Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-10-28
FOUND GUILTY
Bigham and Avant Convicted Of Man.
slaughter and Sent Up for
THREE YEARS AND A HALF
1t Will be Remembered That Avant
and Bigham Shot and Killed
Bigham's Wife on the Evening OF
September Last, at Murrell's
Inlet.


Inlet.
Three years and six months i'm
prisonment in the State penit itentiary
was the sentence passed by Judge
Watts Friday afternoon at George
town upon w. b. Avant and G.. c.
Brigham. for the killing of Mrs.
Ruth Crisp Bigham, the jury having
rendered verdict Of guilty of man
slaughter after two hours deliber-
alton. Thus ends the story of deed
that has shocked the people OF the
entire State.
The correspondent of the State
says the majority OF the people are
inclined TO think the sentense ex-
tremely light. In spite OF the YER
dict. though. the killing OF Mrs. Big
ham has net been explained, mys-
terry still enshrouds the affair. The
fight for the accused men centered
around the fact that they considered
the object" which proved to be
Ills. Bigham. trespaose. and that
there was reason for suspicion. This
was ably combatted by the State,
although the prosecution was at dis
advantage in not having reply 20 Mr..
Ragsdaie.
Considerable surprise was created
when the defense permitted the case
to go to the jury without Offering
any testimony.
The State touched another phase
OF the case when in the testimony Of
M. j. Pearce of Waterloo, Laurens
county, It was shown that Mrs. Big
ham while on visit to her old home
In August had received a letter and
telegram from her husband. the con-
cents OF which caused her 10 weep
The matter OF unhappy married re-
lations was merely hinted at in this
manner. Mr.. Pearce had seen this
letter and the tears of the deceased
Suman.
Mr.. A. c. Leonard. one OF the
states Witnesses, was on tho boat
10 Georgetown. with Mr.. and Mrs.
Avant. after the killing. Avant had
told him 1T was a sad occurrance.
but believe any one else would have
lone 1t uiider the excitement aud
fright. DR.. Bigham doesn't blame
me; he told me to shoot That
word excitement" played a great
part in the argument by counsel,
particularly in that of Mr.. Rags
dale. Attorney j. w. Wingate open
ed for the defense. speaking but 10
minutes, deahng largely with the
iuty of jurors.
He was followed by Solicitor
| Cooper of Laurens. who spoke for
80 minutes. Mr.. Cooper dealt some
what at length with the law on tres
pass.
| Mr.. Cooper pointed out that ac-
brding to the testimony Mrs. Big
| ham was sitting on the beach when
shot, that there was no suspicious
action or movement. that the men
did not hail her az she passed the
house. He argued the complete alb
sencc OF any circumstances that
would warrant suspicion; he showed
an intention on the part of tho de-
fendants TO shoot and contended that
they were therefore guilty of muir
der.
Solicitor Wells argued that since
the defense was based on a specific
statute, section 2. the burden of prov
Ing the fitness and applica bility OF
this statute rested on the defense.
Then he attacked this plea with
mum vigor. making a telling i'm
preston on the jury. He endeayored
to show that because these men were
frightened was no sufficient excuse
for the act. The law doesn't ex-
empt them because they are arran,
cowards." said he.
MIR. Ragsdale. for the defense, clos
ed the arguments, making a pow
erful appeal to the jury in behalf
, Of his clients. He endeavored &c
!. show an absence of any motive fol
the killing, fact which the State
rldiculed much of the States tes
I iimony and sought to discredit som,
| of it's witnesses.
While the appeal was eloquent
moving the hearts OF many in tn,
, audience, strong and forceful. IL
: terms elegant and refined, still i
was scarcely more than an attemp
/ to play on the sympathies of tn
t jury. He attempted to show tha
. by tho testimony. it was dark whel
5 the shooting occurred. that AVIAN
S and Bgham seeing this suspicion
: looking person on the premises wer
r only acting In defonse of their home
- and loved ones. Several times dur
1 ing Mr. Ragsdale's speech both tn
q defendants. Avant and Bigham, wer
: moved TO tears and sat sobbini
c their faces buried in their hands.
Judge Watts charge was shoI
: but TO the point, touching only thos
J, phases of the law that might appl
: in this case. On murder and mar
: slaughter tho jury were thorough
: instructed and section 2 was especia
J. ly brought to their attention. Grin
g inal carelessness or negligence. a di
o regard of human life. were ais
:. touched upon at the request of s,
II licitor Wells.
n IudQa Waite told tho {ur,, 81,