Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. XXI, NO. 19. DARLINGTON, S. C., THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1894 WHOLE NUMBER 1,005 OUR MARlBORO friends CONFESSES HIS CRIME. MATTERS IN AND AROUND PROS PEROUS DARLINGTON. A Column of News, Tersely Told, of Interest to Our Many Readers. Everybody should attend the memorial exercises this after noon. Mrs. E. Keith Dargan has gone to New York on a pleas ure trip. Notice of the dissolution of the firm of Moore & Munn is published in this issue. Mr. J. W. McCullough, of Greenville, a brother of Messrs. D. S. and C. S. McCullough, is visiting in town. The cotton season having closed, Mr. R. E. James has re turned from Abbeville to spend his vacation at home. Dr. B. H. Payne the slayer of Henry Green colored, who was released last week on bail, is on a visit to his old home in Ten nessee. The registration books were opened in the Court House on Monday, when a large number of voters, especially negroes, registered. In accordance with the notice given in this paper the postoffice was moved on Saturday to Gib son & Woods’s building on the northwest side of the Square. It was announced recently that ex Sheriff B. A. Rogers, of Marlboro would take charge of the Cleveland Hotel, but having reconsidered the matter he has since decided not to do so. Great races are now in prog ress at Reidsville, N. C., and several of our citizens are in at tendance up them. Darlington has entered two of her fine hor ses, Billy Wilkes and Clendon, and it is hoped that the town will capture some of the prizes. Mr. John Siskson, the well known planing and saw mill man, who has lived in Darling ton for a long number of years, is winding up his affairs pre paratory to removing to the North. Gen W. E. James renews his request that all the Confederate survivors in the town and coun ty meet at the Guards Armory this afternoon at 4 o’clock to participate in the memorial ex ercises. The local base ball association isincommunicationwithCheraw, Florence, Sumter and George town with a view to having a series of games this summ r The association hopes to give the people lots of fun. Mrs. Meginney, of Wilming ton, and her daughter, Miss Sue, are visiting the family of Mrs. M. J. Williamson at Pal metto and Miss Mary Scott, of Mars Bluff, is also visiting at this hospitable home. At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Darlington Manufacturing Company, on Thursday, the old office s and board of directors were re-elect ed. The company also declared a dividend of 3} per cent. The ladies of the Horticultu ral Society are earnestly request ed by the president to attend a meeting in the Guards Armory to morrow (Friday) afternoon, at 5 o’clock, to complete the ar rangements for the annual flor- ial fair on the 24 and 25 insts. Henry Bryant, colored, who was convicted in Chesterfield of house-burning and brought to the Darlington jail for safe keeping, was taken to the peni tentiary on Monday by a guard from that institution. He is to serve a term of three months. The ladies of the Library As sociation of the Presbyterian Sunday School have every rea son to be proud of the entertain ment they gave on Friday even ing. It was a most pleasant oc casion for all who attended and financially it was a great suc cess. Rev. John Stout left on Tues day to attend the Southern Bap tist Convention at Dallas Tex as, and will not return until the latter part of next week. The pulpit of the Baptist Church will be filled on Sunday morn ing next, in his stead, by the Rev. T. M. Bailey, of Greenville, secretary of the Baptist State Missions. Mr. Bailey will also conduct the union services in the same church on Sunday night. To Produce at the Opera House the Beautiful Cantata "Ruth". The Bennettsville amateur troupe, which has attained so much distinction and favorable notoriety, for its admirable ren dition of the cantata “Ruth”, will pay Darlington a visit on Tuesday night next, the 15 inst., when it will produce this beau tiful cantata in the opera house. The costumes and all the ap pointments appropriate to the ancient times which the cantata represents have been carefully selected and present a magnifi cent scenic effect. The following is the cast of the play: Naomi, Miss M. Mc- Leir.ore; Ruth, Miss A. Coving ton; Boaz, Mr. J. D. Rast; First Reaper, Mr. T G. Matheson; Orpah, Miss Alma Breeden; Is- raelitish Woman, Miss V. Dud ley; Jewish Maiden, Miss Alma Breeden; Messenger, Mr. B. D. Townsend; Assistant Reaper, Mr. D. Jennings; Semi chorus of Reapers; Semi Chorus of Binders; Semi Chorus of Glean ers; full Chorus of Israelites. Accompanist, Mrs. W P. Bree den. It will be noticed that the troupe is composed of most ex cellent talent and as the per formance will be given for a charitable purpose the Darling ton people should turn out en masse to greet their Marlboro neighbors. A LOSS TO “THE NEWS.” Mr. R. C. Starr, dr., to Accept a Posi- tioaJn Charleston. Mr. R. C. Starr, Jr., who has for several years been foreman in the composing rooms of The Darlington News, has severed his connection with this office to accept a position in Charles ton. His new work will be on an industrial magazine which will be established soon in that city by Mr. John P. Coffin, the Flor ence capitalist. Mr. Starr is a faithful and most competent worker. To this none can bet ter testify than those with whom he has been associated in the publication of The News for the last several years. In addition to his ability, his integ rity and genial disposition have made him a pleasant co adjutor in tha laborious work that has devolved upon the of fice. We regret exceedingly to part with Mr. Starr, and wish and predict for him success in his new field. A NARROW ESCAPE. Lightning an Unexpected Visitor to Mr. Peter Bowles’s Residence. Lightning struck the resi dence of Mr. Peter Bowles, in East Darlington, on Monday night. The bolt passed through the building doing some dam age to its structure. It was a narrow escape for the Professor for the lightning entered the house at the chimney near which he was sitting engaged in reading. He was covered all over with soot. The Professor says he was so startled bv the unexpected and exceedingly unwelcomed visitor that he can not recall ’till yet what he was reading at the time. He in sists, too, th^t the lightning struck him on the top of his cranium which is so slick from the absence of hair that the electricity glided off, taking a ricochet shot across the room, without doing him injury. So much for a bald head! THE FIRE LADDIES. The Election of Officer* for Thi* Mo»t Important Organization. A meeting of the fire depart ment was held on Tuesday for the purpose of electing officers with the following result: Bright Williamson, president; G. K. King, vice president; R. L. Bonnoitt, first director ; W. C. Byrd, second director. The election of foreman for the hook and ladder squad was postponed until the next meeting. The department is now in a splendid condition and with its fine apparatus and constant practice is in a position to do ad mirable service in fighting fire. Several new members have re cently been added to the robs. Such a worthy orgrnization should receive every encourage ment from the community. Hard time prices on Domestic sewing machines; $45 the for mer price, $25 the present price, $20 saved on each machine. McCall & Burch. A NEGRO MAN SAYS HE KILLED ERVIN FREEMAN. The Confession Solves the Mystery— None of the Others Imprisoned are Implicated. Leonard Dixon, a colored man, who has' been lodged in the Darlington jail, charged with the murder of Ervin Free man, has confessed the crime. It will be remembered that Freeman, a white man general ly known throughout the coun ty, was found in an unconci- ous condition in Coker’s mill, near Society Hill, early on the morning of April 14. His head was crushed in several places and he died a very short time after he was discovered. It was a most mysterious murder, no one apparently knowing any thing about it. FIVE PERSONS ARRESTED. As the result of the investi gation which followed the mur der, the following persons were lodged in the Darlington jail on suspicion of having had some thing to do with the crime: James Atkinson, Leonard Dix on, James DeLane, Sam Davis and Constancil Davis, the last named a woman. The killing occurred in Chesterfield, but as that county is building a new jail the prisoners were brought, to Darlington for safe keeping. Atkinson, the only white man among those arrested has since been released on bail. DIXON CONFESSES. Leonard Dixon is a young col ored man about twenty-three years old and since his incar ceration has told a number of stories about the killing, but he has now confessed that he alone committed the crime. The con fession was made to Mr. J. C. Scarborough, the jailer, who made no effort to extort it; nor did he use any persuasion or so licitation whatever. It was a free and voluntary act on the part of Dixon. Approaching Mr. Scarbor ough one morning he said that he had been making many false statements about the killing, but he now wished to tell the truth. He had PRAYED TO GOD all during the night previous to give him the strength to tell the truth and as a result he was ready to do it. He thm said that he and Freeman were at the mill on the night previous to the morning on which the latter was found there in a dy ing condition. He shot Free man, the ball taking effect in the eye and he followed this up by shooting him from behind three times in the back of the head. Then it was that he CRUSHED HIS SKULL in several places with an iron wedge-wheel. The confession is borne oht by curious facts that came to light after the inquest was held. The murdered man’s head was so badly mangled and crushed by the terrible blows given with the iron wheel, that the pres ence of the Jpistol balls was not noticed at the inquest and it was supposed that the blows alone had caused death. Just before Freeman was buried, however, h relative who was EXAMINING HIS HEAD discovered one of the balls. The matter was not investigated further just then and the mur dered man was put in the grave. In thinking and talking over the curious and unexpected fact of the finding of the bullet in his head, his relations apd friends decided to make further examination to ascertain more about the causes producing death, hoping thereby to get a clue as to the mysterious mur der. They, therefore, had 1 THE BODY DISINTERRED and subjected td another and more thorough examination, which resulted in the finding of two more balls. The fourth one which Dixon said he shot was not found and it is probable that it did not strike Freeman as Dixon thought. OTHERS NOT IMPLICATED. It will be noticed that the re sult of the investigation and Dixon’s eonfessi >ir agree on the whole. Dixon had implicated the other four parties arrested, but he now says that he bore false witness against them. He alone is responsible for the crime. A GREAT GALA OCCASION. Some of the Attractions of the Spar, tanburg Encampment. The citizens of Spartanburg are making most extensive preparations for the big en campment to be held at that S lace from July 2 to 12. The 'arlington Guards expect to at tend. The following are some of the features of the great gala occasion that may be mentioned at this early day : One feature of the encamp ment will be a Teachers’ Nor mal Institute, at which the at tendance will exceed six hun dred. Veterans, singly and in or ganizations, from Main to Tex as, will be in the city during the encampment. Five ex Con federate Generals, Gen. Wade Hampton, Gen. James Long- street, Gen. • Fitz Hugh Lee, Gen. John B. Gordon and Gen. M. C. Butler have been invited to be the guests of the Hampton Guards on that occasion. During the encampment there will be daily combats between baseballists and tennis players of national reputation, inter spersed with football and other sports; and the evenings will be enlivened by operas, dancing and two grand military balls. Numerous brass bands and drum corps will be present and the evening entertainments will be enlivened by the sweet strains of Bearden’s band. Frequent excursions will be run from the city to the heart of the moun tains, thus allowing those who have never had the pleasure of such a trip to secure the same at a nominal cost. Cash prizes aggregating from six hundred ($600) to one thous and ($1,000) dollars will be awarded to the successful com petitors in prize drills, into which all visiting companies are invited to enter. Gold med ais will be awarded to the best individual drilled member of any company present, and also one to the best shot. Three United States Army officers will act as judges, thus insuring ut most fairness to all parties. Companies from both North and South have already signified their intention of being there at the time. THE SAD WORK OF DEATH. The Untimely End of • Promising Young Man. Mr. N. L. Harrell, Jr., died at the home of his father, Mr. C. T. Harrell, at Lydia, on Friday, after an illness of four weeks with typhoid fever. Had he lived one more day he would have been nineteen years old Up to the time he was ta ken ill, he was employed with Mr. D. 8. Pate, a merchant at Lydia. He was a bright, promis ing vouth and his death was particularly sad as it took him when just verging upon useful manhood. The bereaved par ents and family have the sym pathy of their many friends. The remains were interred on the day following death in the cemetery of the Gully Church, Rev. Pearce Kilgo conducting the services. The deceased was a brother of Mr. Eugene Har rell, who for a long time clerked for Messrs Morehead Cox & Co., and a nephew of Mr. N. L. Har rell, the well known merchant of this place. DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN. He Was for Many Years a Prominent Merchant of Darlington. . [Florence Messenger May 4 ] . Mr. Isaac Iseman died in Marion, 8. C., last Wednesday, in the 76th year of his age. His remains were brought to Florence Wednesday night, and were conveyed to Mr. D. St^rn- berger’s, Evans street, where they remained until yesterday morning at 9 o’clock, when they were removed to the He brew cemetary for burial. Mr. A. Witcover, of Marion, read the funeral service. The funer al was largely attended by rela tives and friends from Marion, Darlington, Clio, little Sock, and Charleston. A Sad Mission. Rev. J. G. Law was called to Memphis, Tenn., yesterday to the bedside of his mother who is very ill. She is an old lady, be ing in the eighty-nineth year of her age, and it is not thought that she can survive more than a few days. Mr, Law has the sympathy of his many, very many friends at this place. IT S PROHIBITION. THE SUPREME COURT DECLARES ITS OPINION. Free Liquor Must Go and the License System is "Not in It”—The State Now Dry. We now have prohibition. A test case having finally reached the Supreme Court, that tribunal has decided that no liquor can be lawfully sold in the State. THE FLORENCE TEST CASE. Despite the obstructive tactics of Governor Tillman, who did everything in his power to pre vent the final settlement of the much vexed question, the test case from Florence, mention of which was made in our last is sue, was heard by the Supreme Court on Monday and from this came the prohibition decision on Tuesday. HOW IT GOT THERE, The case went before the Court in this manner. J. Ellis Brunson was arrested by the Mayor of Florence for the illicit sale of liquor and he applied to the Court for release upon a writ of habeas corpus. At the same time citizens of Florence obtained an order from the Court for the Mayor and City Council of Florence to show cause why they should not be enjoined from issuing liquor li censes, the town having already issued such licenses. It was a double-barrelled case that brought out the issues squarely. EFFECT OF THE DECISION The decision declares that any one selling liquor may be punished in the manner pre scribed for the violation of the liquor laws in force prior to 18- 92. The court did not pass up on the dispensary law of 1893. This is to be regretted as the law is the subject of* controver sy and may still cause trouble. GOOD-BYE, BLINDTIGERS! The bars that have been wide open since the last decision will have to close. The blind tigers can no longer stalk abroad in the full public view, but must retire to their lairs. Even there they will not be safe, for if we are not vastly mistaken the prohibitionists will hunt them down in order to have prohibi tion rigidly enforced. We are thankful, however, that in the enforcement of the law as it now stands there will be no hirelings and spies. THE TEXT OF THE DECISION. The following is the full text of the prohibition decision: The State of South Carolina, In the Supreme Court, April Term, 1894. J. L. Barringer, et al., vs. The City Council of Florence, ex parte, J. Ellis Brunson. These two cases instituted in the original jurisdiction of this court being of a kindred nature, though not involving the same questions were heard and will be considered together. The first is a case asking for an injunction to restrain the city council of Florence from granting licenses for the sale of the sale of spirituous liquors within the limits of this State, and hence the action of the city council of Florence in granting such licenses would be ultra vires and absolutely void, and therefore, the injunction, as asked for, by the petitioners, in the case first named must be granted. In the second case the peti tioner moves for his discharge from custody upon the ground that there is now no law forbid ding the sale of spirituous li quors within the limits of this State. This court decides that this is is a mistaken view of the law. On the contrary we hold that the act of 1892, commonly call ed the dispensary act, having been declared uncon stitutionm in all its provisions, except that forbidding the granting of li censes to sell spirituous liquors, after the day therein named, the repealing clauses of that act fall, and must be regarded as if never enacted, and hence the previous law forbidding the sale of spirituous liquors without a license remains of force, under which the petitioner may law fully be indicted. In addition to this he may also be proceed ed against for a violation of the ordinance of the city of Florence mentioned in the warrant un der which he has been arrested and is now held in custody. It is, therefore, ordered that, in the case first named in the title of this order, an injunction do issue as prayed for in this petition. . It is further ordered that, in the second case named in the title thereof, the motion of the f ietitioner for a discharge be re used; and that the said J. Ellis Brunson be remanded to the custody of the chief of police of the city of Florence to bo by him safely kept until he is thence delivered by due course of law. This eigth day of May, 1894. Henry McIver, Chief Justice. Weconcur S. McGowan, A. J. Y. J. Pope, A. J. A TEMPERANCE LECTURE. Prof. C. A Smith Addresses the Good Templars at Lydia. [Couiuiunicated. | Deputy Grand Chief Templar C. A. Smith, of Timmonsville, 8. C., by invitation, visited Lydia Lodge, No 272, I. O. G. T. at its last meeting held on the 28 inst. The Lod^e met at 3 p. m. at its hallatMillview. After the meet ing adjourned all went over to the Oats Academy, where a public temperance lecture was given by Prof. Smith. A large number was present. The speaker, though his sub ject has been tauch discussed in probably all of its phases, paint ed the evils of intemperance so vividly that it did not fail to interest all. He showed very plainly that all relations of mankind should be very deeply interested in this question. His speech was plhin and logical and all were* highly pleased with it. The Lodge is in a flourishing condition. The members ap- ? reciate very much the visit of rof. Smith and think that his presence and speech on Satur day afternoon Will give them a new impetus to go forward fighting for thft cause they so fondly cheerish. L. Oats, April 30, ’94. They Want Names. spirituous liquors, upon the ground that there is now no law authorizing the g ranting of such licenses, and therefore that threatened action of said city council in this respect is ultra vires. The'tecond is a case in which the petitioner applies, under a writ of habeas corpus, hereto fore issued for his discharge '.-om custody, in which he is held under a warrant issued by the mayor of the city of Flor ence, who is invested by the charter of said city with all the powers of a trial justice, charg ing the petitioner with selling spirituous liquors without a li cense, in violation of an ordi nance of the city, as well as in violation of the laws of the State. Inasmuch as one of these cases Involves the liberty of the citizen this court deems it to be its duty to render as prompt m decision as possible. The court will, therefore, proceed simply to decide the questions present ed in these cases, without un dertaking now to give the rea sons for the conclusions which will, however, be hereafter done in an opinion which will be prepared and filed as soon as practicable. The court decides that under the law as it now stands, there is no authority invested with the power to grant licenses * The Russell Art Publishing Co., of 928 Arch St , Philadel phia, desire the names and ad dress of a few people in every town who are interested in works of art, and to secure them they offer to send free, “Cupid Guides the Boat,” a superbly executed water color picture, size 10 x 13 inches, suitable for framing, and sixteen other pic tures about same size, in colors, to any one sending them at once the names and address of ten persons (admirers of fine pic tures) together with six two- cent stamps to cover expense of mailing, etc. The regular price of these pictures is $1.00, but they can all be secured free by any person forwarding the names and stamps promptly. Note.—The editor of this pa per has already received copies of above pictures and consider them really “Gems of Art.” Three of the very best papers of their kind in the country, the Weekly News and Courier and the Southern Cultivator, and The Darlington News will all be sent to any address for ons for year for $2.45. 4t OFFICIAL SALES. PROPERTY DISPOSED OF ON MONDAY LAST. The Sales Mad* by the Clerk and Sheriff—The Purchasers and the Prices Paid. The following official sales were made on Monday: By the Clerk of the Court: In the case of A. J. Salinas & Sonsvs W.E. Dargan. two tracts, 202 acres, to C. Edward Salinas for $225; one tract, 98 acres, to same party, $25 ; one tract, 104 acres, to same party for $25 ; one tract, 50 acres to same party for $30. All of this land is on Middle Swamp. In the case of A. J. Salinas & Sons vs MariahMelton, 75 acres on Mid dle Swamp to C. Edward Salinas for $75. In the case of A. J. Salinas & Son vs S. K. Hum phries 103 acres on Middle Swamp to C Edward Salinas for $180. In the case of A. J Sali nas vs John Anderson 50 acres on Middle Swamp to C. Edward Salinas for $80. In the case of Edwards & Co. vs S. H. Wilds and J. J. Gandy 157 acres in Palmetto township to Edwards & Co. for $275. By the Sheriff: In the case of Bollman Bros. & Co. vs C. S. Nettles, on lot in the town of Darlington, on Main Street to E. Keith Dargan for $600. In the case of Bollman Bros. & Co. vs D. G. Crenshaw 650 acres in Hartsville township to P. A. Willcox, attorney, for $50. In the case of Bollman Bros. &Co. vs W. ,V Moore, 100 acres in Stokes Bridge township to P. A. Willcox, attorney, for $110. In the case of W. A. Carrigan vs E. C. Reynolds, et al., 295 acres in Lisbon township to W. A. Carrigan for $1,225 ; in the same case 150 acres to W. A. Carri gan for $9oo. A Benedict. The many friends Mr. Angus Gainey, who left here several years ago to live in Greenville, Tenn., will be glad to learn that he has joined the Order of Ben edicts. On the 27 ult. he married a daughter of Mr. W. C. Sheets, an ex-Mayor of Mr. Gainey’s adopted home. ♦♦♦♦I 4 ♦♦•M-H-H-H. ♦ I .i-h-UmH. uiNimcLmT. , -A. customer who dropped a silver dollar on the floor re marked as it rolled away: “A dollar goes a long way in this store.” * this * * IS THE * GENERAL * VERDICT. Our Goods are Standard Values. Prices Correct. * * Respectfully, Ndmnt & Co. Mar 9ft-