The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-22

thousand persons watched with bated
breath, expecting to witness fisti-
cuff, perhaps the shedding of blood,
one of the leading bankers of South
Carolina, j. wilkins Norwood, of this
city, struggled frantically to break
away from a number Of men holding
him and personally resent what he
considered an insult offered him by
the governor of the State, Cole l..
Blease, during the senatorial cam
paign meeting here today.
This furnished the only real sensa-
tion of the campaign so far, and for
while it seemed impossible to avert
serious trouble. Several officers were
seen to reach for their pistols, but so
far as could be observed in the pande-
monium that reigned for several min
utes no weapon was drawn. Mr.. Nor
wood was finally overpowered and
taken from the speakers stand. The
situation was extremely tense, the en-
citement and high feeling spreading
to the big crowd around the stand, but
fortunately the incident passed with
out any real damage being done. The
trouble started while the governor was
speaking, when Mr.. Norwood, who
was on the stand at the rear, asked,
"how about DR.. McIntosh?"
The governor replied: when 1 get
to Columbia l will ask Dr. Mcintosh
on the stand and then answer the
question, not behind his back, like a
coward like YOU" Mr.. Norwood then
made an effort to get to Gov. Blease.
hurting an epithct at the executive
while endeavoring to break from the
half dozen or more men who seized
him. Sheriff Rector and Mayor Mar
shall were also on the stand and ap-
peared to be using their best efforts to
avert a clash, and perhaps tragedy
Several men were heard to make
threats of shooting. The governor re-
manned where he had been speaking,
and by his side were State Detective
T.. +. Hammond and seevral others
who, it was said. were also officers.
Mr.. NOrwOod's question, How
about DR.. McIntosh?" was prompted
by statement issued by DR.. j. H.
Mcintosh, of Columbia, denying that
he had recommended a nordon or
parole for II. A. Richey, Of Abbcville,
which matter Gov Blease exhaustively
reviewed at the meeting in Abbeville,
when he read IL statement from DR..
Mcintosh, who had examined Richey
while in the penitcntiary. In his last
statement DIR. Mcintosh declared he
not only did not recommend the par
don Of Richey, but that he had stated
in his first certificate that he believed
Richey was fcigning.
After the candidates had spoken
there v'"rc many calls for Mr.. Nor
wood, who came to the front of the
stand and in simple manner related
his version Of the affair, saying that
IF what DR.. Mcintosh says is true,
Blease is what we all know him to
be. dirty, infamous liar" then
bitterly arraigned the governor, say
ing NcwD berry is the home Of Gov.
Blcasc and DR.. Mcintosh" and the
latter would not enter the home of
Bleasc"
lie said that any educated man who
was supporting Bleasc was a dirty
skunk" lie made further remarks
bitterly dcnOuncing the governor and
his followers, saying: "This fellow
richards running for governor is IL
prince Of hypocrtcs.
81 happen to know that" He de-
clarcd every man in Grccnville inter-
csted in selling blind tiger liquor was
tearing his shirt for Blcasc and Rec
tor"
Mr.. Norwood Is president Of the
Norwood National Bank, Of this city
and Is interested i'm banks i'm other
places. He is said to he the second
largest representative of banking in
tcrests i'm South Carolina and is "A
brother of Joseph j. Norwood, the
well known banker Of Columbia.
Grccnville has no citizen more promi-
ncnt than j. Wilkins Norwood and
many expressions of resentment were
heard from Grcenvilc people that
foV. Eleast'S reply to Mr.. Norwood
was Insulting and uncallcd for.
T"day's crowd was Anti-Blyasc bv
three I" one, according to County
! chairman NJ. Mills Mooney, who prc-
sided. and of whom the governor
spoke in high praise during his
speech, The meeting began at |
o'clock. all the twelve cotton mills
around GrccnVillc having closed at
noon SO as many operatives as de-
sired could hear the candidates. Scv-
cral hundred of item marched to the
park, where the meeting WAS bclI