The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, June 23, 1921, Image 1
eljf ioimtu Itecotfb. j
^VOL. 36. '" KINGSTREE, SOUTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY. JUNE 23, 1921. NO. M i
TOM POSTON GETS ,
LIFE-TIME SENTENCE
JURY RENDERS VERDICT OF !*
r MURDER WITH RECOMMEN- o
DATION TO MERCY. n
I
n
The case of the State against Torn j <
Po.ston, which was on trial here since jn
Thursday evening of last week, was! P
brought to a close Saturday afternoon , b
when the jury reached a verdict of
guilty of murder and asked the mercy v
of the court. if
This case has teen one of the most h
strongly contested ones ever tried in ^
the couurt here, both sides being rep- e
resented by able counsel. Solicitor P
?- ?j :~i~J rr
p iUCJUCUU VT?S dSi-iaiiru iu mc yi uocvu- ?
tion by Mr. LeRoy Lee, Esq., and F
Congressman P. H. Stoll, while the ^
defense was represented by Kelley & c<
Hinds. Esq. b
When the case was called for trial
attorneys for the defense made a motion
for a continuance of the case un- o:
til the next term of court, stating that S
the defense had not had time to make li
a thorough investigation and procure c<
witnesses whose appearance was 01 li
material interest to the defendant u
The defense pointed out further that ti
one of the witnesses?the oijjjy known e<
eye witness to the killing?was conlined
to her home on account of ill- ii
ness. The State elected to admit the ?
evidence of this witness as made at w
the inquest and the plea for a con- ^
tinuance of the case was rejected, the ti
* court ordering the case to proceed. tl
Interest centered particularly around
the testimony of witnesses brought ir.
to prove and disprove statements
alleged to have been made by the defendant,
both before and after the; ^
killing, tending to show thai the kill-1 ^
. ing was the outgrowth of ill feeilng1 ^
which had originated some months:
ago, and culminated with the collisior A"
rt VAfl ^ V.O
UI U1CU Ulld W? Ul\; yuvuv A VMrU WV |
v ^ tween Kingstree dhd Lake City, on ^
the night of May 7 when the shooting > ^
took place. i
I W
One of the witnesses, M. E. King1 w
of Lake City, stated that late one af- j ^
ternoon during last December, he hap.
pened to be standing near Tom Poston
and two other young men whom
he did not know. That while standing
there the deceased, J. H. Miller, pass- j..
ed by and he overheard the defendant ^
make the assertion that should he ever
meet Miller outside of Lake City ?'
that he would kill him. 11
Another witness for the prosecution,
Mr. Stephen Bird of Lake City, stated
that on two occosions Tom Poston had ^
approached him end told him that he
bad a grudge against Miller and that |
he was "going to get exen with him.",g
Several other Witnesses were also ^
brought in by the prosecution relative ^
to statements Poston was charged
* with having mad .J the next morning ^
% after the killing took place. These wit- k
nesses made the assertion that Foston
did make the statement that Miller a
"got hard and he shot ? out of him"
and also that Poston stated that
"I did not pull my gun for display? w
I pulled it to shoot. I guess I will j*
get the electric chair for it, but 1
don't care." Several witnesses were
put up by the defense to offset this ?'
testimony, who stated that they were
in the car which Poston occupied from ^
the time he was brought to the scene
of the shooting until the sheriff took a
him away, carrying him to the jail
at Kingstree, and that he postively a
did not make the alleged statements. ?.
Further testimony by Dr. E. T. Kel- ^
ley, who had made a thorough examination
of the wound inflicted in MilJeFs
head tended to show that it was ^
a physical impossibility for Miller to
be in position to defend himself and J
receive a wound inflicted in the manner
this seemed to have been dealt.
The defendant, when placed on the
stand, stated that when the cars collided
Miller began to curse him violently.
That he (Poston) told Miller
to hold on, friend. That Miller said)
that he was the friend who was going J
tc shoot his?brarrs out. That Miller j
got out of his car and begun
fiimhfo with his nistol. and that I<3
he (Poston) drew his pistol and began tl
firing, shooting three times, the last tc
taking' effect. 5.
The jury, who were selected after g
each side had exhausted their challenges
provided by statute, were as
follows: J. S. Britton, R. C. Flowers, 1
J. W. Kirby, J. H. Alsbrook, J. C. Mc- n,
Clary, H. D. Shaw, S. R. Walters, J.
A McCollough, R. H. Ervin, C. J. jr
Yarborough. L W. Cockfield, and C. C(
Erewster Cribb. q
Defendants attorneys have filed notice
of appeal to the supreme court
jMK for a new trial, which notice will act It
as a stay of sentence for a time. vi
K.
\ - "
TROOPS TO BE WITHDRAWN.
'resident and Congress Must B<
Elected and Installed.
Washington, June 14.?A proclama
ion formally announcing the decisioi
f the United States to withdraw it;
lilitary government from the Domi
ican Republic was issued there to
ay by Rear Admiral S. S. Robinson
lilitary governor The text of th<
roclamation was made public her<
y the State Department.
In announcing the decision the hop<
ras expressed that the American mil
.ary forces could be withdrawn with
r. 8 months and the Dominican peoph
'ere called upon to cooperate to thai
nd. The executive power, it was ex
lained would be exercised by th<
lilitary governor until a duly electee
roclaimed president of the republi<
liall have taken office and until s
invention of evacuation shall have
een signed by The President anc
jnfirmed by the Dominican congress
After setting forth the neeessitj
f establishing a "duly constitutec
overnment of the Dominican Repubc"
before the withdrawal may be
ime effective, the proclamation outnes
in detail the method in which
nder the constitution of that coun y,
such a government shall be electi.
The military forces of the Repubc
afe to be officered by natives
impetent to hold such positions, but
ith the provision that Americar
rmy officers are to be used for such
mes as fnay be necessary to effect
le desired organization of the new
>rces.
o
Confesses Before Being Burned.
Moultrie, Ga., June 20.-^-John Henry
rii*Aw-iu>, negiu, m? juviciia
Wilkes, 12 year old white girl, warned
at the stake Saturday by a
10b after he had been convicted ol
rst degree murder and sentenced to
5 hanged July 8. The prisoner was
iken from the officers as he was beg
escorted from the courtroom and
as rushed to the scene of his crime
here he was tied to a stump of a
ee- ,
Williams calmly smoked a cigarette
> the match was applied to the fuel
round him and he made but little
itcry as the flames slowly burned
im to death. It was reported that he
ade a full confession. The mob
iietly disappeared after the lynchig
and thus far no arrests have been
ade.
Williams, who at the trial denied
is guilt, is alleged to have made a
ill confession to members of the
10b, even telling how the girl beged
him to spare her life.
It was when he saw the girl pass
is house on her way to a store at
.utreyville, Ga., that he planned the
ime, the negro is said to have deared.
He cut her throat with a
nife and then dragged her body intc
shallow pond and weighted it down
ith water soaked logs, according tc
is alleged confession. The negrc
aded out into the pond and showed
10b members where he had hid the
fdy. He appeared little disturbed
he mob stood quietly on the banks
f the pond and listened to his story.
It was to a big stump near the
ige of the pond that Williams wa?
lained and burned. Wood was piled
round him and gasoline poured or
le fuel. Just before the match wai
pplied the negro asked for a cigartte
and it was put in his mouth and
ghted for him. He was calmly pufng
smoke when the match was aplied
to the stake. As the flames
ared up and found their way tc
/illiams he made no outcry, but his
ody went through horrible contorons.
tViA urm/] K1 mirin O
r many rvxu,u KVIVUJ vivntug
ie smoke and flames away from his
ead, making it possible for him tc
peak, and the negro .began to sing,
>ntinuing until the smoke stiffled
im.
o
Big Day at Cedar Swamp July 4th
A big day is scheduled for Cedai
wamp and vicinity when the folk of
lat community indulge in an old time
>urnament, basket picnic and baseall
games. Following is the proram
of events:
Old time tournament at 10 a. m.
Basket Pinic?plenty to eat.
Two base ball fames in the afteroon.
Everybody is invited. Those desirlg
to ride in the tournament will
jme prepared to do so. Bring yout
ueen.
Nitrate of Soda. Limited amount
'ft for cash. Call on Geo. A. McEleen.
ltc
KINGSTREE PCANS
: BIG JULY 4TH
i AIR PLANE FLIGHTS, BASE BALL
5 GAME AND ATHELETICS TO
FEATURE DAY.
??
At a mass meeting of the citizens j
? of Kingstree Monday night, it was
> planned to make the coming Fourth
i of July a day to be remembered by
4, Kingstree folk and visitors from
. j neighboring counties.
. < The outstanding feature of the day
, j will be the airplane flights by Lieur
| tenants Harry 'j. Runser and Roscoc
. [ Turner, in their famous British fight;
ing plane, tending to demonstrate
I that the operation of aeroplanes is a
. safe and sane undertaking, and hope
{ that their demonstration will al^ in
? the fast development of aerial transI
portation. So far their demonstrations
cover twenty-two States and
, Canada and their record for passenII
ger carrying is over 2000 without a
. sihgle mishap of any kind.
The lieutenants hold several re:
. |ords, one being tne nrst to ny over
the Blue Ridge mountains and over
. Mt. Mitchell. They are the only fliers
. having flown the entire length of the
eastern highlands, taking the aero.
plane to the mountaineers.
. Passengers will be carried all day
; July 4th.
t Lieut, Turner will do his famous
! diving stunt, hanging by his feet when
; 1 plane dives 1000 feet at the speed of
. j 200 miles an hour. This is the only
fighting plane ever to be no exhibi|
tion in the south.
A number of Athletic stunts are on
the program for'the big day and sev-!
eral prizes are being offered by the
- merchants of Kingstree for the days
>' events.
The grounds Jiere have ample shade ;
and a large crowd is expected. Prepar1
ations are being made so that those
! desiring to bring dinner with them will
have a convenient place to eat, and
L arrangements will be made to accom1
modate those who prefer to purchase!
t dinner on the grounds.
A general admission charge of 55c |
i for adults and 30c for children will be:
! charged to defray expenses of the at-l
1! tractions. '
ll * !
,
, GETS FIVE YEARS
, Florence Jury Convicts Negro of
Throwing Switch.
1
t Charged with wrecking the Sea-r
i board Air Line passenger train No.
. 33, in which Engineer Harmon and
his fireman, Joe Jenkins, were hurt,
i! and a number of passengers shaken
; I up. William Durant, a negro, was de-!
- j clared guilty by a jury in the court j
. i of general session at Florence last
i week, and sentenced to serve five
, years in the ate penitentiary. Du- j
! rent, it wiL be recalled, threv.' the;
, switch at a side track near Florence,!
, derailing the locomotive and one car,
I j of the passenger train. The negro j
.'had pasted white paper over the tar-:
, get to cover the red signal and this ir.i!
dicated a clear track to the engineer,
i Durant had no attorney. He showed.
.! but little interest in the case beyond i
II an unsuccessful attempt, as the jury
11 saw it, to prove an alibi. When
i the accused man declared that he
i,had witnesses who would testify at!
. ithe time it occurred, Judge Shipp
[ I granted the time for their summon.
j ing. Two of the witnesses were j
. brought into court, but their testi-1
i mony held little weight with the jury. I
i Senior Wright, negro, was the prin-i
; cipal witness against Durant. R'ei
. testified to having seen Durant bendl
ing over the switch 30 minutes heroic
; | the arrival of the train, beating on it
i j with some heavy instrument. Du(j
rant had tried to hide from him, the
,' witness declared.
|j
I
IMPORTANT NOTICE
All persons, firms and corpora,
tions having cotton stored in the
Farmers warehouse are hereby notified
that same must be taken out J
on or before July 1st, 1921. If not
moved by the owners on or before
1 July 1st, it will be moved by the
Warehouse company at the expense
of the owners. Those having cotton
stored in the Farmers ware- j
house will please give tms matter
j their prompt attention as the tobacco
market will open early in
July.
FARMERS WAREHOUSE CO.
t Thos. McCutcheon. Pres. and Mgr. j
6-l&-2t.
%
>- - k- 1 ' > -V &&&&? .
GEN. MOORE DIES
AFTER OPERATION
ADJUTANT GENERAL PASSES
AWAY IN HOSPITAL IN
COLUMBIA
Columbia, June 16.?Brigadier General
William Woodbury Moore, fiftytwo
years of age and since 1910 the
adjutant general of South Carolina,
dieel in a local hospital this evening
shortly after 7 o'clock.
Although Gen. Moore has been ill
for several weeks he continued in his
office until Monday, when he was
forced to go to his home. He was suffering
from a large carbunkle on the
back of his neck. This was operated
upon this morning and he never
reained consciousness. The immediate
cause of his death, stated his physicians,
was diabetes from which he
has suffered for some time. Members
of his family were at his deathbed.
Expressions of regret were heard on
all sides when it became known that
Gen. Moore had died. He had endeared
himself to the members of the
South Carolina National Guard, nast
and present, for his conscientious
work in behalf of the state militia,
and the state's official family realized
that South Carolina had lost one of
its most stalwait officers.
Major Rufus W. Grant, assistant adjutant
general, early tonight communicated
with the members of the deteased's
family. Capt. J. T. Moore,
the general's only son, stationed at
Bingham, Mass., in command of a
company of mariifes, is on his way
from Boston and Mrs. W. E. Davis,
the only daughter, is en route from
Clemson College, her home.
Gen. Moore is survived by his wi-!
dow and the following brothers and
sisters, Mrs. R. C.Kirkland, Barnwell;)
Mrs. W. C. Milhouse, of Barnwell; G ;
H. Moore, of Coosawatchie; Haskell,)
Moore of Colleton county; Arthur M. i
AAt*A a/ D A ! ** H'aI 1 TntMAO XJ \f AAVO I
iuuuxC) vi uauivvcjiy uaiuco xx. muvit, j
of Gilmania; Mrs. Kate White, of
Hendersonville, and Mrs. Ida Moore
Norton.
Gen. Moore was a decendant of a
family which has been identified with
the history of South Carolina for more
than a century.' Hjs grandfather,
John A. Moore, was a native of Peterboro,
N. H., but came to this state j
in his early manhood, settling at Gil-'
lisonville, then a part of the Beaufort
district. It was here that the
father of the deceased, Dr. Henry W.
Moore, was born in 1831. He mar-:
ried Miss Mary Elizabeth Rowell, a:
native of the old Beaufort district,
and from this union Gen. Moore was(
born at Hendersonville, Colleton coun- j
ty, December 30, 1868. He received
his primary education from the com- |
mon schools of his native couitty, and |
his academic education from the Citadel,
which he attended in 1884-85.
He left the Citadel when he was seventeen
years of age, entering upon >
commercial pursuits. In 1887 he
moved to Barr.well where he was employed
as a derk in a commercial establishment,
and was identified with
various commercial enterprises there
as an lemploye until i89t when he
went into the me.-cantiie Business for
himself. From 1901 to 1910 he was
a cotton buyer and a traveling salesman
for various firms.
Active in the Militia.
Since his college days the deceased
v.as actively engaged with and displayed
intense interest in the organized
militia of his state. He became
a member of the Barnwell Guards in
1<*89. Later he was first sergeant of
the Brown Guards, of Barnwell, and
from 1891 to 1893 he was second lieutenant
of this organization. He was
elected captain of Company E, Third
regiment, iNationai eiuara, iviay 14,,
1904, resigning this commission Feb- j
ruary 16, 1907, at which time he was |
appointed on the staff of Governor
Ansel. He held this appointment for
four years, until 1910, when he was
elected Adjutant General of South
Carolina, to fiil out the unexpired term
of the late Gen. J. C. Boyd. He was
successively reelected Adjutant Gen-j
oral in all the biennial elections since,
and at his death was in the first year
cf his fifth term.
November 5, 1890, Gen. Moore mar- i
lied Miss Louise M. Peoples, and to!
this union were born two children,'
Miss Catherine Moore and Capt. |
James Tillinghast Moore.
The daughter was married to the
Rev. W. E. Davis, pastor of the Firs:
Presbyterian church, Clemson College,;
August 1, 1917. Gen. Moore married J
his second wife, Miss Florella M.
Saunders, October 29, 1900. The deceased
was an indefatigueable work\
" \
v ,2fc \;
*
LEGION'S NEW HEAD.
Has Good Record for Service in the
A. E. F. In First Division.
John G. Emery, the new national
commander of the American Legion:
hails from Grand Rapids, Mich. He
was born on the Fourth of July forty
years ago. His election, which was by
.acclamation of th* national evecutive
committee, took place at the national
headquarters at Indianopolis. At the
same time Thomas J. Bannigan, oi
Hartford, Conn., was elected vice commander,
succeeding Mr. Emery, who
now fills the vacancy caused by tho
death of F. W. Galbraith, Jr.
Mr. Emery is a real estate operator.
He has served as president of
the Grand Rapids Real Estate Board
and as one of the commissioners of
that city. He is president of the
First Division club. His military record
dates from his entrance to the
second officers training camp at Fort
Sheridan, 111, August 27, 1917. He
attended various schools in France ana
was assigned to the 18th Infantry of
the First Division. He commanded
F. company of this regiment in the
Montdidier-Noyon and Ainse-Marne
offensives and became a major September
1st, 1918, following the St
Mihiel and Argonne offensives. He
was severely wounded by shell fire
October 9, and was immediately sent
to the United States. He was discharged
from the hospital and from
the army March 31, 1918., He has
been active in the American Legion
affairs ever since.
Mr. Bannigan, the new vice-commander
has served as adjutant of the
Connecticutt department of the American
Legion three years. Daring the
war he served as a captain. He is a
member of the Legion's national committee
on war risk insurance, and
compensation.
o
450 MILES OF STATE HIGHWAY.
4
Receiving Federal Aid Under National
Road Building Act.
South Carolina has more miles of
federal aid roads completed or under
construction than any of the five
southestem states, Tennessee, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
with the exception of Georgia, which
has many times the road milage and
a larger population arid area. On
July 1 there were under construction
or completed in this state 450 miles
of federal aid highways, at a total
cost of $4,951,753, according to figures
made public by the bureau of public
roads, at Washington. The comparison
with the states mentioned shows
the following:
States. Miles. Total Cost.
Alabama 383 $3,764,425
Florida 185 5,490,690
South Carolina __450 4,951,753
Tennessee 357 8,391,886
Georgia 1,085 15,019,165
The total for the entire nation on
June 1 was 23,210 miles of federal
aid roads, costing $386,186,130.
It is expected that from pending
legislation in congress will come
a system of federal highways, to
be constructed by the states and within
the states, but with also a system
of interstate roads, interlinked with
county seat-to-county-seat road3, but
not subject to crazy-quilt local construction
as is now possible, according
to advices from Washington. It i3
expected that congress will appropriate
aid for roads on the basis of $100,000,000
a year.
o
The body of J. Foster Howie, who
was killed in an automobile wreck
near Camp Bragg, Fayetteville, N. C.,
Saturday, was brought to Florence
last night and carried to his home.
I .1 =T
er in behalf of the National Guard, to
which he devoted his life and wa sa
conscientious public officer. One of
the greatest disappointments in his
later years was that his physical condition
would not permt him to enter
the army and participate in the world
war. However, he made up for the
fervero with which he labored for his
? 4- '? Lie onrl fliA
cuuiicry in iuo viuw c*.*v? ?
ance and advice he gave to the military
authorities.
Marked by the solemn splendor of
the military funeral service, the firing
of guns, the khaki escort of honor,
the gathering of hundreds of
friends come to pay their last tribute
to an honored soldier and beloved
friend, the funerai of Brig. Gen. William
W. Moore, the adjutant of South
Carolina, was held Sunday, services
being conducted both in Columbia and
in Barnwell. Interment was in Barnwell.
/'
/ ,
LYNCHING FOLLOWS! 'LI
CAPTURE OF NEGRO
I : /j
MOB RIDDLES BODY OF FUGI!
tlYE SWINGING FROM
A TREE.
, McCormick, Jane 19.?A posse of
I citizens this afternoon lynched Her,
bert Quarles, a negro, charged with \
criminal assualt on a white woman of i 'S
. this county. The negro was identi- ? '
, fied by the victim and was ordered
, to climb a tree. His body was then
riddled with ballets.
The posse was hourly increased in - '
numbers and at the time Quarles was
caught at S o'clock this afternoon J,
there were probably 2,000 men engaged
in the mob.
The negro was found hiding under
some brush about fifteen miles from
the place where the crime was committed
and aoout one mile from where
he was reared. v
When a party of men was in about
i ten feet of him be jumped up out of
, the brush. Hundreds of shots were
, fired in the air as an alarm and the
news spread faster than the local telephone
company could get it through
the country. Members of the posse
soon gathered >n the scene. Men
from Greenwood, Saluda, Edgefield,
Aiken, Abbeville, Newberry and Lincoln
county joined McCormick county
in the hunt.
From the spot where he was found
Quarles was taken to the home of the v "J.
victim.
Says "This is Wrong"
The negro himself, it is declared, *'
admitted having committed the crcime
and while he gave no reason for committing
the .deed, he issued this state- 4
ment:
"Tell all the colored people that this
is the wrong thing and tell them to
try and be better people and never
try the deed I tried."
Alter being identified by the victim
and making a full confession the negro
was taken to a point within the
Robinson graveyard in the slump of ' c
woods where the deed was committed,
about 100 yards from his home, and
with a plow line around his neck and
a trace chain around his body he was
ordered to climb a cedar tree.
With the same degree of coolness
he might have gone about climbing
for an o'possum, he broke the limbs
and climbed the tree about fifteen
feet When he had reached this point
someone went up and chained and tied
him to the tree. When all was in
readiness a volley of probably 5,000
shots was fired. He was left hanging
to the tree by the mob.
This is the first lynching that has
ever occurred in McCormick county,
and although the regular June term
of the Court of General Sessions for
McCormick county is to begin here
tomorrow, the appeal of the officers 'ig
and those who do not favor lynchings
fell on deaf ears as the quiet, undemonstrative
assemblage of men went
about their work. ( J
In fact, no more than half the number
in the hunt were present when
the negro was put to death, it is said.
Those in charge of the negro, who
had taken him to the home of his
victim to be identified, had stated, it
is alleged, that they would return to
the town before going about the work
of lynching him.
O 1 i
Postoffice to Change.
$
Washington, June 16.?Effective on
July 1st, Florence, Greenwood, and
Rock Hill, will be raised from second
to first class post offices; Batesburg,
Easley, Mullins, St. Matthews, Sen
eca and Timmonoville will be raised
from third class to second class;
Barnwell will drop from second to
third class and Moultrieville from
third to fourth class.
o
A resolution declaring Rear Admiral
Sims "an undesirable alien" and denying
him readmittance to any American
port, was introduced iii the house j
last week, by Representative Gallivan,
Democrat, Massachusetts. The resolution
offered by Mr. Gallivan, referred
to Rear Admiral Sims as "a foreign
citizen of the United States, but
now connected, unfortunately and unhappily,
with the naval establishment
of this country." On other occassions,
it added, he had "publicly stated that
in case of a war between the United
States and Great Brittian, one British ( J
ship could easily dispose of four or
five American ships of corresponding
type." and it charged that "Sims has
publicly depreciated his superior officers
in the naval establishment and
the government of this republic."
' a