The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-03-31
Edmund D. Bigham Sentenced
To on Die Friday April Eighth

VINO mas D66n neT COISIdut Oohl poAioiA
during the trial, went to the court
room for a DOCTOR DR.. E. M. HICKS,
attended Mrs. Bigham and when she
was made comfortable she was taken
back to Mrs. Worrell's boarding house
where she has been guest.
A record attende '"e marked the
final day of the trial, the percentage
of women growing greater than ever
and their manifest interest visibly
increasing. 1t was an orderly crowd,
however, and only once during the
day did the judge have occasion to
rebuke any outbreak on the part OF
spectators.
Attorney A. l.. King began his ar
gument for the defense shortly after
the court opened. Mr.. King read
impressively from the gospel accord,
ing TO St. Matthew, chapter 26, and
drew the analogy between this case
and the false witnesses against the
Saviour, and then from St. Matthew,
chapter 27, the demand of the mob
for the release of Barabas and the
crucifying of Christ. The attorney
handled this delicate proposition very
effectively and without bringing
upon himself any show of feeling
upon the part of listeners. 1t was
daring thing to do and he did it well.
AS Mr.. King warmed up to his
attack on the prosecution for intro
ducing the Arrowsmith testimony
and began to vent his opinion on the
Arrowsmith fee of 5000 for straight
ening out the affairs of the Bigham
estate. Mr.. Gasque rose and asked
that such attacks be stopped.
Judge Memminger promptly as
serted the courts perogative and
gave Mr.. King notice that any fur
ther attacks of such nature would
result in his being denied the privi-
lege of further argument and another
attorney be appointed to present the
case to the jury.
Attorney Apologies.
Mr.. King at this period and more
extensively at the close of his argu-
ment apologized to the court, the bar,
the Jury and the spectators for what
he had done, took the blame upon
himself and said he hoped the jury
would not allow his outburst to in
fuence their attitude towards his
client. Aside from this incident Mr..
Kings speech was impressive and
was pronounced by those who heard
it to be a mastery piece of advocacy.
At times it was not cohesive and this
fault was the chief one critic might
have urged against it. Mr.. King
relied principally upon the defense's
theory of the insanity OF Smiley Big
ham, in committing the murders
and his subsequent suicide. He did,
however, bring into his speech the
testimony bearing upon the alleged
insanity of Bigham's father and laid
stress upon the prejudice shown by
neighbors upon the defendant.
The prosecution of the case by So
licitor Gasaue is said by lawyers and
laymen to have been an exemplary
work of it's kind. He connected his
facts in logical sequence. From that
Sth of January when it is set forth
that Edmund D. Bigham whipped his
sister because she had accused him
of stealing certain papers connected
with the Bigham estate until the day
when Mrs. Bigham tried to smuggle
bottle of chloroform into her hus-
bands cell, Mr.. Gasque did not leave
an unconnected link in the story.
The story ran that Edmund D.
Bigham, the son of a rich father,
who had sold his interest in the es
tate to his brother and sister and
gone away for many years, had heard
of differences regarding the recent
disposition of his fathers estate and
hastened home to inject himself as a
factor into these family disputes in
the hope of recovering an interest in
property to which he was in no way
entitled. From the time of his ap-
pearance in the Bigham household
there had been succession of bick-
erings and disputes, eliminating in
the incident which drove Mrs. Mar
jorie Bigham Black to Florence
where at Attorney Arrowsmith's office
she had made a will giving every
thing she had to her brother, Smiley
Bigham, to whom she confided the
care of her old mother and her two
little adopted children.
Deeds Disappeared.
In this will she had set forth her
fear of some person whom she did