Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-10
THE sPARTANsuRe SENSATION.
Looks As If Two People May Be Exc
cutad for Murder of Infant.

her parents home at Melvin Hill, N.
c., two years ago and came to Spar
tanburg to attend school because her
father forbade her to receive Clements
attentions, was the assertion made to-
day by ]. T. Harrell Of this city, who
has known the Pendleton family for
years. Mr. Harrell gave many inter-
esting facts Of the girls history and
declared that until she became init
mate with Clement she was irreproach-
able.
Col. Alvin H Dean Of Greenville, has
been engaged by Spartanburg sympa-
thizers Of Miss Pendleton to act as her
leading counsel. Colonel Dean prob
ably will be assisted by local attor-
neys.
That Clement will claim that he ac-
companied Miss Pendleton to the out
skirts Of Spartanburg a week ago to-
to lay their two-months- old baby
daughter, Virginia, before the door of
dwelling house, and that she, without
his knowledge or consent, threw the
infant into the pond from which the
body was recovered the next day
this was surmised today by persons
who are unable in any other way to
account for Clements unequivocal de-
nial of the girls statement that he
drowned the baby.
Witnesses have come forward to
corroborate in every detail, except the
actual Staying of the child, Miss PEN
dleton's story Of their sinister journey
from Mrs. w. M. Hodges boarding
house in Greenville to the creek and
their return to Mrs. ]. T. Bells board
ing house in Spartanburg, where they
spent the remainder Of the night.
Mrs. Hodges saw them leave her
home with the child. Jeff Williams,
the negro hackman, drove the couple
and the ably to within short distance
o. the creek. H. G. Boiter, street car
conductor, saw them board his car on
the edge Of the city near the creek
without the baby and brought them
back to near Mrs. Bells home.
They were Indifferent to the rain,
says Boiter, and held their heads close
together as they conversed in low
tones. Mrs. Bell says they came to her
house at $40 o'clock, with clothes drip
ping and applied for lodging for the
night.
Il am innocent" says Clement.
When all the facts are known not
only the jury, but the general public
will be convinced that he is not guilty
of the crime charged" says Samuel J.
Nichols, his attorney. .,..l
When Robert c. Clement, the Polk
county. N. c., merchant, came to see
his son after the latters arrest, he ad-
dressed the youth, 1t is reported, as
follows: Sn
Son, you have never been afraid to
tell the truth. Did you do this thingr'
IT didn't do it, answered the SON.
Il believe you," said the father. "and
will stand by you. II believed you
had done it, I would have washed my
hands Of you"
Lawyers have raised the point that
under the common law Miss Pendleton
is Clements wife, since he lived with
her in conjugal relationship during
considerable period Of time In Green
vile, Spartanburg and Charlotte, in
troduced her as his wife in boarding
houses in all three cities and professed
to be her husband. AS his common law
wife, the attorneys say, she is entitled
to the same privileges as II ceremony
had been performed, and cannot be
compelled, against her will, to testify
against Clement, her common law hug
band. This contention is disputed by
other attorneys.
Should Clement carry out before he
is brought to trial, his alleged promise
to Miss Pendleton to marry her when
their baby was disposed Of, or should
she protest as his common law wife
(and be sustained) against her confes-
sion being used against him, Solicitor
Albert E. Hill would have still another
card to play. Her accusation of Glenn
ent having been made in the latters
presence, the hearsay evidence Of wit
nesses to her confession would be
competent testimony.
Solicitor Hill ASSERTS, however, that
even without Miss Pendleton's confess
sion he has ample testimony to con-
vict both Of the defendants. He asserts
that he has much evidence in the form
of affidavits which has not been made
public. He refuses to give hint Of
the nature OF the affidavits.
Miss Pendleton continues to be the
object Of much pity. The fact that the
Clement family, with whom she was
on terms Of warm friendship and
whom she visited at their home in
North Carolina the day before her ar
rest, have not only left her to shift for
herself, but, according to report, are
endeavoring to put the entire blame
for the crime upon her, is much COM
Of her own family to visit her or come
to her assistance is the cause Of even
greater surprise, though 1t is conjec-
tured that they may not have been in
formed Of her plight. She asked that
the news be withheld from them IL
possible.
Since she started to earn her own
living, first as instructor in local
school Of telegraphy, and later as a
telegraph operator, she has had no
communication, 1t Is said, with her
parents She has brothers, however,
who it is believed would come to her
aid If they were informed Of her pre-
dicament. One is an orange grower in
Florida and is said to be wealthy
Charlotte Observer.
Francisco L Guzman, who figured
prominently In the revolt against