The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-26
'MANsLAUGHTER" SAYS JURY
Three Years and a Half for Bigham
and A7ant.-Mystery of Crime
Remains Unsolved.

Georgetown, Oct. Three
years and six months Imprisonment
IN the State penitentiary'' was the
sentence passed by Judge Watts
early this afternoon upon ". B.
Avant and G. C. Bingham, for the
killing Of Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham,
the jury having rendered verdict of
guilty Of manslaughter after two
bours delibera;ion. Thus ends the
story Of deed that has shocked the
people Of the entire State, unless the
attorneys for the convicted men ap-
peal to the supreme court.
The majority of the people are in
cllned to think the sentence extreme
ly light. In spite Of the verdict
though, the killing of Mrs. Bigham
has not been explained, mystery still
enshrouds the affair. The fight for
the accused men centred around the
fact that they considered the sob
jeet" which proved to be Mrs. Big
ham, trespasser and that there was
reason for suspicion. This was ably
eombatted by the State, although the
prosecution was at disadvantage in
not having reply to Mr.. Ragsdale.
No Testimony for Defense.
! Considerable surprise was created
to-day, in the trial of W. B. Avant
and G. C. Bigham for the killing Of
Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham, when the
defense permitted the case to go to
the jury without offering any testi-
mony. When court convened this
morning the State produced three
additional witnesses, after which the
State rested. Thereupon, after
short conference between Attorneys
Ragsdale and Wingate, notice was
given that the denfense would offer
no testimony.
In the Court Room.
Among those present throughout
the first day Of the trial we're: Mr..
M. B. Crisp of Mountville, Laurens
county, father Of Mrs. Bigham, the
slain woman; Mr.. A. B. Crisp of
Heardmont, Ga., and Eugene Crisp,
of Clinton, Mr.. Sydney Crisp, of
Grover, N. c., Mr.. NJ. L. Crisp, of
Whitmire, all brothers Of the deceas-
ed; Messrs. J. J. Dendy, B. A. Whar-
ton, S. NJ. Pearce and S. D. Childress
Of Laurens; Messrs. L. S. and E. D.
Bigham Of Florence county; Mrs.
Bigham, mother of DR.. Bigham; and
six witnesses from Marion county,
who were at Murrel's Inlet on the
day Of the tragedy.
Both the defendants are rather
young and boyish in their appear
anee. DIR. Bigham is small Of statue,
rather heavy set, auburn hair, full 1
round face, apparently about % years
Of age. Mr.. Avant is still younger,
possibly 26, taller, light-haired, and
of medium build. Both deported
themselves with apparent realization
Of the seriousness Of their situation.
During most Of the day they leaned
to one side. head and face in hand,
somewhat detected. Neither showed
any particular emotion at any time,
not even during Mr.. Bucks graphic
and realistic picture Of the dead wo-
man on the beach and in the room
of the Avant home.
Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham-
Mrs. Bigham, the deceased, was
the daughter of Mr.. NJ. B. Crisp Of
Mountville, Laurens county. In 1907
she graduated from Chicora college,
bright, attractive, pretty little wo-
man, about FIVE feet, three or four
inches tan, weighing possibly ITO
pounds, aged % years. She was full
of life, fine company, though some
what shy. Returning to her home al
Mountville, after leaving college, she
met and soon after welded DR.. S. c.
Bigham, who was at the time practlc-
ing his profession in her home COM
munity. The marriage took place at
Mountville; the couple soon returned
to DR.. Bigham's s former home in
Florence county.
In the summer just past. Mrs. Big
ham visited her old home, the scenes
Of her girlhood. Upon requests from
her husband she returned to Florence
county: soon they together ven on
the 'iL-fated visit to MurreI's Inlet,
a summer home for many families.
They occupied a front room at "Sun-
nv: de-" he home of the Avant's.
Murrel's S Inlet.
Murrel's Inlet is a resort about -
miles up the coast from Georgetown.
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