The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-30
OF DEATH
IMPOSED ON BIGHAM
Florence Jury Convicts of Numbering
Brother Last January-Case To
Be Taken to Higher Court
Jury in Room But
Short Time

/ Florence, March ga Florence
county jury came near equaling the
record for speedy justice in bringing
| its verdict in the case of Edmund D.
Bigham, charged with the murder of
his brother, l.. Smiley Bigham, his
mother, Mrs. NJ. M. Bigham, his sis
tier, Mrs. Margie Bigham Black, and
Leo and John McCracken, the little
adopted children of Mrs Black.
The case was given to the jury at
I1:15 o'clock this afternoon. At 1926
o'clock following recess to 8 o'clock
and after a wait of some minutes to
bring the prisoner into court, the
jury's verdict of guilty of murder was
read to a court room crowded with
spectators. Then after painful wait
of minutes while the clerk of the
court searched for the ceremonial of
the arraignment for sentence, and
harangue by the prisoner In re-
Spouse to Judge Memminger's ques.
ton if he had anything to say in
his own behalf, the death sentence
was pronounced and Bigharn knew
that he was to die on Friday, April
8, unless the supreme court grants a
reversal of the verdict on the appeal
which Attorney A. L. King announced
his intention to make.
Calm Air Disturbed.
Bighan's stolid Indifference to
everything around him, his apparent
inability to grasp the solemnity of
the proceedings or of the seriousness
of his own position, his readiness to
respond with a smile on less than no
provocation, all passed when the pris-
oner came into court to hear the
verdict.
He resumed in part his role of in
jured innocence when he sat in the
dock for final arraignment. For
time he leaned forward his head rest
ing on his hand as if he prayed for
strength to go through the ordeal he
had been called upon to pass. He
listened with no special interest
while his attorney moved for new
trial and while Judge Memminger,
in refusing it, referred with much
feeling to the fact that Bigham's
father, had while a state senator
from Florence county, cast his vote
in favor of putting Judge Melnmin-
ger on the bench. The shocking i'm
port of the whole. thing seemed to-
reach him slowly, but as it's realiza-
ton progressed by degrees, the ashen
pallor that had shown in his face
all day became more marked, the air
Of bravado passed into a pitiable
weakness that caused the man to look
here and there about the audience
with the expression of hunted ami
NAL surrounded by men who sought
its life. The old Bigham had passed
and did not show again until Judge
Memminger asked him what he had
to say that sentence should not be
pronounced against him. Then, lean
ing forward on the railing Of the
prisoners dock and in voice that
was calm and mistaken, the prisoner
spoke as fellows:
81 have nothing to say except that
I am innocent. I know nothing of
how that crime was committed. That
IS the truth, so help me God. That's |
all I have to say. I wish my mother
could come down and tell how the
thing happened. wish that little boy
had lived when I asked DR.. Poston ;
to save his life. He would have told
the same things l and my wife told.
Judge, l hope you will give me time
so some of the people who testified
here against me may have chance
to come forward and tell the truth
and not come too late like Judas Is
nn.,et M nl,inn his nfferino Of the 30 II