Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Hr^fe^m w? Soutien. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1903. The Sumter Watchman was founded in 1850 and the True Southron in 1866. The Watchman and Southron now has the com? bined circulation and influence of both of the old papers.^and is manifestly the best advertising medium in Sumter. "Chief Justice Pope's explanation shcvrs up ex-Judge Buchanan in a very had light, but the only surpris? ing feature of the whole affair is that Judge Pope fell into the pitfall. The ?x-Judge's part in the ' transaction is not strange. The cry of the Macedonians for fes? cue from the ferocious Turk has fallen upon deaf ears, and the so-called Christian powers of Europe have given the Turks assurance that there will be no interference with their butchery of the men, women and chil? dren of Macedonia. The money devil of Europe bas choked the spirit of humanity and compassion that would otherwise arouse Europe to succor the helpless victims of Moslem hate. That picture agent story that comes from Lexington, county does not sound altogether improbable. The originator bf the scheme is clearly a smooth article, but disregardful of the code of professional ethics which members of the legal fraternity are wont to prate of on all occasions. The organization of the Retail Mer? chants' Association will have a bene? ficial result, if the proposed regula? tions are consistently enforced. Nearly every merchant in the city will be en? abled to collect a lot of bad accounts and recover money long thought to be lost ; it will also serve to protect them against dead* beats who systematically beat the merchants in rotation. But there is another phase to the matter that the merchants have evidently failed to take into consideration; aamely the grievous hardships that a certain class of citizens will be forced to endure. They delight in wearing fine raiment and in faring sumptuously <on rich and dainty food, for which ? tthey never pay, save under compul- j sion. If they are blacklisted and al merchants decline to grant them 3 credit, they will be forced to pay for all they get and their raiment will be less costly, th ir wardrobes less extensive, their tables will cease to ?r-<gxaan under the weight of unpaid for -1 ? groceries and they will be forced by the pinch of necessity to contract the inhabit of-plain living, if not of high "thinking. All things considered, the < association is a most excellent institu- j tion, and should succeed, unless the dead ] beats can secure an injunction against ; ?t on ground that the enforcement ] ?of its reflations would be a grievous < ?osSsh?p Wtbeto, detrimental to their - personal appearance and ruinous to ; their digestions. The Russians are too busy killing ; Jews toJ bother with the Turks whije they are restoring order in Macedonia by the slaughter of all the Christian ? inhabitants. If the Southern Railway keeps up its record for deadly accidents it will es" tablisfcrtbe ??putstion of being a good . road for travellers to avoid whenever possible. . Every attempt to explain the *p- ' ^ointment of Judge Townsend to sit it 1 the trail of J. H. Tillman serves hut to rehder the actions of Chief Justice Pope^ and of ex-Judge Buchanan more inexplicable. 2 lt the South fills up with settlers .from the North and West the negro .question will cease to be a sectional problem to be settled by Southern peo? ple-former slave holders and their descendants. The people of the South are willing to share the burden with the people of the North, but we are of the opinion that the negro will not relish the settlement the Northerners will insist upon - after personal ex? perience with the problem, The best solution of the con? cealed weapon law is to repeal it in its entirety and thus put law abid? ing citizens oe the same footing as the habitual pistol toter. A few years of universal pistol toting would go far toward the extermination of the vi? cious element. Many a good citizen is shot down by a pistol toting thing, who presumed upon his known respect for law,{to provoke a difficulty as an ex? cuse to murder him. There would be fewer difficulties and fewer murders in 4 * self defence' if all men were pre? sumed to carry pistols, and the courts would not be so frequently fatigued by the story of the dead man having made a threatening motion toward his hip pocket, which post mortem develop? ments revealed to have been empty. We heartily favor the early repeal of the law against concealed weapons for it is utterly non effective except in he case of law-abiding men who are thus left at the mercy of the fools and the vicious. Today every bad character and every fool who hus an .ambition to create the impression that he is an embryonic Jesse James hus his gun within reach of his hand waking and sleeping. And fools are usually much more dangerous than the real bad man. Weekly Crop Bulletin. Columbia Sept. 29.-The week end? ing 8 a. m., Monday Sept. 28, had a mean temperature of 71 degrees, which is about 2 degrees below normal. The first part of the week was unusually cool, the latter part warmer than usual. Light frosts were reported from the upper parts of Pickens coun? ty. The weather was too cool for growing crops, but was excellent for harvesting operations. The winds were generally light easterly. The skies were clear, bat with some cloudi? ness in the eastern counties during the middle of the week. The strong east? erly winds along the coast caused high tides that flooded some rice fields. There was no rain during th? week, and the need of rain, is again urgent for fall truck, turnips, peas, and for putting the soil in condition for fall grain seeding. The absence of rain was favorable for harvesting opera? tions, especially for hayi ng, for pick? ing cotton, and for gathering corn. The late corn crop is very poor in the western counties. No improvement in cotton is indi? cated, but rather continued deteriora? tion. The prospect for a top crop is poor. Rust is still prevalent, and blight on sea island and on some up? land, but th.3re is less premature open? ing,-the cool weather having checked it, and the cool weather also checked the growth'of young bolls. In places cotton continues to open rapidly, and picking keel? pace with the opening generally, but in a few counties pick? ing made slow progress owing to scar? city of pickers. In some of the eastern counties cotton is from half to two thirds gathered, while in the western counties only a small portion of the crop has opened. Correspondents are unanimous in estimating the crop to be a short one, or below an average one. Rice harvest made favorabe progress, although yields are disappointing. Some rice was damaged by salt water in Colleton county owing to high tides flooding the fields. Sweet potatoes are very promising. Some oats, barley and rye have been sown. Excellent : progress was made in gathering hay. Minor Crops are generally good, but ; pastures and gardens are poor. TBIAL OF JAMES H. TILLMAN. Was the Killing of Gonzales Mur? der, or Was it Not. Lexington, S. C., via Columbi ia, '?? ?ept. 28.-James H. Tillman has been ? held to judgment. In the name of the Law he must answer to the people. Bight months ago he met his neigh? bor, the neighbor of every citizen of South Carolina who is inspired by pa- ? biotic purpose, who loves clean, right ' living ; who rejoices in firec, fair fight? ing, who has a big, tender? courageous heart ; he met l?a neighbor in the way I and slew him. That much all men \ know. The Court, the prosecution, the defence ail-acknowedge this one? gaunt fact. Even the fictions of the law take cognizance of it without de- 1 manding proof. It is true the dead ' toll no tales, bear no witness, make no protest, weep no tears,, condemn BO : man. But N. G. Gonzales was killed by James H. Tillman. Is not the grave there in Columbia? The men and women who kaew ?*nd esteemed anti loved its occupant will build over ita monument in testimony of the fact that the life he lived was worth the living, that the work he did was worth the doing, that fcbe death he died, be it murder or be it a mere tragedy, was the occasion for prof onad public sor? row. Since then the spring and its flowers have withered before the'fierce suns of summer, and .the garnering time is at hand. AB appropriate season for gath? ering in the fruits of the deeds done in the body, no less than the increase of field and forest. So James H. Till? man joins the multitude of husband? men and comes to the harvest of his doing. Clothed in judgment, his fel? low citizens are to decree whether he has clean hands and a bloodguiltless heart ; whether he shall return unspot? ted to the bosom of society, pr whether he shall go to.(he-goal or the. gallows. That he has slain his brother is known of all men, but it must be determin? ed by code, precedent, practice, quib? ble, argument, evidence, sympathy, prejudice-all the influences that en? ter into a public trial-whether he is a criminal or whether he is merely the victim of an untoward fortune that ordained a sorrow-making deed. Marvellous indeed are the fictions of the law, that relentless nemesis to which society has given dominion over itself. Piling themselvse upon Pelion Ossawise, they have overrun the stat? ute books and possessed the minds of men. Founded, doubtless, in ab? stract equity, they brook no question of the universality of their applica? tion. To the patriarch of old it is written 'Were words more potent than the mandates of Kings?' ' Today, too, they embody the most sacred revela? tions of the law. High priests of the woolsack salaam before them. No, "It is written, 'That every man is innocent until proven guilty. Be his transgression never so notorious, a matter of common report, he is im maculate in the eyes of justice until his iniquity has been reduced to parch? ment, bound withered tap and neatly pigeon-holed. A wholly repugnant thing to the law is the doctrine of to? tal depravity. In the creeds of the Courts the world is peopled with Is? raelites, in whom there is no guilt. Now in the days of the fathers if a man met his brother in the way or the wilderness and slew him, the guilt of blood was upon him. It was the duty of the avenger to execute upon him the rigor of his office. Blood repaid blood with swift inevit? ableness. But the times have changed and the human sense of justice, of rather, the human practice of justice, has changed with them. The Mosaic law has been abrogated save in this one particular-the taking of life must be redeemed by the taking of life sometimes. The avenger of blood is now a very different personage from his ancient Egyptian predecessor. To the latter the deed itself was warrant for action. To him murder was a crime till it was proven to he merely a tragedy. To his modern prototype the taking of life is merely a tragedy till it is proven to be murder; verily it has come to a pass that he who would do murder must look to himself and his conduct. He must reckon well with the fictions of the law, lest he be thrown ot? of Court a guiltless man ; one who did no more than hundreds of men have done and are do? ing month in and month out in this and other States. Though the sins of many of them are as scarlet the Courts made them whiter than snow. So here in Lexington today the legal forces are once more gathered in the valley of decision. A reckoning is to be had between James H. Tillman and the majesty of the law, the peace and dignity of the State of South Car? olina. The issue is of moment to the accused ; moment to those who would avenge the dead; moment to the public at large ; moment to Southern justice itself. May it please the honorable Court the jury and the gentlemen of the Bar : A momentous task is before you, one and all. The burden of a grave duty has fallen to your share of ser? vice, and yon will be held to a strict accounting by public opinion. Your fellow citizens would rather that you acquitted a guity man than that, on ? their behalf, you should condemn an i innocent one. If there is a reason? able doubt that the prisoner at the bar has offended they would have him : Eully, freely, quickly exonerated. But in default of that doubt they de- : sire that you shall discharge without i fear or favor the high authority that is yours ; that you shall not shrink, nor be afraid, nor trim, nor avoid ; that you shall administer justice in behalf of the dead with the same in- ? feegrity that you apportion mercy to i the living. Whatever decision is reached there will be those who will cavil. But that is neitehr here nor there. The evidence may show James H. Tilman to be innocent in the lan? guage of the statute and in the spirit of the law. Then, in the name of all i that is just and righteous, let it be found accordingly. But the testimony ma? run to the contrrary conviction; may point to one of several degrees of guilt. It is in this event that the verdict must be looked to. There may be those who will say that such an admonition im? plies distrust; in such circumstances is an insult. Nothing of the sort is : here intended. The. gentlemen who are assembed here to conduct this trial number among them as worthy, as in? telligent, as patriotic manhood as South Carolina has produced. But they, as well as others, know condi? tions as they are ; that it has come to a pass in some sections of the South in which trial for murder is a reproach to the Courts. A travesty upon jus? tice, a tragic comedy in the adminis ration of the laws of the land. There is scarcely a cemetery, from Oconee to Beaufort that does not hold its un? avenged victim of illegal violence. Court-absolved Cains flaunt their blood-smeared innocence on every hand. There are not fcund wanting those who declare that verdicts in murder trials in South Carolina are a by-word and a laughing stock. It would be futile to deny these things, and it would be folly to demand that they be not mentiond. It is their no? torious verity that makes the present emergency so momentous. It is be? cause they are true that the eyes of men are riveted so keenly upon this Court, this jury, these lawyers, this trial-riveted upon them as keenly, indeed, as they are upon the prisoner at the bar himself. Therefore, is James H Tillman guilty or not gilty? What say you? You have to answer in the name of the dead no less than in the name of the living.-John Mar? shall, in News and Courier. Board Meeting. The executive board of the Santee Baptist Association will meet at the Bartlette Street Church on Tuesday, Oct. 6th, 12 m. As this is the last meeting before the Association, all members are urgently requested to be present as work for the future will be discussed and acted on so as to em? body the same in the annual report to the Association. By order of the Board, Jas. E. DuPre, Sec. Argyle Personals. Wedgefield, Sept. 28.-Mrs. J. R. Corbett and children, after spending the entire summer at the boiling springs, near Mr. H. E. Thomas', have returned to their home near Wedge? field. These sprinsg are not miner? al springs, but the water is delightful and they were greatly benefited by their stay there. Mrs. Zimmerman and children, of St. Matthews, who have been spend? ing some time with her father, Mr. H. E. Thomas, have returned home. Miss Adelle Thomas expected to leave Tuesday for. Winthrop College, Eock Hill, but President Johnson tele? graphed her there was not room in the dormitory for another girl. We sym? pathize with her in her disappoint? ment. J. MAGNOLIA NEWS NOTES. Many Items of Interest, Personals and Local Happenings. Magnolia, Sept. 29.-Pretty weath? er, pleasant weather, cotton picking and harvesting weather, in fact every? thing that the tillers of or gatherers from the soil could wish, are some of the many blessings of this season. Cotton has declined considerably but, of course, the crop is less ex? pensive being short 30 to 40 per ceDt. Our merchants are making fine col? lections, and our physicians report their patients doing well. Quite a number of our citizens went to Bishopville on yesterday to Court, as witnesses and jurors, but several returned last evening reporting no court, on account of some oversight on the part of the Clerk of Court. So all the criminal cases will have to be carried over to the next regular term of Court or until a special term be ordered. Judson Carter (colored), who de? cided some time ago to donate $30 to the county fund, rather than ac? cept a position-tendered him for 30 days in "pioneer corps," has clandes? tinely disappeared, for fear he might be re-tendered a position in "'pioneer corps," as his conduct is 'meritorious in that direction, though his many admirers (?) here would feel much safer with Judson where they could see him all the time. Messrs. Hawkins & Hawkins will, in a few more days, have their livery stable completed, and conduct a gen? eral livery business. They have had some experience in the handling of Btock, and will, no doubt, succeed well. One of this firm, Mr. Graham Hawkins, was with Mr. W. B. Boyle in Sumter, until recently. Messrs. Griffin & Rh ame are putting a large stock of ladies' and men's shoes and hats in their sew store, which is the handsomest and best ar? ranged store in this town for display? ing gooda Mr. Herrington's son, 14 years old, met with a painful accident at At? kins, this morning. The father was operating a mowing machine, and the little fellow came too near the blades, and had his leg. just above the ankle, nearly . severed. Dr. Darby cleansed the wound, then sewed it up and dressed it, and he is now resting nicely. It is astonishing that parents will be so careless in handling these dangerous machines; and learn cau? tion only after mischief is done. So many accidents are daily happening. Oar graded school re-opened on Monday morning with an encouraging attendance. Prof. Branson and his two assistants. Misses Clark and Farey were at. their post of duty, and everybody was glad to welcome them back. They are first class teachers in every respect, and the patrons and pupils are to be congratulated in get? ting such good, efficient and popular teachers back. Some serious disease has appeared among several of the milch cows be? longing to Messrs. Clrak and Graham Hawkins, about which we will say more after watching developments. Occasional. WANTED-Purchasers for several Berkshire Gilts. Can be mated to thoroughbred Boar, no kin. Not registered, but no finer stock in the county. Too good for breeders, to make pork of them. Prices reasonable. Apply to Egypt Farm, E. W. Dabbs, Manager, Goodwill, S. C. Sept. 9-tf. FOR RENT-One storehouse, with three room dwelling attached, with necessary out buildings, for five months. Three and one half miles from Sumter in the fork of Providence and Stateburg roads. For terms apply to R. M. Edens, Sumter, S. C. July 29-tf. TAX NOTICE. THE County Treasurer's Office in Court House building will be open for the collec? tion of taxes, without penalty, from the 15th day of October to the 31st day of De? cember, inclusive, 1903. The levy is as follows ; For State, 5 mills. For County, 3J? mills. Constitutional School, 3 mill?. Polls, $1.00. Also, School District No. 1. Special, 2 mills. No. 2, 2 mills. No. 3, 2 mills. No. 4, 2 mills. No. 5, (Middleton) 1 mill. No. 14, 3 mills. No. 16, 2 mills. No. 17, 1 mill. No. 18, 2 mills. A penalty of 1 per cent, added for month January, 1904. Additional penalty of 1 per cent, for month February, 1904. Additional penalty cf ? per cent, for 15 i days in March, 1904. T. W. LEE, County Treasurer. ? Sept. 30-Ma ch 15. ! OUR CUin DEPARTM Presents unusual attractions this season and some of the Best Values We Ever Offered. We carry the largest line of Men's, Youths' and Boys me? dium priced clothing in the city, and our prices Surprise Competitors. No quantity is too large for us to buy, if the figures are right. This season we picked up a lot of About 200 Suits That were-manufactured to sell from ?7.50 to ?10, but we bought them at a price that justifies us in selling them AT $5.00 And make a legitimate profit. We bought in connection with this lot a limited quantity of Dickey's Kersey Suits In broken sizes that we are selling at ?4 Our line at $7.50 to $10, the celebrated Good Luck Brand, Are too well known to need further comment from us. Year by Year We keep improving on our clothing department, and this sea? son have added A Nobby Line of Square Cuts In all the new weaves to sell at $12.50 and $15.00. It will be to your interest to examine our clothing stock carefully before supplying your wants in this line. The Sumter Dry Good Co. Every department is now complete and ready for your wants. We will show the latest creations in Our Millinery Department. firs. ATKINSON, who has spent some time in the Northern market, will be delighted to show you the proper things in dress, suit and ready-to-wear hats. Our street hats are the nobbiest to be had anywhere. We invite you to be present. The Sumter Dry Goods Co.