The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-10-17
PARR.SHOALS SUSPECTS FREED.
MAGISTRATE Mann Decides State Failed
to Make Out Case Against CheS-
ter Young Men

mary in the case Of the State against
J. B. Frazer, Jr., and Bissell Blgham,
of Chester, charged with robbing the
paymaster of $4,000, at Parr Shoals,
.-lxas held today before Magistrate f. X
Mann, and resulted in the magistrate
holding that there was a failure on the
part of the prosecution TO make out
a probable case against the defendants,
who, therefore, were discharged.
The attorneys for the defence ex-
pected to have the hearing in Winns-
boro and large crowd had gathered
to hear the testimony, when W. II.
Lylss, attorney for the prosecution,
made the point that Magistrate Mann
was without jurisdiction to hear the
case in No. I township, when he was
magistrate of No II township.
He was sustained in this motion by
the magistrate and the officer stated
he would go within his territory ana
have the preliminary.
At 8 o'clock the crowd assembled dC
Ashford's Cross Roads, 10 miles south
west of Winnsboro, and the case was
called.
The prosecution offered only the tes-
timony of H. W. Mahan, paymaster
of the ]. G. White company, and A. t.
Hancock, camp boss of the construc-
ton camp at Parr Shoals Mr..
Mahan testified in substance as fol-
lows:
Paymaster's Testimony.
He was on train No 13 that left Co.
lumbia about 12O o'clock, and that ne
arrived at Parr Shoals at 2.3O O'CLOCK
that it was after he had received
that il was after he had receipted for
the money and started towards tine.
camp that he saw three men With
blackened faces; that they came up
and ordered the negro, Bill Renger, to
beat it., and drop the money he car
ried in canvas bag. The men, he said'
shot twice over his head and shot JOY
ner in the hip, when ne moved his
hand toward his hip pocket. The Wit
ness could not identify the persons,
but stated one of the men was OF the
build of Fraser and one about the size
of Bigham. Witness would not swear
either of them was the guilty party,
Says Recognized Them.
Mr.. Hancock testified to having seen
Fraser on the works at Parr Shoals
in February and June and saw Bigham
in the month of June; that he was
about eleven feet away when he saw
three men near the mail crane and
heard them hollering at the paymas-
ter and assistants. Their faces were
blackened, he said, but the disguise
had rubbed Off their hands ana ne
knew they were white men. witness
said he recognized Righam as the man
on the right when they came up 70
him. and the stout man in the centre
as Fraser. Witness said he went 10
Chester and after staying there four
or five days took seat in Wylle ana
Anderson's stables, where he was told
ne would probably see the man he was
looking for He said he thought Mr..
Wvl;e knew whom he was looking for
because he was in Chief of Police
Sanders Office and heard~the purpose
of his trip. Witness recognized Fras-
er when he came through tle stable.
Would Swear to Identity.
Asked the question whether ne told
his employer that Fraser was the per-
son who held them up, the witness
answered he had not. Said h. saw
Bignam in an eating house and that
Bigham went out when he came IN
and left his meal. Witness stated he
would swear positively that Fraser
and Bigham were two OF the persons
who held the men up, regardless OF
what a number Of citizens OF Chester
would say as to their being in Ches-
tsr at the time the robbery was
committed.
The attorneys representing the de-
PENDANTS were J. E. Mcdonald, S. j.
MacFadden, Gyles Patterson, A. l..
CASTOR and Malcolm Marion. After
the decision was announced the large
number of Chester citizens who had
journeyed to the hearing in automo-
biles applauded the magistrate and
number shook his hand,
Would Always Bring Good Price.