The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-10-25
THE WHITE CAPS
Poison Fruit on Trees and Cause
a Reign OF Terror
AMoNo OHIO FARMERS.
Unknown MIacroanss Attack
Farmara on tbs HIghway
and at Their siomes. a
Bad State Of Affairs.

To say that tho exploits Of whitooaps
have csused reign of terror in High.
landtown, a little village Of about six
miles southwest Of East Liverpool,
Ohio, 10 putting it mildly. All that
section Of tho country is 80 excited by
the latest dovelopmonts that little clso
is thought of or talked about. Sumner
McPhorson, tho young man who was
poisoned by an apple into whioh tho
Whito caps had put paris greon, b as
COMO through terrible siege of sick.
noas, but is now out Of dangcr. Tho
nervous strain upon his mother has
boon so great that it is foarod her mind
will give way. Tho whole family is in
suoh mortal terror lest thoro should be
poison in the food they cat or tho water
they drink that thoy 1.-Two in CONSTANT
mental torture.
John FL. MCPHERSON, tho fathor, is a
man who says little as rule, but ho is
understood to have takon counsel with
his friends about seiling his farm aud
| quitting the noiShborhood. The anxi.
oty of the MoPhersons is sharod by
tho whole noighborhood. Oltizona Of
HiglilandtoRn fear for thoir liyes. They
aro atrsid to make move against their
unknown advorsarios lest they bring
tho wrath that has boon threatened
upon thoir heads.
Sinoo the MoPhcraon poisoning OPT.
sodo more anonymous lottors, threaten
| ing arsop, murder and torture have
como to light. John Stroudoff and John
.. Cia5sr, poighhbboIs of tiho Mother
sons, have found suoh lottors on thoir
promises The white cap notices are
sometimes dropped in tho roads or in
tho fields, and sometimes tackled to
outbuildings and fepoes. They arc
writton in a disguised hand, but evi.
IDENTIFY bya pureon of good cduohtion.
| No one In q community whore every
body is we'll acquainted with every
body olso recognizes tho handwriting.
The MoPhorsons havo thoir suupi cione,
but they are keopipg them to them
| solves.
| 1t now tranapires that every apple
that could bo roaohcd on certain tree
IN MoPhorsOns 3 OF aard hsd boon treat
cd or sprinkled with paris groom, and
tho trees on which tho misoreantB had
put In thor work were those containing
ohoioe eating applos. MCPHERSON do.
rived good income from hia orchard
but now he asres not eat srples from
it, and ho would not think Of selling
them. lilo also fears that his COWS may
DO poisoned and tho milk rendered
dosdly. Not vegetable or any food
| produ is now used in the family until
it is subjected to tho closest scrutiny.
The Whitecap activity has boon mani
fested at intervals ia Highlandtown
.or tho past two years. Whiteoap no
tices servod upon tho McPhorson and
Olager families, at frat attracted no
attention, IL being thought they wero
the work Of practical jokcrs. But
whom thor crops,. fonoes, tools, wagons
and othor properly began to be destroy
ed they bcoatne convinced that onomios
wore at work. Soma woeka ago shots
wore fired at Sumner MCPHERSON as he
was watching lonely road at mig ut in
tho hopes Of seeing a whiteohppcr. His
vigil Was rewarded, for hs saw horse
man como down the road and deposit
whitooap notice.
But tho intruder saw him and blsz-
cd away. -Four ahots were fired. Mo.
Pherson got bullet through his hat,
but escaped injury. A day or two later,
no had Howard Kelly, son Of preacher,
who is noighbor, arrested. Kelly
proved that he was at homo at tho time
Of the encounter, and the mystery Of
tho shooting remained unsolved. Two
thoorios are current. Ono is that in.
aano persons are responsible for the
mischief and tho murderous plot. Tho
other is chat parties who want to got
MCPHERSON falm ohoap arc perseout.
ing him systomatioally, and occasional
ly annoying other neighbors to divert
attention. Anyone who can find tho
author Of tho reoont poisoning can
claim John McPhorsons 500.