The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-30

to him, but we are willing to give
him piece of land IL he will behave
himself"
Fitting I'm with this and showing a
motive for murder in the various
troubles Of the Bigham family over
the estate left by former Senator
Bigham. was the testimony of f. Nj.
Singletary, clerk of the Florence
county court, in which he told of the
presentation for record on the day
Of Edmund Bigham's investigation
of deed conveying several pieces Of
farm property and some town lots to
Edmund Bigham. The deed was sign
ed by Smiley Bigham and his sister,
Mrs. Black. 1t purported probate
signed by Sam Rittenberg, notary
public, and was supposed to have
been executed at Charleston. 1t was
witnessed by Sidney Rittenberg and
others. Mr.. Singletary noted that the
amount of the consideration had been
erased that the date had been chang
Ell, and that the name Of Edmund d.
BlSham appeared in a blank space
from which some other name had
been erased.
The deed had been brought to Mr..
SinSletary by Mrs. Edmund Bigham.
| lie mad first taken it to be a mort
gage and told her TO return within
an hour and get the paper. ON closer
examination he had round it was a
deed and as it did not bear any rev.
enue stamps he did not record 1t.
When Mrs. Bigham returned he hand
1 nI hnn 10 l,n, n,,I ,.l, Z
away.
The testimony of Phillip II. Arrow
smith, who was the legal adviser of
Smiley Bigham and his sister, cover
ed his connection with the business
affairs of the Bighams during q
period OF nine months. He told how
Edmund Bigham had come to see him
on two occasions. The first time he
had, at Edmund's S request, given 20
the defendant an outline of the eX-
act status of the Bigham estate. lie
had talked freely with him and sug-
gcstcd his course with reference to
the interests Of Began Cain, whose
wife, recently deceased, was one o!
j., the heirs Of the Bigham estate. A.
u result of consultations with Smiley
Bigham and Mrs. Black he had re-
| used on the occasion of the second
visit from Edmund Bigham to discuss
with him the business affairs of his
.amily. The rules OF evidence did
not permit Of the introduction by the
state OF Mr.. ArrOwsmith's affidavit,
covering the making of Mrs. Bla ck's
viii. and counsel for then defense
studiously avoided any reference to
t.-that might permit it's introduction
The crowd in the court room at tn.
| morning session was far greater
| than that yesterday. In the after.
| noon it packed every available incl
outside of the bar, and even en-,
croached in the space between tn,
bench and the jury box. In the mair
the crowd was. orderly, perhaps be-
| cause Il considerable percentage o
its makeup, was feminine. AS u mat
ter of fact fashion writer might
have made very plausible forecast
of the seasons fashions through d
visit to the court room. There were
young girls and old igrls and girl!
Of all ages and between. They as
serted their new prerogative as citi
zens by elbowing the men and stand
ing on the backs of benches tc
teresting proceedings.
Mrs. Edmund Bigham and her two
daughters, Louise and Evelyn, wer,
the target for the wOmen's eyes
They arrived some time after cOur
had opened, their train having beer
late. The prisoner gave them a mos
auectionate welcome and they set.
tea down in chairs around hin
nuch as they would have sat at :
family fireside. AT first Louise held
little Evelyn on her lap, but afte.
the newness of court surrounding,
lad worn off, the younger settled
herselt on her fathers knee anc
there she remained during the rest o
he day The Bighams were Joined
With nthe bar by Mrs Mack Wor-
cell, the wife OF Florence police,
man, and the only other woman i,
the group which had a prominent
position within the bar railing WA
Mrs. Ola kirton, an important stat,
witness, and her daughter.
| Laughter which followed breaks il
the testimony OF witnesses was Jr
Two occasions suppressed by officers
or the court. Judge Memminger TOOK
| occasion to caution spectators thai
my repetition of the outbreak would
result in clearing of the court room
0f all persons, except those directly
| interested in the trial.
Florence, March 25.--Edmund y
| Bigham, defendant in one of TN,