Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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.* vi-, ' ?' * * . k **'"4 % & HI THE UNION TIMES..S w . ^ =VOL. LXIII. NO. 20. UHTOK, S. C.. g^P^T, MAY 16, 1913. * $1.00 A YEAR. A. H. FOSTER PASSES AWAY THE END CAME ON TUESDAY. He Was One of Union's Most Substantial Citizens And Contributed Large ly to Union's Advance- < ment?During the War \ Between the Sections He j Commanded Company D, J Palmetto Sharpshooters , and Surrendered With 1 Lee at Appomattox. i Capt. A. H. Foster, one of the j county's most prominent citizens, ' passed away Tuesday morning at 1 8:15 o'clock, and was buried the fol- ^ lowing afternoon in the Presbyter- < ian cemetery here. The burial ser- i vice was conducted in the First Pres- 1 byterian church by Dr. A. G. Ward- < law, a former pastor of the church 1 and Rev. Jno. F. Matheson, the pres- J ent pastor. A large concourse of rel- , atives and friends gathered to pay i a last tribute to the dead man. One ^ of the most touching incidents at c this burial was the gathering of the ' old veterans of Camp Giles, of which i Capt. Foster was commander at the t time of his death. These old soldiers f formed an aisle in front of the t church for the body to pass to and t from the church, and this they did at f the grave as the body was carried r thither. t Capf^Foster was 78 years of age, 1 and hasf been prominent in the bus- i iness affairs of Union and Union > county for many years. He was born 1 considerable sized city. He began ? business in Union in 1868 as a mer-lt chant, the name of the firm being i Foster & Wilkins, and has continued I at the same stand ever since, al- 1 though burned out in 1872, and in t 1888 undergoing change in name to < A. II. Foster & Co., and later to Mu- ( tual Dry Goods Co. i Capt. Foster has been indentified t as director with Merchants & Plant- j ers National Bank from its organi- i zation in 1872; .Monarch Cotton Mills i J. J. Littlejohn Co., Joncsville; Clif- < ton M'f'g Co., of Clifton; Converse t Company, of Glendalc; Ionian Cot- I ton Mills and other enterprises. He has been widely interested in farm- 1 ing in various sections of the county, s Me was the largest individual land- : holder in the county. 1 During the Civil war Capt. Foster 1 commanded Co. D, Palmetto Sharp < Shooters, and was for four years un- s der I.onsrstreet in Viririnia and TVn iK'ssce. He surrendered with Lee at t Appomattox. He was commissioned i Captain June 8, 18(51, and frequently j was in command of the Palmetto 1 Sharp Shooters. 1 Capt Foster was married to Miss 1 Hettie E. Brandon on August 30, 1 187(5, and she with three children i survive him. His surviving children 1 are: Mrs. L. M. Jordan and Misses 1 Mary Emma and H. Louise Foster. ^ Capt. Foster was of distinguished 1 ancestors. His grandfather, General 1 Abel Foster was presented by Pres- ] ident Washington with a miniture of 1 the latter, while General Fostei 1 was in Congress. This minature is 1 now in the possession of the family \ of Capt. Foster, and was greatly 1 prized by Capt. Foster. 1 Capt. Foster was kind of heart, I quick to appreciate kindness shown him, sincere in the expression of his 1 opinions and unfailingly courteous. 1 He contributed liberally to many 1 causes, one of the latest being a < large contribution to the hospital i fund here. In the home Capt. Foster was the < spirit of kindness. In business he was 1 known for his integrity. His war i record is one that displayed bravery i of a high order. His death will be i felt by all, and his place will be dif- t ficult to fill. < The burial was conductc- late in l flip nftpvnfinn nf Woflnoo/lmr rPU.~ < active pall bearers were: Messrs. J. < It. Charles, J. A. Wilburn, Drs. R. R. < Berry and T. P. Kennedy and Messrs. 1 B. F. and A. G. Kennedy. The body lies under a wilderness of beautiful flowers, offerings of willing hands and loving hearts. HARRY COLEI Faces Jury Second r at Jonesville?( Verdict Hi For a second time Harry Coleman 1 charged with the murder of his aged a father, R. D. Coleman was arraigned J for trial for his life in the court t horn M nnHav mnminof Tho ontiro 1 morning was consumed in choosing s the jury and immediately after dinner the examination of witnesses was begun. This case is attracting wide interest and the new court house was packed to its utmost capacity throughout the entire day. The defense was represented by Barron & Barron, and James Munro. Solicitor Hill assisted by Hon. H. K. Osborne, of Spartanburg and John K. Hamblin, of Union, representing the State. From the outset Judge Prince who presides has made it clear that be does not intend the case to be long Irawn out. He has further intima:ed that he expects to give the jurors plenty of time to deliberate after the :ase is argued but will insist on a verdict. The former case resulted in 1 mistrial. The first afte:noon there were four witnesses examined each )f whom testified in the former trial, rheir testimony did not differ materally from that given in the first ;rial. Dr. H. T. Hames first testified giving as the cause of the death of ;he aged man a slug shot wound over ,ne rignt eye. witness tola 01 the n earful laceration of the face and t leek of Mr. Coleman. Smith Cook t he young lad who lived about two lundred yards from Mr. j Coleman's t van next called and his. iiatimony r vas almost literally hat given in the n ormer trial. He was at home jlMa jhe a light of the murder?heard a g\uei A ik>fa f|rl^rnaii' * :ame in about half hour later, seem- 4 id in his usual state of mind, gave * hem chewing gum, teased a little f lister, took supper with them. Af- 8 ;erwards borrowed a pair of shoes 1 aelonging to young Cook's brother iried his own before the fire, ac- c onipanied Harry and Miss Lizzie 1 Coleman home to the Coleman house c ibout an hour an a half after Harry r ame in. Miss Lizzie and the little c jirls went in first, Harry and the v .vitness followed. The little girls r' went in first, Miss Lizzie after them r carrying a lantern. They discovered 1 he body of Mr. Coleman lying on the c 'loor, thought he was dead?ran out v ?Miss Lizzie crying some one has d killed uncle Bob. Witness told of accompanying Harry Coleman to the * <hop to get the gun, on the way back c icard noise in the leaves, did not Lhink it was a human being. It ^ mounded like leaves moved b'* ft c itick when one steps on it. When Ilarry came to our house af- f ;er the gun shot, Lizzie asked him ' f he came by home. Said, No, was s iust from Jonesville. Harry was r aughing. He offered me some whis<ey in a pint bottle, about half full. 8 [ took a drink, he took a dring, he ' :hen told me to put it away. He * lever drank anything at my house * lefore. When we went to the shop ' ;o get the pun, Harry stayed in about 1 we all went on then to my house and t took my pun and went for Mr. Ma- f jry, Mr. Eleazer Mabry and Mr. J. E. > Vlabry. They live about a half mile 8 from Mr. Coleman's*. Mr. Eleazer ' Vlabry was the first to discover that s VIr. Coleman was not dead?that he * was still breathing. Harry told mo while we were running to the shop 8 to get the gun that he had it there 8 to kill a hawk. t The next witness called was Mr. * Eleazer Mabry who testified that he c with his brother came to the Cole- s man house after going by Mrs. * Hook's and bringing Harry Coleman 1 >.w1 ...UU 4-1 iL.i 1 :*iiu oiuauii v/uun wivn meni? tiiai ne was the first to discover that Mr. ' Coleman was still alive and urged t that a doctor he sent for. Harry said it was no use to go for a doctor. Wit- ( ness testified that Mr. Coleman was ' a pood man and had no enemies, often fished, made his own lead sink- ' ers, testified that Mr. Coleman 1 plantation 180 acres and worth about ? $40.00 per acre, had also cash and * other papers of value and that Harry ' Coleman was the sole heir. Witness ( testified that Harry Coleman made inquiry of SherifF Fant about the rural police, how much it paid and all i about it. Harry made no suggestion as to who did the crime or how to < HAN'S FATE .4*5 ii r rime Charged Wirl >ase Given to Jur; x ? I is Been Reached a1 ' N^"t;! 'ind the guilty party. Witness win1 vith the tracking party early *** norning?testified as to having' *e. he shoe tracks behind the bush? jin< running to the shop?indenfifte< ihoes brought into court as thqfo. 01 iiarry Coleman?said these shoj^ fli the tracks perfectly, even thu: intention in left sole of shoe, the ?facl 'rom the bush to the shop wa^ ex ictly like that which led up to-^pirs Hook's house. I was perfectly*" fa niliar with Harry's track, havinjf oc :asion to meet each other on i?ihin| rips, also saw similar tracks gpiaf >ack and forth in the road from tK< Hook house to the Coleman house >ut no where else did we find auj resh tracks, other than those lead ng to Mrs. Cook's. We searche< iround the piece of -woods and feuiu 10 tracks?have seen Harry - and hii 'ather often together, they hadf litth o say to each other. On one occas on when Harry had killed hits dog ie told me that his father rebuke* lim, he told him to shut his moutl ind go back in the house. Harzj vent to bed, he and*Mr. Ed. Long vhile his father was lying, uncon icious. When the dogswer4 put af er Harry in the test next morning hey were behind the house ahd coulc lot have seen him go into the woods he dogs were under the dinicjbioit oJ he sheriff. /'' The witness sai3 he passed by Fpk er Thomson's house on the aftT loon before the killingan^heard oni lecrro tell nwitlior tn Coleman's house is east irTt^T^)! o ite direction. He saw the shoe fit" e< nto the tracks on Sunday motnin j. No effort has been made to pro le ute Foster Thomson, the negro. EL s now in the gallery here in 1 hi ourthouse and has been in i ;h< leighborhood where the killing >c urred ever since the tragedy. 1 hi vitness did not hear the gunshot la r o'clock. He was at the time shu' ip in his own house with his family t rained until 6 o'clock of the if the killing and not a (irop after vards. This was on the last day oi fanuary. It was clear next day. Foster Thomson, the negro, was lying around the Smith girl who al ?ne time slapped Miss Lizzie. The next witness called was J. E dabry. His testimony was nraeti. ally that given at the former trial sxccpt in the following. He frejuently asked Harry if he had any dea who did the killing. Harry, he laid, made no suggestion and showed 10 emotion whatever. "He said nothing except when you isked him questions," said Mr. Ma>ry. "I asked him if Uncle Robert lad any guns in the house. He said he gun was in the shop and had been or two weeks, having been carried here to shoot crows. "When I came in next morning I ound Harry and Ed Long and others n the room where Mr. Coleman lay, ind when I looked at the injured man said." He is dvimr." H?mr than ;aid 'Let us go up to Mrs.Cook's louse and get breakfast.' "Mr. Coleman died five minutes ifter they left. I never heard Harry ind his father hold a conversation ogether. / was frequently with hem, but never heard what you :ould call conversation. When I mid, "Let'j go in and see if the house las been pbbed" Harry said, 'It's no ise." J "Mr. daman's pockets had not >een sea-iied at the time he said his." (J At th< inclusion of the testimony >f this loss court adjourned until > o'clocl Jesday. It is I ^rstood that there will be ntroducayconsiderable new evidence >n both !"4es. The accused man ihows nf ign of emotion and seems o havejj,?Srough control of himself n the Ha, I as he did in the former >ne. J bi J bj _ m Tues. one' ?orning the case was rfciumed-t ed 3JB P.H 1.4 mi) UlA /il-nf wifnaaA ??1' ' t? V }d. ftfied that on the night of ] 1 NOW NESTS ? * f h Murdering His Fat y Thursday at 11:1? t 5 O'clock as We Gi t Mr. Coleman's death he was on his k way to Jonesville, where he serves as 1 night watchman. Saw Harry Colei man near Gilead church, when the i road forks. Harry was going tof wards the Coleman home. This was t about 6 o'clock. Walking swiftly. I was walking at a moderate gait. I c spoke and he spoke to me. About 40 - yards below the fork I met Wilson l Tally, a colored man. Tally was - Walking slowly, with his head down. - I was in Jonesvile when the 7:05 i train, which was late, came through. jT I had been in Jonesville perhaps 10 I minutes before train. Train stops at t oil mill crossing always. f Witness was at Coleman home by 2 o'clock a. m., the morning after Mr. 1 Coleman was shot. About 3 o'clock i Harry and I went to bed I spoke of i what a bad deed; Harry agreed. We i got bp about 6 o'clock. Did not go - 'with others to look for tracks. Harry t naked me to stay at the house. When I Mr. Mabry came in and asked how ? Mr. Coleman was. He looked at the r injured man and said: "Boys, he f won't be alive but a very few min Utei." Harry then said, "Let's go ii.:.at* . - - 1JL' BfP" v-,OOK 3 ana Pec breakfast." rijp^rry seemed to have difficulty in ll^plifonbering meeting me the night there Tit the time the dogs Wfiffail Harry. The dogs were car JfltiF-Jbehind the house. Harry was - sHgnnfct in the woods and up a tree. EpHHDfcs were then turned loose and a hey struck Harry's tiack they to the tree. It takes me 25 . V y^HMtto go from where I saw HarJ>0 * ? tlrtder cross examination 'the 'wit^l ness testified: Harry was called out 1 of the house, when the dogs struck his track, dogs went up towards the - shop Harry was about 15 yards from e me when we passed. Better roads 3 from Gilead to Jonesville, than from b Gilead to Coleman's, little better. - Something over a mile from Gilead 3 to Coleman house. Mr. Mabry spoke t loud enough for all in the house that t had ears to hear, when he said: . "Boys, he won't be alive but a very 1 few minutes." Sheriff Fant was next called. Testf ified: Was called on the night of the murder to the Coleman house. Took 3 Ed. Long with him to Coleman's. U O 1 ' ruunu ivir. r,a. lattlejohn, two Mabreys; and after a few minutes Har. ry and the Cook boy came in. I asked Harry if he had any idea as to , who did it. Did not know at first that Harry was the old man's son. ' When I did find out, I then talked s with him an hour. I pot from him I that there had been a difficulty between some negro girl and Miss Lizi zie. But Harry said: I don't believe the negro would hurt a hair of his ' (the old man's) head. Harry asked i me all about the rural police. Harry i showed so little interest that for a i good while I did not know he was the old man's son. Early in morning we went out. Found tracks behind bush. Took measure of it. Tracked the track to the shop. At shop we saw other tracks, coming and going; one of these was same size as the one we had tracked. We found a track at the branch that measured same as the track at the bush. Same track went on to the Cook house. We measured the last track right at the Cook house. I went for the dogs. They got there on next morning. Robbins came to me and said: I am here with the dogs." I then took charge of the dogs. We went down to the branch where there were three distinct tracks. They had been pre served undisturbed. The three tracks were used to put the dogs on the track. They followed as we had : tracked at daylight. Dogs went in front, we followed. 6-foot chain on i dogs. We then vent out towards Mabrey's. Dogs did not open, until i we struck the track from Cook to I Coleman house, and started up steps i to Coleman house. I wanted to give the dogs a fair test. I sent the dogs ! to the back of the house. I got Har- 1 ry, who was standing on steps of the i house. I told Harry we wanted to ] test the dogs. He said get some one 1 else. I said, No, you must do it." WITH JURY her, R. D. Coleman, 5 A. M. and No o to Press. He then went up into the woods. Harry got out of sight before the dogs were turned loose. When the ui/?a were lurnt'a loose iney went up towards the shop, and circling around, one passed, the other struck Harry's track and then both dogs went straight to the tree and treed Harry. We did not follow till the dogs treed. . Running track from bush to shop was from house to shop and returned to the path. Ground was very wet No difficulty in following the track. I am positive that the track in the path, branch and leading to the Cook house was the same as that behind bush. Gun here put in evidence, indentified as gun found at Cook's. Left hand barrel had been freshly shot; right hand barrel was rusty. Shoes were introduced in court and indentified by witness as those taken from feet of Harry Coleman. Witness knew nothing about keys. Did not search Harry. My jailer searched him when he got to Union. Norman went up for the gun under my instructions and turned it over to me. When we were tracking next morning, there were five of us. No more came until we were through tracking. Never saw dogs before that day. The dogs did not come in contact with tracks to Horn's when they were following track. J. C. Robbins next called: Profession?training blood hounds. Stays at State penitentiary. Does electro cuting at penitentiary. jHas trained Sheriff showed me a track in the branch. Here dogs were put on and trailed to Cook house and back dowri to Coleman house. Did not know Harry Coleman. Sheriff had one and I the other, on chains. Kept dogs chained to keep them from being killed. Have never used these dogs except on a man's trail. I took one drink of whiskey from Union to Jonesville that morning, about 2 tablespoonful. Drink whiskey but was never drunk in my life. Been at State penitentiary 9 and a half years. Dogs will stick to track they are put upon. Dogs I had that day were thoroughly trained. Witness when ^"oss examined: Mr. Kendrick said he did not believe a dog could pick up a man in a huddred of others. I offered to bet a hundred dollars they could do it. Made no remarks about the case in the Greek restaurant. I have often said: "If they start me right, I'll end right; if they start me wrong, I'll end wmncr " ? J. C. Norman was next called. Testified: Am policeman in Union. Accompanied Sheriff to Coleman house. Assisted in tracking next morning. Had no difficulty in tracking. Harry took no interest in the tracking. I found the gun at Mrs. Cook's, where Harry told me he had carried it. Left-hand barrel freshly shot?right barrel rusty. Carried gun to Coleman's house. I walked around in yard. Then went to shop. Found beside the anvil wadding from shot gun. Also piece of paste board. Also two little pieces of lead. Articles put in evidence. Pnnn/i on anvil that showed where a piece of lead had been put down and hacked 28 times. Knife marks were seen and lead marks. I helped to make the measurement of the tracks with the stick. T. A. Littlejohn was next called. Live one mile and a half from Coleman house. Knew Mr. Coleman all my life, also knew Harry all his ilfe. Knew his track. Coleman land is 180 acres' worth $35 or $40 an acre. Mr. Coleman went fishing often. Lead sinkers here indentified by witness. Rained on day of 31st; quit raining *uoui o o'clock. Got to Coleman's 5 minutes after 12, and stayed all night. We found no tracks although we searched everywhere. None about the negro house nor anywhere. Saw my own tracks and those of Mr. Parks; th^re were no tracks after , the rain. Saw Mr. Coleman's track < (Continued on page 4.) DEATH CLAIMS J. R. MINTER DIED AT LAURENS ON TUESDAY. Capt. Minter Lived in Union For More Than 30 Years, Being an Extensive Planter and Mer cnant?Me was the Father of Mr. J. E. Minter, of Sedalia?During the War He Was Connected With the Treasury Department. Laurens, May 13.?Capt. John R. Minter, one of the most prominent citizens of this city and widely known throughout the state, died at his home here this afternoon shortly before 1 o'clock. The funeral and burial services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 5 o'clock. Following the exercises at the First Presbyterian church, the interment will taka place at the Laurens cemetary. Captain Minter was born in York county, July 4, 1833, and was therefore in his eightieth year. When a young man he located at Mt. Tabor, Union county, and engaged in business. About the close of the war he bought a farm and moved to Sedalia, Union county, where for nearly 30 years he was actively engaged in farming and merchandising. Here he laid the foundations of his marvelous success and handsome fortune, his farming operations becoming the mAof ? * ** * " vox cAbcnaive auu successiui ot any in the country. He was a pioneer in seed selection and the improvement of all crops in this part of the state. During the war he was connected with the treasury department. At one time he was interested in business at Newberry and Laurens. ^fcia^dKaaJbefore he moved to this city ifiTm^Xt&r editing to Lao- ^ rens he engaged in business with his son. James E. Mlnter, but retired from active relations with the store" in 1900,- turning the business over to his sons, J. E. and E. P. Minter. He was interested in many of the city's enterprises and for years was a director of the Bank of Laurens. Forty years ago he built Enoreo Presbyterian church at Sedalia and was an elder until he came to Laurens. Captain Minter was twice married. His first wife was Miss Fannie Dod son Ramseur, of Lincolnton, N. C., a sister of Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur, the youngest Confederate general in the war. She died in 1PP1. Four children of this union survive; Rev. William R. Minter, of I.incolnton, N. C.; James E. Minter, of Sedalia ; E. P. Minter and Mrs. N. B. Dial, of this city. In 1883 Captain Minter married Miss Katherine C. Smith, of Glenn Springs. She died seven years ago. Captain Minter represented Union county in the legislature in the early eighties. He was a man of large charity, a gentleman in all that the term implies, and in death the city and state loses a noble, true and patriotic citizen. MASONS, TAKE NOTICE! A regular MmmiiniooimM of Union, Lodge, No 75, A. F. M., will he held on Friday evening, May 16, at8 o'clock. The M. M. degree will be conferred. T. C. Duncan, W. M. J. Frost Walker, Jr., Sec'y. Admitted to the Bar. Messrs. Laurens G. Southard, of Jonesville and Glenmore Barron, of Union were admitted to the bar last week. Both are now full-fledged lawyers, and both will, probably, settle in Union for the practice of the profession of law. They are young men with a promising future; they are strong of body, quick in mind and have the happy facility of making friends. To these qualities they add Vw, - ...v..c nufjui unit one ot nigh moral character. Both these younR gentlemen have many friends throuRhout Union county who will watch their careers with interest. LambriRht'Shipman. Miss Bannie LambriRht and Mr. j. 11. Shipman, were married Thursday evening at the home of Rev. L. L. Wagnon, the officiating minister.