The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, July 26, 1912, Image 1
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THE UNION TIMES
.J;*: -t Probate JuiIrc
vol. ijxii. no. ?o. union, s. c., gyrday, jitly 2<>, 1912. $1.00 a yeak.
BLOOD SHED AT SA
BARNEY EVANS (
FIGHT FOLLOWS GRAVE
CHARGES AGAINST
SHERIFF.
Evans Accused Sheriff Samples
of Theft?The Sheriff's
Urntlior ~ I I U
U1\/V11V1 U1I1CU it 11CIII.11"
man of Evans at This Point.
Saluda, July 24.?Pistols flashed
and blood was shed in a fijrht on the
campaign platform here today during
the speech of B. B. Evans. The
trouble was precipitated by Evans'
charge that Sheriff" B. F. Samples, of
Saluda county, had been whitewashed
"by a grand jury for theft." This
caused the greatest sensation that
has yet marked the campaign. Neither
Samples nor Evans was in the
bloody mixup.
Simon Coate, of Gilbert Hollow, in
Lexington county, who came on the
train from Lexington this morning
and brought B. B. Evans' grip to the
stage, and shouted many loud re
marks in favor of Evans, was the
sufferer. He was knocked down by
Sheriff Samples' brother, and was
struck down by the same Mr. Samples.
He was then dragged, bleeding,
from the stage by several big men.
He had tried to interpose between
Sheriff Samples and Evans when
Samples rose to demand if it were
he that Evans referred to as being
"whitewashed for theft."
Coats was apparently under the
influence of whiskey. Evans has frequently
in this campaign charged
that Sheriff Samples stole certain receipts
from him which resulted in
his being indicted for forgery and also
that Sheriff Samples was a thief.
"Not Afraid."
? He began his speech today by sayv
* big that he came to' Saludd. ia# aoite
repeat the charges made by him on
other stumps.
He then began the charge that
Samples had been guilty of dishonest
acts. Sheriff Samples was on the
stage. Evans made the statement
that a man of Saluda county had
sworn to an affidavit before the
grand jury and that the same grand
jury, while in session, did not indict
this man of a charge of theft, and
that he had collected "Evans' taxes
and put the money in his pocket."
At this point Sheriff Samples rose
ana iacea tvans and demanded if it
were he that he was referring to.
Evans replied that he had made his
statement, that he had the stage, and
if Samples wanted to meet him he
could do so later outside of the
crowd. Samples again demanded
Evans to answer his questions, but
Evans did not do it.
At this moment, W. P. Beard,
whom Sheriff Samples brought here,
Chairman Forest and several other
men interfered and prevented trouble,
but not Evans nor the sheriff.
Simon Coats was one of those who
interposed and the seat of trouble
was transferrprl to him Hp trv.
ing to interpose when Sheriff Samples
caught him and jerked him back
and to the floor. Coats arose and
persisted in his attempt in the interference.
He approached the sheriff's
brother, who struck him down. He
hit him on the head, inflicting a
wound which bled considerably. He
was hustled off the stage by a policeman.
A number of women then took
seats on the platform.
"I am done with that," a little later
began Evans, as he proceeded
with his speech and did not again
make the charges againsi Samples.
He said, however, that his statements
were based on pure records. Later
he had a little debate with Former
County Treasurer Walter Thatcher,
concerning the charges against Sheriff
Samples, but there was no more
trouble.
Evans repeated his charges, often
made, on the statement against Lyon
and the Ansel dispensary commission
and these were later strongly denied
Dy L.yon, who said that Evans'
charges were "infamously false." It
seemed that in the crowd Evans had
some friends, but Lyon was loudly
cheered when he was announced.
Jones and Blease. .
About 2,500 people heard the candidates,
those for governor speaking
after a barbecue dinner had been
served. There was some evidence of
whiskey in the crowd, and after the
Coats incident, when one man, who
was apparently drunk ,was removed
from the edge of the stage by an of
luda meeting;
:ause of trouble
CLOUDBURST WORKS
HAVOC AND DEATH.
ANGRY WATERS DROWN MEN
LIKE RATS?RAILROAD STATIAYO
? >> ? . ?
i ivriio, o 11\ijr> l HAlliW A1 S,
BUSINESS PROPERTY AND
HUNDREDS OF HOMES GO TO
APPALLING RUIN.
Pittsburg, Pa., July 24.?Death
and widespread devastation from tremendous
rains resulted today in western
Pennsylvania ,eastern Ohio and
West Virginia. From all sections
comes details telling of persons
drowned or reported drowned; of
hundreds of buildings wrecked or
completely washed away; of streets
torn up and bridges swept down; of
crops ruined, light plants put out of
commission, and towns left to suffer
their misery in darkness, while transportation,
telegraph and telephone
facilities are badly crippled.
At Evans Station, three miles north
of Union, Pa., a cloudburst sent waters
raging into the mouth of the <
Superba No. 2. mine. Fourteen
men were drowned like rats in a trap,
while 37 Afkowcs Vin/l ~- ??1 ? - ?
w. ?vmvio nau imiacuiuus escapes
from a similar death.
A few miles away at Lemont mine
No. 2 three other men are reported
to have drowned in like fashion.
Up in the Redstone valley, near
Brownsville, Pa., it is rumored that
at least ten miners were caught
while at work, by flood waters entering
the mines and drowned. Verification
of this tonight is impossible,
and it may be days before anything
definite can be learned.
At Millsboro, Pa., 75 miners had a
narrow escape from the waters swept
into the mines. All escaped, but not
before many were exhausted.
Three deaths are believed to have
occurred in the vicinity of Wheeling,
W- Va. . .
desolation. Wrecked buildings are
visible everywhere, while streets are ;
strewn with debris. In some places
the debris is piled 20 feet high. .
Scores of small bridges have been
torn from their moorings and broken
to pieces in the raging water. At a
number of points the bridges held
long enough to clog up the streams
and back water far into the towns.
Cellars by thousands were submerged
and in many cases the water reached
the second and third floors of buildings.
Hundred of families have been
driven from their homes and tonight
sought shelter with friends or camped
on the hillsides.
At midnight the rain had ceased at
all points and the water had started
iu suusiue .
Quinton-Sweat.
Married at the Baptist parsonage
at Kelton, July 20, 1912, Miss Lizzie
Quinton of Lockhart and Mr.
Ershire Sweat of Pacolet. Rev. Joseph
L. Hodges, pastor of the bride,
officiated.
Only a few intimate friends and
the pastor's family witnessed the
ceremony.
Mr. and Mrs. Sweat will make
their home in Pacolet.
Mr. and Mrs. John K. Hamblin
left Monday for a stay of several
weeks at Turkey, N. C.
ficer.
In his speech Lyon defied anyone
to prove that Felder had ever Rotten
any money dishonestly from the
state and he said there was now a
htatenr.jnt in the treasury about
*300,000 that v/ould not have been
there but for Felder's services. He
characterized Felder as a shrewd
lawyer and out for all he could Ret
in leRitimate business.
He also spoke of him as an "adept"
in runninR down Rraft. Evans had
charRed that Felder Rot dishonest
mnnov frAm fKo J
...v.ivj vi it obavc oiiu lit? sttiu
Lyon was responsible for having
hired Felder, for elder's acts.
The man, Coats, who suffered in
today's fight, was a conspicuous and
noisy listener to the candidates at
Lexington County yesterday. At the
conclusion of his speech today Evans
expressed no fear at being in Saluda
aim ?uiu ne nan come to tne town
alive and he would leave it alive.
"Don't apeak too soon," aaid a
i voice from the rear of the stage and
there were several expressions..'
i Sheriff Samples was elected to his
' office in the first primary over seven
opponents, and his affair with
Evans. Evans once lived in Saluda.
"THAT'S A til
JONES TO
Blease Charges Jones Witft PI
way's Hands and Jones jHai
Blease's Goat at Lejkng
Time's Up?Blease <
Questions I
Winnsboro, July 22.?At the fs&te I
camnaiirn mpptitw h#*U in a n-Avr I
here today with an attendance of ?00
persons. Governor Blease was han&ed
the lie direct by Judge Jones. The
governor took a hand primary wmch
proved somewhat of a boomerang and
he made an offer to discharge B.$H.
Stothart, chief constable at Charleston,
under certain conditions.
Attacks Jones' Court Record,
"Judge Jones spoke of Ben Abrtey
who is my cousin, and lives with ine
at the mansion," Governor Bleffce
was saying. "If I had let Ben Abipey
fool as many decisions out of me as
he has fooled out of Judge Jones, I
wouldn't refer to it, and that's not
all Ben Abney did. He appointed
Charlie Jones, son of Ira B. Jones,
as attorney for the Southern railrofcd.
Charlie, the automobile dude, Chfclie
kept a livery stable and he *as
a groceryman; nobody ever accui 4d
him of being a lawyer, yet Ben 4bney
made him attorney for his rq*d
and he megaphoned through ChaiMe
to Judge Jones on the supreme
bench for what he wanted, and, be
firot it." "That's a lip " inlomippo^
- - ?f ?'? Judge
Jones from his seat at the rear
of the stand. Governor Blease, jaot
hearing him, or not caring to refl:|,
proceeded with his speech. "EfdrjT
time there was a divided court,1* be
said, "Judge Jones was always on
the side of the Southern railway/' 1
"That's a Lie," says Jones."That's
a lie/ governor," said Judy
Jones. *
around and addressed him:
you, they would say that I struck a
poor old decrepit man and that would
elect you. That's what you want me
to do, to hit you, but I'm too smart
an old fox to be caught in your
trap,' and 'then, turning to the crowd,
the governor said, "I could take him
out in the hark varH nnH tie hio kon^a
? J ?
behind him and spank him like your
mothers used to do you.
"If he had wanted satisfaction and
had desired to do the good, clean
thing, why didn't he come to me off
the stand, when ladies were not present,
and when no one else will be in
danger of being hurt? Even then I
would do nothing but take hold of
him and keep him from hurting himself."
Takes Hand Primary.
At the close of the speech the governor
took a hand primary, saying he
wanted to show the newspaper men
how many friends he had in the
crowd. As the hands went up, Judge
Jones commented: "Just about a
third of them." Thereupon the governor
called for another hand primary,
saying ,"Just listen to that!
Hold up your hands so that everybody
can see". About half of those
present raised their hands.
Blease on Stothart.
Criticised by Judge Jones for retaining
in office the chief dispensary
constable at Charleston, Ben H. Stothart,
against whom Judge Jones said
a prima facie case of taking graft
had been made out, Governor Blease
said: "Judge Jones wants me to kick
^..4 CU.il l T ?
uui ucii oiuuiun. i suppose, according
to that, he thinks the people of
South Carolina ought to kick him out
because of the vile slanders that have
been circulated against me. Stothart
has had no chance to defend himself,
but if they will get two men whom
ex-Mayor Goodwin Rhett, of Charleston?and
he is no political friend
of mine?will believe on oath and if
these two men will say say that
Stothart has taken graft, I will turn
him out." '
Asks Jones as to Blease. I
While Judge Jones was speaking of
Stothart, some one in the cro&d inquired:
"Do you believe Blease has
tnlran ">" "I * ? ?
a uu iiuv asovi v wiittli,
replied Judge Jones. "I have no
positive proof that It is so. Let the
facts come out and I will .say it
then.
The crowd was chary of applause:
Governor Blease received mdre than
Judge Jones.
Lexington, July 23.?It was a noisy
and turbulent crowd of 800 persons
that heard candidates for state offices
here today. It was also probably the
most inquisitive audience that the
J
5" SAYS I
GOV. BLE
aying Into the Southern Railids
Him the Lie?They Get
ton, So He Quits Before c
Could Not Answer
*ut to Him.
candidates have faced during ?lhis
campaign. For once it was Governor
Blease rather than Judge Jones who
sucered most from the heckling process,
and the chief executive did not
c
relish the terrific cross examination
Ct
to which he was subjected, for he left
the stand before his *time had ex- ^
pired. Bevies of young ladies brought
to the platform armfuls of flowers ^
for Judge Jones and Governor Blease. ,
Took Hand Primary.
On concluding his speech, the gov- P
ernor took a hand primary, which
tjhnwarl hie 1
w*>v ??vv? mo oupj/v/i i<ci a vu ue 111 1116
majority in the crowd, but this, considered
along with the teasing of
which he was the victim, was not
calculated to give him great encouragement,
because Lexington has been
claimed as overwhelmingly pro-Blease
as two years ago. It gave Blease
about 500 majority over Featherstone
in a total poll of about 3,000
votes.
"An Infamous Lie, Sir."
Violent abuse of interruptors, usually
relied upon by the governor to
protect him against attacks from the
j-ii-J .? j. S
uuicnce, miiea oi us accustomed effect
today. Rev. W. H. Miller, un- a
til recently pastor of St. Stephen t
Lutheran church in Lexington, but
now district supervisor of a New
York insurance company, with his
headquarters in Columbia ,was denounced
by the governor as probably
a pickpocket himself when he asked ^
about certain pickpockets the govern- h
or had pardoned, and he retorted: ,
"That is an infamous lie, air." , ^
hf failed to induce the novernor to ^
answer a qustion, put this challenge, P
which the governor ignored: "I'll exu.noA
ji ttutiojeo pjooaj Aui uiBjd
exnlain voura "
One Too Many for Blease. ,
Herbert R. Dreher, of "Selwood",
in the Dutch Fork, vainly tried to get j3
the governor to explain how it was
that he voted for Judge Jones for ?
speaker, for associate justice and for
United States senator after Judge
Jones had cast votes which the governor
now says indicate he favored
social equality between whites and j1
negroes on passenger trains. Mr. '
Dreher was scathingly denounced by ?
the governor. He is a brother of E.
S. Dreher, superintendent of schools 0
at Columbia; Julius D. Dreher, United
States counsul at Port Antonio, r
Jamaica, and W. C. Dreher, Associa- *
ted Press enrrpsnnnHont
, iiinujr
years in Berlin.
Jones Very Effective.
Judge Jones' speech* was unusually
well delivered and took well with his i
hearers. t
"Why do you think I'd resign the t
office of chief justice if I did not t
know I'd beat Cole?" argued Judge
Jones to a question if he thought he
could beat "Coley." (
Local color was given to Judge
Jones' speech when he asked what i
the crowd thought of the governor :
pardoning the man who burned the
barn of Dr. D. M. Crosson ,state senator
froip Lexington.
Blease Charges Coercion.
Lyon and Evans exchanged their
accustomed enmnties. Gov. Blease j
claiming the Parker cotton mill mer- c
ger was trying to coerce operatives
into voting against him, read
an affidavit from an overseer of
weaving in the Beaverdam mill, at
Edgefield, saying the superintendent
had told him it was up to the mill
people to defeat Blease this year.
Dreher vs. Evans.
Heber Dreher and Evans had a
lively little tilt of words, the hearer
poking fun at Evans and Evans calling
him a grafter. There was much
laughter and many cheers for Lyon j
when Evans took his seat. Lyon rose t
and denied with positive statements (
the charges as to the work of the
dispensary dissolution and a majority s
of the statements of Evans. He said (
he did not believe a word Evans said
when he quoted Judge Prince as to ,
Farnum's immunity. Lyon was hear- \
tily applauded. \
Miss Mary Jones spent several 1
days this week with Miss Marie Je- ]
ter at Joneaville. On Friday she will 1
go to Landrum to attend a house i
party given by Miss Thorm. s
SAM NICHOLLS SPE
DICTAC
BOUNTY CAMPAIGN
OPEN TUESDAY.
CAMPAIGN OPENS AT SANTUC
AND A BUNCH OF CANDIDATES
ARE BEFORE THE PEOPLE
SEEKING OFFICE THIS
YEAR?WARM TIMES ARE
AHEAD.
The Union County campaign opens
t Santuc on next Tuesday. The
umber of candidates, the hot weathr
and the clearly drawn issues of the
ampaign promise to make this
ear's campaign a warm one. It is
good time to practice self restraint
nd to show consideration for others,
t is to be hoped that the campaign
his year will be marked by the high
lane upon which it is conducted. It
3 a time for sober reflection.
The following is the list of meetlgs
for the county:
T 1 ?
uaiibuv: A uesuay, JUiy ?5U.
Carlisle?Wednesday, July 31.
Black Rock, Thursday, August 1.
Cross Keys, Friday, August 2.
Monarch, Saturday, August 3.
Jonesville, Wednesday, August 14.
Kelton, Thursday, August 15.
Adamsburg, Friday, August 16.
Lockhart, Saturday, August 17.
West Springs, Thursday, Aug. 22.
Gibbs, Friday, August 23.
Buffalo, Saturday, August 24.
Union, Monday, August 26, 10 a. m.
chool grove. Also at the monument
t 8 p. p\. of the same day.
With the exception of the last
hree meetings all will start at 10 a.
n.
An lee Cream Supper.
The ice cream supper which was to
e held last Saturday night at the
iome of Mr. Jasper Wilburn in the
Jedar Bluff community, has been
tostponed until Saturday, July 27th.
lie proceeds go for the benefit of the
Boys Kill Rattlesnake.
Sarratt Hames and Sidney Rice
:illed a rattlesnake with five rattles
>n its tail, near Log Cabin Inn, N. C.,
ast Monday. These young men are.
pending the summer in the mounains.
Changes in Campaign.
Mr. Munro Whitlock, who recently
mnounced as a candidate for the
egislature, has notified us of his deision
to withdraw from the race. Mr.
Vhitlock has concluded to withdraw
wing to stress of business.
Mr. W. Fowler Bobo, who was anlounced
as a candidate for county
:ommissioner has withdrawn from
;hat race and entered as a candidate
or the legislature.
Unveiling at Gilead Suid?y.
Jonesville, July 24.?Hon. I. C.
31ackwood, of Spartanburg will be
he guest of the local camp W. O. W.
lere next Sunday, and will deliver
he address at the unveiling of the
nonument to D. P. Holder ,at Gilead
:emetery in the afternoon. The lo:al
committe on arrangements have
ibout completed the finishing touch
'or the day. T. J. Betenbaugh of Un-.
on will read the poem, and the music
vill be furnished by a brass band.
Miss Briggs the Honoree.
At the little informal at home with
Miss Mabel Gaines Friday, progresnve
conversation and music made the
ivening a most interesting one. Miss
/irginia Briggs, of Union, the guest
>f Miss Gaines, was the charming
lonoree. Refreshments were served
> ythe hostess, assisted by her moth?r,
Mrs. A. B. Gaines, and every one
lad a grand good time.?Gaffney
Ledger .
Death of Mr. Geo. S. Kirby.
M. r>? ?5 v:-i? ...
I'll ueu. o. iviroy aieu at nis Home
n West End, Union, on Wednesday,
ind was buried Thursday in the city
:emetery.
Mr. Kirby leaves a widow and two
tons, Frank and Hydrick, aged 20
ind 14 years respectively.
Mr. Kirby was about 55 years of
?ge. He had been in declining health
'or some time. He was a member of
;he W. O. W. and of the Masonic
fraternity. He has for many years
>een a consistent member of the
VIethodist church. \ He was a good
nan, a devoted husband and fgther,
ind a worthy citizen. His death is
i distinct loss to the community.
AKS ON
iRAPH AND
\
SPOKE BEFORE BLEASE
CLUB AT DRAYTON
MILLS.
Defends His Actions and Eulogizes
B/ease?Attacks Felder.
Burns and Reed?Blease
Crowd Were His Hearers.
(Tuesday's Spartanburg Journal)
The speech of Samuel J. Nieholls,
before the Blease Club at Drayton
Mills last night was a vindication of
himself in the transactions with the
Burns detectives and an eulogy of
Governor Coleman L. Blease. He
spoke to a crowd of about 250 persons;
200 of them were voters. The
others were ladies, who displayed
much interest in the meeting. Mr.
Nieholls delivered this speech at the
invitation of the Blease Club at
Drayton, which is one of the warmest
political organizations in the
county or in the state. It numbers
among its members a great majority
of the operatives at Drayton, and
every member is an enthusiastic
Blease supporter.
Mr. Nieholls was introduced by
the president of the club as "a friend
of Governor Blease," He opened his
speech with what he termed a little
political history. He told of the time
wnen ne ana mease were members
of the state legislature and when
they were on opposite sides. Mr.
Nicholls said that Blease was an exponent
of the state dispensary while
he (Nicholls) favored local option.
Blease, he said, was the leader of
his forces and he conducted his losing
fight in an honorable and upright
manner. Mr. Nicholls said he admired
Mr. Blease for his attitude and
he had always been his friend.
The Dictagraph.
dictagraph and the dispensary investigating
commission. He told of the
various visits of Porter to this city
and of all transactions he had with
him. This Dart of his sneerh was v
| practically the same as his testimony
before the committee in Columbia.
Mr .Nicholls said he had done many
things in his life that he was
ashamed of. He had gotten in fights,
had drank too much, but never yet
had he ever been accused of accepting
a dishonest cent. He then quoted
from the dictagraph record the sen-,
tence: "They say Cole Blease has
been grafting, but that is all a damn
ed lie." This was the signal for prolonged
cheers both for Blease and
Nicholls.
When the Spartanburg attorney
got through with Felder and Burns
they had been painted as the bad
men. He told of what Attorney
General Wickersham of the United
States, "who stands at the top of the
legal profession in this country," had
to say of Burns and how he had
5 1 *
aiuueu me jury uox in oraer 10 secure
conviction.
Mr. Nicholls also said that he requested
the detective to be present
when he testified in Columbia, but he
refused.
Brave Detective.
??vvviutit^ vv? Ilia U?ll 1UC I11Story,"
said the speaker, "this detective
has placed behind the bars
crooks in California when there were ,
anarchists there who sought to take
his life, and was not afraid. He had
rescued a girl from twenty cowboys
on the plains of North Dakota and
he was not afraid; he had invaded
Atlantic City and sent aldermen to
jail ,and he wasn't afraid; he had
been to the jungles ^f South Africa
aftei a noted criminal, and he wasn't
afraid; he had been to South America
after another crook, and he wasn't
afraid. But this same brave man
is afraid to come into South Caroliina
with the entire police force of Columbia
to protect-him, with the state
militia, if necessary; yes, he is afraid
to come. He knows that if he does
come, he will have to tell the truth
or stand indicted for perjury."
Mr. Nicholls then explained that
the dispensary investigating commit
tee ha dno authority to swear a witness
in another state, for it was not
ft rPPAcyni70rl nAurf
He stated that he noted by the papers
that Felder was "squealing" because
he (Nicholls) had $500 of his
money. Mr. Nicholls offered to return
this money if Felder would
come to his office in the city of Spar(
Concluded on last page)
V