Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I' - -V & x /% > ? -* . % |i %\\t? (Eountg $le?ort>. I VOLUME 37?NO. 15 THE COUNTY RECOUP. KJNGSTREE, S. C, THURSDAY. JUNE 15. 1922 PRICE $L50 A YEAR IN ADVANCE ? ; f SESSIONS COURT HAS SHORT TERM CRIMINAL DOCKET . UNUSALLY LIGHT, ONLY SEVEN CASES DISPOSED OF. The summer term of the Court of General Sessions convened here Monday morning with Judge John S. Wil- : son presiding. The court stenogra-' pher and Solicitor McLeod were pres- j - ent and other officers of the court' were at their post of duty throughoutj the short term. The following cases | were disposed of: The case of the state against Horace l Waterman, indicted for stealing a! hog, was tried by a jury and found i not guilty. Defendant was represent-: [ ed by E. L. Hirsch, Esq. tv... rfoto n A. Mvers. de- i 1UC . , . ' v ^ fendant plead guilty to assault of aggravated nature, and was sentenced j to thirty days on chain gang or pay a fine of $25.00. Defendant was rep* resented by J. D. O'Biyan, Esq. The state against Jack Bradshaw charged with house breaking and t larceny; defendant tried and sentenc' ed to nine months on chain gang, j Bradshaw, it was charged, broke in-1 ^ to the home of Mr. A. W. Montgomery | near Salters. The state against Robert Burgess lor obtaining goods by false pretense ?getting a wagon and harness from the firm of Rodgers & Rodgers and . giving mortgage on property he did $ not have?defendant plead guilty as * charged and was sentenced to three * months on the chain gang and pay a fine of $50.00. The state against Andrew Snowden vi/Uatinn nf thp nmhibition law; AVI -? ? c defendant tried by jury and found J guilty. The court's sentence was one i year on the chain gang. This de- j fendant plead his own case. He was caught at Lanes w th three gallons ^ of corn whiskey in his possession. The state against Willie Coards for house breaking and larceny; defendant plead guilty and the sentence of the court was that Willie serve eighteen months on the chain gang of Williamsburg county. This bird broke into the house of Dave Ward, three miles east of Kingstree. Coards is an escaped convict from Georgia and will be turned over to the authorities of that state upon the termination of his sentence here. The state against E. B. Williamson, charged with violation of prohibition t law, was tried by jury and found | guilty. The sentence of the court was that Williamson serve one year on the cour ty chain gang or a like period in th i state penitentiary. Defendant represented by Kelley & Hinds and E. L. Hirseh, attorneys, who gave notice of appeal to the supreme court. Williamson's bond was fixed at $1,000. The state against E. B. Williamson, k J. W. Mooie and W. G. Upchurch, charged with violation of the prohibition law; case continued, but on condition that Moore and Upchurch, who are from North Carolina, leave! the county' within ten days and do not return, will not be prosecuted. The state against Hugh M. Graham, charged with violating check law; true biil returned by grand jury and case continued until fall term, j The court adjourned sine die at i 'a noon Tuesdt.y. Indiastown Items. Indiantowii, June 12.?The Indiantown base-bill team suffered defeat at Hannah Saturday afternoon, the score being IS to 1. The following delegates were elected Sunday to represent the local Sunday school at the State Sunday School Convention in Columbia on June 20: Mr. and Mrs. David McCutchen, Mrs. H. M. Cooper, Mr. M. W. Rogers and Rev. W. R. Pritchett. ^ Mrs. George Barr of Kingstree, jB was a visitor at the home of Mr. and! Mrs. W. W. Barr Sunday. Miss Bessie McCutchen returned to j her home here last week from Wash-, ington, N. C. where she taught school; 11C paov Mr. Derril Daniel of Clemson Col-' lege, is home for a few days before: going to the summer camps. Miss Mildred Wilson and George Miller of Kingstree, were visitors at Indiantown Thursday afternoon. wf Misses Mertie Cooper and Virginia ^ Wilson visited relatives at Salters Sunday. Mr. LaRue Hinson spent the weekend with relatives at Scranton. Quite a number of the young people enjoyed a good old-fashioned stprare dance at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Rollins on Thursday night. * ' i i PRESENTMENT OF GRAND JURY. State of South Carolina, County of Williamsburg. The Grand Jury of Williamsburg county having completed its duties pertaining to this, the summer term of court for the year 1922, begs to heiewith make its report: 1. We desire to thank his Honor, Judge Wilson, and Solicitor McLeod for the instructions given us pertaining to our duties as a Grand Jufy and thereby assisting us materially in passing upon the bills handed us and the other duties imposed upon this body. 2. We have passed upon all indictl-J ? _ 1 1 o.l ments nanuca us ami iwh- i?ui?w same to the court. 3. We find that the magistrates have not filed their quarterly reports as required by law and we recommend that all magistrates be required to file their said reports for the period up to and including the 30th day of June, 1922, on the 1st day of July, so that same may be properly audited at that time. 4. We are glad to report that the plumbing at the jail which was mentioned in our last report has been put in proper condition. However, nothing has been done to the building heretofore recommended to be moved and repaired. We again call this to the attention of the County Board of Commissioners and urge that this be done at the earliest possible date. 5. It has come to our attention that there is no inventory of the road machinery and equipment showing the property of the county used for this purpose and we recommend that a complete and detailed inventory of said equipment be made up at once and filed in the Supervisor's office as a matter of reference. 6. It has also come to our attention that there is no definite system in force for the purchase of supplies for the chain gang. Supplies being bought in a number of instances on verbal orders, sometimes sent by con victs and we recommend that this practice be discontinued and that a definite system be arranged for the purchase of all supplies and that none be authorized to sell supplies to the county unless upon written order of some person duly authorized to give such orders. 7. At the last meeting of the Grand Jury it was recommended that an audit be made of the Supervisor's books. This audit has been partiallv made and a full report on the auu.? will be made by this body at its next meeting and a proper set of books will be opened in the Supervisor's of nee by mat ume. 8. Considerable complaint has been made to this body relative to the roads of the county. A petition has been filed with the Grand Jury from residents of Kingstree relative to the condition of the Kingstree-Workman road. A bridge between Salters and the Lower bridge and another on the Lower bridge causeway has also been reported. Tfie road between Indian town church and Rome has also been reported to be in very bad condition r practically impassable at some points. The Broad Swamp bridges on the road from Kingstree to Sandy Bay are said to be in a dangerous condition. The above roads and bridges have been specifically called to the attention of this body and we recommend that these roads be repaired at once and if the chain gang is not sufficient to put them in fair condition that the County Board of Commissioners employ parties for the purpose of having them fixed immediately. Some of the members of this body have been over these roads per" ixl ? x*-- 1- -A. 1- 3 .'4 son&iiy wimm me last ween, aim it is absolutely necessary that they be repaired in order that they may be used by those who find it necessary to go over same. 9. We regret to report that it has come to our attention that certain white men, in or near Kingstree, have been indulging in the nafarious practice of beating innocent negroes, for no reason whatsoever, and we recommend that the sheriff investigate this matter and see that same is not repeated, or in case it is repeated that the parties be brought before this court. All of which is respectfully submitted, L. R. Mcintosh^ June 13th, 1922. ??o First Cotton BMsoni. The first cotton bldreom of the season was received by The County Record Saturday, June 10, from J. S. Britton, a farmer of the Lanes community. WIND AND RAIN 1 CAUSE MANY DEATHS NEW YORK ANb NEW JERSEY ] SWEPT BY STORM SUNDAY. Wind of hurricane velocity, the outrider of a torrential rain storm 1 ! that swept from the eastern edge of < New Jersey across New York City < and over Westchester county late < : Sunday afternoon, was responsible I ;for many deaths, hundreds of minor s accidents, large destruction of proper- J i ty and riots of panic at traffic term- 1 inals and pleasure resorts. 1 The most numerous fatalities were ! 1 I drownings off City Island of men and i women in rowboats. Sixty bodies had ! been recovered Monday and many |< : persons remained not accounted for. (, A Ferris wheel at Clason Point Park j} , in the Bronx was blown into Long { j Island Sound, causing deaths of six ( and serious injury to thirty-five per- , : sons. ] A tree was blown over on the brick , ; chimney of Red Lion Inn on the Bos- ( I ton Post Road, and the chimney fell t through the roof of the restaurant, ( killing a woman and a child. j Drivers of motor cars were caught ( under falling trees, one woman dying j in such an accident near Hackensack and a man near Piping Rock, L. I. A tree M Mount Vermon, which had been condemned because dangerously decayed, fell on a woman and child, J ; killing both. Electric powter wires in Newark, blown down, caused the death of a man who stepped on one. Rain and wind caused damage estimated at $1,000,000 in and about j Syracuse, N. Y. All the upper middle section of the state suffered in i some degree. | Two hundred and fifty boats were capsized by the gale in the vicinity 1 ' of City Island and a score or more of persons are known to have been 1 j drowned, while forty have been re- J ported to tne ponce as missing. The storm, described by veteran Sound sailors as the most severe in years, hit without warning at 5:45 o'clock, when the waters about the island were filled with craft of every description. Most of those capsized contained fishing parties. Twenty thousand holiday makers : had gone to the island. Those who I were not in boats were on the beaches I when the storm broke. All bathers, i however, were able to reach places ! of safety. Few of those in boats had opportunity to get ashore. The known casualties occurred off Execution Light, about six miles east of City Island; Rat Island, about three miles east and another island, a mile north. ! The waters at those spots are known las the fishing grounds. There were many heartrending ! scenes as friends and relatives of the j drowned identified them. So many I men, women and children became hysterical that it was necessary for i the police to remove them to other j parts of the island and keep them | under observation. Relative^ of the 1 missing were equally affected. The wind, which struck Pelhara Bay at 5:45 and blew until 6 o'clock with the fury of a hurricane, left in its wake a scene of desolation. Trees were uprooted, buildings were unroofed, windows were shattered and telephone and electric light wires were blown down. Boy Scout Activities. During the past several days the local Boy Scouts have been active in sports. Probably the most outstanding among their events was the ball game last Thursday afternoon, when they crossed bats with the McClellanville Boy 5 couts, defeating the McClellanville Scouts by a score of 8 to 2. Another Scout game is scheduled for this afternoon, when the local ! Scouts will meet the Lake City Scouts , on the Kingstree diamond. Proceeds I from these games will be used by the ] Scouts to defray expenses incurred ; on a proposed camping trip to MurI rel's iplet, for which place they will leaidrWednesdav of next week. i tor State Supt. of Education. ^^Irs. Bessie Rogers Drake of Ben- J ^ettsville, on Monday filed her pledge < , and paid the assessment for state su- 1 perintendent of education. Mrs. J Drake is the first woman in the his- 1 tory of South Carolina to offer for i a state office, Gen. Willie Jones, with 1 whom Mrs. Drake filed her pledge, < said. General Jones wrote Mrs. Drake < to this effect during the day. j BIGHAM REFUSED NEW TRIAL' I - ? RESENTENCED TO ELECTROCU-' f TION JULY 14?NOW IN PENI- ^ TENTIARY DEATH HOUSE. ? c In the city of Florence last Friday j ;he court room was crowded to x )verflowing with men, women and e rhildren when Judge Shipp convened j :ourt to hear the motion for a new ^ ;rial for Edmund D. Bigham, under j sentence for killing his brother, j smiley Bigham, and four other mem- ^ jers of the Bigham family for which . Lne nAf Koon tnorl XVlP J10O 11VV ^ VW WVlt ;y Record takes its account of the famous case from the Florence Times. Mr. Kins: opened with the presentation of the letters and affidavits vhich have been published in sumnary already. The first was his own affidavit that he could not have obtained the evidence now being subnitted previous to or during Biglam's trial in March 1921. The next vas from Mrs. May M. Bigham, wife >f the convicted man, as to the loss and recovery of the evidence in ]uestion. Also there was an affidavit from Edmund Bigham as to the receipt and subsequent loss of the letters. At this juncture, Edmund Bigham, vho sat in the dock, removed his . oat. He took gre?t interest in the iroceedings. Mr. King read the letters which he lad procured. These covered the lusiness affairs of the Bigham family it Pamplico, always concluded with terms of endearment, recited various >ther matters, and the desire to sell the land to Edmund to settle up the >bligations to him. Mr. King recited the findings of the etters by Mrs. Bigham in sume furliture after her husband had been :onvicted and sentenced and she had noved to Taylors, they having been jacked in the furniture in Georgia ind never taken out at Pamplico. The signatures on these letters purported to have been written by Smiley ;o Edmund, were compared with :hecks bearing the signature of Sriiley. Affidavits as to their genii neness were read from H. M. Pleasints, cashier of the Farmers and " 1 tj?1- T R nercnams dou& vi i auipuw, ?. v. Connatser of Colombia, teacher, in f Oraughan's business college; William * Vf. Gibbes, Jr., cashier of the Palmet.o National Bank of Columbia,* as to * ;he ability of Mr. Connatser; C. M. r JVilkinson, of Pamplico, agent for the 3. A. L. that Smiley had used his 1 .ypewriter a great deal; E. M. Single- * ary, clerk of court that he believed ;he signatures on the letters were * genuinely Smiley's; W. L. Meadors, 8 issistant cashier of the Palmetto 3ank and Trust company, that he be- c ieved the signatures of L. S. Big- c lam on the checks and the letters 1 vere written by the same person; I. 1 r. Wellings, of Darlington, of the * Carolina National Bank, to the same s jurpose; W. R. Willis, of the Peoples s fa fKn como mil*. 3&IL&. U1 U<XL Ull^?Vllf WV bitw owiuv ^M. jose; R. C. Rollins, of the Bank of I rimmonsville, sime purpose. He read g ;he affidavit of J. G. Miller, formerly r >f Pamplico and now of Florence, to i ;he effect that he had undertaken to v leal with Smiley for a sawmill; that a he next day, in the fall of 1920, he r lad met Smiley on the streets of 1' Florence, and Smiley had said, to him t ;hat his family were trying to steal I iverything he had and he would kill i ?ver- one of them. He read the affi- t lav . of W. T. (Bill) Hyman of o Pamplico, that he had endorsed notes e for Smiley to get fertilizer. Also he I ead an affidavit from Jim Cain, 5 mother of Bogan Cain, who married o VIeatha Bigham, that Smiley and Ed- $ nund's sister, Mrs. Margery Black, S vho was killed in the wholesale mur- h ler, had told him they had to send 1 'or Edmund to protect them from 1 Smiley. He read an affidavit from a Ularence Rose, member of the city I >olice and a deputy sheriff at the t ;ime of the killing, that hq had pick- ii id up three or more empty pistol v :artridges in the Bigham yard two or s hree days after the killing. This t " * * O :act Mr. King saici never was iu?v- ^ luced at the trial. a L. M. Gasque, Solicitor, then pre- t rented his answer. First he present- r id an affidavit from J. G. Miller, who ? lad given Mr. King the affidavit re- r jarding the saw mill deal and the a :hreats of Smiley, saying that his v irst affidavit was in substance true, >ut he did not know if Smiley were t Irinking at the time; that he had r lined frequently at the Bigh&m home, t md they seemed happy and he never I 4 ... JL ttlNKULiLMEilNT BUUKS UrJKIN. .adies Who are 21 Years of Ag< Should Enroll. Enrollmentbooks have been openec or the coming primary election, anc oters are urged to enroll as earl) is possible, is advice of secretaries >f all Democratic clubs. If you arc !1 years of age, or over, or if yoi vill be 21 years of age before the ilection date, you are entitled to reg stcr. Women who desire to vote ir he coming election are reminded thai n order to vote their hame must ap jer.r on the registration books, anc hey are especially urged to registei is early as possible. Union High School Commencement Union high school eld its closing sxercises on Monday night, June 12 fhe graduating class consisted o: 'our young people and after an in vocation by Rev. G. K. Way, pasto: >f the local Methodist church, the] :arried out the following program Salutatory, Roland Carraway; His ory, William T. Turbeville, Jr.; Will l<ee Williams; Valedictory, Rosa John ton. Music was furnished by th< ligh school chorus. Mrs. Lama Tohnson favored the audience with j >eautiful vocal selection. The annua iddress was made by the Hon. P. H Roll of Kingstree, who in his usua 'orcible manner of speaking gav< rery timely advice to the graduating Jass. Rev. G. K. Way in a very grace 'ul manner presented a beautiful pii o Miss Annie Wilson as a token o: ippreciation for the work done b] diss Wilson for the past several year! n the school. The patrons and pu >ils regret that Miss Wilson will nol >e here next session. # Prof. Smith in behalf of the schoo iresented Mr. B. B. Chandler with ? oving cup as a visible reward for th< aithful service rendered to the schoo is chairman of the board of trustees or the past fifteen years. Mr. J. Walter Doar, county super ntendent of education and Mr. B. B Jhandler, chairman board of trustees tad their usual place on the program. Exercises closed with a short prayei iy Rev. Way. The sermon to the graduating class ?as preached on Sunday morning bj he Rev. J. P. Inabinet of Kingstree lev. Mr. Inabinet gave a very strikng and forcible talk. The vocal sole y Miss Annie Wilson and the anhem by the high school chorus added nuch to the sendees. On Friday night, June 10, the prinary and intermediate grades gave he operetta "The Brownie Band.' rhis was well gotten up and showed aithful work done by both teachers ind pupils. The entire faculty was reelected foi he next session. The following were n the faculty: Prof. N. R. Smith diss Annie Wilson, Miss Effie Zimnerman, Miss Emmie Snow, Mrs. N I. Smith, Mrs. L. B. Johnson. aw any indication of such trouble. Next was an affidavit from R. A Hack, the husband of the Mrs. Marfery Black, murdered, saying he had oarried his wife in 1912, had lived n the Bigham home three years, up intil 1918 when he came to Florence ,s health officer, and was in close elation with the family. He said the etters attributed to Smiley were uterly absurb and impossible. He said idmund had disposed of all interesl n the Bigham estate prior to going o Georgia in 1913. He said instead f Smiley owing Edmund, that EdQund was in debt to Mrs. Black foi 800 and the interest for several ears. The only debt he knew oi wing Edmund from the family wai 400 for Cleveland's bond. That imiley had wired $360 to Edmund to lelp him out of trouble in Georgia, 'hara woe Tin Hisniite in the home. lie dispute was between Bogan Cain ,nd the family regarding the estate, idmund came to South Carolina hat time and expressed no interest n that. He did much of Smiley's mting and was surprised at the style hown in the alleged letters of Smiley o Edmund. Smiley was not expert n the typewriter and never wrote ,ny letters on the typewriter. Relaive to the saw mill which Millei aentioned intending to buy from imiley, he said Smiley had been runling a mill a lonfc while before. He iverred the signatures on the letters .ere not genuine and were forgeries D. Gordon Baker made affidavit hat there was nothing to the lettei eferring to "mother and Margie" anc he' intention of killing all of them * (Continued on last page) i iL \ # I FOURTH OF JULY | CELEBRATION i l TENTATIVE PLANS ARE BEING r MADE BY LOCAL POST OF THE 5 AMERICAN LEGION. , Tentative plans are being made by , a committee from the Williamsburg . Post American Legion for a Fourth. . , of July Celebration to be held at the I fair grounds in Kingstree on that . date. The entire fair grounds have 1 been secured by the committee and P every effort is being made to arrange a program which will be interesting to the large crowd the committee . hopes to have here on that day. Among the chief features of the r day will be a good ball game, as no . Fourth of July occasion would be f complete without this national game, - which has gained international note, r So far the program has not been suf{ ficiently completed to name the clubs : that will compete here on that day, - but strong teams will be secured and , a good game will be given baseball - fans. ? It is quite likely that the race tract r will be brought into use on this day i also and give admirers of good horses 1 and experts in horsemanship a chance . to show what they have, as horse rac1 ing is also one of the features being i contemplated for this day. I A shooting tournament consisting of rifles, pistol and trap shooting con tests is also being given consideration,: l 1V.1 1L2. J . 1 ana It is very luteiy mat tnia xesHuv f will hold much interest for a num7 ber of the attendants of the celebrai tion, as it is hoped to get together - most of the crack shots of this sect tion with their different firearms and have a contest which will in itself I be an exihibition. i Other interesting contests which ; will admit the ladies as well as the I men are being arranged and will be ; announced on the program to be published at a later date. A good brass band will be secured . to furnish music for the day, and it , is hoped to have arrangements made , so that attendants at the celebration may secure their dinner at the grounds. This plan has not been i completed so far, but will be announcr ed on the regular program when pub. lished. It is understood that prizes will be > offered in the various contests, and it will be to the interest of those I who can take part in any of them to groom themselves for the big frolic. o- !? News From Rome. ? ' Rome, June 13.?Mr. Flint Rhem ( rinmcnn PnlldM frtf n at I1VI11C X X VI** VIVWWVII wv?.v0w the summer. Miss Annie Wilson spent last week ! at Richburg, where she took part in ? the wedding of Miss Jean Hollis, a former teacher here. Mrs. B. M. Dinkins is spending some time with her sister, Mrs. 0. r M. Mitchell at McColl. Mr. W. C. Snowden of Carthage, - N. C., is visiting his aunt, Miss Julia DuRant. I Mr. and Mrs. K. E. Hill and famI ily spent the week-end with relatives ? at Cades. Mr. Harvey Floyd of Floydale, is the guest of his sister, Mrs. G. K. Way. Mrs. W. T. Turbeville has retia&r I ?J am tneif Vtoi* 'u cu xrvin on cAb*&nuvu * <*mv w mv* : Mrs. Wilson Buie of MerchantHQ^ N. J. While away Mrs. Turbertfle I visited Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Trenton, Camp Dix and other points ' of interest. 1 ''Mr. David Johnson of Columbia, spent the week-end here with his , 1 father, Dr. L. B. Johnson. ; Mr. John P. Sn#w, Jr., spent the 1 week-end in Florence on business. Mrs. Harry Wilson has returned to her home near Kingstree after spendi ing several weHfe here with her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Turbeville. Miss Louise Haddock has returned from a visit to her brother, Mr. A. / s i H. Haddock in Charleston. Rev. G. K. Way, Mr. W. T. Turbe' ville and Rev. J. 0. Carraway attend; ed the district conference in Kings! tree last week - " i-i /~>i ii? iHISS *>iciD l V^llclliuicr lo n1?rr hm her vacation at home. She taugjt t near Charleston the past session, "v Mr. Baker Wilson is home for tH?> ! summer, from Wofford College. Miss Gertrude Haddock was the - guest of her sister, Mrs. Ed. Vause t of Kingstree last week. Miss Mary Rhem attended the comI mencement exercises at Columbia Col> lege and is now visiting friends at: Holly Hill. jf' > ' \ 'A