The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-18
! AVANT TALKS
Georgetown Man Says Killing has
Ruined His Life.
runyYrraD cVTEIATTnKJ
A PECULIAR SITUATION

A PECULIAR SITUATION
hEnn Does Not Know How His APP
peal Stands-Dr. Bigham Not Yet
8 Heard From-Seems to Be Doubt
About Report of the Doctor Be
ing in Greenrnle.
"Of course it worries me. 1t has
ruined my life and I never expect
to get over it," said w. B. Avant
at the State penitentiary, where ne
is held, pending an appeal 10 the
supreme court. Avant was question
ed closely as to the tragedy OF Mnr-
rell's Inlet, when he shot and killed
Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham, on lone
ly beech, while he was in company
with her husband, DR.. G. c. BignaM.
Both Ayant and Bigham have 1een
convicted for the crime and sentehc-
ed to serve a term of three and one
half wears each in the State prison.
The prisoner who is now being held,
until further advices are received
from the Georgetown sherln is very
Young. hardly over 23, of unkempt
appearance, shoulders Slightly stoop-
ed. brownish hair, gray eyes and OF
q nervous nature. The where aoouts
of DR.. Bigham, the husband OF the
woman who was killed, is unknown.
Just what will be the next move
In the noted case is not known. Dr.
Bigham is at large, although recent
:Iy reported to be in Greenville. w.
r. Ayant is at the State Prlson'
though not as a convict, a message
having been received by the authorl-
ties from the sheriff OF Georgetown
lust before he was to be mustered
in, ITO hold him until further IN
structions." Ayant firmly believes
that he will get another trial but can
NOT understand why the papers nave
rot been filed with the supreme court
It is stated that the time Is out ior
the fling of the papers and tnal
10th men will have to go to prison.
THE prisoner said that he was per-
fectly ignorant as to just what ms
attorney had done in the case ana
that he thought that immediately
after Judge Watts refused fe"
trial that the case would be appear
ed to the supreme court.
Ayant was given to understand
before the interview that it was not
necessary for him to talk unless
he wished TO and that he might re-
quest any statement he might make
not to be printed.
In his conversation, the prisoner
at times grew excited and nervous.
Questions Of general nature he would
answer freely, but when asked di-
rectly about certain phases OF the
ease he would exclaim In an exclted
voice that l refuse to answer.
Although he was asked many ques-
tions concerning the mysterious case,
he would give no answers that "ouio
make a connected story. he coulo
not remember many of the detalls ol
the killing. n.u
When asked who shot Mrs. Big
tho nriscner said, "Yes, ! shot
her" When asked why the answer
came. 81 decline to answer"
On being asked just what MIS-
thoughts were when he discovered
that he had shot woman, ne hesl-
tated q moment and said, Il hao no
thoughts. / was scared and nervous
and ran back to the house.
"Why did you shoot and XIII Mrs
p;yham?" was asked Avant and the
nsual reply to many questions came
"that I decline to tell you
"Before you pulled the trigger
what did you see on the oeech was
the next question asked the pr'soh-
ar something black, sitting on 1he
ground" was the answer. :.
When questioned further as 70
ubera Dr. Bigham was when the shot
was fired, the prisoner said, i ooh
know was scared, he might nave
been near me-
what did you think the some
thing black or dark was on tne
haech?" he was asked, Il Will not
answer that" was the reply.
Avant stated that he was married,
ond while not warm personal frlena
of nr Bigham that he had known
him for some time and that MIS-
Bieham had visited his home ss'-
eral times. The prisoner "as d
farmer. ,.,
The killing of Mrs. Bigham was
most sensational and mysterious IN
its nature and many theories nave
been advanced, but nothing OF oeA'
Dite nature is known concerning Tue
crime.
Where is DR.. Blgham? Is the ques-
ton that many are asking.
From what can be learned mere
DR.. Bigham is still at large and Inc
last report from him is to the Ell
pect that he is in Greenville. E'l-
dantly there is some misunderstand-
ing in connection with the affair
avant having been arrested and sept