The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-18

arrest not only the men who have confessed,
but the whole town, FROM the mayor down if
you so order, but would advise you to read
the evidence, and consider the matter we'll
before acting. 1t will take a detective to
ferret out the dispensary matter. Have been
sick since / left you, and would report to
YOU. but have Just received information which
makes me uneasy about McLeadon. Must
take steps to look after him tonight. Will
report to you in the morning. My action is
endorsed by sheriff. Mr.. Mccall. Dispenser
Williamson and Geo. Evans who know the
contents of this. H. L.. FARLEY,
ADJ. and 1nsp. General.
do not hesitate to say that | re-
GREETED the above because | was per-
fectly satisfied that l was pursuing not
only the general spirit of your orders,
but following them as nearly as possible
with the exercise Of wise discretion
which you had necessarily reposed in
me-almost to the letter. | am now
convinced that, influenced by some
reports you had heard, you we're acting
under misapprehension of the course
that l was pursuing. Receiving no
reply, however, and acting on your
last telegram | ordered Maj. Wardlaw,
under the advice of Lieut.. N. G.. Evans
to execute your orders. giving verbal in
structious to Lieut.. Evans, cas- to the
manner of execution" which took place
the followiugday, only those parties being
arrested, and turned over to the sheriff,
who admitted that they had gone into
the armory for the guns. (See report
of Col Wardlaw attached.
The sheriff Of Darlington, having sew
eraI times informed me, through his
deputy that the whereabouts of Con-
stable McLendon had become known
in Darlington, and that he feared an
attempt to capture him, and that trouble
would result, l concluded that, as you
had charged me particularly to look
after the safety of the coDssables, I had
best take steps to secure him and prev
ent aoy further trouble. My necessary
work being about finished at Florence [
took the early train for Bishopville on
Wednesday, near which place McLen-
don was lodged. Arriving at Bishop
vile | sent you a telegram asking what
disposition to make Of him, aud was
about to start for him, when the deputy
sheriff Of Darlington, whom I had sent
over land, reported to me that he was
ready and awaiting orders. About
this time | received the following FROM
you:
COLUMBIA, S. c., April 4, 1894.
Gen. H. L. Farley, Bishopville:
If you get McLendon carry him to Darling
ton to testify at the inquest.
B. R. TILLMAN, Governor.
On receipt of this / Immediately sent
the deputy, with a file Of men to Capt.
Woodham at Stokes Bridge, with an
order to bring McLenden to Bishopville
which was done, and at night, taking
necessary precautions as to a guard,
both from Bishopville and Florence, I
carried him through to Darlington and
delivered him to Gen. Richbourg about
"a. M, in time to testify at the inquest,
returning myself with detachment at
once to Florence.
The following Friday morning l had
Lieut.. Evars to telegraph you for or
ders in regard to Tmuonsville, as |
was quite unwell, and he received your
order, and additional instructions from
me to 60 there with the sheriff, and a
file of men, to investigate the-lootlug
Of the dispensary. His report will be
added to and made a part Of mine.
Before closing I feel it my duty to
revert to some matters not mentioned
10 the foregoing report. Your Excel
leucy has become aware Of aud l can
not commend 10 too high terms the
conduct of Capt. H. I. Thompson, and
the Darlington Guards under the pc
c%uliar, trying aud long continued trou-
bles surrounding them. 1t is a high
example of devotion to duty, and if
we had known all the facts, aud | had
gone to Darlington in time, With the
use of this and one or two commands,
I could possibly have saved the trouble
and expense that followed. Capt. W
C. Davis, of the Manning Guards, and
his ten men who responded to the call,
aud staid with me until dismissed
should not be forgotten. The '.Sumter
Light Infantry responded to the first
call, and ven: to Darlington, and am
satisfied but for the extraordinary and
unusual pressure would have respond
ed on the night of the 30th as they tel
e%graphed the next day, that they were
ready for orders. The "Bishopville
Guards vent to Darlington in response
to your cali, and claim that they re-
turned home for want of definite or
specific orders.
On the evening of Friday, the 9th.
after orders had been received to be
ready to leave the next morning, being
~ Or