Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-16
O Observe the Eclipse.

SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
To Observe the Eclipse.
The South Carolina students will &C
to Winnsboro to observe the eclipse
The Winusboro News and Herald says
The South Carolina college students
are coming to Winnsboro on the 2Sth
President Woodward, who has been
considering the matter for some time
has written to a gentleman in town
that the college will be given holiday
on the 2Stb, and that professors -and
students will come to Winnsboro fol
the eclipse. President Johnson, ot
Winthrop college, writes that he will
bring the young ladies of Winthrop
college to Winnsboro if the railroad
makes satisfactory arrangements.
GreenviIle Prohibitionists.
The prohibition conference in Green.
vile last Saturday, though not large
was quite representative of the prohi'
bition element of the county. The
matter of nominating candidates fol
the legislature was discussed by
Messrs. J. A. Hoyt, J. A. Mccullough,
G. w. Richardson and others, and il
was generally regarded as premature
to take any action in this matter. The
general opinion was against making
county nominations, leaving the Pro.
hibition candidates to be chosen upon
their merits and fitness for the position
of legislators. Three out Of five were
elected in this county two years ago.
Col. Hoyt called attention to the fact
that the conference in Columbia would
doub less discuss the question whether
it was desirable to suggest an
entire state ticket, or con6ne the
suggestions only to governor and
lieutenant governor. He was in
favor of limiting the suggestions
to governor aud lieutenant, as these
were the only officials who could be
charged with the execution of the laws.
Rev. M. B. Kelly moved that the
delegates to the state conference be in
structed to oppose any suggestions
other than for governor and lieutenant
governor, and after a brief discussion
this motion was adopted, with only q
single dissenting vote.
Rev. johnson Granted Bail.
Rev. w. f. Johnson, pastor of the
Baptist church at Bamberg, who shot
Court Stenographer w. t. Bellinger,
a short time ago, appeared before AS.
sociate Justice Pope last Friday on
habeas corpus proceedings, with Pc
tition for bail. Quite a number ofaffi-
davits were submitted. From Rev.
Johpson's affidavit it appeared that the
defendant had been living next door
neighbor to the Bellengers for quite a
while, and that the two families got
along peaceably until recently. In
June, 1899, Mr.. Johnson was called
upon to perform the marriage cere-
mony between Mr.. Joseph E. Brown
and Miss Jennie Bellinger, daughter
of Mr.. John r. Bellinger, and sister OF
the deceased. This marriage did not
meet the approval of the Bellingers,
and Notwithstanding the fact that both
parties were twenty-one years of age,
from that time extreme hostility de.
veloped. On several occasions all the
members of the family used abusive
and insulting language toward Mr..
Johnson, using every conceivable de-
vice to bring him into humiliation and
contempt. Only few days before the
killing the Bellingers had ordered the
painting of the line fence. This necessi.
tated the painters entering Johuson's
yard. Johnson consented on condi.
ton that the painter paint the bottom
plank as we'll as the top. The painter
promised but failed to perform. On
the return of the painter to give a
second coat, Johnson ordered him
away. w. T. Bellinger, the deceased
ordered the painter to contiue with
the work and pay no attention to
johnson, applying to the latter sting
ing epithets. The painter left under
threat Of the law. Johnson challenged
Belinger to the street. Bellinger went
out with a pistol in his hand, and
Johnson, who was unarmed, retired
into his house. Later Johnson was
apprised of threats that Bellinger had
made against his life, he prepared him
self with a shotgun. On the occasion
Of the tragedy, Bellinger opened fire
with pistol and Johnson shot him
dead. There was but little conflict in
the testimony except as to whether
Johnson or Bellnger fired first. Two
young ladies witnessed the shooting,
and in their affidavit they say that
Johnson fired first. Bellinger's pistol,
which was picked up near his body,
had been fired four times. Justice
Pope granted bail in the sum Of $1,000
with not less than two nor more than
five securities.