davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28
A PLEA FOR MERCY.
Governor Asks Legislature to Stop
Cruelty at Penitentiary.

Governor Asks Legislature to stor
Cruelty at Penitentiary.
Governor Blease on Tuesday night
sent the following message to the sen.
ate. On Wednesday night, after the
convening of the house, he also sent 9
copy to that body:
Message No. a.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Executive Department.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
/ transmit to you herewith, letter re-
ceived by me on the morning Of Feb
ruary 25, 1913:
February %, 1918.
His Excellency, Governor Blease,
Columbia, s. G.
Honorable SIR ...... .
Simeon Ellis (colored) a prisoner 90.
/ understand was talking to you yes
terday, Saturday, on the street. He
was working on the city street detail
and as you passed, asked his guard
Corporal Boykin, to speak to you and
Boykin refused him the permission to
do so and he spoke to you anyhow.
To-day he was brought up before
Capt. Sondley by Boykin and was SEN
fenced to the stocks and Ellis says he
was struck forty-flve or fifty lashes, he
cannot say the exact number, and his
back now shows the result from his
head down to his hips. ys7
II am telling you this as q matter OF
information, which / think you will be
glad to know at this time, as am very
we'll posted as to what your policies
are regarding such things regarding
the state penitentiary. .g ~ -.
aTharaf0ra II Hn nnf haaitata To aenl
you this information as ] know that
you will not give the source Of your
information. ~
"vouro roanacffullv
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

NEW ADVERTISEMENTS

shannon -Smarr Co., Sharon-Want to
talk to you about fertilizers.
Betsy Wood-Warns all persons not
to employ or harbor her minor son,
Agi, who has left her home.
j. M. Atwood-Has opened a restau-
rant in the McNeel building and Is
ready to furnish meals at all hours.
]. I. w.porn-Offers the ]. B. Bell
house for sale. See page four.
Louis Roth-Wants to furnish you
with several varieties of seed Irish
potatoes at right prices.
]. =. Wray-Calls attention to his big
special sale and invites you to call
on him when in town Monday.
First National Bank, Yorkville-Says
that the man of the hour Is the man
with money, and advises you to save
part of your earnings.
Carroll Furniture Coolers the Irene
range to Its trade as oae that Is en-
tirely satisfactory, and moderately
priced. Photographs cheap.
Yorkville Hardware Co.'s optimistic
on the weather, and tells farmers
where to find all kinds Of farming
hardware.
Kirkpatrick-Belk Co.-Sells Wunder-
hose for the family. Four pairs for
81, guaranteed four months. Sim
lT gle pairs, 26c and 36c.
Loan and Savings Bank-Says people
of Yorkville and surrounding coun-
try are growing more conservative
each succeeding year.
]. M. Stroup-Will sell 25 lbs. Of best
granulated sugar for $1.25, and 20
lbs. Of rice for 81. See him for gar
den seeds and seed potatoes.
Thomson Co.'s receiving large ship
ments Of spring goods, including la
dies coat suits, embroideries, laces,
galatea, ginghams, etc.
Geo. w. Williams-Tells you to stop,
look and list your real estate with
him II you want to sell. See him IL
you want to buy. Offerings.
Palmetto Monument Co.-Says that a
monument is q mark Of esteem and
love for the dead. It makes monu-
ments Of all kinds.
Smoak-Brown Co.-Ask you to call on
them Monday, and see their mules
and buggies.
Carroll Bros.-Have q large supply of
seed Irish potatoes, and want to sell
them, and will make prices right.
James Bros.-Invite you to visit their
stables next Monday. and see the
mules and horses they have to offer.
i. w. Johnson-Asks you to call on
him for lard, snowdrift, snowhite,
lard, chicken feed, tea, coffee, and
other edibles.
D. E. Boney-Remarks that while 1t
Is too wet to work, 1t Is good time
to attend to your insurance.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

In speaking Of the unrest and dis
satisfaction throughout South Caroli-
ma, which The Yorkville Enquirer says
exists 1t goes on to say: Our own
view of the whole situation Is that
above all else 1t is time for the people
to turn their thoughts to common JUS
tice and insist on strict and impartial
enforcement Of the laws. If the laws
of the land were properly observed,
there would be no place for dissatis-
faction or unrest" All Of which Is very
true and to which might be added that of
laws we have entirely too many. If men
were to do their neighbors as they
would their neighbors should do unto
them, there would be little use for laws,
and the enforcement of such laws as
We had would be easier Of enforcement.
The great trouble with these times Is
that we are trying to regulate every
thing by law, and as a result we have
very few laws strictly enforced. There
Is too much law and too much regulat-
ing everything by law, or at least an
attempt to do 1t. II people would turn
their thoughts to common justice and
not rely so much on laws, there would
be less infraction of law and less need
of law.-Newberry Herald and News.
The suggestions Of the Herald and
News are sound There are too many
laws. That does not mean that no
more laws should be enacted; but 1t
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28
WITHIN THE TOWN

The Yorkville High School and the
Clover High School have arranged fol
field day exercises to be held In York.
VILE on March %, and to include al
the sports and trials usual on such
occasions. preparatory to the state
meet later on. The understanding Is
that the Yorkville High school Is tc
give Glover a return date and similar
appointments are contemplated with
Gastonia, Hickory Grove and other
schools.
ON Tuesday afternoon a number
Of the graduates and former students
of Winthrop college met at the resi-
dence of Miss Mary Williams and or
ganized a society to be known as THE
Winthrop Daughters of Yorkville.
The following officers were elected:
Miss Mary Williams, President; Mrs
John s. Jones, vice president; Mrs. j
E. Hart, secretary and treasurer; Miss
Fredrica Lindsay. Cleaner The OBJ
ject of the association Is to keep all
in closer touch with the interests and
works Of their Alma Mater and afford
opportunity for pleasant reminiscent
ces of school days.
-Yorkville Is to have another movie"
show. Mr.. D. R Lavender Is to be
proprietor and Mr.. Percy Berry Is to
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28
Columbia, S. c., Feb. 25, 1913.

- Columbia, February 81: The COM
mittee that investigated the state Con-
federate infirmary submitted Its report
to the general assembly today with
the testimony adduced at the various
hearings. All papers in the case were
received as information and ordered
printed in the house journal. The
committee found that drunkenness on
the part of some Of the inmates was
sustained by the testimony; that the
charges of partiality are conflicting;
that there Is great room for discipline;
that there is a lack Of proper nursing
for the sick; that for a short time last
summer bread, made Of musty meal,
was served to the inmates; that prob
ably the home is allowed to get into
pretty filthy condition at times, and
that the practice Of dealing out sup
plies of liquor to the veterans should
be discontinued. Part of the report
reads: Your committee Is of the opin-
ion that too much Of the appropriation
for the old soldiers home goes for
salaries. One man of the right kind
could perform all Of the duties now
supposed to be performed by Major
Richardson and Captain Caldwell. and
II he possessed proper executive abil-
ity, considerable improvement In the
management Of the home and large
increase In the products Of the farm
could be made" The opinion Of the
committee Is that $S5 per month
would be good pay for the physician
Of the home, "since 1t appears from
the testimony that about all that can
be done for the inmates, on account
Of their lack Of recuperative power, as
shown by DR.. F. w. Buffers testimony
Is to give them cathartics occasionally
and something to ease pain"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

be the manager. The ]. w. Dobson
storeroom on the corner Of Congress
and Madison streets Is now being over
hauled and put in shape as an audi
torium. Mr.. Lavender has been in the
movie" business for several years and
owns theatres in several other towns.
He understands thoroughly the princi-
PIE that success in this business de-
pends upon giving the best, and he sees
to 1t that his patrons have everything
that Is to be seen in the foremost pic
ture shows Of the country. He will
show in Yorkville the same class Of
pictures that are shown in Charles
ton, Columbia, Spartanburg, Charlotte
and elsewhere, and will see to 1t that
Yorkville gets the pictures along
about the same time they are to be
seen In other towns. Another thing
Mr.. Lavender promises to use only the
non-inflammable films, and as an addi-
tional precaution will have an exit that
will enable the audience to get out Of
the building promptly in time of dam
ger. 1t is pretty generally conceded
that the town really wants a picture
show, and IL Mr.. Lavender delivers the
goods as he promises, he will be pa
troniZed
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

Owing to the rapid advance in the
price of gasoline, 1t costs about twice
as much to run an automobile now as
1t did two years ago.
The Chester county Corn club boys
have already started their 1918 organi-
zation; but as yet there has been very
little done toward getting the work in
shape in York county. However, the
York county boys are assured that the
club will do business as usual.
During his recent visit to Yorkville
Judge Gary said the county has too
many weeks Of court, a proposition In
which most Of the lawyers even are
heartily agreed. Notwithstanding the
apparent burden on the calendars, 1t is
difficult to get two weeks of steady
business at any one term of the court;
but still the law provides for several
more weeks than are necessary and the
people patiently foot the bills without
grumbling-because they do not know.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

does mean that we have many laws
that should be repealed. There are on
the statute books many laws that have
no justification other than the person
al whim of the men who introduced
them and got them through. For in
stance, many years ago (1ss2) a certain
member of the house in Union county
rode to town one day, and while he
was engaged in the transaction Of his
business, an acquaintance took his horse
which had been left in hitching lot
and rode 1t away far enough to be gone
when the owner returned. The owner
was very angry; but said nothing to
the offender. Instead at the next ses-
sion of the general assembly he secur-
ed the passage Of an act that provides
that whoever shall knowingly use an
others horse or mule without the con-
sent of the owner and without intent
to steal, shall be liable to fine Of not
more than $50 or imprisonment Of not
more than six months. This law may
have been enforced half-dozen times
since then; but II has been violated
thousands Of times without anybody
thinking of a prosecution. There are
scores Of criminal statutes on the books
that have no more justification in their
origin or existence than this, and the
civil code Is literally full Of statutes that
have been put there by interested per-
sons for no other reason than to sub
serve their own purposes. But even
such laws as these should be obeyed
until they are repealed. However, the
idea that none but wise and just laws
be enacted Is hopeless, and 1t will con-
tinue hopeless until the people begin to
insist on sending only the wisest and
best among them to the general as
sembly. And the wisest and best are
always those who practice the rule
suggested by the News and Herald
do unto others as you would have
them to do unto YOU"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

Washington, February q: After
an all-night session filled with bitter
struggle over public building expendi-
lures, the senate at $50 o'clock this
morning passed the public building
appropriation bill carrying an increase
Of nearly $16,000,000 over the $25,000,-
900 bill as passed by the house. One
sweeping amendment inserted Just be-
fore passage at the suggestion Of
Senator Kern Of Indiana, prohibited
the erection of a building for the pur-
chase of a site for postoffice purposes
exclusively in any city where the pos
tai receipts were less than $4,000
year. This change would mold up in
definitely the erection Of sixty or sew
enty buildings authorized by the bill.
The all-night session was replete with
factional argument arising over ap-
propriations made for memorial build
ings at Washington and over alleged
preference given to loyal women" OF
the War Between the Sections, in
control Of the affairs Of the American
Red Cross.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28
CRUELTY TO coNvIcTs.
Committee Undertakes Investigation
of BEATING.


Following the receipt Of the mes
sage Of Governor Blease on the sub
ject OF the negro Ellis, who was beat
en- for violation Of prison rules in
speaking to the governor On the street,
the senate committee on charitable
institutions undertook an inyestiga-
ton.
Ellis was taken before the commit
tee and after he had been stripped, the
members Of the committee took look
at his person, which they found to be
covered with bruises and welts over
most Of the fellows body.
1t developed that the letter to the
governor had been written by one
armed man named F. j. Nichols, for
merly a telegraph operator In the en-
ploy of the Southern railroad and
serving his second term for house
breaking.
On making known the name Of the
writer Of the letter, Governor Blease
handed Nichols parole, stating that
he was a free man and could testify,
and explaining that he was afraid
that IL Nichols should be sent back to
the penitentiary after what he had
done. he would be beaten and other
wise emistreated numerically and
probably killed. The letter had been
smuggled to the governor through
means that were not divulged, and the
governor said that he had not given
out Nichols name until after he had
gotten the consent Of Nichols.
The negro, Ellis, told Of his beating
and testified also that he was subject
to epileptic fits. and that the electric
battery had been applied to him at
different times on that account.
IA
ported to Capt. Sondley that Ellis had
violated the rule in speaking to the
governor on the street, Ellis was TAX
en- to the leather house." stripped
and put In the stocks, and according
to the prisoner, given 75 lashes Ellis
stated that he was knocked down by
the licks, after which he was whipped
from the other side. On Monday he
was taken to the blacksmith shop to
be shackled, and fell down, whereup-
on he was taken to the hospital and
the electric current applied.
DR.. R. K. Jennings said that when
the negro was brought to the hospital,
he was suffering from some kind of
congestion and that the congestion
was relieved by the application Of the
electric battery. DR.. Jennings de-
nounced as "lie" the statement that
the electric battery was used as a
punishment.
Capt. w. II. Sondley said that IL any
wrong had been committed he thought
1t would be better to punish him,
rather than turn dangerous men loose
on the community. He said that the
negro, Ellis, was a bad man, In prison
for murder and that he had never
been trusty.
The investigation Is still in progress
and may not be completed for several
days.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

Would Office of Secretary of State
Destroy Bryan2-Measured by the fate
of others, William j. Bryan would be a
less potent political force in Woodrow
Wilson's cabinet than he Is outside OF
it. To be secretary Of state is so high
an honor that few could resist it, but
the office has rarely frightened any
mans future.
Henry Clay lost the presidency
when he took his seat as secretary OF
state beside Adams, for he could new
er live down the absurd charge of
the corrupt bargain" Webster was,
all things considered, the most power
full secretary America has ever had,
but he was poor politician. The Of
flee was a hindrance rather than a
help to him in his presidential aspira-
tions.
Great as was Seward, he put the
White House forever beyond his reach
when he accepted Lincoln's invitation
to sit at his right hand in the cabinet.
The disruption Of the Republican par
ty in a few months Of Garfields term
was largely due to Conkling's hatred
of Secretary of State Blaine. This
eminent statesman, beyond question,
again lost prestige during the time he
held the same office under Harrison.
AS a free lance Bryan is the great
est single factor in the Democratic
party. Weighted down by the obli-
cation to his chief as secretary Of state
he will be robbed Of the virile powers
of leadership and Independent direc-
ton. If the eloquent Csmmoner be
considering only his own future, he
will surely decline If offered, this ap-
parently golden gift Of the incoming
president.-Philadelp Ledger.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

On last Tuesday at Vernon, Texas,
John Beal Sneed, a wealthy west Texas
ranch owner, was declared not guilty
Of the murder of AL Boyce, Jr., at
Amarillo, Texas, last September. The
jury retired Monday night and re-
turned the verdict when court opened
Tuesday morning. Sneed shot Boyce
to death on downtown street in
Amarillo at what was said to have been
the first meeting Of the two after Boyce
eloped with Mrs. Sneed about a year
before the killing. Al Boyce, Jr., was
the second member Of the Boyce fam
lily Sneed had killed on account Of de-
velopments following the elopement.
The first killing was that Of Capt. AL
bert Boyce, Sr., the father Of Al Boyce,
whom Sneed shot in Fort Worth ho-
tel. His defense was that Capt Boyce
was aiding his son, AL, in the elope-
ment and also that he feared for his
life at the hands Of Capt. Boyce. Two
Of the largest and wealthiest families
In the southwest are concerned In the
Sneed- Boyce tragedies. On October IL,
1911, Mrs. Sneed confessed to her hus-
band her love for Al Boyce and propos-
ed that she leave Texas with Boyce
and go to South America. A few days
later Sneed placed his wife In sani-
tarium near Fort Worth. On Novem-
ber 2, Boyce received a letter from
Mrs. Sneed at the sanitarium saying:
For Gods sake come and take me out
Of this mad house." Six days later
Boyce and Mrs. Sneed eloped. During
the several weeks following, Sneed
spent $4,000 in searching for the pair.
Finally they were found at Winnipeg,
Canada, where Boyce was held by the
police on charges of theft made by
Sneed at Fort Worth, Texas. Sneed
went to Winnipeg, persuaded his wife
to return to Texas with him and the
charges against Boyce were dropped.
Severa. months later Boyce returned
to Texas and Sneed, at his trial, de-
clared that for months before he killed
Boyce in Amarillo, he had lived in ex-
pectation Of death at any time at
Boyce's hands.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28
(Signed)
aNGopdou rnorpfp0D

Monday morning"
ELLIS was taken to the blacksmith
shop and pair Of very short shackles
put on him and he then told the cap
tain and Dr. Jennings that he was going
to tell you the first chance that he had
been whipped for talking to you. Then
he was taken to the shop again to
have the chain heightened and while
this was being done he had a fit. He
Is subject to such spells. The chains
were cut Off him and he was taken to
the hospital, where he now Is. I ufi-
derstand he Is in serious condition.
Later: To still further punish this
poor, ignorant, defenseless negro. Dr.,
Jennings applied a strong electric bat
terry to him and tortured him for more
than a half hour. His screams and
cries and piteous appeals for mercy
could be heard all over the penitenti-
ary grounds" u.
Upon receipt Of the letter, Col. Aull
my private secretary, requested Cap
tain of the Guard Sondley, at the state
penitentiary, to bring this prisoner to
my office at five o'clock p. m. He was
brought in his prison garb, closely
shackled, with a chain around both
legs. AS to his physical condition,
leave the description Of that for Rep
resentativts c. c. Wyche, Mitchum and
Fortner, who were present and saw the
negro's back and hips.
This is but another instance which
came to my ears only by accident, and
which I am giving to you for the pur-
pose of showing that am doing what
I can to relieve suffering humanity,
and that I am only needing the de-
mands of humanity upon me.
After finding that the negro had been
In the penitentiary thirteen years for
killing another negro, and feeling sure
that II I returned him to the peniten-
tiary as a prisoner he would again be
whipped, shocked and possibly killed,
granted him parole during his good
behavior.
In taking this course, I am satisfied
that am not only needing the demands
of humanity, but that am upholding
the letter and spirit Of our Constitu-
ton, which provides in Section 19 of
Article /, nor cruel and unusual pun
ishment inflicted" and corporal pun
ishment shall not be inflicted"
The letter which have transmitted
to you says that when this negro was
tortured with "a strong electric battery
sfor more than a half hour" His
screams and cries and piteous appeals
for mercy could be heard all over the
penitentiary grounds" They reached
my ears. They have now reached yours.
The demand upon me was not for
mercy, but for justice, and I believe
that justice was secured from me, 80
far as in my power lay to give 1t. What
will you do?
Very respectfully,
Cole L. Blease,
Governor.
Columbia, S. c., Feb. 25, 1913.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

AS consequence, 1 am free
to say to you that 1 do not believe
there is a county in the state which has
no blind tigers in it-white men sell.
ing whisky, negroes selling whisky and
in many instances white men backing
the negroes and having the negroes
acting as retailers for them.-Governor
Blease's Annual Message.
A majority of negroes who are run
ming blind tigers" are doing it for white
men. How else do they manage so
readily to get up the money to pay
their fines.-Newberry Observer, Feb
ruary 25.
We are not reproducing the above so
much as an Illustration of how great
minds run in the same channel, as an
illustration of how even political op-
ponents may sometimes see and ac-
knowledge the truth from the same
angle.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

York county is now some five or six
thousand dollars in "the hole" The
exact amount cannot be ascertained at
this time BY in ''the hole" Is meant
that the taxes now being collected will
lack that much of paying such claims
as have been already matured, and
during the balance Of the year, the or
binary county fund will have to be
supplied by borrowing. This situation
is due largely to the freshet that swept
away so many bridges last spring, and
Of course to other extraordinary ex-
penses.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

Montenegro. The Greek army seems
to be just as idle at Janina as are the
Bulgarians at Bulair. An occasional
report comes through of a movement
of Turkish troops in Macedonia, show
ing they are not entirely disposed Of
there, while the failure Of the Greeks
to take Janina, which is their object,
Is regarded as another indication that
there is a lot Of fight left in the OF
tomans in that part OF the country.
The Greek fleet has now extended its
blockade Of the Albania coast as far
as Durazzo to stop revlctualling Of the
Turks in Scutari and Macedonia. This
action may give rise to objections by
Italy and Austria on the ground that
the blockade Is ineffective.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

There are frequent intimations Of a
lack of harmony as between Presi-
dent-e elect Wilson and Speaker Clark.
While both are Democrats" it is
clear that they stand for ideals and
policies that are widely different. Mr..
Clark is generally understood to be
what is known as a practical politi-
clan and therefore a standpatter. Mr..
room for Improvement in the conduct
of the government, and that the situ-
alton would be bettered by a nearer
approach to the real letter and spirit