Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-06
UNUSUAL oEsERTIoN STORY


in hiding under the floor Of a horse
stall since April. while their fathers
have been drawing monthly allotments
OF $3.50 from the pay of each. were
arrested by Sheriff Quinn last Satur-
day morning.
The names Of the negroes are John
and William Hardin. son and grand
son Of Peter Hardin. well known and
once well do land owner. who lives
about four miles south OF Yorkville in
the Delphos neighborhood.
These negroes were among bunch
Of twenty selectmen who were sent
down to Camp Jackson from Local
Board No. =. in April. Within week
after this bunch left, the local board
No. had information that six Of
them had gone AWOL and with but
little difficulty Sheriff Quinn picked
up four Of the six and sent them back.
While the sheriff was looking for the
other two. the board received informa-
ton that they were back with their
command and of course the search
was discontinued.
From time to time the sheriff had
been hearing reports that John and
William Hardin were hanging about
the home of their father. He went
down not long ago to look into the
matter, but could get no satisfactory
In Of oil hn oil,
stances as he knew them. was in
clined to the conclusion that truly
there must be- some mistake.
On the strength of still further in
formation the sheriff on last Satur-
day resolved on another try. He took
with him Deputy Sheriff Quinn and
Constable W. ). Peters. and this time
he was determined to probe the mat
ter To the bottom.
Members of the family about the
premises denied that the men In ques-
tion were about the place: but insist
rd the were in France. Although aDso-
lutcly convinced of the accuracy OF
the information upon which he was
acting, the most persistent question
ing of the negroes failed to develop
any suspicion that the negroes who
were being questioned knew any more
than they were telling.
After searching Peter Hardin's
house, in every room. even TO the gar
ret and looking underneath. the OFF,
GERS then looked into every conceiva-
bic shelter on the place. and hunted
in the woods for signs OF pits or 9th
cr place OF concealment: but without
result.
Already the barn and stable had
httt hnfnr..
sheriff decided to make still another
try. They had found n bucket OF
buttermilk up on the raftcrs and also
u drinking cup. and these gave ground
for suspicion, but there was no indi-
cation of concealmcnt, until finally
Deputy Sheriff Quinn's foot on the
apparently earthcn floor OF the horse
stall brought forth a hollow sound
from underneath.
The clue thus obtained suggested
the cleaning away OF manure and the
exposure Of kind of trap door The
tearing up OF some plankS underneath
disclosed n vaulted aperture. and in
side were two negroes. who came
forth putting on their uniforms. In the
place the sheriff also found a 3S cali
bre revolver.
Upon being taken before Chairman
who proved to be John and William
Hardin, said they had deserted within
week after arriving at Camp Jack
son. They claimed to have worked
out the idea of making a hiding place
under the horse stall even before they
left the camp. They had arrived at
home at about o'clock In the morn
ing. and made their hiding place with
out delay. They had been about the
premises ever since. remaining in
their den when they felt the need OF
concealment and moving about the
country at night. They said they had
been TO Yorkville twice. and claimed
that they always wore their uniforms
under overalls.
They denied that they had had any
assistance from anybody: but Ernest
Hardin, n brother Of John. and an
uncle of William, had already Con-
fesscd to Sheriff Quinn after the sher-
iff had discovered them. that he knew
Of their presence, and when confront
ed with this information. the two men
reluctantly confessed the truth Of II
to Mr.. Brice.
During all the while the two men
have been in hiding on the premises
OF Peter Hardin and his son Andy
Hardin, the two fathers have each
been receiving monthly checks as al
lotments.
Chairman Brice told the negroes
that they would most certainly be
courtmartialed for desertion and the
least they could expect would be long
terms in prison.
Ernest Hardin. a brother Of John. Is
in the fourth class, because of the
absence of John in the service. and he
being the only one left to look after
his aged and infirm father. and not
long ago there was claim for the
further exemption OF John Hardin. a
brother of VIII. because his broth