The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-03-21
"H0T Time" IN
POVERTY FLAT"
G. ID. FOrtner, a Member of
Legislature from Spar
tanburg and a Commits
stoned Constable of Gov
ernor, Created Excite
ment in Poverty Flat"
When He Attempted to
Raid Will Estes Place.

1nere was quite Stlr In Union
Saturday night, near midnight, and
in Poverty Flat. C. D. Fortner, a
member of the legislature from Spar
tanburg and 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 Ins. 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 Purcell's
alley; Forbes was rolling on the alley.
Fortner was holding his coat Fort
ner was cursing so that Mr.. Pur-
cell had to call him down. Mr.. Paint
er also called him down. He con-
tinued cursing until policeman was
sent for. When he found out that
a policeman 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 a
loud tone of, voice; s,,,".t I'm. - going to-
search the place or put the whole
town under martial law" He came
to police headquarters and met M.
M. Stroud; deputized Stroud to 90
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.
"hcIe Call SeC nIIn
cover the telephone" he was told.
Chiefs telephone rang just as he
got home. Fortner phoned Chief
Evans: 81 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 Un-
ion?" asked Chief Evans.
"One week." was the reply.
"You are the man l 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.
1 want you to come and assist in
these raids"
Chief Evans found him at Will Es-
tes' place with Sheriff FAINT. A large
crowd had gathered. This was 11:3O
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 90
in that building.
Chief Evans said: "I could not
break down any door without a war
rant" He then asked for 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: "I have already search.
ed" They went through again. Nc
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 few empty bottles was found
Fortner came out after the search
He then searched Purcelps place
without any warrant; said he did moi
have one. Purcell called Sergeant
Wood and told him to search the
place, but that he did not want thi.
fellow Fortner to search. That h,