The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-01
FUG|TWES LEFT COUNTRY?
GOVERNOR COMMENTS ON BIG
HAM-AVANT SITUATION.
Public Interest in Celebrated George
town Murder Case Increased by Re-
port OF Alleged Confession by Avant
That He Was Hired by Bigham to
Kill Latter's Wife-Facts of Case
Repeated.

ing been hired by DR.. Bigham to kill
the latter's wife, caused much COM
ment here among those who have fol-
lowed the case. There Is general in
terest throughout the State in the
Bigham-Avant matter, and it is gen.
orally hoped that the two fugitives
from justice may soon be caught.
Many people have wondered why
Gov. Ansel has not yet offered a re-
ward. Conversation with Gov. Ansel
reveals the situation that he has not
been asked by the sheriff Of the coun-
ty to offer the reward, and Gov. An
sci also believes that the bondsmen
should exhaust every effort to turn
the men over to the authorities.
The two men were convicted in
Georgetwon county last year on the
charge Of killing Ruth Crisp Bigham,
the wife Of DR.. Bigham, and were
sentenced to serve three years and
six months in the State Penitentiary.
State, and it is doubtful If either will
be apprehended.
Sheriff Scurry, Of Georgetown, has
offered reward for the arrest of the
two men.
Nothing has been heard at the State
Penitentiary as to the whereabouts of
either Avant or Bigham, and it is be-
lieved by the officers that both have
left the State.
IT have not been asked to offer a
reward for the two men," said Gov.
Ansel when asked If he would offer
reward.
1.-TWO Of the sureties for Avant,"
said Gov. Ansel, "have asked that I
offer a reward, but wrote saying
that it was their business to produce
the prisoner at the appointed time"
DR.. Bigham was under bond of
$500. and Avant $4,000.
Immediately after the trial at
Georgetown. counsel for the two men
asked that they be admitted to bail
Judge Watts. who heard the case, ad-
mitted Avant and Bigham to bail in
the sum Of s1,5OO each.
Later Avant came to the Peniten-
tiary and gave himself up. Just be-
fore he was mustered in as convict
message was received from the
Georgetown authorities asking that
the prisoner be held until further no.
tice. No further word was received
from Georgetown, and as a result
Avant was held at the Penitentiary
for several months as a detention
prisoner
His attorneys during the early part
of the year appeared before the Su-
preme Court and instituted habeas
corpus proceedings. An order was
signed admitting Avant to bail in the
sum of $4,000, pending an appeal to
the Supreme Court He left the Pen
itentiary and went back to George
town.
Immediately after the trial. and
when DR.. Bigham was admitted to
bail on the sum of $l,50o, he left
Georgetown and went to Greenyille.
Since that time he has not been seen.
n letter received by relatives of
Bigham states that he left the United
States Immediately after the trial.
"A letter was received by relatives Of
Avant' soon after the Supreme Court
had given the decision which affirmed
the sentence of the Georgetown court.
saying 81 am running away" The
letter was postmarked Atlanta.
1t is generally believed that Avant
left his home in GEORGETOWN for the
purpose of coming to the Penitentiary
after. the final decision by the Su-
preme Court, but that he, after arriv-
ing In Columbia, decided to run away.
1t is known that he telephoned to the
authorities at the Penitentiary from
the village of Cayce, nea Columbia.
The conversation was bro. en- off alb
ruptly and the next heard from
AVant he was running away"
Avant and Bigham were convicted
and sentenced to three years and six
months each.
They were admitted to bond in the
sum Of $500.
"A verbal notice Of appeal was Civ
en- to the Supreme Court.
The decision of the Georgetown
court was affirmed.
The remittitur was sent to George
town in due time. yet both men es-
capped.
Bigham is now out Of the United
states, according to the belief Of many
persons. Avant is somewhere In the