Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-25
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.

SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
William Cook, a prominent citizen
of Lancaster county, died suddenly on
the streets of Kershaw last Tuesday.
- Lancaster special of Wednesday,
to News and Courier: The jury In the
damage suit being tried here yesterday
of John w. Elms against the Southern
Power company returned verdict last
night of $4,000 for the plaintin. A
motion by defendant for new trial
was argued this morning. Judge Will
son refused to grant the motion.
The Presbyterian synod of South
Carolina meets in the First church at
Anderson, Oct, 20, at 8 D. m. Rev. DR..
w. T. Hall Of the Columbia Theologi-
cal seminary as moderator will preach
the opening sermon, which will be fol-
lowed by memorials Of five ministers
who have died since the last synod,
viz: Revs. r. II. Reed, Jas. woodrow,
Id. D., ]. l. Williamson, N. w. Ed
fnunds, d. D., and w. G. Neville, d. ID.
The stated clerk will be In the church
from 4 to p. m. Tuesday to enroll the
members in advance. Arrangements
have been made for reduced fare over
the railroads Of the state on return
standard form are presented and sign
ed by the clerk. Let all procure these
certificates in starting.
- Columbia special Of October %, to
Charlotte Observer: Mr.. c, c. Feather
stone Of Laurens, who was defeated
several years ago for governor on
prohibition platform, was here today
| and gave out an interview favortng
continuance OF the present local op-
ton law by the coming Legislature
with an amendment placing the task
of voting a county wet on the whis-
ky advocates. The new county option
law as advocated by Mr.. Featherstone
would first declare a state Of prohibi-
ton to exist throughout the state, and
would then allow any county desiring
dispensaries to petition for an election.
There is good reason to believe that
the prohibitionists generally will mar
shal their forces next spring for the
enactment Of such law instead OF
trying to get a straight prohibition
law passed. Mr. J. p. Gibson of Marl-
boro one OF the leading prohibition
| lists Of the house Of representatives,
says he will introduce such a bill at
the coming session Of the legislature.
The prohibitionists hope finally to get
straight state prohibition law enact
/
this will come to them with the elec-
ton Of the next legislature; but they
fear that II they attempt to get all they
want at the hands Of the present leg
islature they will lose all.
| - Columbia State: Judge William II.
Brawley Of the United States district
court has addressed a communication
to the members of the Richland county
bar and to others interested informing
them that 1t will not be feasible to hold
the November term Of the United
States court for the trial Of civil cases
next month. He has been summoned
to be at Richmond November 8, to
sit in the United States court or ap-
peals, which convenes there on that
date. The law requires that at least
three circuit or district judges be
present at the sitting Of the court of
appeals, and as only Judge Pritchard
and Judge Purnell Of the other mem
bers of the bench will be able to sit,
/ IL is necessary for Judge Brawley 10
be on hand to complete the court
Judge Brawley writes that IL Ii incon-
yeniences any member Of the bar seri-
ously and there Is any case Whlch de-
mands especially speedy hearing ne
will try and arrange to run down TO
Columbia from Richmond about No
|
the urgent business adjourn court un-
TIL In January, when the regular term
of the United States criminal court
will convene AS there Is no case
which demands such immediate hear
| ing. the members Of the bar Will De
satisfied to let the court go over until
January.
The Anderson grand jury made Its
presentment last Tuesday In regard 10
| the escape of Allen Emerson from the
county jail last summer. The grand
Jury did not indict any one for con-
nection with Emerson's escape but II
Is plainly stated that there had been
carelessness in the management OF the
Jail, and that Emerson had been allow
ed too much liberty. The presentment
is as follows: "The grand jury begs
| leave to make this final and supple
mentary presentment for the year 1907,
at this special term of the court OF
general sessions, called for the pur-
pose Of receiving this presentment.
We have made a careful and PAINS
taking investigation into the jail de-
livery in this county on the night OF
| August 20, 1907, whereby Allen Emer-
son, convicted of murder and sentenc-
ed to life Imprisonment in the peniten.
tiary, his case then being under appear
to the supreme court, escaped and still
remains at large. This matter was
brought to our attention by several
citizens Of the county, who urged an
Investigation Of the facts for the pur-
pose Of trying to find out the parties
guilty Of cognizance therein. We have
examined more than thirty witnesses
| In this investigation. We are unable
| to present any person at this time Tor
active completely In the escape. we
| do not find any carelessness on the
| ~art of those in charge OF the jail or
a degree which we would term crfml-
nal, and which we could say actively
assisted in the escape Of the said prls-
oner on the night he got out In other
words we are not able to connect any
general carelessness with the actual
escape. Nevertheless. we deem 1t Tor
the best interests Of justice and the en-
forcement Of the law in this county to
report that we find that for the last
year, and especially since Allen Elmer
son has been in jail, the jailers have
given him too much liberty and license
and too many privileges; that tney
| have allowed him to handle, ana at
times have the possession OF the IN
side keys of the Jail in a manner which
no prisoner should be allowed to nave,
to express 1t in the mildest way. Fur
thermore the jailers have been care
less, negligent and derelict in their du-
ties in allowing other parties than
themselves to have possession Of the
KEYS at times. Our object in bringing
this matter to the attention OF your
honor and to the county Is that we
think that this action will tend to the
more sure enforcement Of the sentences
# our courts"
= New York, October %: A new IL
lustration Of the growing perils of a