The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-03-27
"HOT TIME" IN UNION.
Member of Legislature Acting as
Constable for Governor.

There was quite stir in Union
Saturday night, near midnight, and
in Poverty Flat. G. D. Fortner, a
member of the Legislature from Spar
tanburg and a man named Forbes
have been operating in Union as de-
tectives for Governor Blease.
Fortner came to Union Tuesday
and gave his name to Chief of Po-
lice Evans as ''Smith,' representing
the Virginia Life ms. CO. He asked
Chief Evans questions about George
Fowler. Jr., and the breaking in the
U. & G. S. depot Chief Evans soon
found that Smith was operating
under an assumed name. Forbes
claimed to be acting as detective in
the Coleman and Edge murder cases.
On Saturday night Fortner was
acting badly in the Flat. The
trouble commenced at Purcells alley;
Forbes was rolling on the alley. Fort
ner was holding his coat. Fortner
was cursing so that Mr.. Purcell had
to call him down. Mr.. Painter also
called him down. He continued
cursing until a policeman was sent
for. When he found out that po-
liceman had been sent for he said he
would search Will Estes place that
night; that Estes had liquor stored
there and he was going to get it;
that Estes had made his threats and
he was going to show him what he
could do.
He went out and met Policeman J.
B. May; told him he was going to
search Will Estes place and to come
go with him. He was talking in
loud tone of voice: I'm going to
search the place or put the whole
town under martial law" He came
to police headquarters and met NJ.
NJ. Stroud; deputized Stroud to go
with him and raid Estes. When
Stroud refused to go, stating he
could not leave, then he tried to
force Stroud to go, Stroud knocked
him down. He then tried to deputize
Policeman Hix, the latter refusing to
go without orders from Chief.
"Where can l get him.
"Over the telephone he was told.
Chiefs telephone rang just as he
got home. Fortner phoned Chief
Evans: Il am Fortner, chief State
detective" Said he wanted to raid
some places in town; that he had
found lot of liquor there, and he
wanted to raid them.
''How long have you been in I'm
ion?" asked Chief Evans.
lone week." was the reply.
"You are the man met at the de-
pot; then why did you not make
yourself known before?'
He answered, For reasons best
known to myself. Governor sent me.
l want you to come and assist in
these raids
Chief Evans found him at Will Es-
tes' ulace with Sheriff FAINT. A large
crowd had gathered. This was 1880
Saturday night.
Forbes was standing at the foot of
the steps. Chief Evans called Fort
ner down and told him he would have
to cease cursing, and asked to be
shown his commission. Pulled out
one, 1913, signed by Governor Blease.
Chief Evans asked him what he
wanted. He said he wanted to go
in that building
Chief Evans said: Il could not
break down any door without war
rant" He then asked for a state
warrant.
Forbes and Chief Evans went to
Magistrate Pickett and got out a
warrant. In their absence Will Es-
tes came and said he had no OBJ
lection to the sheriff or Chief Evans
searching, but did object to having
Fortner, "a d. rascal and spy
searching his place.
FAINT said: Il have already search
ed. They went through again. No
whiskey was found. In the mean
time Estes was arrested by the sheriff
and put under 5000 cash bond.
On Sunday before this same build
ing was searched, but nothing ex-
cept a few empty bottles was found.
Fortner came out after the search.
He then searched Purcells place
without any warrant; said he did not
have one. Purcell called Sergeant
Wood and told him to search the
place, but that he did not want this
fellow Fortner to search. That he
had been kicking up a racket all
night. Purcell swore out warrant