The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-04-08
|BIGHAM BROUGHT
TO PENITENTIARY

- u
SAYS HE is INNOCENT AS NEW,
BORN BABE
Prisoner Shakes Hands With Cd
Georgia Acqaintance-Letter
Comes In.
The State, 6.
"Just as innocent as new born
babe" said Edward D. Righam OF
Florence when seen in the death
house at the penitentiary yesterday
afternoon soon after he had been
brought here from Florence to await
his appeal to the supreme court for a
new trial. "There never was an an
gel in heaven more innocent than
am," Bigham said as he looked
through the bars of his cell about lo
feet from the electric chair.
"You know the story of how 2O
pieces of silver bought Judas; we'll
that is my case," the prisoner said as
he turned to look on another prison
er who had brought him something to
eat, it being the "feed" hour at the
penitentiary.
"You still claim that you are inno-
cent, then he was asked, and he re-
Piled most emphatically that he was.
Bieham was brought here shortly at
ter l o'clock by Deputy Sheriff Burch
of Florence county and Officer Ross
of the same county.
He will be held in the death house
pending his appeal to the supreme
court, which may not be argued un-
til next fall. This may mean that
the prisoner will be in the death
! chamber for several months, unless a
court order changes the confinement.
Appeal Pending
Bigham was convicted Of murder
ing his brother, Smiley Bigham, by
Florence county jury and sentenced
to die in the electric chair the coming
! Friday His appeal to the high court
! will automatically stay the sentence
until an opinion comes down from the
supreme tribunal.
In the afternoon after the prisoner
had been placed in his cell IN the
death house a guard with food for the
three men now in the chamber, Big
ham, Harvey Whaley and Albert
Wilson, the last two being negroes,
Bigham was seated on his cot with
his coat hanging on the wall and two
packages of clothing on the floor.
Several pieces of paper were also on
the floor.
The prisoner greeted the guard
with a smile and when asked several
questions by newspaper reporter be-
gan to tell of his innocence. At this
iuncture the Florence man was ap-
preached by one of the prisoners that
had gone into the death house to car
rv the food. The prisoner, white
man by the name of Sutton, asked
Bieham if he remembered him. Big
ham Immediately offered to shake
hands and called Sutton's name, tell
/ ing him that he was glad to see him.
Sutton then asked Bigham when he
was last in Americus, Ga, where the
two had first met. Bigham replied
that it had been a long time. The
two men then exchanged views about
an automobile shop run by Mr..
Jones in Americus, Ga. Sutton was
j under the impression that Mr.. Bigham
had been owner, but the Florence man
said he had not been connected with
the shop, merely Hanging around. "
Sutton told Bigham that he had
, been very much surprised to hear OF
the crime of which he was charged
and asked the prisoner when he had
come to Florence. Bigham said
around November l. The guard and
prisoners then turned to leave the cell
and Bigham told Sutton that he prob
ably would be here for some time and
would appreciate visit from Sutton.
Bigham was dressed ordinarily, his
face had a weeks beard on it and his
general appearance was Of an ordl-
nary farmer. He has keen eye and
looks straight at the person he is
talking with. His left hand is MISS
ing, having been amputated at the
wrist joint.
Will Guard Closely.
! Deputy Sheriff Burch placed his
Loa:,I Tho Eorc and p9Va a