The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-22
SENSATION IN BIGHAM CASE.
Trial Promises to Produce Startling
Testimony.


| ments here, when the cases against
w. B. 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 10 dayss ago
near Nurrells Inlet. She and her
husband who is a physician, had call
ed on Avant and late in the after
noon the two men, who were sitting
on the porch, saw a person walking
ABOUT on the beach 100 yards from
the residence. They later saw the
party sit or crouch in the sand and
then. according to their statements.
they armed themselves with a double
barreled shotgun and. approaching
within a few feet, fired. after calling.
Who's there?" Both loads entered
Mrs. Bigham's back, making q very
small wound and killing her instant
ly A few days later the two men
were released on $500 bond.
At Murrell's Inlet there is eatbared
every summer small colony of Ma
rion county people and there have
been subpOenaed Of these witnesses
for the State who will tell what tbev
Know or the case. These witnesses
are Henry Buck. an attorney; j. D.
Murchison. an automobile dealer. both
OF this city, and Edgar Smith, a
planter. who lives near Mullins. Two
OF these witnesses We're seen todav
and while very little in the wav of
DEFINITE information could be obtain
ed 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 defend
ants.
Mr.. Buck has taken much interest
in the case but would say nothing
for publication, taking the position
that any definite statement just at
this time might be called into oues-
ton when he went on the witness
stand.
Mr.. Murchison also said little. He
heard the report of the gun and saw
the flash 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 defense 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.
Murrelrs 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 directly
in front of 'Sunnyside" is a private
wharf near where the killing occur
red. This is in the open. The two
men were playing checkers on the
piazza just minute before Avant did
the shooting, although it is dusk at
the house about half an hour before
it grows dark in the open.
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 for
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
Mountville. She had been married
only short time.
There have been a 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 present de-
fendant,and l.. S. Bigham, Jr., father
of the defendant, were tried for MUIR
der and verdict of not guilty re-
turned. l.. s. Bigham, Sr., was found
guilty of assault and battery, how
ever.
number of Marion people will at
tend the trial when the case is called.
because of the intense local interest
and the testimony that it is expect-
ed will be brought out. A. III. s
Americans have 6iconuarol