The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-01-28
SHERIFF CONDUCTS SIEGE
"MAD FARMER" HOLDS OFF FOR
TY-FIVE DEPUTIES

Has Been in House for Week With
No Sign Of Surrendering Sheriff
Hopes to Starve Him Out.
On last Tuesday Edward Beardsley
of Mayville \. Y, shot and probably
fatally wounded Overseer of the Poor
John w. Putnam, who visited his
house on an errand Of mercy. Sher-
if Anderson and a posse of eleven
started a camp around the house,
in an effort to starve him out. In the
the barricaded house with Beardsley
are his nine children and woman.
The camp of Sheriff Anderson's
deputies has assumed military as
pect. The men are divided into squas
which go on post and form a Gordon
around the house, with relief every
hour. Hot food and drink are being
furnished by nearby farmhouses. The
Guards have the shelter Oh the hills.
The house in which Beardsley is
barricaded stands on a hill fully eX-
posed to the wind. Shot-riddled, it
would be impossible to keep the place
warm, even were there plenty of fuel
available. Beardsley has not had the
proper fuel for the last four days.
At eleven o'clock Thursday night
Beardsley had held the Sheriff at bay
for forty-eight hours. 1t is definitely
known he mas been snatching sleep
at times leaving the woman; thought
to be his wife, on guard. She scantily
dressed and using a blanket as a
shawl, crouches at he window and
wakes Beardsley at any sign of move
ment from the camp below.
Several times in the earlier part
of the siege friends Of the outlaw
have volunteered to persuade him to
surrender. Each time they have been
stopped before reaching the house by
the sight of gun sticking through a
window and pointing in their direc-
ton. After several such trials the
man gave out that he would speak
with his three brothers and a lawyer.
Accordingly the men designated went
up the hill for the conference.
Just as they got in range Beard
sley's rifle appeared through a win
dow. Twenty yards distant they were
ordered to halt, open up their coats
and show they were unarmed. This
order complied with, they We're given
leave to enter the house one by one
with hands up.
Looking like a bandit, a bandolier
full of cartridges around his waist
and another diagonally across his
chest, Beardsley admitted them. The
rifle was ready in his hand, a large
and serviceable revolver in his belt
Four chairs had been set in a semi
circle for the visitors. Each was as
signed to a seat as he entered. An
other chair set against the wall on
the opposite side of the room gave
Beardsley the vantage point. From
there his rifle moved constantly
around the half circle of four while
they talked.
Two points Beardsley stood out for
unalterably. Guarantee must be given
that the nine children cooped up in
the house with him and the woman
since the battle began will be taken
to the home Of the mad farmers
brother James, at Titusville, Pa. And
Beardsley must be permitted to GO
to jail in Mayville in custody Of the
lawyer, Ray E. Pickard, of James
town.
Here is another stipulation about
which there must be no mistake:
Sheriff Anderson and his men, now
numbering forty-fve must keep out
eff they butt in," Beardsley says, the
arrangements fail, which, Of course
means, more fight. Meantime the out
law drama started On its seventh reel
counting one day, with conditions
inside the fort in at least as good
shape as ever.
For, with the sheriff's permission,
a supply Of provisions was taken in
Sunday afternoon on the strength OF
the agreement to give up in a few
days "mebbe." Beardsley condescend-
ed to allow Sheriff Anderson word
in the plans following the talk with
the three brothers and the attorney
Beardsley had made his terms to
his brothers and the lawyer. If the
Sheriff didn't like them, there was
nothing doing" wherefore the Sher-
if liked them. So they wrangled for
more than two hours. Then Beardsiey
submitted a revised proposition. Let
them take the children to Pennsyl-
vania and he would quit. The broth
ers and lawyer agreed. But Beardsley
had another stipulation.
''The Sheriff and his gang don't get
in on this, they've got to stay out" J."
he said. "I'll go to Mayville and be
locked up, but it'll be with you" He
pointed to Pickard.
With Beardsley's 80. K.", there
fore the Sheriff came Up the road and
halted sixty-fve yards from the
house. That was at 1890 o'clock.
Beardsley wasn't at all keen on talk
ing to the Sheriff. He had put his
visitors out, but still had them we'll
within reach of his bullets.
The conversation was brief. "What
We gonna do?'' shouted the sheriff.
GIVE told them folks what I'm gonna
do" shouted back Beardsley with
establishment, can it goes as long as
you keep out. I'm gonna have moth
ing to do with you and yer gang"
The news Of Tuesday says that the
outlaw, Beardsley, was still in his
house and the Sheriff still in the