Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I ? % m THE UNION TIMES |W| VOL. LXVI. NO. 43. PART II-PAGES 9 TO 12. UNION. S. C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1916 PART II?PAGES 9 TO 12. *1.00 A YEAR PAPERS READ FAIRFO An Account of the Last Trial of Witchcraft Held in the United States?Letters From Rev. J. D. Bailey of Cowpens. GOV. DAVID JOHNSON. <Read by Mrs. Mary Bailey McDure) Gov. David Johnson was born in Louisa county, in the State of Virgiaia, on the 3rd day of October, in the year 1782. His father removed to this State in the year 1789, and settled on the eastern side of Broad river in Chester District, and Gov. Johnson resided ever afterwards in i-Li- C1i_.il - 1.2 ?I. 1. i ? * " mis own', wnicn ne lovea wiin an the devotion of a son. His education preparatory to the study of the law was defective. At the period of his arrival in South Carolina, and for years afterwards, the means of obtaining an education in the upper part of this State was very limited. He was placed, however, at a grammar school-in York District, under the government and supervision of the Rev. Joseph Alexander, a Presbyterian clergyman, in 1796. What period of time he spent there is not certainly known, but the pecuniary condition of his father, the Rev. Christopher Johnson, a worthy minister of the Baptist denomination being limited, it may fairly be presumed he did not continue until he entered that course of life, which was the forerunner of his subsequent great usefulness, and constitutes the most interesting period of his life?the choice of a profession. The Hon. Abram Nott. afterwards one of the most distinguished judges "that has adorned the bench of this State, a man of high attainments and undoubted probity, in the year 1799, -was a practicing lawyer in this District, in that year. Gov. Johnson en-fproH tho nffipe nf tVio lnti> -TnHor? Mntt as a student at law, and by his perseverence and devotion to his studies, was admitted to the bar in the year 1803, and in December of the same year settled at this place. Immediately after his admission to the bar, the industry which he had shown in the prosecution of his studies, and his firm integrity of purpose, induced Judge Nott to tender him a partnership in the practice of the law, which was accepted and continued until Judge Nott's removal to Columbia, leaving in the hands of Gov. Johnson a heavy business, which was conducted in such a manner as not only to retain his clients, but to greatly increase them. There appears in all Democratic countries, especially on the part of the young, to be a desire for the applause of the multitude. I am satisfied that Gov. Johnson had no wish to pander to the public sentiment (as , his subsequent life will show, which will be adverted to hereafter), but at the solicitation of his numerous friends who were anxious to endorse not only his professional bearing, but also his conduct of the two offices of ordinary and commissioner in equity, which had been conferred upon him without his knowledge, and which he had previously resigned. In the year 1810, after a very brief canvass, he was returned to the legislature as one of the members of this District by a very hand some majority; and previous to the end of the term for which he was elected in December, 1811, he was chosen by the legislature solicitor of the then Middle, now Northern, circuit. Here ends his political career. He never after aspired to an office before the people, and entered upon a course of life, in the legal profession, which was more congenial with " his taste, and for which he was eminently fitted. In the year 1815, he was elected one of the law judges of South Carolina over a gentleman of great talents and deservedly high reputation. In the discharge of the duties of the various offices of a judge in the different departments which he was called upon to act, until December, 1846, when he voluntarily resigned, no man has ever given more satisfaction. On retiring from the bench he was chosen by the general assembly without opposition to discharge the duties of chief magistrate of the State. The duties of the executive are few; and it certainly is an office from which laurels are not to be won. All its duties were honestly and constitutionally performed by him. During the term of his office, a call was made on South Carolina for a regiment of men to engage in the Mexican war. He lent his aid and influ ?nce, not only in organizing th e regimzent, but was zealous and attentive in providing for the wants and comforts of the soldiers, and assumed the responsibility of defraying their necessary expenses out of the public treasury, which subsequently received the sanction of the legislature. BEFORE REST CHAPTER The regiment thus organized under his superintendence and parental care, proceeded to Mexico, and their conduct and chivalry in the war gained for them imperishable honor, aid reflected upon the State they represented a reputation worthy of the brightest days of the Republic. They were always found where "the battle was the hottest and the blood flowed the freest." Governor Johnson having thus passed thiough a long life of great public service and labor, at the close of his term as governor, avowed his intention of retiring to private life, never again to mingle in the busy scenes of the world. His age, infirmities and inclinations, all conspired to render retirement desirable. He, however, loved his State too well to remain quiet when he con siuerea ner vuai interests at stake. Accordingly when the question of separate secession arose we find him more than once addressing the people and the topic is alluded to here to incorporate a sentiment to be found in his first public address to the people of Spartanburg, than which none more patriotic ever fell from the lips of man, whoch was, "If I had but a day to live, that is due to South Carolina." GOV. DAVID JOHNSON AND LAST TRIAL OF WITCHCRAFT The last trial for witchcraft in the United States may have been under Judge Johnson, 1815. In Vol. II, Statutes of South Carolina, page 742, is found a letter from which following extracts are taken: "Some years ago Stephen D. Miller, Esq., defended seven or eight persons who were indicted at Lancaster for assault, battery and false imprisonment. (It must have been a little later as Judge Johnson received his appointment in 1816). Judge David Johnson presided, and permitted the girl to be sworn. She testified that, being fatigued one evening at her labors, she lay down to rest; Barbara .Powers, the prosecutrix, came in and sat upon her, and choked her with great violence. After this Barbara raised her up and converted her into a horse, rode her to Lancaster village, went through the keyhole into several shops, brought out goods of great value, loaded her with them and rode her back into Chesterfield with her booty. Barbara subsequently rode her back to her residence. With the severit.v r?f her almost inooasnnt hsnl. ships in the service of the witch, her health and strength greatly declined. Here the judge interposed and cut off all further testimony. This happened about 1813 or 1815. (This date, 1815, is given upon the tombstone in cemetery at Union, S. C.) In the year 1793, witches abounded in Fairfield. In that year, a court composed of witch doctors was held at the house of Mr. Thos. Hill, five miles below Winnsboro. Four persons were tried, found guilty and punished by stripes and burning their feet at a bark fire, so that the soles came off. I can barely remember to have seen one of the sisterhood in the hands of the officer of this court, a poor German woman 70 years of age, going to the place of trial; and afterwards to have seen the scars of the cow skin on her arms and shoulders. The sufferers brought suits in the county courts of Fairfield, and the defense was fully gone into in each case. The plaintiffs recovered nominal damages. Fiom that day to this (April 26, 1837) we have not had occasion to complain of the dealings of witch o? wizard among any of our people." REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. The coming year the Fairforest chapter will study Union county history. It is the intention of this society to collect all data and put in book form, thus preserving the traditions and eaerly history of our county. The county papers will publish these sketches and the chapter desires all persons interested in history to subcribe to thee papers as they will contain important and valuable historic articles. These articles will form a history of the county during the Revolutionary war and be of much value to the readers, many of whom are descendants from the soldiers who participated in the battles of this section. The chapter particularly desires these papers to be read by the school children that thev mav know the hnrH. ships, emulate the virtues and reverence the memory of the brave patriots who fought for our independence. We owe a debt of gratitude to Rev. J. D. Bailey of Cowpens for his generous gift of papers and sketches. Mr. Bailey gave the chapter two booklets that he had written, viz., "Sketch of Col. James Williams and Cowpens and Woffords Iron Works." Also Saye's history of Major Joseph McJunkin. The memories of Major Thomas Young; Sketch of bt. Col. Wm. Farr; Old Grindal Shoals, etc. | The society also received valuable aid from Mr. Mr. S. S. Stokes, Rev. L. L. Wagnon and Mrs. B. G. Clifford. The Fairforest chapter is now en- ' deavoring to place markers which the government will furnish to the graves of all soldiers of the Revolution and " War of 1812. Several markers have already been ordered. Mrs. L. J. Hames, Regent. REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. ^ Cowpens, S. C., June 15, 1916. ii Mrs. L. J. Hames, r Union, S. C. tl Dear Madam: b I notice in a recent issue of The n Times you gist list of soldiers fur- f< nished by Union county to the Rev- n olution and the War of 1812. Being v a native of Union county and greatly o interested in local history I hasten vs to express my appreciation of the el work and you and your chapter are doing and to offer any assistance li where I can give it. V I notice you invite additional facts hi and corrections. I will mention two a or three. I see the name of Samuel ci Hodge, but no mention of his father? a William Hodge. He was one of the fi original settlers on the Pacolet, prior p to the Revolution. His house was is burned by the British and Tories a tl short while before the battle of n< King's Mountain. When a small boy M one of his great grandsons pointed w out to me three pillars which were la then standing in tact. The site is tc some 50 yards from the Hodge grave- ft yard. He was in the army part of ti the time and was in the Battle of ir Cowpens. Not many years ago, James fc Vinson, a descendant of his (now deceased) had the powder horn he carried on that occasion and that it had g< a rough outline of the battle carved B on it. I suppose he is buried in the tl Hodge graveyard. / oi Capt. Jas. Steen was not killed at Kings' Mountain, though his descend- sj ant, Jas. P. Gossett, got his name on o] the new monument that VTo tV was killed by a Tory in Rowan county, ol N. C., after the battle of Kind's Aioun- si tain. c< Jesse James (Buck) was not buried hi near Jonesville but at the Hodge w graveyard on the F%colet. I was D present, saw him buried, and the funeral was conducted by Rev. A. A. if James. B One Revolutionary soldier of imp ol portance is-not named in the TflWF M lished list, i. e., Lieut. Col. Wm. Farr. p; I have quite an interesting sketch of C him. He died in 1794 and is buried in a graveyard on the Scaife place, 13 ti miles from Union. tl Adam and Peter Skain. Buried at pi Skain burying ground. Graves unmarked. ' John Skain?Killed at Cowpens and buried there?just off field. Grave unmarked. . It is said Adam Skain was carrying water to his dying brother, John, at Cowpens, when a British officer asked for a drink. After quenching John's thirst he went back and gave R water to the officer. The officer of- ol fered Adam his gold watch. Skain re- S plied, "Never shall it be said that C Adam Skain plundered a fallen foe." ai Fraternally, tl J. D. Bailey. ir ? 1st WOMAN'S MISSIONARY r< UNION CONVENTION J1 . tx South Carolina Baptist Woman's Mis- ^ sionary Union Will Hold Annual n b, Convention in Orangeburg y November 7 to 10th. w .. e; Railroad fare will be one and one- a' half fare plus 50c; dependent upon T* minimum attendance of 200 by rail. " Every purchaser of tickets must secure from local agent a certificate re- c< ceipt which must be presented at Or- ? angeburg to corresponding secretary ~ of W. M. U. If you cannot secure p this from local agents buy your ticket ^ to nearest point that issues certificates. Certificates must be secured for every ticket purchased. If agent hasn't certificates, request a receipt Tickets costing less than 75c for going fare will not count on the 200. * Tickets on sale November 3rd to 9th _ inclusive. Pinal limit November 16th. See Baptist Courier October 26th and November 2nd for further details. Mrs. H. O. Holcomb, ,f. Supt. Union County W. M. U. FAMILY OF VICTIM ADVISED TO LEAVE J Abbeville, Oct. 23.?As a conse- J* quence of the lynching here Saturday ^ of Anthony Crawford, a well to do negro, it was decided at a meeting _ held this afternoon that the victim's ^ family be advised to leave Abbeville county before November 15. The ac- ^ tion, taken on the declared ground that it was for the sake of peace and | the best interest of the county, followed a number of speeches. The ^ meeting was attended by several hundred citizens. ^ A considerable crowd assembled in town today, and several of the negro stores were ordered to close. How- d ever, everything remained quiet. It is D thought there will be no further 0 trouble. ( DISCOUNT RUMOR 1 OF BLEASE BOLT * CONSERVATIVES IN FACTION RIDICULE BEARD PLAN. ay They Will Stick?Sapp and Richarda Say Their Friends Will Sup- F port Regular Party "Ticket. (Tuesday's State) ^ Leaders of the more conservative ring of the Blease faction who were 1 Columbia yesterday scouted the umor that there will a bolt from fie ranks of the Democratic party y the forces supporting C. L. Blease, ecently defeated for the nomination ar governor. Statements by these len on the eve of the James con- n) ention in Columbia expressed the pinion that the nominees of the Dartv u. ' Ui rould be supported in the general e, lection by their faction. The Scimitar, a Blease organ pub- m shed semi-monthly at Abbeville by 7. P. Beard, who was Gov. Blease's j^j odyguard in the campaign of 1912 nd who subsequently made an exjrsion into the Progressive party but ol fterward returned to the Democratic jjt eld, has been carrying on a camaign recently for support by dissat- 55, fied Democrats of a ticket bearing Uj le names of the Democratic nomiees, except that in the place of R. T. jn [anning as candidate for governor he ould place that of C. L. Blease. The a( ist issue of The Scimitar, dated Oc>ber 15, urges "Bleaseites" to vote >r Mr. Blease In the general elecon and offers to supply ballots bear- nj ig Mr. Blease's name as candidate >r governor. Poohpoohs Bolt Rumor. Claude N. Sapp, assistant attorney eneral, says he believes that the lease supporters are Democrats and lK lat they will support the nominees ro F the Democratic party. "There is absolutely no foundation," ?id Mr. Sapp, when asked for his pinion yesterday, "for the report lat there will he a bolt on the part ai p r* t"> i ? i - ? ? l viuv. Diease or nis taction. INo "v jch thing has ever been seriously insidered, either by Gov. Blease or is friends. They are Democrats and ( ill support the nominees of the trl emocratic party." P1' John G. Richards, member of the lilroad commission, who ran as the lease man for governor in 1912, is * the same opinion as Mr. Sapp. "? 11*. "RlchhMs said that he would ca robably attend the Blease caucus in olumbia tonight. Several Blease leaders would not ilk for publication, but declared that ^ ley would not leave the fold of the arty for any man. OTED DETECTIVE be DIES IN RICHMOND ed kii ate L. L. Scherer Handled Beattie Sj Case?Was Brother to Mrs. E. C. El Cronk of Columbia. Ei Mrs. E. C. Cronk was called to ichmond, Va., Sunday on account F the death of her brother, L. L". ' cherer, general claim agent of the hesapeake & Ohio Railway company, . nd one of the devest detectives in j" le country. Mr. Scherer's death was iduced by an operation, made necesiry by the after effects of a wound a| sceived nearly two years ago, when R was inveatimilinff onmn eries. In recent weeks trouble de- . eloped in - the abdominal regions ? here he was shot by a negro on the j11 ight of December 4, 1914. After *? eing on the operating table two hours [r. Scherer died of cardiac dilatation, . 'ithout regaining consciousness. In arly young manhood Mr. Scherer chieved notoriety as a sleuth and a "? slentless pursuer of crime and crimials. His latest and possibly most rilliant piece of work was that in ?? annection with the famous Beattie ase in Virginia, following the mur- ?r er of Mrs. Beattie on the Midlothan r" ike by her husband. < eh i PATHETIC PLEA h< FROM CAROLINA INDIAN th Fifty years ago, William Craft, the elebrated statesman, prepared the jllowing petition to the legislature of outh Carolina for Peter Harris, a s? arolina Indian: 10 "I am one of the lingering survivors j?" f an almost extinguished race. Our raves will soon be our only habita- ^ ions. I am one of the few stalks A rhich still remain in the field after tie tempest of the Revolution is assed. I fought the British for your akS. The British have disappeared, P* or have I gained by their defeat. I m ursued the deer for sustenance; the 8t eer are disappearing and I must 1)1 tarve. God ordained me for the for- w st, and my ambition is the shade; r? ut the strength of mv arm decavs. 8* nd my feet fail me in the chase. The r and which fought the British for our liberties is now open for relief. m n my youth I bled in battles that ai ou might be independent; let not my eart in my old age bleed for the want " f your commiseration.?The Guard- to in, 1900. ? Possibly the flies that infest rats Ci o not carry the germ of infantile tr aralysis, but it is not from any lack pi f meanness on their part.?Rochester b< N. Y.) Democrat and Chronicle. F iOW GEOR INVASI >LANTER KILLS BROTHER-IN-LAW LESLEY McCASKILL SHOOTS W. T. SMITH, J?. ses Latter's I'istol?Wrenches I'istol Out of Assailant's Hand and Then Fires Fatal Shot. Camden, Oct. 23.?Wesley McCasill, a prominent farmer who lives jar the Lee county line in this counr, shot and instantly killed his rother-in-law, W. T. Smith. Jr? irly this morning. McCaskill had endeavored to collect oney owed him by Smith. The lattr, it is said, flew into a rage, pulled s pistol and fired at McCaskill four mes, hitting: him twice, once in the ?ad and in the back but inflicting ily flesh wounds. McCaskill dodged jhind a tree and wrenched the pis>1 from the enraged man's hand, mith is then said to have advanced ion him with his knife. McCaskill ed with Smith's pistol, killing him stantly. McCaskill came to Camden immedi,ely and surrendered. The dead man left no children. Mcaskill has a wife and eight children. The coroner held an inquest totfht. ^ AMERICAN FAIR PLAY. While the people of the United ates have been sending thirty mil>n dollars' worth of relief to Cage and Turkey, two hundred thound women and children in Albania ive died of starvation. While each woman and child in IJelum has had plenty to eat, women id children in Albania have gnawed the carcasses of dead horsos in the reets. William Willard Howard, of New >rk, who has returned from his third ip to this hunger zone of Europe, edicts that the entire population of Ibania will die of famine and pesti- j ice unless helped. He says that in t bania corn is fiftv dnllorc a KneKoi >ur eighty dollars a sack, and maroni five dollars a pound. "The tragedy of Albania," says Mr. jward, "is that a nation is dying of * nger, while the people of the United 1 ates, laden with gifts for the rest c Europe and for Turkey, pass by on * e other side. l "Thirty millions of dollars have ( en given by the people of the Unit- 1 States for relief work of various ( nds in Belgium, Poland, Armenia, 1 rria and the warring countries of \ irope, while two hundred thousand 1 )men and children in Southeastern 1 irope have starved to death un- ^ eded and uncared for. Not one wo- * an or child has died of hunger in ' ilgium; two hundred thousand in Al- ' inia. "Is it fair?is it human?that the * nocent women and children of Al- ( inia, who never did anyone any 1 irm, should be trampled under foot 5 id left to perish, at a time when all ' hers are fed ? ' "Is this American fair play? 1 "I have appealed for help in high aces. I have begged a crust of ( ead of those who have given millions 1 Belgium, Poland, Armenia and 1 fria. I have begged in vain. "The Albanians are as much en- \ tied much to sympathy and help i others. They have not taken part 1 the war. They fed and sheltered : e refugees from Servia, even with 1 e last measure of corn that the 1 , mine-smitten villages possessed ley have not done any wrong; yet 1 mies have swept over their country, ' king what could be found to take, 1 aving to the starving women anil ' lildren only the carcasses of dead 1 >rses in the streets. "I ask only American fair play for ie famished children of Albania. I 1 ik of all fair-minded men and women 1 the United States: Why should ie Albanians?three hundred thouind of whom are Christians?he left i starve, while we press forward, in merous rivalry, to feed the others? ; he Albanians are more numerous lan the Armenians; yet we feed the rmenians and let the Alnanians arve. 1 "Having appealed to deaf ears in gh places I now appeal to the plain 1 sople?to fair-minded men and wo- 1 en who would not let even a dorj 1 arve to death, no matter what his eed. I want to go back to Albania ith a shipload of foot!. I have rringed for a ship?a new American dp, just launched and fitted for sea. he ship is ready and waiting. "A number of distinguished genlleen in New Ydrk?mostly clcrgvmtn id editors of newspapers-- will co>erate in an appeal for a relief cargo >r the ship. The treasure"* selected ? receive contributions is the Rev. rederick Yynch, D. D., editor of Ihe hristian Work and secretary cf the arnegie Church Peace Union. Con ibutions in any amount--from the rice of a loaf of bread upward?may s sent to the Balkan Relief Fund, 70 ifth avenue, New York city." WS MET ION OF WEEVIL With Agricultural Department Leading, Campaign for Preparation Was Pressed?Matter of Seed Breeding Considered of Very Highest Importance. (By Joe Sparks) Realizing that the boll weevil was sure to make his appearance in Georgia, the officers of the State department of agriculture and the State entomological department began a camnnitrn nf ? ? ? 1 r?b>i |nc|/aiauuu several years ago. One of the first matters to he considered by the department experts was that of seed breeding. Many experiments are being carried on now at several points in the State. The boll weevil appeared at Thornasville August 2o, 191"). A careful investigation established that it had spread over about 24 counties, occurring as far east as Pideock in Brooks county, and as far north as West Point in Troup. That it spread so far at this time was due no doubt to the tropical storm with high winds which blew from the southwest. After the discovery of the boll weevil the State entomological department in conjunction with the Farmers' association of Thomas county [. ailed a meeting for the purpose of discussing the methods of control to be adopted before the period of hibernation. At that meeting 24 counties were represented by well known citizens. Plans were perfected for conducting a campaign in each of the infested counties. By October 4 the iveevil had become very abundant in r very large number of counties, and t was thought wise to conduct a cambaign in those counties so as to come in touch with the farmers and business men in order to explain the irogress of the weevil and to explain he damage done, and urge them to >egin a fight. Wage War on Weevil. Many meetings were held and two ours were made in Ford cars and ittempts made to advise the farmers >f the seriousness of the rnvngc.-: of ;ho boll weevil. The parties held ibout two meeting's each day. The campaign was extensively advertised .hrough the local press and by means )f circulars. The Southern Bell Teljphone company, operating in weevil counties, also gave valuable assistance in the campaign to spread information. "We had the operators," said Mr. Worsham, State entomologist of Georgia "to call every subscriber to i rural phone and urge his attendance jpon the boll weevil meeting." Large crowds met the speakers at jvery place and the campaign was carried into about 40 counties. It .vas a distinct success. Bulletins describing the fight to be made on the ioll weevil were distributed at every stopping place, one of them containing this paragraph: "It is impossible to forecast the damage to the cotton crop of Georgia this year by the boll weevil, but by the end of the past season when the first frost occurred, weevils were just as abundant in some counties as in Mississippi and Louisiana. The average area covered annually is about 23,000 square miles and the territory covered in Georgia in 1915 was about 36,000 square miles." The work of breeding cotton in Georgia for resistance to wilt or black root, boll rot or anthracnose and testing of different varieties for boll weevil conditions has been conducted by Ira W. Williams and valuable results have been obtained. Mr. Williams was formerly State farm demonstration work agent for South Carolina. Work of Breeding. The breeding work on cotton for the past eight years by the department is now showing up to the best advantage. The wilt resistant types have been developed to a point where they are more resistant to wilt; display some resistance to anthracnose and are as prolific as any other varieties and fruit sufficiently early to enable the growers to produce a good crop of cotton under boll weevil conditions. "It is a well known fact," said Mr. Worsham, "that the right variety of cotton is 50 per cent of the boll weevil fight. The problem of the best variety must be worked out for each section of the State." For the breeding work on Sea Island cotton against the boll weevil, a station will be established in Valdosta in the heart of the Sea Island belt. In viaw of the late maturing qualities of the Sea Island cotton it will be necessary to establish a va? riety that will mature earlier than the present variety. Georgia produces more Sea Island cotton than any other section, and it is the finest staple cotton in existence, experts de(Continued on page 10)