The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-01-25

of the fact as presented il the Arrow
smith affidavit, that Z. S. Bigham had
not only been made TIE beneficiary
Of Mrs. Blacks will, but he also had
in his possession leeds signed IN
blank which he could have used as he
desired, It is urged that the question
Of motive fer the murders on the p;sr5
Of L. S. Bisnan: as far as property
consideration was concerned, had
been removed.
I The affidavit of Philip Arrowsnaith,
an attorney OF this cisg, taken oy
Coroner w. Marvin smish, is as fol
lows:
81 was attorney for Mrs. M.. ,M
Bigham, L. S. B;gl,ata ana Ms. lHlar-
gle \. Black, and. :aava, therefore,
been rather intimately associated
with them since opening Of the s2stn29.
cf 1929. Ny employment was WITH
regard to The estate lands Of l.: S.
Bigham, Sr., aeceased, and IN which
Edrland Bighan had no interest,
having conveyed to his. neither aid
brother.
Deposit 80 Cover Bord
saPersuant to my employment I ar
ranged with the F:rsssMational baLaI
Of Florence, by n1crtgagescG the prop
erts, for the bank to ISSUE its certifi-
cate of deposit for an amount sufsii-
Gent to pay to the state CT South
Carolina the Judgment which had
been rendered on the bond eseheated
upon the default of Dr.. Bign2m ii
1910. This mortgage is duly record
ed and the certificate Of deposit is IL
the hands of Solicitor Gasqae.
During the last term of criminal
court, as county attornev, in conGec-
ton with the investigation tken being
conducted By that body into the mutt
lation of the county records OF which
were alleged to have before them,
which I did. AS county attorney l
had no information in. regard to the
matter which they were investigat-
ing, but as Mr. Bighan's attorney it
was nay pleasure to advise the grand
jury that ! had in my possession the
original deeds. the records of which
was alleged to have been torn from
the books, which l would be very
happy to display to the grand jury Or
any enc else upon request.
subsequently some members Of
the body called at my Office and in
spec.ed the original deeds. ! ventur-
ed the opinion to the grand jury that
Mr.. Bigham could hardly be guilty
of destruction of. the record and the
retention Of the original deeds, a;
common sense and prudence Wo1'd
have dictated the destruction Of the
original deed and the preservation at
al cost, Of the record. AS matter
Of fact, / lave in MY possession all
! of the original papers relating to- the
Bigham lands.
".Although / was Frequently IL cor
ference with Mr. Bighan3, who was
I, rather inclined to discuss frequently
and at length matters affecting him,
he never at any time mentioned the
postofice ma tie: to met
s:On Saturday aight, the 8th Of Jan
uary, 1921, between $50 ana 8
O'Clock. Mr3. Mareie A. Blac!l, and
her brother, L. s. Bj&'1am, came to
Ely home aHd requested re to 90 W.;h
then, 10 The oG;cc, as they wis!1as: iae
Immediately tc handle mite d
great Importance % ta>a'. 1t t2@=
time lIr@. Blac,: apre&rc:: % oe grsat-
ly agitateG. I was already preparing
to leave home to 60 to the ofice witt
". Marshall PRICES and G. T. ETyce
| I, therefore, accompanied Mrs. E!&c!
and Mr.. Bigllam TO ,ie Office and Mrs
Black then made this statement t.
me. (She said in voras to this cfect)
1