The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-07-07
Banberg County is Greatly Stirred Over
a Sensational Case.
FAIL TO MAKE ARREST
OF J. j. Hughes. Who Had Been
Convicted Of Assault on His Wife,
But Whose Sentence Was Conf
nsuted on His Promise Of Good
"A behavior. ils

&. On September II, 1906. ]. J..
Hughes. of Bamberg county, pleaded
guilty to the charge OF assault and
battery and was sentenced by Judge
C. w. Gage to serve six years in the
Penitentiary.. The assault was upon
Hughes's wife, and appeared a most
unproyoked and aggravated one.
On July 6, 1908, Governor Ansel
committed his sentence for the re-
-n,ainder of the term on condition
that he would not commit like Of
fense again, and the Governors ac-
ton was approved by, a large, major
ity of the people of the county.
Hughes reached home of July T.,
1908, and up to short time ago
had been living peacably and appar-
emily happily with his wife and chill
dren on their farm, a few miles
south Of the county seat. ,,
Sometime ago it was rumored that
he had again commenced to drink
and abuse his wife, who, by the way,
is most estimable lady. !: :.
It is reported that a drunken spree
on.last Sunday eliminated in Hughes
making a savage attack upon his
wife with a gun. II is said he
Knocked her down with it.: splitting
her forehead open for several in =
ches and otherwise injuring her, SO:
that the services Of surgeon, were
necessary to dress her wounds. It,
is also said that he attempted to
shoot her, and would have succeed
ed. bat, for the interference of a
negro who knocked the gun up as ne
was about to pull the trigger, thus
saving the lady's life.
Mr.. Hughes's brother, who was
largely. instrumental in securing the
communication, came to town and re-.
ported the matter. and Mrs. Hughes
also wrote note asking for pro-
lection and that her husband be ar.
rest ed. i 80
Clerk of Court c. B. Free. swore5
out warrant and Deputy Sheriff I.
J. Rentz went down Sunday evening
to arrest Hughes. When they got
there, it is said, they found the
Hughes home dark and no one ven
tured near the house. On Monday
Deputy Sheriff Rentz,a accompanied
by w. M. McCue, constable for Mag
istrate H. D. Free, again went to the
Hughes, home, when they found him
standing in his front door. W. #
Hughes spoke to them and told
them that he liked them pretty well, ;.
but that they must not get out Of
their buggy if they did not want to
die; that me had served two years
in the penitentiary and he would
rather die than go back there again.
The deputy sheriffs considered iols-
creticn the better part Of valor and
concluded not to alight from their
vehicle, as it was evident that he
was armed and meant what he said.
They reasoned and talked with
Hughes, who finally proposed that
he would go to town Win them II
they would get his wife to accom-
pany him to town. Then they went
to a neighbor's home to which Mrs.
Hughes had fled, but by the time
they got there Hughes had written
a note and sent it there, saying he
had left, so this plan was frustrated.
The deputies spent the remainder OF
the day riding around and looking
for Hughes, but they said they did
not get in sight of him again. 1t
is said that Hughes is still at home,
but defes arrest.
Sheriff Hunter is one-legged
Confederate Veteran and depends en-
tirely upon his deputies for making
arrests. The facts have been COM
municated to the Governor and the
people are awaiting with some anX-
iety the outcome of the matter. There
are many who fear for the safety of
Mrs. Hughes, but it is not generally
thought that Hughes will do ner
harm unless he is under the influ-