The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-07-07
WIFE BEATER IN TROUBLE.
j. J. Hughes Successfully Defies Of
ficers of the Law.

On September II, 1906, j. ].
Hughes, of this county, pleaded gull
ty to the charge of assault and bat
terry and was sentenced by Judge G.
w. Gage to serve six years in the pen
! itentiary. The assault was upon
Hughes's wife, and appeared a most
unprovoked and aggravated one.
On July 6, 1908, Governor Ansel
commuted his sentence for the re-
mainder of the term on condition that
he would not commit like offence
again, and the governors action was
approved by large majority of the
people of this county. Hughes reached
home on July Z, 1908, and up to
short time ago had been living peace
! fully and apparently happily with his
wife and children on their farm,
few miles south of the county seat.
Some time ago it was rumored that
he had again commenced to drink and
abuse his wife, who, by the way, is a
most estimable lady.
It is reported that a drunken spree
on last Sunday eliminated in Hughes
making a savage attack upon his wife
with gun. 1t is said he knocked her
down with it, splitting her forehead
open for several inches and other
wise injuring her, so that the services
of a surgeon were necessary to dress
her wounds. It is also said that he
attempted to shoot her, and would
have succeeded but for the interfer-
ence of a negro who knocked the
gun up as he was about to pull the
trigger, thus saving the lady's life.
Mr.. Hughess brother, who was
largely instrumental in securing the
communication, came to town and re-
ported the matter, and Mrs. Hughes
also wrote a note asking for protec-
ton and that her husband be arrest
ed.
Clerk of Court c. B. Free swore
out a warrant and Deputy Sheriff T.
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, accompanied
by w. M. McCue, constable for magis-
trate, H. D. Free, again went to the
Hughes home, when they found
Hughes standing in his front door.
| 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 he had served two years in the
| Penitentiary and he would rather die
than 60 back again. The deputy
sheriffs considered discretion the
better part of valor and concluded not
to alight from their vehicle, as it was
evident that Hughes was armed and
meant what he said. They talked
and reasoned with Hughes, who final
ly proposed that he would go to town
with them if they could get his wife
| to accompany him to town. They
then 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, say
ing 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 defies arrest.
Sheriff Hunter is one-legged Con-
federate Veteran and depends en-
tirely upon his deputies for making
arrests.
The facts have been communicated
to the Governor and the people are
awaiting with some anxiety the out
come of the matter. There are many
who fear for the safety of Mrs.
Hughes, but it is not generally
thought that Hughes will do her
| harm unless he is under the influence
of liquor special to News
and Courier.