Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tax Law Troubles. Complications Caused by the Act of 1896. The auditor of Sumter county has written the following letter to Comp trotter General Norton : I bav8 decided that there is a tract cf land io the vicinity of this city in? deed partly in aod partly oat of the city limits, that by some oversight bas Blbeen off the books for three years past, : consequently has escaped taxation for ; that period. Of course I will have it on next duplicate. But what I would : like to ask is, if I should take any steps, and what, to collect the taxes doe for the three years just past. I do not r;. know that I have any right to add to J; my predecessor's books aod the present fv owner of th? property does not seem to be io any wise responsible fer the con? dition of things, fae, having come into possession some time during last year. ' For the fiscal year closing October, ? 1893, the property was valued at $2. ??800. It has'been off since that period. J If if becomes my daty to take any steps . towards collecting the taxes of 1896 or the previo as years I would like to know hew far eo proceed io regard to the Mpeoaltiiies. Please write me fully, and oblige y Yours, &o .f J. Dines WILBER, Auditor. Tent?is letter of ioqniry Mr. Norton I? replied as follows : A special committee having been ap? pointed by the general assembly now tn \: session to examine into the effects of : the act of 1896 on just such questions t?.- as you raise in your letter of the 17th, I I have delayed until now in answeriog hoping for the report. If the genera] assembly should reach the conclusion that the act of 1896 is wise and proper legislation giving bene? I results to the tax department and general public, we must change onr k forms so as to comply with the airmen te or provisions of this act. Section 290, revise statutes, clearly kes it your duty to place this and all Similar real estate on your duplicate, s 278 and 281, revised statutes, rtber point out your duties with r?f?r? ?e to personal and real pronerty off the tax books as does 354 and 374 also. Section 2 of the act of 1896, page 255, ; acts 1896, makes all "tax claims against property on or whether off the tax duplicates, when past due and un? paid for 12 mouths" assets of the State in charge of the commissioners of the : sinking fund * 'except for the ourrent year 1897, all ?axes for tbs State, cono ty and school become the assets of the State, aod cannot, according to the act . of 1896. be applied to State and county purposes. There are other and possibly morose " rions complications arising from the ^provisions of the act of 1896 affectiog your duties as aud'tor especially in the / settlement between the aaditor and \ treasurer It looks now as if the auditor will be forced to suter property . thus off tax B book s fir it for.cuvreor year or 1897, and then back years* taxes and so change the treasurer's duplicate as to conform to the requirements of the law aa affected by the new law. We will in due time, however, pre? pare such forms and instructions as may be found absolutely necesssary to comply with the eba g es io present practices and forms Respectfully, J AUB* NORTON, Oompr roller General Tbe special committtee is still at work on the matters at issue. THE HELENA'S SUCCESS? FUL TEST. Newport New?, Feb. 23.-Th* gun? boat Hele&a, constructed at the nhl; yard here, made a trip io the bay thi* afternoon and developed a speed of 15 knots, exceeding the requirements by two knots. The increase over the Wil miegton, which made a preliminary trip last Saturday, was a quarter of a koot. The Helena's propeller is of a different pattern from that of tbe Wil? mington. The weather was favorable for the test, and ber ta a.*hin pry work ed perfectly. If the Helena equals her performance of to-day when she mak~p b*>r ? ffioial trip, she will earn bet onil'iT* a bonos or $40,000. Do You Want Free Seed ? Washington, Feb 23. Editor of thc Watchman and South? ron : Will you please allow nie to say through your columns that I still have some seeds for distribution. I have made earnest effort to get a complete mailing list at each post office in the district If anyone has been omitted, it was not intentional and not chargeable to any lack of effort ou my part. If there are any who have received nothing, they should send me their addresses at once, and I will gladly send seeds as long as the supply holds out. They will also get their share of all the distributed publications in the fu? ture. I cannot supply requests for par? ticular kinds of seeds. The seeds are put up in sealed packages, under contract wUh the secretary of ag? riculture, and members of Congress do not know what they contain. I am pleased to furnish such as I have to all whose addresses are furnished me. Very respectfully, J. WM. STOKES. Columbia Street DM Charles W. Sloan Killed by J. W. Powell. The Sabbath like quiet which lias prevailed in the'city for some time past was roddy disturbed yesterday morning by a fatal rencontre between J W Powell and Charles W Sloan, in which the latter lost his life and tbe former bad a narrow escape from losing his life also. The unfortunate tragedy which bas cost one man his life and put another behind the pris? on bars, occurred about 7.30 o'clock yesterday morning and seem? to have been the culmination of a long stand ing feud between the two men. It occurred in front of Mr. Powell's office on Bland ing street, just beyond the Charlotte depot. From the state ment of eye witnesses made soon after Ihef shooting occurred, Mr. Sloan was on his way to his office, which is just adjoining that of Mr. Powell's, when Mr Powell came out of his, and; after some angry words : had passed, they commenced firing at each other. It was reported that prior to the shooting Powell assault? ed Sloan with a heavy cudgel made from a hoe handle, which bad been sawed off in the middle This state ment, however, bas been contradict ed and the assertion made that Powell did not use the stick uutis Sloan had fired upon bim. As is usually the case in homicides of the kind, tbe statements are convicting as to who fired the first shot Ali that is known with certainty is that both of the men fired three shots Sloan was struck twice, one ball en? tering bis lefjt side and . passing out below the hip, the other just below j tbe heart. Either wound was suffi? cient to cause death, but it is proba ! ble that the latter brought it on more quickly than the first would have j done. Powell's life was saved by his having a heavy wad of papers in his right breast pocket of his coat Sloan's first shot struck the papers, cut through them and through Pow? ell's shirt and grazed the nippte of hie .right breast. As soon as the shooting was over Sloan staggered i oto his office and begged some of the bystanders to send off for a doctor as he knew he was badly hurt. Dr. Kendall was telephoned for and came to him im mediately, but could do nothing and he expired in about 30 minutes after he h?,d been shot When Dr Ken? dall arrived Sloan was unconscious and could make nb ante mortem state? ment -The State, Feb. 25. Spain Forced to Act. Demanding: Sangmily-s He lease. : Washington, Feb. 25.^-With an apparent disregard whether th?? ap?% propriation bills, stitt unacted on by the senate; are to be passed at the present session or are to be relega ed to the house i? extra sesi?n the seriate t?-day, by' a vote' of 40 to 27, laid aside tb? Indian appropriation bill, which had already occupied three days and took up the joint resolution which had been reported yesterday from the committee on foreign re? lations demanding the immediate and unconditional release of J ul io Sanguil ly from a Coban for.1 ress. lt came up in the first instance as part of the morning business, the Vice President deciding that under the rule, a mo tion to take up the Indian bill was not in order until after the morning business was disposed of, and when at 1 p m. the morning hour did ex? pire a motion to proceed with the Sangnilly resolution was made by Mr Allen- and although it was? resisted by the chairman of the committee on ap? propriations-Mr. Allison-8iid was voted against by the chairman of the committee on foreign relations-Mr. Sherman-it prevailed by the vote above mentioned. The debate from the first was of a rather exciting character Mr. Al? len spoke of Spain as "a decaying monarchy, a blot on the map of the world and a disgrace to civilization ' Mr Daniel, member of the com mittee on foreign relations, went over the story of the case, Sanguil ly, be said, was wounded, sick in prison He bad been treated rigor ously, harshly, cruelly and brutally in a manner that was a disgrace to this century and to civilization. Not only that ; but the American consul had been treated arrogantly by the Spanish authorities-not only in hi? own person, but in his country. He had been told by a Spanish of? ficer, high in authority, to whom he bad made a most polite and courteous appeal, that his conduct in presenting intervention in favor of Sanguilly by order of the state department was a disgrace to. the United States and to the American flag. "If that consul," Mr. Daniel de dared, "had demanded his passport, and if the Spanish government had ! failed to apologize for that insult to our representative and tc our flag and an American fleet had been 6ent to Habana to c'eraand it, I do not be? lieve there is a single citizen of the United States who would not have rejoiced at it.'' A Cinco sraoUft is the best 5 cent smoke. 'H G. 03teen & Co. Simply Absent-Mi?ded There were eight or tee of os io the sitting room of the railroad sfatioo when a deputy Sheriff entered with a handcuffed prisoner After a look around the officer said : "See yere. Bill, I am coin* to bitoh you to this seat and go after a drink. I heven't been so thirsty since the war." '.What's the matter of my goin' along ?" asked Bill. ?.It woaldD't jest look well, yo' see, ard folks would be apt to make re? marks Mebbe I'll bring some back in a borrie*' The officer hadn't been gone two j minuses when a mao entered with a bundle under his arm and walked over to the prisoner. Taking a key from his pocket he unlocked the baodouffs and pitched them out of the back door iuto a ditoh Theo the prisoner shed his coat, hat and vest and put OD oth? ers, and as he eat down again bis friend produced a pair of shears and out off his loog hair and whiskers with won? derful celerity The deputy was gone about ten minutes and when he return? ed bis mao bad glasses on bis eyes, a newspaper io bis band, and could not be pioked out of the crowd. Tbe deputy didn't try to pick, however. He came to a standstill in front of the seat where he had left Bill and looked ali around and robbed his eye and look ed again. Theo be felt of the empty i seat and looked puzzled and scratched his head. "Lost anything ?'' asked ene of tbe crowd "I reckon, I bev, but am not sure of it Did I bring in a prisoner and handcuff him to that seat V' "Of course not " "A smallish man with loog hair and whiskers and a leetle lame ?" "No mob mao here." Didn't you hear me say I'd bring him suntbin* in a bottle ?" "No." Tbe officer felt io his pockt and pro duced a warrant for William Saunders for grand larceny and handed it over to tbe mao to read * Yes, I see." was the reply, "and why dont't you arrest him ?" **By George ! but that's what I want to do, of course ! I knew Pd either arrested bim or was goin' over to Red Cove to do it this afternoon, and I beg your pardon for aotin1 so stupid, and am much obleeged for your trouble." He started off at a brisk pace and walked down the platform, but returned after a minute or two to put his bead into the room and say : * 'Excuse me. gentlemen, bot I want? ed to say that I haven't bio drinkin1 too much ; I'm simply absent-minded, you know Come to think of it. Pm sore I arrested Bill Saunders two days ago and lodged bim 'in the county jail !" Practical Demonstration. Here is H conversation that actual? ly occurred on the streets of York ville, a fay* days ago. and which was overhead by the reporter One of the parties to the convera tioii was a young farmer, who wouid like better roads ; but who does not know of any way other than the method provided by law to get them The other party was a -citizen who believes th?tif this donn try is to ever have better roads at all, it will only be through the voluntary efforts of the people. "But then I can't afford to give $10 or $16 worth of work on the roads.*' said the young farmer. "How many plows do you run ?" asked the other ..Two " "How much fertilizer do you use each year ?" "About a ton, I reckon " "How roany loads would it take to haul a ton of fertilizer from York ville to your home over a maca damized road ?" ' Not more than one, I guess." "And you could do it in half a day r ''Yes ; easy enough " "How many loads and how much time would it take to do the same hauling over the roads as they are now ?" "Four loads and four days, may be " "Th? time of yourself and team ought to be worth something like $2 a day, ought it not ?" "Yes; it is worth that much " ' Then in the event yonr neighbors should club together to make a macadamized road, you see that upon this one item you can easily afford to give $7 in labor, for if you do not, you will have to throw it away again next year anyway. And then you must remember that this ia only one instance. If you will just go on lo figure out how much bad roads cost you each year from numeroue other sources, you will be more than as? tonished to find out what a large amount yon can afford to give to help make them better " The young farmer admitted the full force of the argument, and when the two men parted both were still think? ing*-Yorkville Enquirer ----- - Imported Stock. tl.G.OsteenA Co. recored this week ft full assor;:ner>' of (ht- latest R?d jrettiost de? signs in Dennison's Imported Crepe ?nd Tis? sue Paper for caking lump shades, flowers and ai! sorts ot fancy work. This ie guaran? teed to be the ger.nine imported paper and far superior to any and all imitations. We sell at New York price?, as we buy direct frooa she importers The stationery stock is complete and up to date. ' Howl?ottadait. Dr. Jones waft sitting at the break? fast table when the postman called and dep'sited on the plate, among his letters, an ordinary express tag, covered with postmarks and insciip Mons, Mrs. Jones took possession of the tag and scrutinized it with deep perplexity. "For goodness sake, tell me what thi*6 is, George," she said at length. lier husband glanced at it back and front. '"It appears to be a splendid official { exemplification of how not to do il," he replied. "It is addressed to me, and there is a two cent stamp affixed to it, duly cancelled On the back is an official notice reading.: 'Re ceived without contents Search for same will be made if description is sent to inquiry department, New York P. O ' " "But what does it mean ?" "It means," continued the Doctor, "that the Post Office, having lost my property, calmly throws the onus of proof on me." "Jost what I thought ! Something lost ! Now, what are you going to do about it ?" "NothiDg at all, my dear " "I'm quite sure it was a wedding present from one of jour richest pa? tients." "Not at all unlikely." "Possibly a diamond ring." "Possibly." "Or one of those lovely Persian silk dressing gowns, or-or-in short it's impossible to say." "Quite impossible." "And you don't care a bit ! Well, if that isn't like a man ! However I'll see about it. They can't overawe me with their circumlocution and their 'how not to do it ' I'll go down there at once !' ' Mrs Jones walked all round the corridor on the second floor of the she found Federal Building three times before the Inquiry Department There were several people there be fore her and she had to wait over an hour before her turn come at the window. No tone ot her predeces sors looked happy as he turned away "Can you throw any light on this?" she demanded in a tone of concen trated scorn, handing the tag to the clerk. "Not unless you can give a de scription of the package," he. re? plied. "But neither Dr. Jones nor my? self ever saw or heard of it," she protested, losing courage rapidly in the musty official atmosphere. The clerk shrugged his shoulders. "Haven't you a stray package here that I could look at ?" she concluded desperately, thinking of the diamond ring 1 Oh, yes, lady. Thonsands of 'em. And we've got them all neatly wrapped up And some day they'll be auctioned off " Mrs Jones did not say another word, but a glance at her face that evening convinced her husband that she bad assailed the fortress of cir cumlocotion and been repulsed in bad order. Speaking of the probability of war with Spain, because of tbe murder of Dr, Ruis in Cuba, the Washington corres? pondent of the Nsw York Journal Says : "it is expected rbat the r.avy department will be apprised of Lee's additional report to-morrow, and it is suggested that possibly two ships will be sent to Havana from Charleston That city was made the basis of a sup? ply of 5,000 tons of coal about three weeks ago, and it is an easy matter to dispatch several ships to Cuba witbour delay." In ca*e of war Charleston would undoubtedly become a base of supplies for the United States navy. and the Government would do well in view of emerge noies that may arise to establish a coaling station at this port -News and Courier. Stsobeuville. O , Feb. 24.-A vast quantity of nitro glycerine stored be? tween Gould Srotion and New Alexan dria, Obio, on the Pan-Handle railroad io the Gould field, exploded this after? noon at 1 o'clock, killing two men and injuring a number of others Both meo were blown to atoms, only a man's toe being found Houses were knocked down an,d trees were torn up by thc roots The report of the explosion was heard 10 miles away The two .men killed were named Dreary and Ralston, oil well drillers. The slaughter of thousands of Ar? menians by Turks convulsed the civiliz? ed world. The slaughter of thousands of Turks by Greeks is received with complacency. Jonah and Balaam seem to absorb attention What is tb?; world coming to ?-Augusta Chronicle. - ?? ??-??? - Stands at the Bead. Aug. J. Bogel, tba leading druggist of Shreve? port, La , says: "Dr. Wm. King's New Discov? ery is the only thing that cures my cough, and it is the best seller I have." J. F. Campbell, of Safibrd, Ariz , writes: "Dr. King's Nev Dis? covery is all thiit is claimed for it : it never fails, ?md is a sure cure for Consumption Coughs ULd Ceids. 1 cannot s;?y enough for its merits." Dr. King's New Discovery lor Consumption, Coughs aad Colds is not an ex? periment. It hus l>ccn tried for a quarter of century, and to-day stands nt thc ruad, lt never disappoints. Free trial bottles at Dr. J. J. F. W. DeLormc'j? Drug Store. 1 ---M^ Booli.g in chen:) i-di'.ions, prices not duo" cated in Suoter. H. G. ?stten & Co. THE DEACON'S DONATION. And Why It Wa? Kot Accepted by the To-rra Committee. It had been decided at a public meet? ing of the citizens they that would have a combination library, reading room and social clnb in Wampton. The commit? tee, made np of substantial members of the community authorized to act upon their own judgment, was in session at Deacon Close's, he having a site that he wanted to sell for the proposed building. "I regard this movement as deserving of popular approval and aid," said the minister. "It aims to secure a wider intelligence and a better tone of morali? ty among our people. Every one should give according to his means." After the editor, the doctor and the banker had talked in the same vein, the lawyer proposed that they get down to business. "Deacon Close," he contin? ued, "has a desirable lot for which he asks $2,000. It strikes me as a pretty stiff price, but I have no doubt that he will make us a donation of $500 and make a deed of the site for $1,500. " There was applause, in which the deacon did not participate, but rising reluctantly he delivered himself as fol? lows: "I must say that I agree with what has been said in praise of this en? terprise. Our town needs it and there is no place for it more desirable than the lot I have offered. Of course I want to bear my full share of the expense. "Since I offered you this lot," the deacon went on, "there has beeu a great improvement in times. Money is easier, prices are better and realty gets an en? hanced value because of the general prosperity. I will let you have the lot for $2,500 and throw off $500 as a do? nation." The minister muttered something he was glad the rest did not hear. The doctor laughed, the banker scowled and the lawyer moved to adjourn in a voice that told the deacou he would have to seek some other market for the lot than had taken such a long and sudden jump in value.-Detroit Free Press. A Wonderful Avenue. Magnolia avenue, which has been the pride of Riverside from its founding, and which has won a national reputa? tion as a boulevard, has had two de? fects. The streets leading to it were usually dusty and disagreeable, while the darkness of the avenue, owing to the dense foliage of the overhanging pepper tr?es, made it a rather dismal evening drive. All that is at an end. It is now possible to drivo from the heart of town over macadamized streets, perfectly free from dust and mud, direct to the peer? less Magnolia avenue, and if the drive be taken in the evening arc lights are encountered every 800 feet, giving splendid illumination. When the ave? nue is reached, there is presented such a sight as few, if any, towns possess. The electric poles are but 124 feet apart, and from these brackets project about three feet. From each bracket hangs a cluster of three incandescent lights cov? ered with a reflector, which throws the light on to the driveway. As one stands at one end of this row of lights but four or five of them can be distinguished as individual lights, the remainder forming a continuous chain of fire which seemingly stretches away for untold miles beneath the verdant canopy of the arching pepper trees. Modern as is the scene, it impresses the beholder as an oriental fantasy worthy of the Spanish Moors. The imagined extent of the wondrous chain, of fire, however, is in a degree an optical illu? sion. Instead of being miles in length, it is but a little over a mile. Instead of there being untold thousands of lights, one is amazed, to learn that there are but 150, suspended from but 50 poles. -Los Angeles Times. How She Dieted. Mr. L Zangwill, at a dinner of the Maccabees, told the following story: "The fat giri of C., gentlemen, is not a myth, nor a show person, but a solid, private reality that I have seen. Her fatiiess weighed upon her; so she went to a physician to be rid of some of it. He drew up a careful dietary. She was to eat dry toast, plain boiled beef, etc., aud to return in a month to report re? duction. At the end of the month she could hardly get through the doctor's doorway. He was aghast. 'Did you eat what I told you?' he asked. 'Religious? ly.' His brow wrinkled itself. Sudden? ly he had a flash of inspiration. 'Any? thing else?' he asked. 'My ordinary mcv?s.' " The Force of Habit. On the day before tho execution; th9 keeper informs the doomed man that a visitor wishes to see him. "Do you know who he is?" asks the doome.l man. "No." "Well, just ask him if ho wants to collect a bill, and if he does tell him to call tomorrow."-Strand Magazine. This is the complaint of thousands at this season. They have no appetite; food does not relish. They need the toning up of the stomach and digestive organs, which a course of Hood's Sarsaparilla will give theta. It also purifies and enriches the blood, cures that distress after eating and internal misery only a dyspeptic can know, creates an appetite, overcomes that tired feeling and builds up and sustains thc whole physical system. It so prompt? ly and efficiently relieves dyspeptic symp? toms and cures nervous headaches, that it seems to have almost "a magic touch." Sarsaparilla Is the best-in fact tho Ono True Blood Purifier. rfc??i are the ,)est; after-dinner liOOG S PlllS pills, aid digestion. 25c. THE VALUE of H NAME depends upon irs rei'U'Hiion, won by df>eds, not words. Toe S tu-ff Piano bas rec-ived diplomas and . awards without number. But it stands to day, a? it bas done for over half a century, upon its own merits And, whilst this has been true, there has been no prejudice of the makers against new ideas of re?l merit. The univers?] verdict ?ny those who are the most comp?tent Judges is that it is impossible to iu prove upon the richness of its tor,e. STANDARD ORGANS Terms to suit you Send for illustrated Catrtloji. CHARLES M. STIEFF, Baltimore-9 N Liberty St. Wafbineton-521 Eleventh St N. W. D. M. YOUNG, ATTORNEY AT LAW. Frompt anentioD to all business entrusted to him. Office on Court House Square, in Blanding office SUMTER RESTAURANT, Reduced Prices Regular Meals 25cts. Private Dining Room for Ladies. Dec. 30. BEAUTY HATH CHARMS and all the charms which beau? ty likes best to don are shown in our grand display of fash? ionable jewelry for this season. Jewels like these would en? hance the charms of the most fascinating belle, and surely no fair one would despise such brilliant aids to her beauty. Like personal loveliness, they conquer admiration on sight ; they score new victories at ev? ery inspection. Those who look, over our stock do not willingly stop with examina? tion. Beauty may now be made eaoiiy irresistible by a few judicious purchases from our dis[ lay of up to date jew? elry. L. W. FOLSOM, Jeweler and Optician, SfQy OF THE BIG WATCH, Oct. 16. Land Surveying. H. D. MOISE, will give prompt attention to calls for porveyine and platting land Can b? fonnd at his office, oext door to cffice of Lee and Moise, Samter, S. C. Nov. 18. STANTON HOUSE. Di J. JONES, Poprietor. Rates $2.00 Per Day, SPECIAL ?TERMS tT0 FAMILIES. Two: Minutes "BTalfc From Contrai Depot. Chattanooga, Tenn. July 29. <? ^ TRADE MARKS, j"* DES?CWS, COPYRIGHTS Ac. f,r>rr^-n ..r--. .<-><. p 5}:etc?i and description may Q." ? i ". free, whether an invention is pro*' I.. ?3 r-i5>U? Communications strictly con I - .' '. i?!rte?! agency forsecur'nirpatents irv Vi ... ?vive a Wwhiitsit* office. >*< : '. -i through Munn & co receive " S'i :7?F?G ?MERiGfiN, . ?-viUi'-.i-i !?i?:srrated, Isrccst circulation of Btiy s&eal i Rc journal; weekiy, terms $3.(30 a year; *l.-*)six months, specimen copies and HAXD uooix ON PATENTS sent free. Address MUNN & CO., 3iil Broadway, New York. Estate o? Miss Jennie Dargan, MINOR. IWILL APPLY to the Judge of Probat.? of Sumter County on March lOtb, 1897, tor a final discharge as Guardian of the Per? son and Estate of foresaid Minor. MILTON DARGAN, Feb. 10, '97-4t*. Gua dian.