Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-04

ing Magistrate H. e. Johnson of Beth
el, in whose jurisdiction the intended
operations would occur, to hold him.
self in readiness for developments, and
then proceeded on up the road after
the Yorkville buggies, until they came
to Mr.. w. B. Riddles, where they left
their horses and proceeded the bal
ance of the way on foot.
The officers had previously figured
out that their search would probably
end at Columbus Parham's. and on ar
riving there, they found half a hun
dred or more men collected in an out
building, which was doing service as
cockpit. Several fights mad already
been pulled off, and one was just end
ing up as they reached the scene, one
chicken having been killed, and the
other still pecking at it, Some of the
spectators moved away, as soon as
they got an intimation Of the approach
OF the officers, and others held their
ground for while; but within about
thirty minutes, the place was practi-
cally deserted
The officers arrived on the ground
at about $3.50 o'clock, and remained
there until 5. They did not see any
thing, which, under the law would seem
to warrant them in making arrests
without warrants, and their object In
remaining, was to prevent a renewal
of the chicken fighting. They found
several dead roosters lying around and
estimate that altogether there were as
many as forty or fifty chickens at the
pit that would have been used in the
main, had 1t not been for the appear
ance Of the officers.
Leaving Officers Quinn and Johnson
at the cockpit, Officer Sanders follow
ed Columbus Parham to his store
Officer Sanders had seen Parham en-
ter, and following close behind, got up
to the door just as 1t was shut in his
face. The officer demanded admission
but there was no answer. IF you
don't open this door, Parham, l am
going to break II open," said Sanders
There was no answer and Sanders
threw his heavy weight against the
at the bottom. Hold on, and l will
open," said a voice from within, and
after a short delay, the door was OPEN
ed by Parham himself. Sanders walk
ed in, and Parham assuring him that
there was nothing unlawful about the
premises, told him that he was well
come to search. Il know how well
come l am" said Sanders; but l an
going to search all the same" and
straightway he proceeded to look about
There had been a noise in the store
while the officer was waiting on the
outside, and the officer had construed
the noise to mean that something was
being concealed. He went to the OF
can first, and finding nothing there
finally dipped his hand down into g
box Of shelled corn, into which some
axes had been stuck. He cut his hand
on one of the ak blades, but at the
same time felt a large jug, which he
quickly pulled out and found to be
more than half full of corn whisky.
What is this" asked Sanders
Il do not know" replied Parham
Then it Is not yours?" inquired San
ders. NO." said Parham. We'll
then" said Sanders, I'll just take 1t,
and he carried it off with him.
At the April, 1908, term Of the court
Columbus Parham plead guilty before
Judge Watts to the charge of keeping
a gambling place and violating the dis
pensary law. On the first plea he was
sentenced to pay fine Of 500 or &c
to the chaingang for three months, and
on the second count he was sentenced
to pay 5000 or go to the chaingang fol
five months. He paid both fines, and
Judge Watts advised him that there
was still another indictment pending
against him on the contingent docket
and that If he should come before the
court again, it would go hard with him
The understanding is that it Is the
purpose Of the officers to swear out
warrants for all the parties who had
chickens at the cockpit, and to sub
poena all the spectators who were
present as witnesses; but as to wheth-
er they will be able to find any law to
cover the case, remains to be seen.