The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-01-27

last week was elected judge OF pro-
bate in Greenville county without op-
position to fill the vacancy caused by
the recent death of her husband.
ed the destruction of the original deed
and the preservation at all cost, OF the
record. AS matter of fact, l have
in my possession all of the original
papers relating to the Bigham lands.
although l was frequently in cor
ference with Mr.. Bigham, who was
rather inclined to discuss frequently
ard at length matters affecting him.
he never at any time menti"nsd the
postoffice matter to me.
"On Saturday night, the Sth Of JAN
uary, 1921, between $3.50 end 9 O'clock
Mrs. Margie A. Black and her broth
er, L. S. Bigham, came to my home
and requested me to go with them to
the office, as they wished me inme-
diately to handle matter of great
importance to them. At that time
Mrs. Black appeared to be greatly agi-
ted. 1 was already preparing to leave
home to go to the office with W. Mar
SHALL Bridges and G. T. Bryce. l
therefore, accompanied Mrs. Black AID
Mr.. Bigham to the cffiec an Mrs.
Black then made this statement to me
(She said in words to this effect):
Threatened To Kill.
"I signed three blank deeds in the
presence of witnesses ard left Il EN-
with Smiley, so that if anything
should happen to me, my fathers es-
tate could be handled as my mother
and Smiley desired. All these papers
were stolen from Smiley. found
them in Edmund's possession. Wher
| attempted 70 secure possession OF
them Edmund flew into passion ami
threatened to take my life as well as
that of my mother. l gave up ali
hopes Of getting the deeds back, ami
he will kill me at any moment, and
l want to prepare my will, giving all
of my property to my brother, Smiley,
and charging him, as l know he will,
to take care of my mother and my two
little adopted boys
"I said to Mrs. Black that it was
inconceivable to me that her life was
in danger at the hands of her broth
er, and Smiley, at that time, said if
the matter was left to him he had no
doubt but that he could prevail upon
edmund to give up the deeds and the
whole matter would then be settled.
Mrs. Black, however, insisted that her
life was in danger and requested me
to draw the will. 1t was after Office
hours and there were no stenograph-
ers present. So therefore wrote out
on three sheets of our correspondents:
stationery a will, by which | gave ali
of her property, Of every kind and
description, wherever situated, by her
owned, or to which she might be en-
titled at the time of her death, to her
brother, L. S. Bigham, in fee simple.
charging him with the duty so to use
the property so as to provide home
for his mother and the two little
adopted boys, naming them, and pro-
viding them with suitable education.
l also wrote in the will the reason, as
above stated, why it was made, and
when the will is produced, if it is, it
will afford the evidence of the threats
which had been made against the life
of Mrs. Black by her brother, Edmund.
This will was read over to Mrs. Black
in the presence of Mr.. Bridges and Mr..
Bryce. She signed it and we three
witnessed it, indorsing the margin OF
each page with our initials. The will
was then turned over to Smiley, who
placed it in a red cardboard envelope,
and putting it in his pocket, he and
Mrs. Black withdrew and / have neith-
er seen or heard from them since, and
er seen or heard from them since, and
only of them through the reports that
have come tome of the horrible trag-
edy. (Signed)
"Philip H. Arrowsmth. "