The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-10-01
THE UNION DRUG STORE FIRE.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CASES EVER
TRIED IN UNION COUNTY.
A CROWDED COURT ROOM FROM DE-
GINNING TO END-GREAT INTER-
EST MANIFESTED BY CITI-
ZENS OF ALL CLASSES.
zENs OF ALL CLASSES.

interest in the minds of the people
for some time was commenced in Tic
Court of General Sessions ON last
Thursday, September %, 1897.
Messrs. Munro 4 Munro, C..P. Sims
and j. "A. Sawyer appeared for Dir.
Meador, and the State was represent
ed by Solicitor Seasc and Col. George
Johnstone, Of Ncwberry. This case
was an attempt to burn the drug
store in the bank building, where the
Union Drug Company conducted a
sbusiness. This company was COM
posed of DR.. VIM. Mcador and DR..
Al. Il. Smith. The city authorities
offered reward of $500 for the APP
prehension and conviction of the fire
bug. George G. May who lives
about four miles IN Tic country swore
out warrant charging DR.. Wm.
Meador with the crime uron which
warrant he was arrested ard gave
bond, ard was tried at September
term of court 1897. After considers
able trouble jury was obtained, each
juror being sworn on his voir dire.
1t was well and hard fought case
from beginning to end, seldom have
we seen case better managed. The
case was covered in every particular.
1t lasted until 11.40 o'clock on Sat
urday night, when the jury returned
verdict of not guilty as to VIM.
Meador. A number Of witnesses
were sworn and examined and cross
examined very closely. We give
synopsis of the most important tcsti-
mony below. :. s.sa,s,ssss
DIR. SMITHS S TESTIMONY.
DIR. NJ. ~. ss.,,it..-rus tiIr nrsv wir-
ness called. He testified that he was
a rracticing physician at Union, and
OWLS part interest in the National
Bank building. On the night of the
Sth Of February Willie Cotton came
over to my house for me to come to
drug store between 10 and l 1 o'clock.
l found ice Austell at drug store.
Found preparation for firc-hay
saturated with oil, iosin, lightwoCd,
dry goods boxes etc. y large pile
of above extended half way up to the
roof Cf cellar, next to the steps. Next
was tank of kerosene oil and rosin
all saturated with oil. Close to bar
rel was trail Of hay into second
loom cellar where there were eight or
nine barrels CT oil. The steps we're
also saturated. | had not been in
cellar in two or three days; these
things were net there thcr-cxccpt
the lightwood-that | saw. Have
known DR.. Mcador since the fall of
1892. Partnership of my brother,
DIR. Mcador and myself began Jan
uary 1892. We bought goods Of w.
NJ. Gibbs \ Son amounting to $500.
Don't know whether partnership was
in writing or not. We wclc to Pay
$400 cash, with notes for balance.
DIR. Meador put in $133 one third
and never put in any more. After
two or three months my brother sold
lis interest to DR.. Mcador. Ircfuscd
to stay in that way, and lie sold me
one half of my brothers. interest; pay
ing SlT5, agreeing to ray one-ha!l
Of Gibbs note then due, and taking
credit on books for difference. Short
ly after Mr.. Coltcn came with US.
DIR, Meador kept books first, after
wards Mr.. Cotton. There was nc
money TO be divided but stock had
increased to $1,000 January 1898
In January 1894, We had increase
cur stock few hundred dollars, bu
we're several hundred dollars in debt
] paid off Indebtedness and took DR.
Moador's note for his half. u 9;
had same experience, being $1,000 O
$1,000 in debt. l took his note io
his half as before. I'm Januar,
90 had no settlement but dcfcrrct
the matter until June 4th. Coul'
not get together before. Were 81 80
in debt. DIR. Mcador wanted pay 70
staying in drug store,
| said that he got cverythin
that was made but | would max
him a present Of $3.50. Too
his note for $500 and paid debts.
said | had lost as much as | was abb,
and if we did not make some none
by January would dissolve. GA
stock then January 81 was aber
1, $3400, Had no settlement and
the e