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.

THE gt'MTEK WATCHMAN'. E?tabllahrd April, J850. "Be Just anil Four not?Let all the ends Thou Alms't at bo thy Country's, Thy God'a and Truth'a." THE TRUE BOITTHROX, EMaHMwd June, 18e?. Consolidated Aug. 3,1881. SUMTER, S. C, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1913. Vol. XXXVI. No. 25. Double Murder at Rose Hill Mars Sabbath Bob Garrett, of Dalzell, Shoots John H. Campbell and Aaron Camp? bell in Their Own Home. IS CAPTURED IN MECHANICSVILLE SWAMP MAN MM ENTLY PARDONED FROM PENITENTIARY HY GOVERNOR HI.EASE A FT Fit SERVING TWO YEARS OF SENTENCE FOR HOB? HIHI I AND INN ATI'It A Ii CRIME COMMITS DOt'ULE MCRDEH.? Hl/OODIIOINDS RROCGHT FROM COLl'MRIA TRAIL FUGITIVE THROUGH SWAMPS IN TIL MM IS BROUGHT TO DAY TWO AND A HALF MILES FROM SCENE OF CRIME?POSSE SURROUND SWAMP ALL NIGHT?EXCITEMENT HERE. From The Daily Item. May 19. At mix o'clock Bob Oarrett, who on Sunday committed the horrible crime of double murder, shooting to death John K Campbell and Aaron Camp? bell, fatner and tun, the latter his own son-in-law, was captured in the Mechanlcsvllle mill pond swimp where he was brought to hay about nine o'clock last night by bloodhounds and surrounded by a posse of eighty men. gathered together from Sumter and Lee counties in the hunt for the fu? gitive. All night long the posse held Its place. The cordon had been care? fully drawn around the swamp and there was no chance of Garretts leaving a live man. Also, the posse was urged to caution as it was known Oarrett was a desperate man and would shoot on sight any who ap? proached him. The posse watted un? til too day had broken full and then Sheriff Muldrow of T^ee County called for a dosen volunteers. These headed by the sheriff and J. C. Bobbins, the owner and driver of the dogs, enter?- 1 the dense swamp and came upon Oar? rett lying beside a stump. He^was at once seised and taken by Sheriff Mul? drow in his car back to Blshopvlllo, where he was landed In the county jail. The beautiful Sabbath morning on Co! Thomas Wilson's plantation at Bom Hill, a country cross roads, with a store and several houses, passed quietly for the people of that section, but with the corning of noon the peace Was broken by the appearance of Gar rMt. shotgun In hand, with murder in hi* hesrt. He approached the home of John H. Campbell shortly after noon, where everybody was resting quietly, enjoy.ng the warm Sabbath day, little expecting that which was soon to com<) upon them. John H. Campbell sjgg lying on his porch, dosing in the warm sunlight, his head renting on a pillow, his shoes re? moved from his feet in order to ob? tain more comfort from his nap. The murderer approached, drew his gun und tired the loud of buck sind Into the bowels of the sleeping man. In? side the building were Aaron Camp? bell the son of John H. Campbell, and his bride of three days. Young Campbell heard the shot and rushed to the door to see what hud happen? ed He saw his father lying in a pool Sj| blood und the murderer standing on the utepfl with gun in bund. Rea? lising the situation he rushed back into the house, grabbed his single barrel shot gun and started out to meet In the Invader 11?' never got farther than the door. As he rsss bed It the second load of buckshot was flred by Oarrett, and Aaron fell, the top of his head blown away by the ISfOe of the load He fell and his wife, with a frightened shriek DOM over him But she was not to remain so long. H?*r unnatural father seized her by the hair and ton ? d her to go with hi:n into a swamp only a few hundred II 'Is off from the scene of ftic shoot? ing The news of the shooting unbkly spread and It wus not many minutes before it had reached Sheriff Mul? drow ut his home ut Blrihop\ille A Jos,, uiis T. .f tu. <l und Murted toi the nSOSM of the crime. other posses were formed In the neighborhood or Bone Hill and a telephone men-age i?a< bed Magistrate Burkett r! |>,i| a* II. the home ,,f Oarrett, and a party of intRhuntiTN h*t out Ii-mi Iher? to )??iti in tax- aearch A men*.me w*iy nenr to the CJovernor tor the hhtod houndn from the Stute penitential und thern? were brought ovei on the nrst train M .eon In IM olmos aflei th?- fualtlve ? The direction taken p) < 5 ?ri. i ITS known, but he was in the swamp ami it was not known how fast he was traveling, although it was known that he could not travel fast, as long as he kept his daughter with him. it was ten minutes to six o'clock when the bloodhounds arrived from Co? lumbia and It was six o'clock When they passed the city hall going in an automobile to Hose Hill, eighteen miles away, to be pjt on the stale scent of the hunted man. About seven o'clock the dogs In charge of Mr. J. C. Robbina of the State penitentiary, and R. F. DuBose, ?a former guard at the penitentiary, well known to Robbins, who the lat? ter picked up in Sumter, arrived at the scene of the crime. The dry ! weather made it extn mely difficult ' for the dogs to get the scent and they had to go extremely slow at times, es? pecially over dry places, but they stuck to the trail ind with the assistance of Mr. DuDose, who proved a good tracker, were able to stick to it, the murks of the woman's shoes being viMible in dry places, where the dogs could not trail. The chase was followed from about seven o'clock to nearly nine, when the dog? by their cry indicated that they were rapidly nearlng their quarry. The trail led over a distance of be? tween six and eight miles, but it was only about two and a half miles from the scene of the shooting that the dogs tinally brought the fugitive to buy in the head of the Mechanicsvllle mill swamp. As the dogs approach? ed the man. the girl, whom he had held with him all the time, forcing her to go with him. managed to elude her father's grasp, and, in the thick swamp, left him and made for the high land. She made her way out of the swamp und reuched the South Carolina Western Railroad track, when she was discovered by members of the posse and made prisoner. MM told them that her father was in the swamp well armed with a shot gun and plenty of shells loaded with euekshot. He said that he would nev? er be taken alive and that he would shoot anyone who tried to take him. It was then nearly pine o'clock and the members of the posse were ad Vtaed to caution by their leaders, who Stationed them at intervals about the swamp, so that any effort on Oarrett's part to escape from the swamp could be seen and frustrated. The Camp? bell woman was taken to BUhopvllle and placed in jail. All night long the members of the posse held guard over the swamp, watching for their man to make any attempt to escape. Shots were tired Into the swamp and challenges were called out to the fugitive to give him? self up, to come out and eat supper \sith them, for be would certainly eat breakfast with them, but there was no reply Occasionally his movements could be heard, the breaking of canes und underbrush Indicating his where ahouta, occasioning the discharge ol shots, but save foi one shrill whistle, darrett never gave sign that he le ant bis pursuers, The members of the hunting party did not care to take any < hare es of being shot in the swamp in the darkness, so made no attempts to enter it. They were sure of their man, if they only waited patiently and tins measure was advised by thelt leaderi as safest. There wai Intense exelte ment and sou,,- talk ol lynching, b*it the advice of older and w iser lo ad-i age?nnl I ti>^ < dim m ruled. won the apneoaoti ol sunrise t?i? * posse again became netlve, Plans were adopted for some to enter the swamp, while others stood watch, sp. i itt Mutdrow led the party or per? haps a dosen men. who graduell) and cautiously?from all .sides, making their way toward the place where the bay? ing hounds indicated he was rest? ing. When approached Garrett made no attempt to move. He appear? ed to be In a stupor, or feigning sleep. He made no move until the party were upon him and had seized him by the arms and legs.# Then he made a frantic effort to secure Iiis gun, but it was too late, he was held by strong hands and could not escape. At his side was his doubled barralled shot gun with which he had done the shooting with such fatal results the day before. His pockets were filled with cartridges loaded with buck? shot, showing that he had evidently boon intent on murder when he set out from home on that calm Sunday morning. He was placed in a vehicle and tak , en to Bishopvllle and is now in the county jail, where he will be held un? til court convenes and he is tried for his crime? Hob Garrett lived at Dalzell and has been there for several months. He was tried about three years ago for an unmentionable crime and found guilty. He was sentenced to the peni tentiary and served two years, when he was pardoned by Governor Blease. Since that time Garrett has lived at several places, being run off from some of them, finally settling down at Dalzell, where he ran a blacksmith shop. He had made threats that he would kill anyone who paid attentions to his daughter, who did not stay with him after he was released from the penitentiary. Friday Aaron Campbell and the Garrett woman w?*re married. Sat? urday Bob Garrett heard of it and it was Sunday morning when he set out from Dalzell to the home of John H. Campbell, with whom Aaron Camp? bell and his bride were staying, to fulfill his threats. How he fulfilled them has already been stated. Gar? rett is known in the Dalzell neighbor? hood and there are many people In this city who know him. He comes originally from Privateer section, where he was living whew he was convicted of illicit relations with his own daughter, the one who married Campbell on Friday. The Campbell's are not 1 known here. There was much excitement created in this city Sunday afternoon when the bloodhotindl were seen to go through town on their way to Rose Hill. There were some who had heard of the shooting prior to this time, but very few. Sunday sight it was the principal subject of discussion on the streets and a number of persons hung around the police station until after midnight, waiting to hear of further developments in the case. About 11 o'clock a report was tele? phoned in from near Oswego that a man had been seen on the road be? tween Bethel Church and Oswego, coming along in a running trot, who had turned out when the person who saw him tried to overtake him. The man was a white man in his shirt sleeves the report said. It was stated in telephone message that the same man had been seen later on the road leading to Whites Mill. A little lat? er another report stated that the wo? man had been found on the Westen Railroad track, having made her escape from her father, and It was thought that the man seen on the White's Mill road must surely be Garrett. Sheriff Bradford and Depu? ty Epperson went out In that direc? tion to head him off, If he expected to come by Sumter, staying out there until after 2 o'clock in the morning but of course their vigliance was un? successful, as Garrett did not come so far down from Hose Hill, and the man must have been some one else. The general opinion seems to he that Garrett would endeavor to get to some place he could take a train, or that he was Working his way back towards Privateer, his old home, to haunts well known to him. The news ol Garrett's capture was telephoned in here about seven o'clock this morning and was received with general satisfaction A short while after nine o'clock J. c Bold.ins and R. r. DuRose arrived m tin- city from Mechanlcsville, where the rapture of the fugitive bad taken place, Both of them u pea red some? what tiled out and haggard from their hard nights work ami seemed heart I l\ t<> enjoy a good breakfast at Charlie's \lr. Bobbins stated that he bad been loath to bring the dogs, Ben and Joe, over here to woik <>n the rase as he kio w it to in terribly dry and it would be a very dtttlcuti job undei the circumstances, especially us the scent ?.as several hoars old, He lln? consented to the pleas of the !.,??? < 'onto \ sheriff, however, and his dogs, llld Home good Work, although they were extremely slow, this being due to the drought II?- stated that thi.i was (be on!) I EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MET IN WASHINGTON, WHICH WAS ADOPTED AS HEAD? QUARTERS. Palmer of Pennsylvania Elected Chairman and Holla Wells of St. Louis, Treasurer?Democratic Cam- j paign of inn and Itli Dtacaaaed and Work Laid out for Party. Washington, May HI.?The cam? paign for Democratic supremacy at the polls In 1914 and 1910 was opened here today when the executive cam? paign committee Of the Democratic national committee organized and discussed preliminary plans. The committee agreed upon permanent headquarters in Washington, the or? ganization of an educational cam paign and harmonious cooperation with the Democratic congressional committee with a continuous mili? tant party organisation from now un? til after the next presidential elec? tion at least. Representative A. Mitchell Palmer of Pennsylvania, caucus Chairman of the house and re? cognized as the president's spokes? man In that body, was made chair? man and Holla Wells of St. Louis treasurer of the Democratic nation? al committee. At permanent head? quarters T. J. Pence of North Carolina the former corespondent, who con? ducted the Wilson press campaign, will he in charge as manager of pub? licity. With him already is Col. John I. Martin of Missouri, sergeant-at arms of the last and other national conventions of the Democracy. Plans agreed upon today contemplate the sending of Democratic Washington letters to approximately 10,000 week? ly newspapers and 2,000 daily papers that have no special correspondents at the national capital. All this will require a large fund and the commit? tee decided to appeal to the States for contributions. The situation generally and the noed for Immediate organized cam h paign work were discussed at two sessions- of the committee. The con? ferences will be resumed tomorrow. The committeemen, accompanied by Mr. Pence, called at the White House and explained the pains to President Wilton, who voiced his hearty ap? proval. At the outset of tomorrow's meet? ing the committee will confer with Representative Lloyd of Missouri, chairman, and Representative Page of North Carolina, secretary, the re? tiring officers of the Democratic con? gressional committee, who were di? rected at a recent meeting to consult With the national committee, the president and Democratic senators regarding the president's proposal that the numerical strength of sen? ators on the congressional commit? tee be increased. It is probable that the congression? al committee will be asked to name three representatives and two sena? tors to serve on a joint executive cam? paign committee for conducting the political battles during the next four years. The party leaders contemplate sending out speakers under the aus? pices of the joint committee. LU C. TERM FOR BABY'S DEATH. WaycroSB, Ca, May 10.?w. c Lanier today was sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary b) Judge Parker, of the Ware Superior Court. Lanier was convicted of mur? dering his infant son. one day old. The prisoner's eyes filled With tears as he heard the words condemning him t<? prison for the remander of his life and the judge was not unmoved. Lanier is but 22 years old. Judge Parker referred tO the need of more care on the part of parents ol the present day ami alluded to the present-day fashions as one cause Of crime. Ware superior court will reconvene In special session June u:; to try Mrs. Lanier, who was jointly indicted with her husband for the deuth of their child. Judge Parker will bear arguments on a motion for a new trial for Lanier July 26. case where be bad e\er taken bis dogs out that they bad hayed a man without attacking him. This was due. however, to Ihe fact that, when in tin penitentiary, Qarretl bad m u way looked after the dog>., often doctoring their wounds and treating them tor sickness. He was therefore an old friend and instead of attack? Ing him, they simply stood oft and hayed, located him t<>? the searcher* He Htated that Qurrett was unable to ko on when captured this morning, ho having fallen over u stump last night, w hen running through the swamp and b;t\ ing neai I) broken his leg. AROL1TELY NEEDLESS FOR WHISKEY CONSTABLES IN STATE SAYS GOVERNOR. Blcasc Writes to Chief Constables No? tifying Them to Discontinue Hull Services after June l?Action Due to Recent Decision in Regard to Webb Low. Columbia, May Di.?n s decision of I*" tfvtfjVI' -?'? d'" lining ^y>, s ^ the governor yester -..uressed a letter tu the Chief whiskey constables in the va? rious sections of South Carolina, an? nouncing that they and their men would be dismissed after June 1. It is said that about 250 men will be al? te* ted by the action of the < biet' exe? cutive. The following letter was addressed to the chiei constables: ' "Dear Sir: 1 i egret very much to have to inform you that, as a result of the decision of the supreme court in the case of W. \\\ Atkinson vs. Southern Express company, testing the validity of the Webb law as ap? plied to this State, I have touched the conclusion that it is absolutely need? less for me to continue to employ the services of whiskey constables in this State. Under this decision, for the reasons which are more fully stated by me in an interview given the press this day and tiled In my office, I re? quest the resignation of yourself and the men under you, effective June 1, 1913. Without the assistance of the courts, I feel that it is useless to try to enforce the dispensary law in this State." REPLY TO JAPANESE PROTEST. Tentative Draft Considered by Presi? dent und Cabinet. Washington, May 1G.?A tentative draft of the reply of the United States Oovernment to the Japanese protest against California land legislation, * fire pared by John Rassel I Moore, counseller of the State department, was considered for two hours today by President Wilson and the ?'abinet. No intimation of its nature was made public, Secretary Bryan positive!} refusing to discuss the proposed reply of Japan's protest. There are Indications that the State department is awaiting Anal action bs Governor Johnson', either in the faint hope that he might change his mind and veto the measure, or more prop ably with the purpose of having the approved Act as a basis for further discussion. The Japanese government likewise is awaiting the Governor's action with the keenest interest. While protesting against the Califor? nia legislation, the Japanese Govern? ment so far has suggested no rem? edy. That is left entirely to the Unl ted States, and it is believed here that even the idea of instituting proceed? ings to test the validity of the law may be abandoned. Meanwhile, taking their cue from the President's statement regarding military and naval movements, offi? cials of both the war and navy de aprtments today were endeavoring to avoid issuing any orders or statements that would contribute to sensational reports or unusual activity. A num? ber of army officers were ordered to Hawaii, but only to join their com? mands in conformity with the law. At the Na\y department Secertary Daniels positively denied any connec? tion between the lew Iiaxal tnoVe , menis recorded during the last twen? ty-four hours, and the Japanese sit? uation. He took pains to point out that the departure pesterday from San Pedro for San Francisco of the big armed cruiser raryland was simply in continuation ' a test that is being made by that vessel of Poca hontas coal, which was arranged by the navy department about o month ago. The Maryland will end these coal tests at San Francisco. The navy department, it was stated, does not mt< nd to send any vessels from the Atlantic to the Pacific now. TWO tH'E \NS ,IO|\. Wuters of Atlantic and Pacific Clou in Panama Canal. Panama. May lv The waters of the Pacific ocean were today let Into the Panama ?anal A giant blust composed ol 2,750 pounds of dynsi mite was shot, demolishing the dyke to i he south ol the M traf lores locks . ,>''. allowing the water lo How Into in extensive section In whlcb exca? vations have practica 113 been com? pleted, The blast was successful In every way and the vibration was fell in Panama CtlJ as though there had been a slight earthquake. J) G. RICHARDS TELLS OF RE? CENT OCCURRENCE ?? PULLMAN COACH. Asks Attorney General to Im eatlgate und Ascertain tr Separate Condi Law Has Bec.i Violated. Columbia, May 16.?John G. Rich? ards, Jr., chairman ot the railroad 'commission, addressed a letter to At? torney General Peepies yesterday in which he gave the opinion that the Southern railway had violated the "separate coach" act. Chairman Richarde asked that the attorney gen? eral make an investigation of the law on the question. It was stated yesterday at the attorney general's Office that the letter had not been re? ceived. The following is the letter of Chair? man Richarde: "Coming down from Rock Hill, BL C, today, May 14, on Southern rail? way train No. 31, which runs from Washington to Jacksonville, I was assigned by the Pullman conductor to berth No. 11, and to my utter aston? ishment found that a negro man was occupying berth No. 12, just across the anile from me. "This Pullman car was practicaly full of passengers, and a number of them ladies. I asked the Pullman conductor where the negro purchased his ticket and to what point he was going, and was informed that he se? cured his ticket and berth in Wash? ington for Savannah, Ga. "You can imagine my surprise when this negro arose, at some point be? tween Kock Hill and Columbia, and deliberately went into the ladies' dressing room and completed his toilet. "On my arrival at Columbia I im? mediately reported the matter to the other members of the commission, and after thorough consideration we have determined that this is a proper case to be reported to your office. We do not know ww hat our powers arse in * the premises), -hut we are ot the o?i*~ lon that this is a plain violation of the sep.ii ate each' law of this State. To say the least, It is an indignity that we are certain you will agree should not be permitted if there is any recourse in law to prevent it. "The Pullman company should be made to know that such outrages will not be submitted to by the people of this State. "We feel sure that we will have your hearty cooperation In doing what you can to prevent a recurrence of such gross and contemptible vio? lation of the law." MALLOY CASE IN SUPREME COURT. Prisoner Maintains Electrocution Statute or South Carolina is Ex Post Facto, Washington, May 17.?On the ground that death by electrocution rather titan hanging Interfered with his constitutional rights, Joe Malloy of South Carolina today presented his appeal to the supreme court from the death sentence by electrocution im? posed upon him by South Carolina courts. Malloy was convicted of having murdered Premiss Moore of BenneMe Vllle, S. C. After the murder and be? fore the trial the State changed its method of death punishment from hanging to electrocution* Malloy claims that to him this change is an "ex post facto*' law prohibited by the constitution. In lssi* the supreme court decided In B New York case that death by electrocution was not a cruel ami un? usual punishment as forbidden by the constitution, but it has never passed upon the exact point raised by Malloy. ENFORCE "LAW OF MAXIMILIAN. Governor Carransa Kays Hwertn and lasociatea Should Suffer Death. Eagle Pass. Tex. May 16. ?Govern - or Carransa today Issued a decree de? claring that the law ot January 2.r?. 1862, popularly known as the "law of Maxmilian." would be enforced against lluerta and his associates when the) are captured: This law provides that sny person making an attempt on 'he life of the chief mag? istrate of the republic or any ??t hi* ministers engaging In s seditious up? rising against the legal authorities or Inviting the invasion of foreign troops ?bull suffer the pene.lty ?>f death Un? der this law Maximilian was execut? ed I>r. Francisco Vasqoea Gomes eon eluded his conference with Governor Carransa Ibis morning and lett at once foi San Antonio.