Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-01-26
FAMILY ALMOST WIPED OUT.
Story OF the Horrible Murders Near
Pnmlic0, This State.

Florence. Jan. 16.--Discovery to.
day of the bodies Of five members OF
the Bigham family revealed that the
entire family, living about five miles
from Pamlico, in the southeastern
part Of Florence county, was wiped
out some time yesterday afternoon,
a total Of five persons being killed
l.. S. Bigham. aged about I5 years
is thought to have shot and killed
his mother, Mrs. NJ. NJ. Bigham. aged
60; his sister, Mrs. Marjorie A.
Black. aged 30, and the latter'S two
adopted children. Leo. McCracken.
aged 8. and John McCracken, aged
;. Alleged family troubles in which
an estate valued at about $4,000,
was at stake, is reported to have been
the cause Of the tragedy
l.. S. Bigham has not been Off
cially charged with the crime, rs the
coroners jury will not make a re-
port for about two weeks, but the
and a suicide.
The father Of l.. S. Bigham was
the late Senator Bigham, and the
family Is prominent one in the
county.
All OF those who lost their lives
were evidently killed instantly ex-
cept Mrs. Bigham, the mans mother,
who lived a few moments, and the
01lncf ohli uhn lioA OF ~ ~
this morning. The tragedy took place
at the old Bigham home five miles
from Pamplico, Florence county, and
25 miles from this city.
After Staying all within the house
at the time, it is alleged. Bigham
went deep into the woods surround
ing the place and fired bullet into
his own brain. When his body was
still grasped the pistol. 1t was stated
by the physician who examined the
body that Bigham had been dead for
mere than 12 hours.
The murdered persons were all
shot in the head, the bullet in each
case entering just beneath the tenn
pies. None was shot more than once,
although two balls that had. miss I'd
their mark were found near the back
door. The large pistol used by Big
ham still contained an ulexploded
cartridge, which indicates that The
man reloaded his weapon.
Tho piub to,
half mile distant from any neigh
horiIia house 80 one cor'N be rouGn
,o-day Who had heard any shooting
1hant TIE nlacc.
Sb@Nt a Gha>tly one.
4 large crown gathered dUriur IN.
day and passed from room 20 room
viewing the dead. The sight was a
ghastly one. On Il bed in down
stairs room lay the aged mother ami
the youngest child. their faces GOV.
cred with blood. In the ADJOINING
room the oldest Of the children lay
on a bed, where he died at > O'Clock
this morning. and beside him the
body Of Bingham was placed when
the searchers returned with it to-day.
Upstairs in the room she usually oc-
cupied was the body of Mrs. Mar
jorie Black. the Oldest sister Of Big
ham. 1t lay on the floor, just in front
OF the dresser. Until late this after
noon, when the coroner's Jury COM
plcted the taking Of evidence, the
bodies were undisturbed.
The jury will defer for about two
weeks the rendering of their ver-
dict, preferring to wait further de-
velopments and the hearing Of any
other evidence that may come to the
surface.
Not Known for Some Time.
Although the tragedy Is said to
have occurred at $40 o'clock yester-
day afternoon, it was late last night
before word of 1t reached Florence
county of1cials, and they Immediate
ly sent out dispatches asking officers
in other towns to watch out for Big
- -