of that committee fol lows; “There has been brought to the attention of the Committee that in certain sections of the County, there has been a practice of hiring Teachers by kin rather than sticking to merit. “We recommend that the above practice be discontinued and tea chers be hired on merits. “The Committee finds that lunch rooms in most schools are inade quate due to antiquated and ob solete equipment, thus, high sanitary conditions cannot be main tained in school lunch rooms. E-x isting conditions should be re medied without delay by whatever means necessary. “We recommend that fire es capes be put on all two story school buildings in county.” “We again recommend to the Proper officials that much thought and effort be given to bring to a finish our School Building Pro gram in the County. The educat ion of our children will not wait.” The committee on county build ings wasn’t too happy with what it found either. The report of that committee, in full, is as fol lows: County Jail Found in very good condition and cleanly kept. House portion is in need of pamt-both inside and outside. Kitchen floor and some other floors in bad condition due to water and termites. Also, some plastering has fallen in sev eral rooms. County Home Found in fairly good condition with exception of colored bath room floor which is in need of re pair. County Stockade Found to be in a deplorable and unsanitary condition. Flies swarmed in kitchen and dining areas—screen doors in such con dition as tio be useless—water jacket stove pipe falling apart— inadequate work tables for cooks —sleeping quarters very dirty and unkept—large hole in side of quarters’ stove exposing flames— ■hower room walls rusted out 3-4 feet up from floor—water stand ing over entire toilet area. Grounds around stockade build ing were generally unkept such as Hold Drop-In The members of the Newberry College Indian Club, with the assistance of Newberry business men, will hold an after-game drop-in Thursday afternoon at the conclusion of the Newberry- Presbyterian College football game at Setzler Field. The drop -in will be at Wessels Library, Out of town guests and friends of the college are cordially invited to attend. to create a fire hazard. Court House Generally well kept and in good condition. Recommendations That necessary and needed re pairs and painting be completed at Jail home as funds are made available. Also it is strongly rec ommended that conditions cited at stockade be remedied by any means necessary and available to accomplish same as soon as pos sible; and further that general cleanliness to buildings -and sur rounding grounds be consistently maintained and prevailing at all times. It is hereby noted that the general outside appearance of the stockade grounds has improved greatly since inspection date and are at present in a fairly com mendable condition.” The Grand Jury also authoriz ed J. Ray Dawkins, treasurer, “to disburse the funds of remitor list ed in audit same presently held in escrow from the Clerk of Court’s Office to the proper recipients us recorded in thep Clerk of Court’s office in the amount of $281.00. This will leave an overpayment of $19.00 same should be refunded to Mr. Charles E. Bowers, former Clerk of Court.” On September 10, a special audit on the Clerk of Court’s of fice • was filed, showing a short age of $303.50 in non-support funds handled by the Clerk. On September 18, the Clerk resigned, making a payment of $300 to the foreman of the Grand Jury. A subsequent audit of the clerk’s records showed that on September 13, 1967, the amount of $22.50 had been recorded by the Clerk in his non-support. acount, leaving a known shortage of $281.00. Leland S. Wilson served as fore man of the Grand Jury. The Var ious committees were as follows: County Buildings: J. H. Cook, Sr., chairman; Herbert S. Fulmer, E. O. Shealy, T. A. Hargrove. County Schools: Robert D. Byrd, chairman; M. O. Mayer, Ray A. Wise, Dan T. Chandler Jr. Roads and Bridges: W. B. Hite, chairman; Wiliam E. Senn, Au brey Davis, Keitt Purcell. County Offiicals: L. F. Spear man, chairman; Vernon F. Epting, Parker Martin, Berly Hawkins Sr. Holdover Grand Jurors to serve during 1958 are Keitt Purcell, Hubert S. Fulmer, Leland S. Wil son, M. O. Mayer, William E. Senn and E.- O. Shealy. BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Nov. 30: Patsy Ruth Morris, - Mrs. Betty Jean Wiggins, S. C. Campbell, Ella R^ae Kyzer, Alice Melva Shealy, L. B. Davis, Kenny Davis, Virginia Dufford, David Park, Noble K. Terrell. Dec. 1: H. J. Looney, Jr., Mrs. Joe Koon, Mary Pinner Koon, Frank Stewart, Tommy Tolbert, Mrs. Lindsay Koon, Mrs. Gerald C. O’Quinn, Mrs. J. C. Pitts, Mrs. Mary Neel Boozer, Trudy Todd, Mrs. Bill Boozer, Billy Caldwell, Dawn Dickert, Mrs. Ralph Whitaker. Deo. 2: Fred RodeLsperger, Clarence S. Hazel, Dave Hayes, Aubrey Harley, Rhoda Malls, Rosa Kilgore Tarrant, Frank Wilson, James M. Longshore, Walter Pitts, Herman Glymph, Becky Lynn Andrews. Dec. 3: Mrs. Bob Molden, Lewis ‘ Shealy, Gerald Richardson, F. M. Schumpert, Mrs. J. W. Lom- inick. Broad us Lipscomb, Denny Eargle, Lunell Ruff, E. Dusty Westwood. Dec. 4: Tom M. Fellers, Mrs. Patricia Kelly, Andy Price, Mrs. Guy Bowers, Faye McCullough, A. D. Martin, Mrs. J. E. Kinard, Sandra Amick, J. Ed McConnell. Dec. 5: Will R. Reid, Jr., L. D. Nichols, Mary' Jean Boinest, Anne Ringer, Mrs. W. D. Shealy, Terry Shaver, Blanche Glymph, Lucile Glymph, Kibler Bowers, O. S. Goree, Stuart Whitener. Dec. 6: Earl Bigby, Mrs. Charles Ragland, Rickie O. Chapman, Emily Newberry, Prof. Scott Elliott, Mrs. Charles Cromer, Bill Scurry, Betty May Eargle, Mrs. R. T. Feagle, Mary W. Pope, Manning Dukes, Robert Shealy, Jr.