Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-10-15
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.

CHESTER, October 1.-THE stiffness of the
night was broken on last Tuesday night by
the cry of fire. The town bell sounded
the alarm and people were soon hurrying
to the scene. They were not long in arriv-
ing, but too late to save from destruction
Mr.. J. D. Ratteree's residence, located on
Pinckney street, and some distance from
town cistern. The firemen could only
act the part of spectators of the burning
building. The fire originated from defect
i've tiue. Mr.. Ratteree's loss sabout $4,000,
covered by insurance to the extent of ST.
300. He succeeded in saving the greater
portion of his furniture. He will rebuild
pp the same lot.
MIR. William Johnson, of this county, died
at the residence of his brother, MIR. Lay
johnson, in our town on last Monday even
ing. His last illness was brief, though he
had been suffering for some time from chills.
He died in the bloom of manhood, as he
was not more than twenty-five years Of age.
He was nephew of Mr.. Robert Douglas,
of this county, with whom he had lived a
considerable time.
Coroner Murphy held an inquest on last
Tuesday over the dead body of an infant
child of Scott Torbit, colored. The YER
dict of the jury of inquest was that the
child's death was caused by fall inficting
caused by the carelessness of the nurse.
The Circuit Court will be in session at
this place this week and next. There is
only one murder case on docket-that of
the State VS.. Wash Estis, charged with
killing Lewis Mills. It is a foregone con-
clusion that he will be acquitted, as the
unfortunate act was committed while in the
discharge of his duty as constable. In ad-
dition to those out on bond there are about
q dozen prisoners in Jail charged with va
rious offences, such as assault and battery,
assault and battery with intent to kill, bur-
glary and larceny, and malicious mischief.
The Chester oil mill began operations for
this season on last Wednesday. After to-
day the mill will be run day and night, and
in the course of tWenty-fOur hours will turn
out from 800 to 1000 gallons of oil. 1t has
undergone almost an entire change since
the McDermott regime. The greater por-
tion of the machinery is new and what is
lett Of the old machinery has been differ
emily arranged There is no doubt of the
fact that the mill will now be run at profit.
1t is we'll managed and promises to be from
this forth financial success. The superln-
tendent is Mr.. N. B. Alexander, who has
been connected with the mill ever since its
"A number of young ladies Of our town are
SuSdSeu III preparing III I" Ae'5 VI. - "i1
will be given one evening during fair-Week.
The object of the entertainment is to raise
funds in behalf of the Methodist church,
which is now undergoing repairs.
The Circuit Court met this morning,
Judge J. 3. Kershaw presiding. He made
few general remarks to the grand jury in
regard to the bills of Indictment laid before
them by the solicitor. True bills were
found against the following parties: Wash
Estis, indicted for murder, Charles Dunlap,
assault and battery with intent to kill, Char
ley Mobley, same charge, Lemuei Atkln-
nson, same charge. The court Will be en-.
gagged this week in the trial of criminal
cases. NJ.
IT WILL NOT WoRK.-The system Of
furnishing misdemeanors by alternative pen
alties of fine or imprisonment, which the
Abbeville Press and Banner says Judge
Cothran has adopted, and which it cordially
approves as bidding fair to ''solve the crimes
question" in this State, is open to the fatal
objection that it permits those who have
money to commit certain crimes by paying
for the privilege, while those who have
more provocaton, perhaps, but less money,
will have to 60 to Jail. No person of means
will be deferred from carrying concealed
weapon, for instance, by fear of being COM
pelled to pay a fine of S25 if arrested and con-
vvicted, buta poor man on the contrary, who
has committed no greater offence, will have
to 90 to prison for thirty. days or so, not be-
cause he is more guilty, but because he has
less money. 1t looks very much like max
ing unlawful acts the luxury of the rich and
the crime Of the poor.-Ne'cs and Courier.
MIR. and Mrs. VIM. Hunnicutt, of Pick
ems, who removed to Arkansas last fall,
lost all their young children by death and