The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-11-01
places, so many that we would not

home of Editor J. L. Minis, of the
Advertiser; the old Gary Home, once
occupied by Gen. Mart Gary and now
the home of his sister, Mrs. Evans,
the mother of Hon. John Gary Evans;
in the stately mansion of Governor
the old home of General
Butler, now owned by Senator Mich
olson; the modern colonial residence
of George Evans, and many others.
It makes a man mad that he is poor
when lie sees places like these. The
Catholic Church, which stands in
front of the present hotel, is one of
the finest church buildings we have
seen. It is built of solid granite,
covered with slate. It was built
some seventy-fve years ago, by con-
tributions from people all over this
country and in Europe. It is one of
the buildings of which the people are
proud and justly so.
The Court Officers.
Edgefeld has fine Sheriff and a
good Clerk of Court. The Sheriff
told US that no prisoner had been
taken from him since he had held the
Office he now holds, and we predict
when one is taken, that the funeral
of Sheriff Swearingen will be held
the next day. He is man of cool
courage, and the set of his under jaw
shows that he means business-not
that he looks fierce and ugly, because
he is the reverse, but determination
is written in his face. The Clerk of
Court is an obliging gentleman in
every way. He handles the business
of the court in fine style and looks
after every Body and everything. He
likes good things to eat, and we are
prepared to swear that he has them
at his house. Mr.. Anderson, the
stenographer of that circuit, resides
in Edgefeld and is one of the best
and most obliging in the State.
The Lawyers.
Edgefeld has a strong array of
legal talent. Governor Sheppard
stands at the head Of the legal pro-
fession, but he is not more highly
regarded than is his less pretentious
brother, Hon. Orlando Sheppard, who
like my old partner, Hon. W. H. Par
ker, never felt better than when, sit
ting up all night long, calculating in
terest or writing a decree in equity,
and like Mr.. Parker, Mr.. Sheppard
always has them right-and ready.
Then there is Hon. j. VIM. Thurmond,
one of the strongest advocates we
have heard. He is learned in the
law, but his fort is in marshalling
facts before the jury, and he does it
as well as any man we have heard.
George Evans is also prominent
lawyer there. The people of Abbe-
vile are interested in him, and will
be glad to know that he Is prospering
in old Edgefield. Then there is S.
MCGOWAN Simkins, polite, affable,
and always a dangerous man before
the jury, when he is against you. He
is named for one Of the really big
men of South Carolina. Col. Ar
thur Tompkins, Mr.. Folk, Mr.. Smith,
Mr.. Wells and Mr.. Mayson, with
Senator Nicholson, make up the COM
pdete roll of the lawyers. They are
all men of standing in the communi-
ty, and are meeting with success at
the great profession of the law. Sen
ator Nicholson is one of the young
est men at the bar, but he is taking
a fine stand there. He knows the
law, there is no uncertainty about it
with him, and he handles his cases
well. He argues thoroughly his pro-
positions, and he is sincere in his
manner, and convincing in his con-
clusions.
Besides these lawyers, a number
of other distinguished members of
the bar were at Edgefeld, chief
among them, Hon. Boykin Wright,
one of the big lawyers of the great
state of Georgia, his handsome son,
Boykin Wright, Jr., just graduated
from Harvard, and as Mr.. Thurmond
said, already carrying off honors
which men fifty years of age cannot
do There was r. Beyerlv Herbert,