The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-11-24
AVANT TALKS
Georgetown Man Says Killing Has
Ruined His Life.
A PECULIAR SITUATION

Man Does Not Know How His APP
peal Stands-Dr. Bigham Not Yet
Heard From-Seems to Be Doubt
About Report of the Doctor Be-
ing in Greenville.
"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 he
is held, pending an appeal TO the
supreme court. Arant was question:
ed closely as to the tragedy OF Muir
rell's Inlet, when he shot and killed
Mrs. Ruth Crisp Bigham, on a lone
ly beech, while he was in company
with her husband, Or. G. G. Btsham.
Both Avant and Bigham have aeen
convicted for the crime and sentenc-
ed to serve q term Of three and one
half q each in the State prison.
The prisoner who Is now being held,
until further advices are received
from the Georgetown sheriff is very
Young, hardly over %, of unkempt
appearance, shoulders slightly stoop-
ed, brownish hair, gray eyes n OF
a nature. The where abouts
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
" reported to be in Greenville. W.
B. Avant Is at the State Prison.
though not as a convict, a message
having been received by the suthori-
ties from the sheriff of Georgetown
lust before he was to be mustered
In, ito hold him until further In
structions." Avant firmly believes
that he will get another trial but can
not understand why the papers have
not been filed with the supreme court
It Is stated that the time Is out for
the filing Of the papers and NAT
both men will have to 80 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 q ne"
trial that the case would be appeal
ed to the supreme court
Avant was given to understand
before the interview that 1t was not
necessary for him to talk unless
be 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 woulc
answer freely, but when asked d.
rectly about certain phases OF the
case he would exclaim in an excited
voice, that I refuse to answer
Although he was asked many ques-
tions concerning the mysterious case
he would give no answers that Would
make a connected story. He coulo
not remember many Of the details OF
the killing.
When asked who shot Mrs. Big
ham, the prisoner said. Yes, I shot
her" When asked why the answer
came, Il decline to answer.
On being asked just what MS
thoughts were when he discovered
that he had shot a woman, he hest
tated a moment and said, Il had nc
thoughts. l was scared and nervous
and ran back to the house.
why did you shoot and kill Mrs,
Bigham?" was asked Avant and the
usual reply to many questions came
that l decline to tell you
Before you pulled the trigger,
what did you see on the beech Was
the next question asked the prison
er, Something black, sitting on the
ground" was the answer.
When questioned further as to
where DR.. Bigham was when the shot
was fred, the prisoner said, II don't
know. l was scared, he might have
been near me-"
What did you think the some
thing black or dark was on the
beech?" he was asked, II will not
answer that" was the reply.
Avant stated that he was married,
and while not a warm personal friend
of Dr.. Bigham that he had known
him for some time and that MIS-.
Bigham had visited his home sew
eral times. The prisoner was a
farmer.
The killing of Mrs. B!gham was
most sensational and mysterious In
its nature and many theories have
been advanced, but nothing of a def
rite nature Is known concerning the
crime.
Where Is DR.. Bigham? Is the ques-
ton that many are asking.
From what can be learned hare
DR.. Bigham Is still at large and the
last report from him Ia to the eff
feet that he is in G%reenville. Ei-
IDENTIFY there Is some misunderstaud-
ing in connection with the afa.r,
Avant having been arrested and sent
to prison and Bigham being out on
bond yet. 1t certainly appears TO
be illegal for Avant to be in and
Bigham out or vice versa, inasmuch
they we're both released at the same
time and under identically the same
conditions"