Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Ht ?tymn a? balfron. WEDNESDAY; NOVEMBER ia 1903. The Sumter Watchman was founded iu 1850 and the True Southron in 1866. The Watchman and SoxitJiron noir has the com . bined circulation and influence of both of the old papers, and is manifestly the best advertising medium in Sumter. TI CAMDEN TRAOEDY. People of Men Sorrow Stocken and Business Suspended Tuesday. Confidence Expressed in the Sol? vency of the Sank. Ne Explanation Vet Foam; for Mr. Zenap's Suicide. \ Special to The State. Camden, NOT. 17.-It waa not the thought that possibly their financial interests might suffer which made the men of Camden so despondent today; it was not the thought that perhaps the Farmers and Merchants bank was insolvent-indeed none of them believ? ed anything to that effect; but the gloom which pervaded the town was due to the fact that Camden's chief citizen was dead, cat down at the time when he appeared most useful And no less sad was the reflection. that the conscientious, useful cashier, who had participated in the confidences and had been a.. loyal associate, also had passed away in that tragic afternoon. The knot of crepe on the doors showed in how many places of business this personal sorrow had come, for the family connection of the deceased cashier was large and influential. It was grief and not worry which ! haunted the. business men of Camden. "Why, members of my family have 840,000 deposited there and I am con? fident that we will get every cent of it," said a prominent merchant The solvency of the bank was not a cause of grave speculation, for all hearts were filled with the gloom which would be expected to fellow ( the taking off of two of the first citizens of the place. The news of the death of Mr. "Zemp shocked^ the entire community this morning*, many getting their first in? telligence of that sorrowful fact through the columns of The State; for it will be remembered that although he had been dead since 5 o'clock, his body was not discovered until. it had become rigid. This is the most startling tragedy ?hat has shocked South Carolina in a Song time. Camden does not folly ap ^predate the fall significance of the :ioss of Mr. E. Miller Boykin an&Mr. Bugene C. Zemp, two men so active ;in her interests-because the senses of -those closest to the dead are 5>enumbed. AE of the circumstances leading up to the dual tragedy have not been made public but certain it is that there was no agreement or understanding between the two close friends and busi? ness asocia tes who have confided their lives to theGreat Receiver. But there are some "harrowing circumstances which have been misunderstood." It was talked freely on the streets of Carhden that in Monday's midday mail'Mr. Boykin recieved a letter which gave him much concern, for he dropped bis face upon his hands and muttered, V'l am ruined." He was comforted by Mr.* Zemp and the two conferred at length in a private office. When shortly afterward, about his accustomed, hour. Mr. Boykin went to dinner, he appaered to be in his nor? mal spirits. From all that could be learned the news of his death came as a great shock to Mr. Zemp who, upon "receiving the sad intelligence, after 4 o'ceck, shut up the bank and hurried ! home. It is declared that he carried with him the pistol which subsequent? ly was the instrument of death. AU the facts indicate that he had worked himsef into a state of depleted vitality, and the shock of the news of the death of bis friend-following the recent annoyances ia financial matters-quite unbalanced Mr. Zemp's mind. It was no craven spirit, for his friends and acquaintances all declare that he had nothing to fear, but it was the act of an intellect shocked into insensibility by a great sorrow. The news which was given him was, ".Miller Boykin has shot himself," and with this thought surging through his mind he went homeward. It was quite a while afterwards that the jury of inquest reported that the cause of Mr. Boykin's death was accidental, and Mr. Zemp had died before receiving the intelli? gence. A neighbor heard the muffled report and saw the pigeons on the barn flutter into it excitedly-this was be? fore 5 o'clock. The story of Mr. Boy kin's deat h has already been told. He had gone out to kill the hawk which was annoying the domestic fowls. Between . his borne and the DeKalb mill cf which he was president is a bit of woods sloping into a bog at the point remote form the house. A part of the bog is fenced off separately. It was where this fence joined the pasture fence on the hillside that the body was found. From evidences, Mr. Boykin stood beside the fence whittling the top plank while he was waiting, perhaps, for the hawk to come back into sight. As there was a stain of blood on' the side of the fence opposite to that on which the body was found, the deceased must have been in the act of crossing. An old friend yesterday expressed surprise that Mr. Boykin, a hunter since his childhood andan expert shot, should cross a fence so carelessly with a treacherous gun, and other friends called attention to the act that al? though it was his invariable custom to wear his coat buttoned cross the breast, his coat was not touched by the fatal discharge. The deceased was found with his feet to the fence and the gun on the opposite side. The range of the fatal discharge was not determined. The possibility of anything other than accidental homicide never occur? red to the jury, perhaps, and the in? quest was not made a searching exami ntaion, nor would there have been any suspicion of motive but for other circumstances. Capt. Bur wei H. Boykin, once promi? nent as a director of the State dispen asry, declared with much earnestness and with much feeling that he had in I vestigated the matter thoroughly and is satisfied that death was due to an accident. Mr. Andrew Crawford of this city, a college mate and life long friend of Mr. Boykin, also made care? ful injuiry, and he, too, is satisfied that there was no intent. But ethers shake their heads sadly and declare that they are not convinced. As to the other sorrowful affair, there seems to be but one opinion, the ten? sion of close application to a multitude of cares had worn upon his physical being and the prospect of proving the bank's solvency in the face cf what to him was regorted as the suicide of, the president of the bank, this shook the reason of the man who was trusted in life and on whose integrity there is not a blemish through all the years of his semi-public services. The directorate of the bank was so intimately associated with the execu? tive department that the grief-stricken directors could do nothing this morn? ing. 'Those who were calm enough met in the office of the attorney, Capt. T. J. Kirkland, and prepared the fol? lowing plaintive statement of the dual tragedy. "On account of the death of the president and cashier occuring on the same day, this bank will remain clos? ed for such time only as will be neces? sary for an inquiry into its affairs and for taking all proper measues to potect the interest of creditors. "J. E. Vaughn, "C. W. Birchmore, '"M. Baum, "B. H. Boykin, "J. A. Shearn, "A. D. Kennedy, "B. M. Pierce." That statement, when posted on the door of the bank, desolate in its badge of mourning, assured'depositors that all wouidfbe well There was never any fear that the institution was in serious trouble, although it was known that the management was haring a hard fight to keep matters going on account of the deposits being slow as the cotton season is not well advan? ced. To live as these two men had lived is splendid, for upon the dramatic close of their business career every one utters a benediction. This was the thing which impressed most-of all the expessions heard yesterday there was not even a suggestion that the deceas? ed officials were not honorable to the very highest degree, and careful to the extent of being cautions. : The bank was interested in financing ; a number of institutions and this was ! too great a strain upon the cashier, who was secretary of a building and loan association and was associated with Mr. Boykin in several other enterprises. It was stated yesterday that so earnest was Mr. Zemp in his devotion to his duties that he has had breakfast dinner and supper sent to the bank. He has been known to get up theatre parties to come over to Columbia, just to give his mind a rest from in? terminable figures. And as for Mr. Boykin his physician often recommend? ed abslute freedom from care for the space of a month. IBS THE BANK. I -i Directors and an Expert Began Work on the Books Tuesday Night. Camden, Nov. 17.-The directors, accompanied by Messers. N. C. Boy? kin, assistant cashier, and a son of the late president, George DeSaussure, a well known bank inspector of Atlanta, and E. S. Vaux, entered the vault at 8.30 tonight to examine into the stand? ing of the bank. At one o'colck no statement could be made. ? The supposition is that they will be I at work on the books until morning. CITY COUNCIL MEETING. Special Census ordered Taken at Once. A special meeting of the City Coun? cil was held at 6 o'clock p. m. yester? day with Alderman Hurst, Mayor pro tem, and Aldermen Dick, Chandler, Finn and Schwerin present. The clerk was directed to prepare two ordinances, viz : One to protect paved streets against damage from ! harrows and other agricultural im? plements that would damage the pave? ments by being carried over them ; an? other to require persons making ex? cavations in paved streets for the par pose of laying pipes to deposit with the clerk a sum of money sufficient to replace the street in as good condition as it was before the excavation was made. - Alderman Dick stated that Congress? man Lever had written to him that a census of the city would be necessary in presenting the claims of Sumter to a public; building. A resolution was adopted authorizing the committee to have the census taken at once. Schwartz Bros. will hold on next Friday a great sale of Embroideries. Every lady should attend, and anticir pate their wants as the prices men? tioned are certainly tempting. The census of the city suggested several times in this paper within the last few months has been ordered taken at once by the City Council at the request of Congressman Lever, who finds that it is one of the most necessary features of the showing that must be made in the contest to secure au appropriation for the erection of a public building in this city. While the work is being done it should be done thoroughly, and the enumerator should be ?equired to ascertain and record the race, age and sex of each and every resident of the city. A cen? sus that shows only tLe number of in? habitants is of little service and as for future reference and comparison will be quite valueless. To make the cen? sus empi?te will devolve but little more work upon the enumerators and the result will be of permanent value. If possible some way should be found to secure at the same time a census of the residents of the immediate suburbs of the city. There are are several hun? dred persons living just without the city limits who are to all intents and purposes citizens of Sumter, except in that they do not pay city taxes. A separate census of the suburbs should be made and attached to the regular census when it is forwarded to Con? gressman Lever, so as to make as strong a showing of population as it is possible to make. I SCRAMBLE FOB COTTON. Short Crop has Excited the Cotton Trade and Future Market is Sensational. New York, Nonr. 17.--Trading in I cotton continued feverishly active and excited today and "old timers" say that never before in the history of the trade has there been so remarkable a market as that of the recent past. With receipts at a record breaking volume, the trade seemed so thorough? ly imbued with small crop ideas that some one is waiting, apparently, to buy at every break end in spite of the feeling in professional circles that a reaction must come prices today show? ed a sensational undercurrent of strength and bullishness. The market, influenced by heavy reciepts and lower cables, opened five to nine points lower but was almost at once rallied to last night's prices. As the estimates .for tomorrow's receipts came in it was written down and a heavy liquidation to a level net 12 to 14 points lower. Then, with weather accounts bad, the bulls again took hold, the bears were driven to cover, buying came in from the outside and before the afternoon was well under way prices were work ing upwards. From 10.84, the low point of the moring, December sold at 11.16; January, 10.83 to 1L17; March from 10.88 to 11.22; May from 10.88 to 11.23 and July from 10.89 to 11.21. The close was a little off from the best but firm at a net gain of 14 to 19 points. Sales were estimated at 1,000, - 000 bales. O'Donnell & Co., advertise today a cut price sale of seasonable dress goods. PLANTATION AND Slf'NERY FOB SALE. The Plantation and Ginnery at the old stand of S. M. Graham two miles from Mayesville in the Salem section j is offered for sale. Apply to the undersigned at Mayes? ville or Durnat P. O., Clarendon county. C. A. GRAHAM. Weather Forecast. NOVEMBER 18, 19C3. ? For South Carolina: Fair tonight and Thursday ; much colder tonight, with cold wave in central and eastern portion. Continued low temperature Thursday and Friday. C. S. Kingsmore, Local Observer, U. S. Weather Bureau. The previous sale conducted at Ryttenberg's having given so much satisfaction to all purchasers, there is no doubt but that the one they adver? tised in today's paper should do the same. This firm bas been doing business for thirty-six years and find it neces? sary to reduce their stock for reasons given in their advertisement. Instead of waiting until all the buying has been done, they start at a very oppor? tune time to sell off their stock. (INCORPORATED) Estate of Wm* R. Find, Dee'd. j I WILL apply to the Judge of Probate of Sumter County on December 7th, 1903, for a Final Discharge as Administrator of the aforesaid- Estate. AUGUSTUS S. FLUD, Nov 6-it Administrator. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. OTOTY OF SUMTES. I By Thos. V. Walsh, Esq.. Probate Judge. I Whereas, S. Lee Young made suit i to me to grant him Letters of Adminis [ tration of the Estate of and effects of ! Frank K. Young, deceased. These are therefore to cite and admon? ish all a?d singular the kindred and creditors of the said Frank X. Young, late of said county and State, deceased, that they be and appear before me, in the Court of Probate, to be held at Sumter C. H., on Nov. 25tb, 1903, next, after publication thereof, at ll o'clock in the forenoon, to show cause, if any they have, why the said Administration should not be granted. ? Given under my Hand, this 11th day of ! November A. D., 1903. THOS. V. WALSH, I Nov ll-2t Judge of Probate. ANOTHER SALE AT Having met with the deserved success in our recent sale, and having received the favorable comments as well as the patron? age of the public at large, we are now inaugurating a sale that will long be remembered in Sumter. This is not a mill end and factory sale, but if possible one that will surpass same. We realize that the cotton crop is very short, and in spite of the high price, that business will be below the anticipation. We are offering our entire stock at SACRIFICE PRICES== We expect to make a change in our business after January 1st, 1904, and the interest of the late Harry Ryttenberg in our firm will be withdrawn, consequently stock must be reduced, and bargains will be given to cash buyers. This sale commences on Tuesday, November 24th, and you want to be on hand early. Remember we hold back nothing - the entire stock must go. ' J. RYTTENBERG & SONS. SES AND MULES. HORSEypj?LES. A. D. BARBY Wishes to call your attention to the fact that he has just returned from the West, where he purchased A CHOICE LOAD. They are nice and a well selected bunch. No trouble to show or drive them A call from you will be appreciated. You are sure to be pleased. A full line of Buggies, Wagons and Harness always on Hand. Sop 23 x No Lack of * BLANKETS! We have just learned that a competitor acci? dentally succeeded in getting 25 Pairs of "Tar Heel" Blankets, And adding this to our purchase of One Hundred Pairs And the numerous standard brands carried by other leading merchants, there is no reason why the people of Sumter and vicinity should not be Well Blanketed For the Winter ! Our price for the "Tar Heel" is THE LOWEST We have ever sold them at, and if there is any inducement being offered in the 25 pairs above referred to, we would advise our friends to buy them, as they are a good purchase at anything under our price. We havejjust received 50 Pairs of Dixie Blankets In white and gray, and they are the hand? somest goods we ever handled under this brand ; and the price at which we have marked them is Cheaper than they have ever been legitimately sold at in Sumter. This is fine Blanket weather, and the best place to buy them is at DONNELL & COMPANY. And especially so if you delay in getting to our store when you desire anything we offer in a special way. October was our banner month in Dress Goods and Tailor=Made Suit selling. We intend to make Novem? ber another record-breaking month for moving Blankets, Cloaks and Win= ter. Underwear. Of these three Seasonable Specials we have a wide range in quality, style and prices, and if your prefer? ence is for the newest and best, then come with your mind made up to deal with us and enjoy that satisfied feeling you are sure to experience. Blankets from 75c. to $10 per pain Cloaks from <>5c. to $20 each. Underwear for everybody, from 10c. to $1.50 per garment. The Sumter Dry Goods Co.