The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-07-13
Banbers 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 Whosc Sentence Was Conn
mutcd on His Promise OF Good
Behavior.

On September II. 1906. J. J.
Hughes. OF Bamberg county. pleaded
guilty 70 the charge OF assault: and
battery and was sentenced by Judge
G. ". Gage &c serve six years in the
Peni;entiary. The assault was upon
Hughes's wife. and appeared most
unp7ovoked and aggravated one.
On July s. I99S. Governor Ansel
commuted his sentence for the re-
mainder OF the term on condition
that ne would not commit; like Of.
tense again. and the Governors &C
lion was approved by large major
ity 81 the people Of the county.
Hughes reached home OF July :.
1908. and up to a shor, time ago
had been living peaca5ly and appar-
emily happily with his wife and chill
dren on their farm. 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 4 most eSumaoie lacy.
1t is reported that a drunken spree
on last SUNDAY eliminated in Hughes
making a savage attack upon his
| wife with gun. Il is said he
! knocked her down with K. splitting
| her forehead open for several In
| ches and otherwise ;njuSing her. so
| that the services OF surgeon were
necessary to dress her wounds. 1t
| is also said that be attempted TO
shoot her. ans would have succeed
ed. bu; for the interference OF
negro who knocked the gun up as be
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-
.ection and that her husband be ar
rested
Clerk OF Court c. B. Free swore
,ut a warrant and Deputy Sheriff I.
J. Rentz went down Sunday evening
20 arrest Hughes. When they got
there. il is said. they found the
Hughes home dark and no one ~en-
tured near the house On Monday
Deputy Sheriff Rentz. accompanied
by w NJ McCue. constable tor Mag
:strate H. D. Free. again went to the
Hughes home. when they found him
standing in his front door.
Hughes spoke 10 them and told
them tha, he liked them pretty we'll.
but that they mus, not ge, out OF
their buggy IL they did not want -
die: that he had served two years
in the penitentiary and ne would
rather die than so back there again.
The deputy sheritfs considered dis
lcre,ion the better part OF valor and
concluded not 20 a!ighf 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 90 10 town with them II
they would ge; his wife 10 accom-
pany him 10 town. Then they went
to neigh bcr's home 10 which Mrs.
Hughes hcd fed. but by the time
they got there Hughes had written
a note and sent II there. saying he
lad left. so this plan was frustrated.
The deputies spent the remainder Of
The day riding around and looking
:or Hughes. but they said they did
no, get in sigh; OF him again. II
IS said tha, Hughes Is still at home.
but defes arrest.
Sheriff Hunter is one-lesged
Confederate Veteran and depends en-
tirely upon his deputies for making
arrests. The facts have been COM
municatci 10 the Governor and the
neorle are awaiting with some anX-
ietr the outcome Of the matter There
IRE many who fear for the safety OF
Mrs. Hughes. bui il is not generally
though. that Hughes Will do ner
harm unless he is under the iuGu-
once Of liquor