Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A FAIR WOMAN ASSASSINATED. ? HORRIBLE CRIME COM? MITTED IN EDGEFIELD. Special to The State. Edge Se: Id, Oct. 16 -The eotire com? muai ty was shoeked this morning to hear of the death of Mrs. J. O Atkin? son, wife of Mr. J. 0. A rsi osoo, who lives near Republican church , on the Martintown road. Mr. Atkinson and bis wife were com? ing from Augusta on Monday, sod be tween their home and Augusta they Were snot; from ambnah. -bj partie? un? known. Is is thought the shot was intended for Mr. Atkinson. Miss Atkinson, who is a student at .', the Coeducational ros ti i ute, was called hone to-day to the sadness that per? vades that home. Mrs. Atkinson was an Augusta lady . and a most estimable woman in every way. It is thought the murderer will be lynched if caught, fidgefieid, Oct. 20.-The news from the Atkinson murder now is that Mr. Atkinson went to Angosta Tuesday last by one road and came back an? other. The road be went down was evidently guarded, because the same night of tho . morder another white man was bailed and when they found j Ont it was not Mr. Atkinson nothing j was done. v The coroner's inquest is going on j now and they have many witnesses. Three negroes are implicated aod are on their way to jail There are grave doubts about their ever reaching the jail. The entire country is in a high State of excitement over the heinousness of the crime. Mrs Atkinson was resting her head co her husband's breast whee the fatal i shot was fired, only a few feet from the road The fearful deed was committed with ia a mile of Mr Atkinson's home. Of coarse, Mr. Atkinson was too much taken np with his wife to notice any? thing else. His coat was burned with powder from the assassin's goo. A great many men came over from Angosta. There is a determined spirit among the people to ferret oat the enme. How the Fearful Deed Was Done. ?pec?al to Tbe State. Bdgefield, Oct. 21.-The record of old Edgefield county io 1876 and in tbe succeeding years of the recon? struction period is history, the his? tory of a people determined to settle - the qoestion of the sovereignty and supremacy of the white people Tbe movement that was there foment* ed was paralelled in every other county in the State, aad to day the white people mle Occasionally, however, in isolated eommnnities where the blacks pre? dominate in numbers, there is an oe caeion&l outbreak which results in tragedy Tbe fiendish deed which wrought the death of Mrs Atkinson in Edge field county oo Tuesday night is wejl known to every one The detail? are harrowing She and her husband had started for Augusta in the morning with four ba;es of cotton to put on the market Their home is near Eepublicao church, 14 rai es from Augosta and 14 miles from KdgeSeld court boase, in a community where there are few white people Tire??, with the long 28 mile drive to Augusta and back in a two wheel cart, which bas no sop port"for the back, and wearied with a eick headache, Mrs Atkinson pi! lowed her bead on her husband's shoulder and was thus riding, sup ported by his left arm. when they were approaching their home. A bo ft a quarter of a mile from home Mr. Atkinson saw a man walking slowly in the road ahead, bot paid no atten? tion to him As tbr vehicle camp abreast of thc man, the latter step ped into the foot path about three feet from the passing vehicle, and to toe right of Mr Atkinson He wheeled suddenly, fired full into Mr. Atkinson's face with a shotgun, and fled The proximity of the assassin caused the lapel of Mr Atkinson's coat and his shirt front to be scorch ed and powder stained The entire load of "BB" shot took effect in Mrs Atkinson's throat, severing the caro? tid artery, jugular vein, and almost tearing the head from the body The assassin had missed his aim, but at what a cost ! At the cost of the life of a devoted wife and a lov? ing mother. Mrs. Atkinson was on the opposite side of the buggy from the assassin, but as her bead was leaning on her husband's left breast, the load which was intended for hie heart, tore ber gentle spirit from its tenement. In the shock and excitement, Mr. Atkinson did not know that his wife bad been killed. He thought that she had merely fainted from fright As she was lying limp and helpless in bis arms, be could nol see the scoundrel, who bad fled, and could not discern] whether it was s negro or a white man. His wagon was coming along be bind and soon caught up. Mr. At ? kicson placed the body of bis v. the wagon and sadly took n reine, to go home to the litt!? straining their ears for the son the wheels which would bring and mother home. The news of the dastardly soon spread throughout the cc The sturdy yeomanry was eur and a systematic search for clue was begun. The coroner quest was held in "Repuf Church," about 500 yards fror scene of the murder. The magi's Mr, Jno W. Glover, was assist< Capt. George Evans, of the Edg bar. The jury, with Mr P. B ham foreman, is composed of ic gent and law abiding men. negroes, Squire Green, John Si Jim Smith and Jim Mackey found to have information io possession which might throw on the subject. These were all pl nuder arrest, and when put upoi witness stand neither was perm to hear the testimony of the othe Nothing conclusive of guilt produced, and after the inquest been conducted all day Wedne and until noon Thusday, it was cided ' to adjourn the investigs until Thursday of next week. Mackey was released from arrest, the other three were taken to E< field and put into separate cells When the State representative, companied by Dr. F. W P. Bu visited the jail yesterday morn he found that the negroes' ste corroborated each other to a nie showing that they were either ii cent, or, if guilty, very shrewd. ' story as told by each separately that Tuesday afternoon about d Jim Smith was coming along on mule on the Martintown road, i the place where the tragedy sui quent ly occurred. He met J Stuart at the foot of a little hill, ? Stuart said to him, "There's a sue behind that big pine tree on the hi Smith looked io the direction ii cated and saw a mao crouching cl against the tree. He whipped his mule and passed the tree a gallop, but looked back continual He affirms that he could not dist guieh the strange man's features color, but be did see a big stick 01 gun which the mao bad Proceed i down the road Jim met Squ Green, and related the above incid? to him lt was about 15 minn* 'later that the assassination occurr near the very same spot. Ali of I j negroes under arrest said that ft Atkinson was liked by ali the negr< in the community, and that each j them had the highest respect a goodwill for Mr. Atkinson. Th said further that Mr and Mrs 1 kioson lived happily and seemed < voted to each other. This to reft the suggestion of Mr. Atkinsoi criminal connection with the affair At the place of the tragedy o empty and two loaded shotgun she were found. It is thought that t assassin used a muzzle loader ai placed these shelis here for a bl in as the empty one had been fired soi time before So far these are the only clues c vulged Those interested in ferr? ing ont the murderer claim to have clue which they are working on ai which will develop by Toesda The people are very indignant, ai justly The negroes in jail were u arrested as perpetrators but are lae as witnesses Everybody in the coi munity is looking for evidence. When Mr. and Mrs Atkinson we to Augusta on that fateful morninj they took the "Five Notch" road, is said On this latter road on tl same night, Mr John Mealing wi ( held up, but no attempt was made t injure him From this it woui seem that it was Atkinson and nor other whom the assassins sought I kill-evidently there was more tba one in the plot Robbery was nt the incentive, for as soon as the fat shot was fired, the scoundrel fled Why then waa there snch a dete mination on the part of some one t destroy the life of Mr Atkinson ? The marked man is the only whil man living within the radius of foe miles, BO I have been reliably inform ed For roiled and miles the couotr is populated by negro tenants an renters who cultivate a track of abon 10 OOO acres. Thia country is th sc*?ne of the Ned Tennant riots i 1876. Tennant was a ptcminen negro who figured in th* incendiar insurrections which ied up lo th historic Hamburg and Ellenton riots I At that time the negroes in th country bad some kind of mutual ai< society, the members rf which wa armed and ebnipped like a militi company It is said thai the sam? organization obtains on a small scalt even to this day ; that she negroe have smali arsenals in their homes In this dark section of country then have been many robebries recently showing the lawlessness of the inhab itants. There is a custom among araal renters of cheating their landlordi i by giving part of their crops to othei tenants For instance John Jone< plants ten acres of cotton, half of lb? product is to go to the owner of ih( ! land. When the cotton begins tc ; open, the negro will pick out the i cotton, stow part of it as the osten > sible product of the acreage, and will ; turn over the rest of his crop !o some 1 nogro who owns his own land i The pro rata to the owner of the rent ed land will thus be reduced, while . the renter will eventually get bifi . staple back frc m the third party te whom he had consigned the part of his crop from which the land owner gets on toll. It is said that Mr Atkinson had been active in attempting to break np (this systematic swindling on the par? of the negroes, and probably in corred the enmity of the negroes who belonged to the society At the courner's inquest the con? stitution and bylaws of the society were read, and avowedly the object of the erganizations is for social and bunal purposes. On Emancipation day, 4th of July, etc., parades are held There is nothing criminal in the constitution of the society, but that does not overcome the fact that there may be some subtile under? standing between the members* The white men who have been 80 enraged over the assassination are. among Egfield's best citizens They are conservative, and are going to work calmly, but they are verry de? termined. At the inquest next Tues day, should they find the man who is guilty beyond peradventure, they will quietly impanel a jury, try the accused, and be will be hanged on the spot if found guilty. There'll be fiendish work, but there seems to be a determination to let no delay occur. The picture at home where such suffering has been wrougbt is said to be a most affecting one. Mr. and Mrs Atkinson bad lived together happily for 17 years She was a most lovable woman, of fine intellect and of refinement. She was a Miss Btalock, of Augusta. There are in that stricken home five mother? less children, the oldesl a young girl of 15, who was at school in Edge field village when she was robbed of her be6t friend on earth The young? est is a baby of seven months. The enormity of the crime, and these peculiarly harrowing circum? stances have rendered the people of the surrounding country unceasing in their their vigilance, and unmerci ful in their punishment when the right man is found It is realized that the negroes in jail are innocent, and no attempt will be be made to lynch them. Wm. Banks A Manager Appointed. The following characteristic letter from Dr C. C. Brown of Sumter ex? plains itself, and shows the value of the columns of The State for adver? tising purposes : To the Editor of The State : The State bas gotten me into trou? ble and must come to my help One of your correspondents, in an inter? view with Dr. Thomas of Greenville, made a discoveiy that a committee had been appointed by a board of trustees of Furman University to se cure some one to manage the Cse ear's Head property next summer. Since that item of news appeared in The estate, letters have been pouring in upon the committee in numbers too great for us to answer Would The State do the committee the kindness to send out the ?;ews that a manager bas been engaged in the person of Mr. W H. Plowden of Gibson. N 0 , and he will goat once to make his home on the mountain top, in order that abundant arrange ments may be made for the guests of next summer The committee re grets that so many applicants must of necessity be rejected ; but we had a job for one man only, and, having found him, we closed the bargain. 0 C. Brown. OUR GROWING NAVY. The remarkable rapidity with which the naval power of the United States is beiog increased at the pres? ent time may be realized when it is stated their aggregate tonnage far exceeds that of the vessels building at any one time during the civil war. The vast construction programme, cays a recent telegram, which bas excited more attention abroad than at home has been authorized gradu? ally by congress until the vesnels soon to be completed will place the United States third in rank among tbe sea powers. ID addition to the enormous fleet, including auxiliaries, actually in commission at the present time, twenty vessels are in various stages of readiness and the shipbuild ers are hurriedly gathering the ma terial for 5o others. Of the 55 yes eels, 8 are to be first class heavily armored seagoing battleships, 38 are torpedo boats. 4 are monitors and one is a powerful cruiser Candia, Island of Crete 0?t 18 Seven Mussulmans, who were fried and oocvicted of tbe mulder of British sol? diers during tbe recent outbreak here, were haoged taday. ?Hilf? ????^1111 - Discovered by a Woman. Another great discovery has been uiadu, and that, too, by a lady in this country. ''Disease astened its clutches upon her and for seven years she withstood its severest tests, but her vital organs were undermined and death seem? ed imminent. For three months ehe coughed incessantly, and could not sleep She finally discovered a w ?%. to recovery, by purchasing ol us a bottle of Dr. King's New Discovery foi Consumption, and was so much relieved on taking first dose, that she slept all night ; ano with two bott es, has been absolutely cured, Her name is Mrs. Luther Lutz." Thus writes IV. C Ham nick ?fc Co , ..f .Shelby, N. C. Trial bottles fre9 at J. F. W. Dc Lorine's Drug Store Regular size 50c and $1. Every bottle guar There are DOW at the Stare hospital for tbe iosaoe io Colamia nearly 1,000 patient. The oapaoity of the iostitu tion ?a tax?d to the urajo-r, and the board of re^eots i< anxiou- to r^cuce the number by dismissing thoce who more properly belong to poor houses, inebriate hospitals,* and penal institu? tions This would permit other more deserving patients being admitted to tbe hospital The business affairs of the institution are in excellent sbape. - **Tbe trouble with tbe Second regi? ment," says tbe Charleston News and Courier, "is that they have been sol dieriog in the delightful climate of Co? lumbia " That's a faot. It spoils tbe boys for Cbiokamaoga and Jacksonville They go away with aspirations for "something better/' bat after sampl?Dg other climates ?bey yearn for the old reliable, to be bad only in our shop - Toe State. A Skin Disease In a Terrible Condition with Scrofula Sores Took Hood's Sarsaparilla and ls Better than for IO Years. u I had a skin disease which was very troublesome. I took a great deal ot strong medicine which did not do me any good and I was at laBt obliged to give np. I was in a sort of stupor some of the time. Scrofula sores broke out and I conld get nothing to do me any good. My daughter told me of a woman who was afflicted as I was airtl who found re? lief in Hood's Sarsaparilla. I concluded to try this medicine. At that time 1 was in a terrible condition with sores on my head and body. The first few doses o? Hood's Sarsaparilla seemed to give me relief, and in a short : me the sores be? gan to heal. My appetite improved and I felt like a new man. I am now in better health than for 10 years." S. M. GREEK, "Winnsboro, Fairfield Co., Little River, South Carolina. Remember Hood's Sarsaparilla Is the best-in fact the One True Blood Purifier. Sold by all druggists. $1 ; six for $5. uAA/i>. njij c?r- all Liver Ills and llOOa & Killb Slck Headache. 25c. PATENTS ?Caveats, and Trade-Marks obtained and all Pat-j (eat businesscondsctew for MODERATE FEES. ?OUR O rn CE IS OPPOSITE U.S. PATENT O Fri CE? >ar.d we can secare patent aa less time than those! (remote from Washington. m ? ? Send model, drawing or photo., with descrip-? ?don. We advise, if patenuible or not, free of J (charge. Onr fee not due till patent is secured. < i A PAMPHLET, ** How to Obtain Patents," with? ?cost of same in'the U. S. and foreign countries' {sent free. Address, :C.A.SNOW&CO. OPP. PATENT OFFICE, WASHINGTON. D. C. Read MM This Ad. MM Oar aim in business bas been and still is to give tbe customer every ad? vantage possible. Wbeo we can save oar customers one cent we do it, for we believe one cpot is as good io your pocket as it is io ours. We know full well tbat every enterprising and mooey caving boyer will not ooly see and ! oompare these prices, bot will certainly rake Advantage of them, which are way below the nrdioary In oar Sboe department you will always fiod big bargains and remember we only haodle the best. Note these prices : Men's calf Bale, only 89s Men's dress Congress ?1 25 Meo's Frenob calf, oom toe, $1 25 Men'* Coogress, French plain toe, $1 25 ? Men's Eoglish wet weather Shoes, 32 19-every pair guaranteed Meo's cork soles, ccin Joe, $2 19 Men's oil grain creole, band-sewed, only $1 39 Meo's plow Shoes for 98c Ladies' Dong. Batts, all solid, 983 Ladies' Vioi Batts, ail solid, $1 25 Ladies' pebble grain, ali solid, from 75o to $1 Ladies* pebble graiD Polifb, from 753 to $1 Come and See our Shoes and be Con? vinced. We also carry a big lire of Dress Goods, Not-iors, Gent's Furnishing Goods, Limn , H i -, Caps. Umbrellas, Hardware, Tli ware. ?Siation^ry, &c , wbicb we are neilin/ *r prices which cannot be daoli?*ated Ny anyone. Specials. Beat Alarm Clocks, ?inly 82J Good box Station-ty Do Good Note Paper (quire) 2o Hand Saw Files OJ 2 Pen holders for lo 1 bottle best lok oe 1 bottle best Mucilage 3c 10-4 Sheeting only 15c yard 177o Call Speoial Attention to cur UTOS. 18x36 Jute ?vug for 18o 36x72 Jute Rug for 98c Smyrna Rugs and Mats 50 per cent cheaper than you can get them else? where. REMEMBER THE PLACE. Diamond Racket Store, NEXT DOOR TU LEVY & MOSES, SUMTER, S. C. Pitts5 Carminative Aies Digestion, r>> Regulates thc EOTTCIS, Cures Cholera Infantile:, Cholera Morbus, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Teething Children, And all diseases of '?he Stomach ' L and Bowels. It is pleasant ro the taste and I NEVER FAILS >/ to give satisfaction. {$ ? A Few Doses will Demonstrate /J ? its Superlative Virtues, J Is Highly Recom mended for COUGHS, COLDS. HOARSENESS, SOBE THROAT.BROX CHITIS. ASTHMA, WHOOPING COUGH. and All Diseases of = r the Throat, Lungs and Bronchial Tubes. z jj - A POSITIVE SPECIFIC FOB CBOUP. ? ?tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiitifiittiiiiitiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiuiii? l?/AAR5 COUGH-CROUP1 EXPECTORANT THE BANK OF SUMTER, SUMTER, S. C. City and County Depository Transacta a general Banking business, a{so bas A Savings Bank Department Deposits of $1 and upwards received In? terest allowed at the rate of 4 per cent, per annoo. Payable quarterly, oo first days ot January, April, July and October. W. F. B HAYNS WORTH, W F. RHAMB, Cashier. President. Jan 13. Tie Largest i? Most Collete t Geo. S. Hacker & Son, -MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS, SASH, BUNDS, Moulding & Building Material, office and Warerooms, Kingj oppositej Can? non Street, CHARLESTON, S. C. Purchase our make, v i we gu?rante superior to any sole . jth, and thereby save money. Window and Fancy Glass a Specialty October 16-o BOARDING. HAVING TAKEN the House on Main Street second door seth of the Nixon House. lam prepared to ??20i modate a iew jeguUr boarders, end also lodging and meals tc transient customers Terms reasonable. MRS. W. B. SMITH. Sept. g. WAR! WAR! WAR! But the "White'7 is vitcori ous. We are now selling sew? ing machines from ten dollars up We have a few machines that are slightly used that we will sell cheap. We also have a nice line of Organs that we will sell on easy terms. We are head quarters for Sewing Machines and supplies. Old machines taken in exchange for new ones. M. B. RANJULE, Manager, Sumter Music House, SUMTER, S. C. HARB Y Sf CO., WHOLESALE BROKERS, -AND Cotton Storage Warehouse PROPRIETORS. ?P-TOWN OFFICE: COURT HOUSE SQUARE, 1,000 Tons High Grade Am nioniated Fertilizer, 1,000 Tons Acid with Potasa, 500 Tons Dissolved Bone. 500 Tons German Kainit, 400 Tons C. S. Meal, For Sale. We are prepared to meet any and all prices for STAND? ARD GOODS. Get our prices before purchasing. Respectfully, HARBY & co. ec. 16. Viii fcc Poid to any MD:., or Wem ii regains for thc celebrated firm of phys1 ! i^ciaVata, Dr. Ha "-.?.y ? Ce-.,. Wiir'ba?n nwde for--. * .. i"?** -'- 1->? - -J j~ uillic.ed w;?h? v.' ?: \\<r* t.: no ... ? . . ;li . . < ?.r. evervrh?c; . ..>.. .. .. - ? . ?T it * '..Qt) li* . . ??---J. .. v.-> Lw;::..ci ii a rara?>leor?\ c.:.?r i? pJu::., ..L . ??ero i? r.f?'.. "? .".ii surtuermcre, theolfe: :-= gc<i' w /? - -0**. :-i : ?ctly "-2fa b?ca?.vse we JO r.:..-.:-; ;. -7 Dr.Eathr^y i Co. ?xiperier se ?ur .5 r. la?:?Cyc2r-^uc. :or tl efar**kai th,y Lc < area chocssC'ls < '.-.-.ses where ot?. T d' t .s have ?aii, ., r< . th.:. wnrrai ts v.-..zi ~ znvziv? this remarks ble offer. All per-c-: who ars soff rr . ? cr-. any chronic disea*. have now ca oppc . . niry to te?t tho t v. nest of ih<~: tcl ledged .'eadine p?,.'. ciansan? toeci. this country, V-?L_. ax absolute surety cf 5 ? mg cured. Speck! o> se ases, such as erv. ..-r-, h?o?J prisca, wei*: e*i >f men and women which atuot the delicate c*a < inti private diseases of all kinds, rV;snai?? -, ttricture, varicocele, mclure, fema'e trouper >kin eruptions, ulcers, kidney awi Mim; teases, liver end stomach difficult?s, opium and morphine habits, or any ch*...-.; sisease. Our treatment can bo tr ken at tom' .Jnder our directions, or. we wjil pay road fare and hotel niil to all who prefer ta com.; io our office for treatment, if we fa? to cure. Wi have the best of financiel and professional refer anees and transact our boeiress on a sfr>'ij' professional basis, promising nothing brit "*h?i we can fulfill. We do not believe in any o? chi free prescriptions, free cure, freeeampieor CCD frauds, but think it is best in the end to be h?:u est with our patients. Write ns to-day: don't do lay. We haye carefully prepared Symptom Blank? No 1, for men; No. % for women; ho. 3, for ski? 'liseases; No. 4, for catarrh, and new t>i pa*?; oooklet which we will send Free to all who re?J?* .lesire truthful information about their C02.U tioi*. Call or address. DB. HATHAWAY & CO., 22* So. Broad St., Atlanta, C*. Mention this paper. MAW WANTED. I rpHE MANAGEMENT of the Equitable j JL Life Assurance Society in this territory j is desirous of securing the sei vices of a man of character and ability 10 represent its inter? ests, wtth Sumter as headquarters. The right man will be thoroughly educated in the science of life insurance and the art of suc? cessful soliciting. There is 00 business or profession, not requiring capital, which is more remunerative than a life agency con? ducted with energy and ability. Correspond? ence with men who desire to secure employ? ment, and are ambitious to attain prominence in the profession, is invited. W. J. RODD EY, Manager, March 23-tf Rock Hill, S. C. 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 easily irresistible by a few judicious purchases from our display of up to date jew- . elry. L. w. FOLSOM, Jeweler and Optician, SIGN OF TEE BIG WAT CE, Oct. 16. TRADE MARKS DESIGNS COPYRIGHTS &c Anyone sending a sketch and descrlpUpnmay quickly ?certain our opinion free whether ^ invention is probably patentable. Communica ?fons strictly confidential. Handbook on Patenta sent free. Oldest asency for se<mnng pat?ente. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in tris Scientific American. A handsomely illustrated weekly, kaw?* cir-, M?NN&Co^'^'HewM BOW* OtaceTK? F SL. Washington, D. C. Vinegar . Home-made Vinegar Superior Vinegar I have on hand a lot of Home-made Vinegar of very fine quality. The flavor is del? icate, while the strength is equal to any to be had. Will be sold at my residence for 40 cents par gallon. UT. G. OSTEEJU.