Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-06
Friday, October 6, 1905.

money, keys etc. BloodhoundS wer
brought from the state farm but the
were unable to strike a trail. All kind
of theories were advanced as to tn
probable identity Of the murderer; bu'
nothing could be thought Of more sat
isfactory than that the murder was tn
work of footpads. Wednesday morning
while the excitement was still at it
height, Mr.. Tom Ammons arrived Il
Camden bringing with him Mr.. R. W
Porter, another well-known citizel
whom he had found in an unconsctou
condition at the river bridge. In
back of his head was very bloody ant
1t was some time before Porter coult
give any account of himself. Ate
having been brought to Camden ant
placed in charge Of physicians Porte
was able to explain that he had starte'
home with Mcdowell the night before
and on reaching Hampton park re
marked the exciting times that had oc
CURED there in 1875. He could re
member nothing after that until h
found himself at the river trying Il
wash blood out Of his handkerchief. Por
ter's skull was fractured and 1t was TIT
opinion Of the physicians Wednesda!
that a surgical operation was absolute
ly necessary. They were unable u
predict the probable result OF tn
wound. Porter had been empaneled INT
day before in the case Of State agains
Gillis, charged with the murder
McRae Whitaker. There was talk tina
possibly the assault had some connec'
ton with the murder case; but INT
suggestion has not received very gen
eral credence.
Columbia Record: H. E. Cum
ningham, Leonard Hinkey and Geo
H. Waring, the three men who have
been serving a sentence in the peni'
tentiary on the charge that they
robbed the postoffice and bank at Latts
have been pardoned by the governor
This action was taken Wednesda.
morning after letters had been re-
ceiyed from Judge Watts and In
spector Pulsipher setting forth the
fact that these men had been unjustlS
imprisoned on that charge. The
story of the conviction OF these
three men constitutes one Of. the
most peculiar constructions OF cir.
cumstantial evidence ever brought
out In court. Cunningham, HinkeS
and Waring were convicted or ,safe
cracking, the specific charge being
that they robbed the bank and post
office at Latta on May %, 1904. They
were tried and convicted and sen.
fenced to six years Imprisonment
in the state penitentiary. Last spring
one of the postoffice inspectors, In
walking through the penitentiary
noticed the men there and on learn
ing the history Of their trial he
stated that they were convicted OF
a crime they did not commit. Their
attorney, Mr.. ]. H. Wells, of Florence
then took the matter up, Afldavtts
were obtained from parties In that
section Of the state, saying that the
men were sign painters and two OF
them absolutely proved an ahol
Governor Hayward decided to wait
however, until the case was thorough
ly sifted. Inspector Gregory came to
Columbia and gave as his opinion
that the men were innocent. This
johnson, Jos. King and H. Rabens
were convicted in the Federal court
in Charleston for the same offense.
The latter now has an appeal up and
the other two are serving a sentence
for the crime the three mon are
charged with. Later John McCarth,
who is now in prison In Connecticut,
came to this state to testify in the
Rabens case. He said he wanted to
lead a better life and was willing to
confess to all the crimes in which he
had taken part. His confession alb
selptely cleared Hinkey and the other
men and Inspector Pulsipher has SO
written the governor. After these
papers were returned to Judge
Watts who was at first opposed to
the pardon, the judge at once rec
commended favorable action on the
petition by the governor and accord
ingly this was done this morning.
The case Is one Of the most inter-
esting with which the chief execu-
tive has had to deal and has at
tracted attention in police circles all
aver the country,
Union special Of Tuesday to the
News and Courier: The meeting OF the
stockholders. Of the Union and Buffalo
Cotton mills, which has been so eager
ly looked forward to by every one in
this community, was held today in
the office Of the Union Cotton mills
There were present not only stock
holders, but creditors and attorneys
for creditors from New York, Balu-
more, Richmond, Charleston, Colum-
bia, Charlotte, Spartanburg, Augusta
and other points The hour set for
the meeting was IL o'clock today, but
after those assembled had waited for
forty-five minutes for his appearance,
President T. c. Duncan walked into
the room and announced that the
meeting was adjourned till O'Clock
D. M, and the assembly dispersed. AT
an earlier hour, If seemingly reliable
reports are to be credited. several
substantial business men of the city
themselves largely interested In the
mills, had a private interview with
Mr.. Duncan and requested him to re-
sign. This Mr.. Duncan, 1t Is said, pos
itively refused to do, stating he would
fight to the bitter end. 1t was also
rumored that the books now show the
mills, are indebted to the extent OF
four million dollars, instead OF three
millions, as was originally claimed,
and that President Duncan's persona
Indebtedness amounts to half a mil
lion dollars. With reference to the
afternoon meeting, which adjourned
without taking any action, nothing
very definite can be gathered. The
time was taken up with reading the
report of the accountants who have
been investigating the books OF the
mills for some weeks, and the speech
of Mr.. Duncan in reply. From the
mass Of figures that constituted the
report about the only thing which
seems to have impressed itself upon
the memory Of the hearers was the
loss Of Union Cotton mills during the
current year, which amounted to one
million and one hundred thousand
dollars, and that Mr. Duncans per-
sonal Indebtedness to the mill is four
hundred and eighty thousand dollars
For this item Mr.. Duncan claims to
have put up ample collateral, and he
announced the report as ex parte and
unfair. The total Indebtedness of the
mills cannot be ascertained at this
time. Another meeting will be held a,
10 o'clock tomorrow morning, when
definite action may be taken with ref.
erence. to the future management OF
the plants. A meeting will also be
held at Buffalo mills within the next
day or two. At the opening of the
meeting today Mr.. Duncan appointed
a committee to ascertain the amount
of stock represented on the floor
which was found to be six thousand
six hundred and forty eight shares
A committee was also appointed to
81 md he