The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, April 12, 1899, Image 6
SCHOOL CHART
CERTIFICATES
Not Worth the Paper They
are Written Qa.
SO SAYS ASSISTANT ATTOR
NEY GENERAL GUNTER.
Colombia, April 8.-The school
chart matter has gone beyond the
school authorities in the matter of
dollars and cents Frequent and
persistent applications have been
received to know the legal status of
the claims It appears that a great
many of the claims are now held by
banks throughout the State, io fact
it is said that most of the claims are
held bj banks, which discounted the
certificates, which on the face were
perfectly regalar and proper
It is understood that the holders of
the certificates have employed coun
sel to look after the collection of the
claims, and it is likely that the issue
will be taken to the United States
court to get grown op men ont of
debts which they contracted and for
which they signed certificates.
The following is an opinion render
ed today which is of general import
ance, aod wiil probably cover ali the
ceses referred to either the education.
al or the legal departments of the
State government :
Colombia. April 8, 1899.
HOD. J. J. Mc M ah an, Superintend
ent of Education, Colombia, S. C.
Dear Sir : The communication of Mr
W. T. Smarr,, referred to this office.
Bobmiis this question : "If school
trastees sign school warrants payable
Jul/ 10, 1899, for school suppli e,
sud the claim has been sold to a third
party before ii became doe, and on
July 10, 1899, the school districj
still has money to its credit, can the
third party collect same, when pro
test has been pot in for the claim so
sold?"
Having already expressed the
opinion that the action of school
trustees ic issuing warrants to be
paid out of next year's fonds is ultra
vires, and that the warrants so
-issued are void, it follows that the
warrants are void it matters not in
whose hands they are. The paper
purporting to be a warrant is worth
less, as it represents nothing. Its
invalidity is expressed on the face of
the paper, and persons baying it are
tho8 advised ; the trastees having no |
aothority to the warrants, the
. mere fact that it bas passed into the
hands of a third party can no more
validate the warrant than if it had
been drawn on the road fond of the
county.
Il is stated that the warrant is
drawn on a district that will have a
balance to carry over to the next
year sufficient to pay the warrant
Under the la* (Section 52, school
law of 1896,) which provides that
the county treasurers shall carry
forward all sums unexpended to the
next fiscal year and credit the same
to tba district for which it was ap
propriated, it "loses all connection
with this year's funds, is credited
and merged ia the next, and can be
expended for next year's debts only.
Your correspondent desires to
know if a board of trustees can
empty an attorney to fight the pay
aient of claims for school oharts, and
pay bim out of the school fonds
apportioned for their district I am
inclined to think that they have that
j authority If an action were brought
against the board of trustteee involv
ing the educational interests of the
district, they would be compelled to
employ an attorney to protect the
interests of the schools, or probably
allow the district to be ruined. It
cannot be reasonably contended that
they should pay an attorney out of
their own pockets, for this would j
mean usually that, in spite of .the
ordinary patriotism, the district
would be unrepresented. If then
they have power to employ counsel
to defend, I see no reason why they
should not have power to employ an
attorney to bring an action, or for
other purposes to protect the school
interests
The question is asked, what kind
of notice should be served on the
treasurer to prevent him from paying
the warrants in question ? If the
warrants are illegal no formal notice
is necessary, as the treasurer is not
likely to pay an illegal warrant. As
a matter of policy, however, it wonld !
be well to notify him of the condition
of affairs. Yoors truly,
U X. Ganter. Jr ,
Assistant Attorney General.
Columbas, Ohio, April 8.-The trees
which are to mark the grave of the
Confederate dead at Camp Chase, which
was used as a prisoa as well as a station
for Federal troops, were plas ted today.
A party of ex-Confederates, members
of their focal organisation, planted the
trees which were marked to show ibe
State from which they came.
Greenville, April 8 -Mrs. Corrie
Bishop committed suicide about ll
o'clock la3t night, drowniog herself in
the reservoir of the Poe Cotton Mills
Sha left her home in her night clothes,
bat was not missed for some time. An
alarm was given and scarohiog parties
started out, but her body was cot iou QC
until early this morning, tier husband !
was employed at Poe Mill and both
were excellent people. Her mind was j
jjic'"'"l r- * nm* o, bot reoeotiy
be wxs apparel/;ly bli .i^ht. S- e wa..
29 years oid and leaves two children
"SAILOR HAS
NO POLITICS
DEWEY ON THE MATTER
OF THE PRESIDENCY.
Nsw York, April 9 -Admiral
Dewey bas given to the Manila corres
pondeos of Leslies Weekly ao interview
regardiog the suggestion that the
admiral be made a candidate for the
presidency next year. The admiral
said, aa to bis politics : "I am a
sailor A sailor has no politics. The
administration is his party and,
Republican or Democrat, it makes no
difference. Then, again, I come from
Vermont and yon know what that
means. To be anything bot a Repub
lican io Vermont is to be a vam
without a party. My flag lieutenant
comes from Georgia. He tells me
that to be anything but a Democrat io
the sooth is to be nobody. If I lived
south I would probably be a Demo
crat "
"Have you ever voted ?" the corre
spondent asked.
"Yes, years ago : bat my vote was
suaily influenced by personal prefer
ence or local conditions. I am not a
politician, have never held political
office and am totally ignorant of party
intricacies and affiliations."
Admiral Dewey said that neither by
vocation, disposition, edocation or
training was be capacitated to fill tbe
presidency. He said that he was too
well aloog tn life to consider such a
possibility. His health would not ad
mit it. All his life's work was in
different lines of effect and that, while
the kindness aod enthusiasm of bis
friends were grateful to him and tte
generous tributes of the American
people were dear to him, he coo Id not
and wculd not be a candidate for the
presidency of the Uoited States under
any conditions.
Winding up the War.
Washington, April 8.-The ex
change of ratifications of the treaty of
peace between Spain and the United
States, signed at Paris, will probably
take place in this city next week, and
that ceremony will bs followed by a
proclamation by Prosident McKinley
officially announcing the close cf the
war with Spain and the resumption of
friendly relations, commercial and
otherwise, between the two countries
The .Spanish copy of the treaty,
which was signed by the Qaeeo Regent
March 17, is expected to reach here on
Monday, and the arrangement cf
formalities attending the exohaage of
ratifications will be promptly perfected.
Secretary Hay has been officially
advised of the forwarding of the
Spanish treaty to the French
ambassador at Washington, The
exchange of ratifications will be follow
ed promptly by the payment of
$20,000,000 to the Spaoish Govern
ment cn account of the cession of the
Philippine Islands to the United States
EX-J STICE STEPHEN J.
FIELD DEAD.
Washington, April 9-Justice
Stephen J. Field, of the United States
supreme court, retired, died at his
home on Capital Hill, '*n this city, at
6 30 o'clock this evening of kidney
complications. Abonl bis bedside
were his wife and her sister, Mrs J.
Condit Smith, Mr Justice David J
Brewer, his nephew ; Mrs. Edgerton
of California ; Mr Linton, bis private
secretary ; the Rev. Ward M. Mott,
rector of the Church of the Advent,
and the family servants. He had
been unconscious since Saturday
morning, and death came painlessly.
About two weeks ago he took a longer
ride than usual in an open carriage
and contracted a severe cold, which
rapidly developed kidney troubles
which, with old age, brought his
end.
AN AMERICAN EXPEDI
TION AGAINST SANTA
CRUZ.
Manila, April 9, 9 35 a. m.-At
nightfall last Gens Lawton and King
launched an expedition of three gun
boats with 1,500 picked men in
canoes in tow of the gunboats. The
object of the expedition is to cross
the lake, capture Santa Cruz and
sweep the country to the south.
The expedition which embarked at
San Pedro M ac a ti, consists of eight
campanies of the Fourteenth infantry,
three companies of the Fourth caval
ry, four of the North Dakota volun
teers, four of the Idaho volunteers,
two mounted guns and 2,000 sharp
shooters, of the Fourteenth infantry
At the mouth of the Pasig river
the men will be transferred from the
canoes to the three gunboats Lagunda
de Bay, Cesto and apind .
Santa Cruz the objective point of
the expedition, is at tho extreme of
the lake
CASTOR S A
Por Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have Always Bought j
Bears ?,he
Signature of
Pitched Battle Fought on the
Streets of Bronson.
Branson, S. C., April 9.-Last
eight, at about 9 o'clock, a faeilade of
pistol shots io rapid succession was
heard, and it was soon developed that a
pitched hattie was beiog fought in the
street betweeo James Preacher, Charlie
Preacher and Arreo Preacher, brothers,
oo the ooo side, aod George Hied,
Mack Ried, James Ried, brothers, aod
Joseph Connelly, oo the other
As a result Geo. Ried is dead, Mack
Ried is probably fatally woaoded,
Joseph Connelly is sarioosly wounded
aad James Preacher slightly wounded
io the baud.
It appears that a negro farm hand
employed by George Reid was subse
quently employed by tbs Preachers and
bad fee! ic g was engendered thereby
Yesterday evening tho Rieds went to
the Preacher r sidence oo this matter
aod some bot words were passed Later
io the night the two parties met at the
busiest corner io the towo and an
alteroatioo eosoed between George Ried
aod James Preacher, and io an instant
weapons were drawn and a general
fusilado of about 30 or 40 shots
followed The streets being crowded
it is miraculous that no bystanders were
injured.
The fire of tbe Preachers seems to
have been principally directed on George
Ried. He received DIDO wounds
Notwithstanding his many wounds, be
lived until this morning.
All the parties are men with families
except Charlie aod Arreo Preacher.
George Ried leaves a wife and child
Charlie aod Arreo Preacher are mere
boys the latter not yet 20 years of
age.
The coroner's jury returned a verdict
that the deceased eame to his death by
gunshot wounds at the hands of James
and Arreo Preacher
As a sequel to the fight (Jimer
Newtoo, a respected and orderly colored
ci tizan, was accidentally killed. Hear
-iog the firing and tbiinkog the
policeman was being killed, be seized
his pistol and started to the scene, aod
on arriving be met his son, Wm.
Nswtoo, who, thinking his father
would get io trouble, attempted to
disarm him. Io the attempt the weapon
was discharged, killing tbe father
instantly.
James Preacher is the son-in-law of
Col. Lawrence W. Youmans, the
largest planter io this section, and
prominent io State politics. The
Preachers have surrendered to the
sheriff.
- i- II i -
McKinley Working
For a Second Term.
BAD BEEF DENOUNCED
BY 147 OFFICERS.
* 1
Washington, D. C., April 10-j
It is daily becoming plainer to close
observers that Mr. McKinley and his
advisers do not regard next year's oam
paigQ as a republican walk over. They
are diligently studying ways and means
for corailitg electoral votes that they
consider doubtful. The trip that Mr.
McKinley is DOW arranging to make
this summer to the Pacific coast io one
of the ways that has been decided upon, j
They do not expect to be abie to carry
Delaware, Maryland, or Kentucky
again, but they hope for Kansas and
Nebraska, both of which states are
likely to be visited OD Mr. McKinley's
western trip. They are also beginning
to realize that some sort of a bluff
against trusts must be made. Repre
sentative Landis of Ind., has come to
Washington especially to urge upon
the administration the necessity of doing
something to oooviooe the voters of the
middle west that the admioistratioo is
antagonistic to the trusts. Mr. Landis
has done some very plain talking about
the danger of the republican party, and
it is evident that he has frightened
some of tbe administrado meo
Attorney General Griggs, doubtless
acting under orders from McKinley,
has made a play to shift the responsi
bility for hts recent queer letter about
trusts Crom the shoulders of the admin
istration, by proceeding against tbe
Chesapeake and Ohio Association,
generally koowa as the soft coal trust,
under the Sherman anti-trust law.
The suit was instituted in Cincinnati,
aod will be directed by the Solicitor
General of the U. S. The public will
watch the prosecution of this oase close
ly, owing to the Attorney General
having so recently stated, io writing,
that trusts could oct be reached by
Federal laws.
Evidently Admiral Dewey isn't one
of those who believes the eod of the
Philippine troubles to be in sight. Of
coarse he is too diplomatic to discuss
euch a question where bis opinion would
be likely to get out, but when he cabled
the navy department to send him six
months engineering supplies for his
fleet, every employe of that department
knew that it wasjust as though be had
cabled that it wouid not, in nis opinion
be safe to materially reduce the strength
of the fleet at Maoiia for sometime to j
come
The latest Philippine news seems to
justify the opinion of those who believe
that the fighting over there U likely to
go on for au indefinite time. Geo.
Lawton has started on a campaign with
a picked force, with the intention of
trying io run down the Filipinos.
Democrats are not the only ooe3 who
regard the Poihprines, as an undesira
ble possession. Representative Steele
of iodiaoapolis a staunch supporter of
thp administration, who passed through
Y ashington Q day or two ago, said of
I them : "So far as am concerned, I
would like to trade the Pnilippine
islands for a yellow dog, and then kill
j the dog, if there were nothing else
io volved but possession of the islands."
j Io Daming one of the new battleships
Georgia, although no petition had been
sent from that State, while they bad
been sent from a dozen other States,
Mr. McKinley is said to have been
actuated solely by a desire to show his
appreciation of the courtesy with which
he was treated daring his recent visit to
that State. This ie creditable alike to
the president aod to the people cf
Georgia. The other Dames chosen
were, for battleships-Penosylvaoia
and Now Jersey ; for armored cruisers
-West Virginia, Nebraska, and
Catiforoia ; for ordinary cruisers
Denver, Des Moines, Chattanooga,
Galveston, Tacoma, aod Cleveland.
After taking several days to consider
the matter, the Military Court of
Inquiry wisely decided to admit as
evidence the reports submitted to Gen
eral Miies oo the beef issued, by 147
officers who were io Cuba or Porto
Rico. Jost to give ao idea of the
oature of these reports, the followiog
phrases, each from a different officer's
report, are quoted : "A miserable
apology for food." "No more nopal
atable food could be isEued." "Ao
unsuitable article of food." "A dis
tinct failure"It was nauseating"
"Prefer going without meat to eating
it." "Was soft, watery, iosipid and
unsatisfactory to the men." "Wa9
stringy, toogh and unpalatable."
"Tasteless, and the men would not eat
it 17 "Cacaed a great deal of siok
oes8, aod as a ration was a failure."
"Was unfit for use and many of the
mea said it had beeo doped." "Was
oot fit to be issued " "Was utterly
UDfit as ao article of diet." "Huogry
meo left it oo tbs grouod." "The
sight of it was 'enough to turo the
siomaoh." "Was oot fit for cocsump
tioo " "Was openiy condemned by
the men aod geo raily throwo away"
"Was just as bad as possible, short of
beiog rotteo." "It produced disorder
ed stomachs." There was a whole lot
more of the same sort, bu this will do
for a sample.
- - I I wmm -
ProcsediDg8 in Bankrupt^
Capt A. E Hutchison of our city
was adjudged a bankrupt on his own
petition which was filed in the U. S.
District Court in Charleston by W.
J. Cherry, Esq, on Monday last.
The order was signed that morning
by Judge Brawley.
Capt Hutchison is president of the
Rock Hill Cotton Factory, which is
DOW in the hands of a receiver His
liabilities, amounting to 90,855, are
on account of endorsements for the
factory, not a dollar of the amount
being his individual indebtedness.
His assets are placed at about $58,
000. lit is expected, however, that i
the amount will be materially increas- j
ed by the sale of the factory propel ty.
This misfortune falls hard upon
Captain Hutchison, who, with large
means, has been one of the most
liberal, most unselfish as well as one
of the most accommodating mer lhat
has ever lived is this community.
Since the factory was organized in
1881 he has been its president and
has given it his individual attention,
but for several years it has not been
a paying enterprise. He has kept the
wheels turning by contributing of bis
private means aod by making such
extended personal endorsement of the
mill's obligations, which the mill
could not meet, that he has been
impelied io seek relief in bank
ruptcy, a recourse very galling to
bim, but there appeared no other
alternative
This community sympathizes very
deeply with Captain Hutchison io
hie misfortune.-Rock Hill Herald.
A MISTRIAL ORDERED IN
THE MEETZE MURDER
CASE.
Columbia, Aptil 9 -There was
considerable conjecture this morning
as to what the verdict in toe Meetze
case would be. The jury remained
out all last night, and did not
come to any conclusion They then
came into court, which was conven
especially to receive their verdict,
and the foreman stated that they had
failed to come to any conclusion, and
could not possibly agree upon a ver
diet Judge Watts ordered a mistrial
to be entered, and discharged them.
There are several rumors as to how
the jury Btood. One of the jurors
slated that last night the ballot was
aa follows : Five for murder, five
for manslaughter, and two for acquit
tal, while thia morning they all stood
for manslaughter, except one, who
wae for acquittal.
Another rumor is that they
were seven for manslaughter
and five for acquittal : while
lastiy the statement comes from
a juror that the ballot stood three
for manslaughter and nine for acquit
tal
Meelze has been remanded to jail.
His counsel desires that the new ttial
come eff this week, and has decided
not to ask for bail at present.
People were divided in opinion as
to the result of the trial. A great
many expected an acquittal and some
thought that a verdict of manslaugh
ter would bo brought in. But the i
mistrial does not seem to create much
surprise.
Tho argument as to the nev/ trial
wiii probably be beard tomorrow. It
was pointed out today by Mr. John
stone that the court could not con
sider the matter of a new trial today.
-Columbia cor. News and Courier.
THE LAKE CITY TRIAL.
A Jury of White Men Se
cured.
Charleston, April 10-Eleven of the
alleged Lake City lynchers were pieced
on trial in the United States circuit
ooart to-day. The case against J. P.
Newham and Early P. Lse, the men
who tamed state's evedence. was drop
ped by the request of the district
attorney, and this accounts for the fact
that ll instead of 13 men are now on
trial.
The bearing to day occupied seven
boars, mach of which time was taken
ap with reading and rereading the
indictment and in arguing teohnical
questions raided by the defense.
At the very cutset W. Si. Salien
Jervey, of counsel for the prisoners,
sought to enter a demurrer to the
indictment. He claimed there was a
multiplicity of crimes charged io the
oouots and that the circait court had no
jurisdiction under the statute. As
sistant District Attorney Cochran and
Gen Barber replied for the defense,
and the cours overrnled the demurrer.
After a teohnical objection to the
jury panel had been disposed of the
fallowing jurors were drawn and
sworn : M. B Mnroby, Union ; W.
A. Calhoun, Barnwell ; S T. Craig,
Anderson ; McLaod Hutson, Beaufort;
C. H. Carlisle, Spartanburg ; A. L.
Kearne, Florence ; C. A. Bowman,
Bamberg ; W. A. Hill, Newberry ;
W. A. Tatem, Hampton ; W. R.
Price, Pickena ; B F Dav"i9, Marion,
and J W. McCullough, Greenvale.
The defense exercised its right to
cha eoge six times, four of the men
excluded being negroes. The jury as
it stands is composed of white men
of means and standing io the several
counties from which they cerne.
After a recess of an boor the entire
afternoon session of the court was
taken ap with ancther reading of the
indictment together with a statement
made by District Attorney Lathrop.
He rehearsed at length the facts con
nected with the killing cf Baker and
outlined the manner io which he
would seek to fix the crime upon the
prisoners at the bar. The talking of
testimony will begin tomorrow morn
ing.
SMALLFOx'siTUATION.
Gov Elierbe bas received a letter
from Dr. Evans iu which he says that
smallpox is very prevalent in counties
adjoining the Savannah river, includ
ing Aiken and Barnwell There are
175 cases in and around Parksville,
and there is much suffering. He
recommends compulsory vaccination
and that Dr P W. Bacot be appoint
ed health officer for the Savannah
valley section t He says that out of
300 cases about Mayesviile there are
oniy two now, and that the epidemic
in the State will soon be wiped out
REPORT 07 THE CONDITION OF
THE FIRST NATIONAL BASK,
0? SUMTER, S. C.,;
At Sumter, in the Stale of South Carolina,
at the doss of bosicess, April 5th, 1899.
RESOURCES.
Loans aod discounts, $166,631 93
Overdrafs, secured, 2.C41 81
U 3. Bonds io securecirculation, 18,750 00
Premiums ou U. S. Bonds 1.500 OD
Stock?, securities, etc, 9,646 35
Banking bouse, furniture and fix
tures, . 5,000 00
Other real estate and mortgages
owned, 10,544 95
Due from State Banks and
Bankers, 8,176 57
Due from approved reserve
agents, 1,314 69
Fractional pajer currency, nick
els cd cents, 173 33
Lawful Money Reserve in Bank,
viz:
Specie, 14,315 25
Legal-tender notes, 8,912 CO 23.227 25
Redemption fund with U. S.
Treas'r (5 per cent cf circula
tion) 843 75
Total, $247,903 63
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid io, 75,000 00
Sarclus fund, 15,000 CO
Undivided profi's, le69 expenses
and laxes p*id, 6,642 56
National back notes outstanding 16,875 00
Due to other National Banks, 1,820 34
Due to State Banks and
Bankers, 914 13 j
Dividends unpaid 4 00
Individual deposits subject to
check, 131,647 60
Total, $247,903 63
State of South Carolina, 1 gg
County of Sumter, j
I, L. S CARSON, Cashier of the above
named bank, do solemnly swear that the
abo_e statement is true to the beat of my
knowledge and lelief.
L. S. CARSON, Cashier.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
11th dav of April, 1839
J. E. GAILLARD,
Notary Punlic for S. C.
Correct-Attest :
R M. WALLACE, )
JNO. REID, ^Directors.
R. D. LEE, J
April 12, 18S9._
SEND US ONE DOLLAR S S ff&SS
new 1S99 patt*T hi;h-rradc RKSKBTOlR COAL AND WOOD
coo STOVE, by freight C.O.D., subject to examination.
iJs the ti.oo &i ifl\vRnr. FOR OUR BIG FREE
sent withor^"1^^ STOVE CATALCCUE.
and freight entries This stove is size No. 8, oven is
16->.:xISxll. top s4-^ 3; made from best pig iron, extra
lanre Hues, heavy covers, heavy linings and grates,
large oven shelf, heavy tin-lined oven door, handsome
nlckei-plnted ornamentations and trimmings, ertra
large deep, gen nine Standish porcelain line"! resenolr, hand
some lanre orn imented base. Best coal bnraer made, and
we furnish FRKR an extra wood grate, making it a per
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every stove and guarantee safe delivery to your rail
road station. Your local deal r would charge you $25.00
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each 600 miles, to we tart yon at least 01O.OO. Address.
SEARS, ROEBUCK&CO.(INC.)CHi&M$,TU. j
"\SMTS, BocbseJc & Co. are thoroughly reliable.- -5dtt .} |
THE SUMTER "WATCHMAN, .Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone 13<>6
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER. S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12.1899. New Series-YoL XVIII. So. 37