davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
A CONSPIRACY TO KILL.

The shooting scrape near Mr.. John
T. Latham's last Thursday night, ir
which a negro named Wash Blair was
fatally wounded by a pistol bullet fired
by Mort Williams, seems to have been
the result Of deliberately Matched
conspiracy on the part of Williams
and others to kill George Mcclure
That is the opinion of a number OF
white people who have looked into the
facts.
Magistrate J. c.. Conner accompanied
hy Sheriff Brown went down on Sun
day to the home Of Wash Blair, the ne
gro who was shot, to take his ante
mortem statement. The negro told
all he knew about the affair. He was
quite positive that the bullet by which
he was struck was fired by Mort Will
liams, who was shooting not at him
but at George Mcclure. He also stated
that Williams used his own pistol;
that he, Blair, had no pistol.
Mort Williams disappeared shortly
after the shooting and has not been
seen since. George Mcclure was ar
rested on Friday and Is now In jail.
1t appears that there had been bad
blood between Mort Williams and
George Mcclure for some time. They
had a row several months ago; but
Mcclure claims that so far as he Is
concerned 1t had been forgotten. Will
liams was quite friendly to him at
the church Thursday night; but he
thought very little Of 1t until after
ward. About the circumstances which
lei TO the shooting there seems to be
no dispute, for 1t had its inception In
a rcw between Frank Burris and Banks
Williams.
These two negroes who had appar-
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
YORK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.

The thirty-seventh annual session OF
the York Baptist association convened
with the Baptist church at Fort. Mill
on last Friday morning at II o'clock.
Owing to the absence Of Rev. M. w.
Gordon, appointed at the last session
to preach the Introductory sermon, he
having accepted a call and removed to
Alabama in the meantime. the sermon
was preached by Rev. DR.. E. M. Po-
teat, president Of Furman university,
who performed the service in most
acceptable manner.
At the conclusion Of the introduce
tory sermon the association was called
to order by Col. ]. ]. Waters. the re-
firing moderator, and the delegates
present enrolled, after which the elec-
took place. All the old officers were
reelected as follows: Moderator, ]. j.
Waters; clerk, Sam M. Grist; treasu-
rer. James F. Boyd. ,
After the work Of organizing had
been completed, the moderator ex-
tended a cordial welcome and the US
ual privileges of the floor to the fol-
lowing visitors: Rev. DR.. E. M. Poteat;
Rev. V. 1. Masters of the Baptist
Press; Rev. ]. E. McManaway field
editor Of the Baptist Courier; Rev.
Joel l. Allen, financial agent Of Fur
man university, and Mr.. George Do
yer of the Kings Mountain associa-
ton.
At the afternoon session reports Of
the committees on Aged Ministers and
Home Missions were presented and
discussed.
The evening session was devoted to
the discussion Of the report on Educa4
ton, which was prepared and read by
Rev. ]. W. Willis, pastor Of the Rock
Hill church Addresses were made to
this report by Mr.. Willis, DR.. Poteat,
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24

The officers of the York County
Southern Cotton association are anx>
ious that the members attend the Sat-
urday afternoon township meetings In
order that they might get in touch
with such information as may be
handed down through the president
and executive committee.
Adiutant and Inspector General
Frost has issued a general order for
the inspection of the National Guard OF
South Carolina next year. The dates
are made out for the war department
several months in advance, and the or
der provides for the inspection Of the
companies In this county as follows:
Catawba Rifles, April Is: Fort Mill
Company, April 20; Jasper Light In
fantry, April 21. .....
In connection with the coming Of the
circus, It Is just as well to remember
that in spite Of any and all precautions
to prevent there Is always more or less
gambling and pocket picking. or
course, everybody will not take our
advice In regard to the matter; but 1t
Is no harm to remind those who may
be inclined to bet on any OF the various
tricks of the numerous gamblers who
will be connected with the snow tnat
it will be Just as well to don't.
There are q good many farmers In
this county who mean to stand by
the Asheville resolutions Of the South
ern Cotton association to the letter and
hold their cotton for II cents. These
include the majority Of those who are
able to hold. There are others who are
perfectly willing to take 10 cents; but
are unwilling to sell at less figure.
There are some also who will have TO
sell at almost any price that might be
offered, at some time between now ano
January /. The percentage Of people
In this predicament, however Is small
er than it has been at any time since
the war.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24

IN the interview with Capt. John G.
Capers republished from the Greenville
News in another column, 1t will be
noted that the principal ground Of the
present attack on the Brice law Is the
provision that was inserted by the
enemies Of the measure for the pur-
pose of killing 1t. We have reference
to the provision which seeks to levy q
special tax Of one-half mill on coun-
ties which vote for the abolition of dis
pensaries. Just what the decision OF
the court will be, we have no idea, OF
course; but 1t seems TO us that inas-
much as the object of this law is mere
ly to give the voters the right to abol-
ish dispensaries, the special tax pro-
vision, can be declared null and void
without any interference with the
balance Of the act. There Is no such
thing as special taxation for the en-
forcement of the law against any 9TH
er misdemeanor mentioned In the sta
tutes and we see no reason why there
SnOulQ De Speclal tdS lor tne eIlorCe-
ment of the laws against liquor SELL
ing. 1t is quite probable that this
particular provision of the law is un.
constitutional, and we shall not be al
all surprised If Judge Pritchard sc
holds. 1t is certainly to be hoped
however, that the judges decision, II
he knocks out this provision, will leave
the balance of the law intact. How.
ever, whether the movement to undo
the Brice law succeeds or not, the fact
remains that this law has served tc
give the people Of the Piedmont ar
opportunity to show their overwhelm-
ing condemnation of the whole corrupt
dispensary system.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24

emily been friendly enough a half hour
before, suddenly began quarreling and
before anybody had had time to real
ize that there had been trouble they
were mixed up in a fight, pounding
each. other viciously with their fists.
Mort Williams and George Mcclure
were standing some distance away at
the time Of the difficulty; but at the
suggestion of williams both went for
ward to part the fighters.
Mcclure seized hold Of one Of the
men, and as he did so the fellow drew
Knife. Mcclure then stepped back
and pulled his pistol and as he did so
Mort Williams commenced firing. Nc
Clure returned the fire, and during
the shooting Wash Blair was hit.
Banks williams Is a brother Of Mort
Williams and Frank Burris is q neph-
ew. Burris works on Mort Williams's g
place. Because they are known to have
been friendly previous to the. alleged
mix up and because Of the previous
e-mity Of Mort Villains against Nc
Clure, 1t Is believed by those best In
position to understand the matter
that the fight was really sham gotten
up by Williams in order that he might
have an opportunity to shoot Mcclure
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
AS SEEN BY BANKERS.

The Manufacturers Record has col
lected the opinion Of numerous South
ern National bankers on the cotton
situation. The letters from this county
are as follows:
w. ]. Roddey. president First Ma
tional Bank Of Rock Hill:
II would estimate that there has
been a reduction of 20 per cent in the
acreage planted as compared with last
year. The yield will be approximate
ly Is per cent as large as that made
on a similar acreage last year. Pick
ing has progressed rapidly, the wealth
er being favorable. There has been
some scarcity of labor. resulting in an
increased cost of picking. Farmers
In the community are in excellent A.
nancial condition and are able to hold
their cotton indefinitely. Some will
hold for the minimum Of IL cents, but
the majority will probably sell at 10
cents and above. Since the decline be-
low 10 cents practically no cotton has
been sold on this market. Considera-
BILE deliveries, however, are now being
made on cotton sold some time ago al
10 cents and above. The general SEN
timent here inclines to the belief that
q crop approximating 1900, 900 will be
be made, ana that II VIII De marketed
quite slowly, a very determined stand
being made by the producer to let none
of his crop go below 10 cents. The 20
per cent reduction In cotton acreage
in this community was given over to
diversified farming. A larger corn
crop than usual Is the result, while hay
and feed -stuffs of all kinds have been
produced in larger proportion than US
ual. The business outlook generally
Is bright Bank deposits show an in
crease of 25 per cent over the CORES
ponding period of last year, and gen.
eral feeling Of optimism prevails"
o. E. wilkins, president First Ma
tional Bank of Yorkville:
"The outlook is that the cotton yield
in this section as compared with last
year will be about two-thirds. The
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
TEN CENTS COTTON.

The price Of cotton shot suddenly up
to 10 cents last Friday afternoon, ana
the effect on the local market was In
stantaneous.
1t was not until late In the after
noon. after THE ENQUIRER had gone
to press, that It developed that the To-
cal buyers could pay 10 cents, and
hence. there was no announcement IN
the paper; but the news was dissem-
mated all the same.
All the local buyers had information
of scores Of farmers who were willing
to take 10 cents and when that price
was reached, the buyers began to use
the telephone freely. More than a
hundred bales were bought from York
willie by telephone Friday after 2oon Tor
delivery on Saturday and Monday,
There was a continuous stream OF
cotton wagons into Yorkville all DAY
Saturday and buyers were kept as
busy as bees weighing and packing
away the numerous bales they were
called upon to handle. The stream con-
tinued throughout Monday. and the
aggregate purchase Of the three days
was but little short of seven hundred
bales.
AS a matter Of fact the New York
market did not warrant 10 cents last
Saturday, but some of the buyers had
mill orders that justified them In pay
ing the price and others remained In
the market so as not to fall out or the
procession.
There was a twenty point advance
In the price Of contracts yesterday and
the advance about justified the price,
that had been anticipated Friday.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
WITHIN THE TOWN.

1t will be the Denver Express
at the opera house next Thursday
night. The play is good one and
the company has strong endorse
ments.
East Liberty street was literally
blocked with cotton wagons this morn
ing from Congress street past Latta
Bros platform to the c. & NV. rail-
road There were between go and 70
bales on the wagons. Miss Rosa Lind
say made a photograph Of the unusual
sight.
The Troubles Of Hooligan" last
Saturday night was disappointment
Because Of the long run this farce
comedy has had and its widespread
reputation as a fun producer, the
people thought it would be worth their
while, and there was fairly good au-
dience in attendance. But 1t seems
that while "Hooligan's Troubles" is a
very funny play, to be appreciated 1t
needs to be properly presented, and
that requires acting. There was not
fairly good actor in this company.
October 81, at the court house, are
the time and place Of the annual flow
er show under the auspices Of the Ia
dies of the Presbyterian church. In
another column, Mrs. ]. ]. Hunter,
president of the floral association, gives
particulars of this interesting event.
The flower show Is now fixed insti-
tuition. The people of Yorkville and
vicinity have been showing their ap-
probation by their most liberal pa
tronage, and there Is every reason to
anticipate that 1t will be greater sue
cess this year, socially, financially and
otherwise than heretofore.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
The President on Graft

Discussing in Atlanta last Friday
the widespread graft revelations that
have occupied the attention of this
dent Roosevelt delivered himself as
follows:
The conscience of our people has
been deeply shocked by the revela-
tions made of recent years as to the
way in which some of the great for
tunes have been obtained and used,
and there is, l think. in the minds
Of the people at large a strong feel
ing that a serious effort must be
made to put a stop to the cynical
which have thus been revealed.
believe that something, and 1 hope
that a good deal, can be done by
law to remedy the state of things
complained Of. But when all that
can be. has thus been done, there
will yet remain much which the law
cannot touch, and which must be
reached by the force of public opin-
ion. There are men who do not di-
vide actions merely into those that
are honest and those that are not,
but create a third ub-division-that
of law honesty; of that kind Of hon.
esty which consists in keeping clear
of the penitentiary. 1t Is hard to
reach astute men of this type save
by making them feel the weight of
an honest public indignation. Put
this Indignation, If II is to be effect
i've, must be intelligent. 1t is. of
course, to the great advantage of
dishonest men of wealth If they are
denounced, not for being dishonest,
but for being wealthy, and II they
are denounced in terms so over
strained and hysterical as to invite
a reaction in their favor. We can
not afford in this country to draw the
distinction as between rich man and
poor man. The distinction upon
upon which We must insist is the vi
tai. deep-lying Interchangeable distinc-
ton between the honest man and the
dishonest man, between the man who
acts decently and fairly by his neigh
Dor and with a quick sense of his
obligations. and the man who ac-
knowledges no internal law save that
of his own will and appetite. Above
all we should treat with peculiarly
contemptuous adherence the man
who in a spirit of sheer cynicism de-
baucheS either our business life or
our political life. There are men
who use the phrase practical poll
ties" as merely a euphemism for
dirty politics, and these bring
the term politician" into discredit.
There are other men who use
the noxious phrase business is bus
mess" as an excuse and justifi-
cation for every kind of mean and
crooked work: and these men make
honest Americans hang their heads
because of some of the things they
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
MERE-MENTlON.


Three men. two trainmen and one
passenger, were killed in the wreck 9t
a work train on the Louisville and
Nashville railroad at Duff. Tennessee,
Saturday Charles B. Lands,
chairman of the subcommittee or
the congressional investigating COM
mittee, declares that the government
wastes 100000 in useless public
printing and suggests an arbitrary
reduction in the printing appropria-
tions of from 20 to 25 per cent. ....
Edward Cunliffe, who stole 100000
from the Adams Express company or
Pittsburg, Pa, recently, was captured
at Bridgeport. Connecticut, last
Thursday and is now in Jail at Pitts
burg "A passenger train on the
Denver and Rio Grande railroad was
wrecked at Caliente. New Mexico,
Friday night, killing one person and
injuring several others. one fatally.
Two cases of bubonic plague
have been reported from Nettschink,
Russian Poland, and one death has
occurred. The Tennessee state
quarantine on account of yellow fever
was raised at noon Saturday.
Twenty-six vessels were wrecked and
twenty lives lost in a storm which
swept over the Great Lakes Friday
night. The heaviest loss Of life and
property was in the sinking Of the
Canadian steamer Minnedosa off
Harbor Beach in Lake Huron. Nine
persons and $130.000 worth Of cargo
went down with her. Prof Syl-
vester D. Judd. formerly an assistant
in the United States geological survey
bureau at Washington, and professor
Of biology at Georgetown university.
from a rafter in the garret Of his
home near Frederick, Md, Sunday.
He was temporarily insane. :. Two
children were killed and eight persons
were injured, three fatally, by the
striking of picnic wagon by street
car at q road crossing just outside Of
indianapolis. Sunday. Five persons
were drowned by the running down Of
small boat by a tug boat off South
Yonkers, y. Y. Saturday night.
A monument to Pope Plus X, sub
scribed to by Catholics all over the
world, was unveiled at Reise, Italy
the pope's native village, Sunday.
Traffic on seven of the trunk line rail-
ways running into Moscow. Russia,
has been suspended on account Of the
strike of railroad employees. Great
suffering is certain if supplies cannot
be forwarded into the famine stricken
districts in northern Russia. "A
launch containing nine men collided
with a barge in the Delaware river
near Beverly, n. j., Sunday, drowning
six of the occupants Of the launch.
Four thousand dollars in money, jew
elry. watches. ETC., was stolen by pick
pockets in Atlanta, Friday, "Roose-
welt Day. .EX-Congressman Jerry
Simpson died at his home in Wichita,
Kansas yesterday morning after an
illness of several weeks, aged 63 years.
The governors mansion at JEFF
ferson City. Missouri. was damaged by
fire to the amount of $4,000 yester-
day morning early. Governor Folk
and his family had a narrow escape
from death in the flames.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
IS 1T UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Grounds Of the Attack Against The
Brice Law.

lrOun0S Or tU0 ftttdSN' NSd'Hoe
Briee Law.
United States District Attorney Ca
pers returned yesterday from Ashe-
VILE, where he, with Beilinger Welsh
of the Columbia firm OF Bellinger q
Welsh, appeared before United States
Circuit Judge Pritchard in the inter-
est Of ]. G. Howell, former dispenser
at Union.
After hearing Mr.. Howelps petition
and hearing arguments in his behalf
from Mr.. Welsh and Capt. Capers,
Judge Pritchard issued an order d.
recting the Union county board OF
control to appear before him on Oct.
81 10 show cause why mandamus
should not be issued, requiring the
board of control. to reopen the dispen:
sary in Union and to reinstate Howell
in the Office Of dispenser.
"This action" said Mr.. Capers to a
reporter for the Greenville News, rs
of vital import because its purpose is
20 test the Brice law. It's favorable
outcome would render null and void
the elections already held In Union,
Cherokee, Pickens, Newberry, York,
Lancaster: Darlington and Marion
counties, and the advocates Of prohi-
bition would have to seek some other
method of getting rid of the dispensa-
ries. .-
I'VE allege that Mr.. Howell was de-
prived of his office without due pro-
cess of law, and that furthermore the
provision in the Brice act for. levy
to enforce prohibition in counties yot-
ing out the dispensary. Is unconstitu-
tional. We say that the closing OF
the dispensary in Union. following an
election held under the Brice act, Is
unconstitutional in that 1t deprives the
taxpayers Of Union county OF their
property without due process or law.
because the act Is not a valid law OF
the state inasmuch as 1t. levies tax
on all of the taxable property In GER
tain counties for the enforcement or
a general state law, and exempts from
levy other counties placed In the same
circumstances and under like condi-
tions as to the dispensary law and It's
enforcement. Therein is violated the
section of the constitution which says
the General Assembly shall provide
by law for a uniform and equal rate
Of taxation
I'VE say that this act Is not valid,
furthermore, because 1t provides that
any county voting out the dispensary
shall not thereafter receive any por-
ton of the surplus funds that may re-
main in the dispensary school fund,
after the deficiency in the various
county schools have been made up, as
provided by law. but leaving the said
surplus funds to be distributed among
the counties retaining the dispensary.
In the surplus funds now in the hands
of the state the taxpayers OF Union
county have a properly right Of which
they must not be deprived.
still another reason for the Invalid
ity of the Brice act, is that 1t violates
the constitution by being special law
where a general law would apply. 1t
also denies people in Union and other
counties that may vote out the dis
pensaTy the equal protection OF the
law There are many effective arSu-
ments on our side, which l have not
time to state to you, nor you space
to print. You may look for develop
ments soon."-Greenville News Satur-
day
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24

practical monopoly in the production of
raw cotton. No other clothing mater
ial can be accepted as a substitute for
cotton. l welcome the action of the
planters in forming a cotton associa-
ton, and every assistance shall be
given them than can be given them by
he national government. Moreover,
we must not forget that the work of
the manufacturers in the south supple
ments the work of the planter. 1t Is
an advantage to manufacture the raw
material here and sell to the world the
finished goods. Under proper methods
of distribution II may we'll be doubted
whether there can be such a thing as
over-production of cotton. Last years
crop was nearly fourteen million bales,
and yet the price was sufficiently high
to give a handsome profit to the
planter The consumption Of cotton
increases each year, and new uses are
found for It."
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24
ABOUT PEOPLE.

Miss Essie Stewart Of Charlotte, is
visiting her sister, Mrs. H. II. Beard.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. c. Strauss returned
home Saturday from Laurens and
Cokesbury.
Mr.. w. D. Glenn is in Tennessee and
Kentucky buying horses for his firm
Glenn & Allison.
Mrs Robert L. Youngblood of Tir-
Zah, is visiting her mother, Mrs. jamie
Parish, in Yorkville. ..
Mrs. R. M. Bratton. of Guthriesville
spent Sunday. in Yorkville, the guest
Of Mrs. G. w. s. Hart.
Miss Lottie Belle Simril Of Winthrop
college, spent Sunday and Monday al
her home near Yorkville.
Mrs. Hall Smith OF High Point, N
c., Is expected to arrive in Yorkville
today on a visit to her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. A. F. Woods.
Mr.. Paul G. McCorkle, came up from
Chester this morning to spend few
days with the families of Messrs. b. N
Moore and R. r. McCorkle. He Is al
Mr.. r. r. McCorkle's today.
Mr.. r. B. McClain sustained a stroke
of paralysis a few days ago and his
condition has since been quite serious
His brother, Mr.. Felix McClain, came
down from Lincolnton yesterday to be
with him. -,
Mr.. John r. Schorb Is 81 years old
today. Notwithstanding his remarkable
age, Mr.. Schorb Is In good health and
his many friends are unable to notice
that there is any change in his ap-
pearance or habits as compared with
twenty or thirty years ago. He con-
tinues to devote himself to his pho
Biography in working hours, attends
every church service that Is held night
or day, and looks after his chores about
his home as regularly as II ordered by
the clock. The old gentleman has q
kind greeting for his friends and ac-
quai1tarces whenever he meets them
and It Is probably a fact that there Is
not a citizen Of the community who Is
held in higher or more general esteem