Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-05
CAROLINA SHERIFF
SHOT APPLES OFF
BROTHERS HEAD
RY 7. C. LATrMER

GREENVILLE, S. c., Oct. 2.-Fiery
Of face, lean of waist and raw
boned, Carlos A. Rector, reformed
moonshiner, who has been elected to
become sheriff of Greenville county
next January. used to shoot, apples
off the top of his brothers head to
entertain his barefoot friends when
they would call upon him at his
parents hut way back IN the heart
of the Blue Ridge mountains. Noun
taineers for miles and miles around
marveled at the expert manner in
which Carlos and his brother. Hen
dirk, handled the rifle in making
close-shave shots, with each other as
human targets. Hendrix was elected
sheriff in 100 and was serving third
year of his second term when he was
shot and killed on July 4, 1919, by
Jake Gosnell, deputy collector OF In
ternal revenue, as result or old
political strife. Carlos was then pre-
he defeated six opponents. including
Captain Sam D. Willis. who was
wounded in France, and who was ap-
pointed by Governor Cooper as sheriff.
to fill out the unexpired term OF the
late Hendrix Rector.
Both Hendrix and Carlos Rector.
together with their brother, Jeff. who
followed General Pershing into Mex
leo and France and was decorated
for bravery, were born and raised"
in a little log cabin in what is known
as Ozark Corner" because for years
and years it was a lair of moon
sinners, and still is. The Rector
boys, like all others who first saw
the light of day in this dismal sec
ton. did not think it any harm to
belief-and this opinion still holds
with most mountaineers today--that
they had a God-given right to do as
they pleased with a scanty crib of
whGh they @ "a tge1 to Gst Iass
white lightning" to sell and drink.
About twelve years ago Carlos Rector
became intensely interested in re-
ligious revival" and was converted
into the belief that maxim liquor"
arm of the law that changed him, but
the words of mountain "sky pilot"
He even went out himself and be-
seeched his fel]ow-mountaineers to
abandon the still and make an hon
est living. Among those who needed
the appeal and reformed was his
brother, Hendrix, and from then on
they gave their hearts to law en-
forcement. Hendrix Rector was elect
magistrate and Carlos served as con
Greenville and within short time
this Zion of the mountains" became
a lion in politics and was elected
sheriff. but not without stirring UP
political feuds because he defeated
the scion of one of the oldest and
the state. His spectacular career
ended when three shots caused his
big heart to cease beating twenty
M mites past II o'clock, noon, July
4. 1919, at a local local garage. 54,gan3
murder is Jack Gosnell, 9, "reve-
agree upon verdict at the first
shearing. Carlos Rector, who was
then deputy collector of internal rev.
friends to run for sheriff, and after
strenuous campaign he was, nomi-
mated to the highest Office in the gift
of the people of the county.
"Not often does it fall to the lot
to be the mother of two sheriffs of
a great county like Greenxille in the
grand old state of South Carolina
was an expression of gratitude that
poured out from the heart of Mrs.
ty years old and active for her age.
Carlos A Rector thirty-six years
of age, said that it was his earnest
ambition TO some day be elected to
the seat in congress to which his
late brother aspired. When Hendrix
Rector, On a visit to Washington for
the first time, picked out in the capt.
toll what he said he hoped to make
his seat, he was the subject of "fea-
ture'' stories in nearly all the Wash
ington papers, and his picture was
prominently displayed.
While having been elected by what
he said he was proud to term the
common people," 1t is generally adj
mitted by the voters for the opposing
faction that Carlos Rector will make
a fearless, conscientious and hell
busting sheriff.