The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-09-23
SENSATION IN BIGHAM CASE
TRIAL PROMISES TO PRODUCE
STARTLING TESTIMONY.

Will Introduce Three Reliable Mem
bers of Murrelrs Inlet Colony at
Trial of Avant and Bigham.
Marion, Sept. 15.-There promises
to be some sensational testimony for
the prosecution. according to state
ments here, when the cases against
". 3. Avant and S. C. Bigham,
charged with killing Mrs. Bigham,
. are called in Georgetown. The cir
cumstances in the case are generally
familiar. Mrs. Bigham was shot and
instantly killed about ten days ago
near Nurrells Inlet. She and her
husband, who is physician, had
called on Ayant and late III the after
noon the two men, who were sitting
on the porch, saw a person waking
about on the beach about 100 yards
from the residence. They later saw
the party sit or crouch in the sand
and then, according to their state
ments, they armed themselves with
a double-barreled shotgun and. ap-
preaching within a few feet, fired,
after calling, "Who's there?' Both
loads entered Mrs. Bighams back,
making a very small wound and kill
ing her instantly. A few days later
the two men were released on $500
bond.
Three Witnesses Summoned.
At Murrell's Inlet there is gath
cred every summer small colony OF
Marion county people and there have
teen suhpoenaed of these three wit
nessas for the State who will tell
what they know of the case. These
witnesses are Henry Buck, an attor-
ney; J. D. Murchison, an automobile
dealer, both of this city, and Edgar
Smith. planter, who lives near Null
Inns. Two of these witnesses were
seen to-day and while very little in
the way of definite information could
be obtained from either it is evident
from common talk that efforts will
be made by the State to refute some
of the statements made by the de-
PENDANTS.
Mr.. Buck has taken much interest
in the case but would say nothing for
publication, taking the position tnat
any definite statement just at this
time might be called into question
when he went on the witness stand.
Mr.. Murchison Reticent.
Mr.. Murchison also said little. He
heard the report of the gun and saw
the fash but at the time paid only
slight attention to it, although he
heard negro on an island in the
middle of the stream call out, What
are you shooting this way for?' This
negro Mr.. >Murchison saw distinctly.
One of the grounds for the defnse is
that Avant and Bigham did not rec
ognize Mrs. Bigham when the shots
were fired. Messrs. Edgar Smith and
Henry Buck, who were close to the
shooting, went up to the scene and
what they saw there will be brought
out on the stand.
MurreI's Inlet is some distance
from Georgetown and the house at
which Mrs. Bigham and her husband
visited was called "Sunnyside." 1t is
surrounded by grove of trees and
in front is the beach. which is also
used for road. There are a number
of cottages on this beach, and direct
ly in front of ''Sunnyside'' is pri-
vate wharf near where the killing oc-
Cured. This is in the open. The
two men were playing checkers on
the piazza just a minute before
Avant did the shooting, although it
is dusk at the house about half an
hour before it grows dark in the
opening.
open.
Points About Comment.
These are points that are talked
about in Marion by those who have
talked with the witnesses, although |
these witnesses do not care to COM
NIT themselves to any statement TOR
publication that might afterwards be
brought into question on the stand.
Mrs. Bigham was formerly Miss
Ruth Crisp, of Laurens county, a
daughter of Matthew Crisp, of Mount
vile. She had been married only
short time.
There have been series of
troubles in the Bigham family. In
the court records of Marion county it
is shown that in October, 1872, L. S.
Bigham, Sr., grandfather of the pres
ent defendant, and L.. S. BEham, Jr.,
father Of the defendant, were tried |
for murder and verdict of not gull
ty returned. L. S. Bigham, Sr., was
found guilty of assault and battery,
however.
A number of Marion people will
attend the trial when the case is
called, because of the intense local
interest and the testimony that it is
expected will be brought out.