The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-14
HOT TIME FOR BLIND TIGERS
i"luor sellers in NlycsyiI!c Rounded
up-ProSecuted.


uSerS OF this town have had a severe
shaking up within the past few days.
/ or ABOUT two weeks the detectives of
the High Point Detective agency Of
columbia have been very quietly but
effectively at work here and the re-
SUITS of their work was put in evil
dence on Thursday morning when
Chief j. w. Ashburn Of the above
named agency arrived in town and
with the assistance Of the local police
ana special officers began making ar
rests by the wholesale. Before night
rall there were sixteen colored citizens
IN the town Jail, four of whom were
women. There We're twenty-five war
rants sworn out before Mayor Wom-
ole' one defendant having four
cases against him, making nineteen
persons in all. Three have vet to be
apprehended.
IN making the rounds Of the "ti-
gers here the two detectives of the
agency used very unique methods in
most cases and not even the best in
formed persons in town affairs knew
/ the game" that was being played by
the detectives. These special officers
OF the town, for they were acting as
| special police officers of the town. de-
serve credit for their work for it was
10 easy matter TO undertake such
work in small town where nearly
everyone notices any strangers in the
t|Wn who stay for any length Of time
che OF the detectives was a woman
which was something out Of the or
dlnary in such business, and natural
ly she was not suspected Of being in
the sleuth line Of work. The names
OF these detectives and the methods
employed by them can not be given
FOR reasons that are obvious. Chief
Ashburn Of the agency was assisted in
his work IF locating and arresting by
Chief of Police V. P. Workman, As
sistant Chief j. o. Workman, special
Officer Nesbitt, and Deputies Ziegler
and Sykes Of Sumter.
Mayor Womble had been absent in
North Carolina for several days. and
when he returned TO town last night
he found plenty IF work awaiting
him. He proceeded to mete out JUS
tice at once and assembled court last
night. Three Of the defendants were
| arralgned and the testimony taken.
Sam Mcleod, Sam Green and Walter
| Wilson were the ones favored last
night. The testimony offered by the
detectives and the chief .of police
was taken and the defendants Offering
no testimony in reply, Mayor Wom-
bic reserved his judgment in the cases
until later. This morning tho cases
Of w. II. Swinton was called. four
charges for selling being docketed
against him. The defendant was rep
resented by L. d. jennings Esq,
| Mayor Of Sumter and the town was
represented bly, Messrs Purdy and
Bland Of Sumter. The defense called
for jury and the following were
drawn to serve: NJ. G. Mayes, Fore
! man, j. II. Burgess. w. s. Chandler,
I +. p. Mcneil. r. G.. Spencer and w.
=. chandler. Much time was spent
in taking of testimony and arguments
| by counsel. The usual evidence as to
two counts was returned by the jury
after about thirty minutes delibera-
ton. Mayor Womble sentenced the
defendant to pay fine OF $50 or serve
80 days on the county chaingang in
each case. This was the first offense
for the defendant for selling whiskey.
After the trial Mr.. Jennings ar
ranged bonds for the above defend
ant pending an appeal for new trial
! ana likewise gave bonds for about all
! of the other alleged tigers" in limbo
so the town Jail was cleared, one
/ pleading guilty. The other cases will
probably he taken up tomorrow morn
ing.
! The court room was packed with
white and black spectators today as
this was one Of the largest and most
interesting courts ever held by the
! mayor Of this town. Presumably, the
/ town is quite dry today and will
probably remain SO for sometime to
come "W. r. c."