davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
The Meeting of the Civic Club

The March meeting of the Civic
Club was held Saturday afternoon
in the office of the Chamber of Com
merce. There was a fairly good at
tendance and Mrs. McLane mapped
out an interesting program of work
for the club. A week of singing to be
held in the Court House will make a
pleasant feature of the clubs activi-
ties. The'club has been organized
for twelve years and birthday par
ty with appropriate exercises will be
held soon.
Arrangements for an egg hunt on
Thursday afternoon were made.
Half of the proceeds of the enter
tainment will go to the Marker Com.
mittee and the balance to the club
enterprises.
The plans for the Marker to com
memorate the last meeting of the
Confederate Cabinet have peen re-
ceived and the order will be placed
as soon as representative of the
marble works can come to Abbeville
for a conference with the commit
tee.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
DEATH OF MARTIN w. BAKER

Martin w. Baker, a native of
Lcwhdesville, and for many years a
resident of the Buckstand section of
the county, died a. the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Mary Cochran, at East
Point, Ga, March 18th. The deceas-
ed was 73 years of age.
His, body was brought to Abbeville
Tuesday, and funeral services were
conducted at Gilgal Church, Tuesday
afternoon, by Rev. C. E. Peele, of the
Abbeville Methodist Church. Inter
ment was in the Gilgal cemetery.
Mr. Baker was a prosperous farmer
I'll his | fe.' He built up his farm and
had about him all the conveniences
of farm life. A little more than a
year ago his health failed, and he
went to East Point to live with his
daughter, in the hope that the change
you'd help him. 1t was there that the
end came. The deceased was a men,
Der of the Presbyterian church.
In early life Mr.. Baker was mar
ried to Miss Carrie Lee Simpson, of
this county. She survives him as do
the following children: Mrs. Joe Pres
ton of Jacksonville, Fla; Mrs. Mary
Cochran, of East Point, Ga; Mrs.
Geo; &c Thomas, of Texas; and Lind
say Baker,, of Greenville. Another
daughter, Mrs. Ada Gilmer, died Sew
eral years ago leaving two grand
children.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
NO APPOINTMENTS
IN POSTAL SERVICE
Postmaster General Decides to Wait
Awhile Before Ordering Ex-
tensive Changes

Washington, March 15.-That
there will be no appointments in the
postal service in the immediate fu-
ture was developed from unques-
tionable sources today. The decision
of the postmaster general to such
effect was most depressing to Re-
publican national committeeman in
Washington, in an effort to initiate
the shaking of the plum tree.
Will H. Hays, postmaster general,
concluded to make haste slowly, it is
understood, as result of persuasion
on the part of Representative Fess
of Ohio and other influential Repub-
lican members of congress. Mr.. Fess
has mailed questionnaires to all 9TH
er Republican members Of congress,
and many prominent Republican
politicians asking them to advise
whether or not the merit system in
selecting nominees should be dis
placed by the spoils systems. The
postmaster general was urged to
await the compilation of the an
swers.
The belief is general in Washing
ton that despite the anxiety>of the
Republicans to oust all Democratic
Office holders and make it impossible
for other Democrats to secure feder-
al jobs they will not dare to abandon
entirely the executive order of for
mer President Wilson as result Of
which all first, second and third class
postmasters went under civil SER
vice. :.
The belief is that all Democratic
postmasters will be, thrown out Of
Office, but that they will be permit
ted in many cases to compete with
Republicans in civil service examina-
tions. It is understood that as a re-
suit of the decision of the postmas-
ter general, today prospective Re-
publican pie dispensers in the sever
al states will Immediately wend
their ways homeward.
Joseph W. Tolbert, Republicans
national committeeman from South
Carolina, interviewed the postmas-
er general today, but secured no in
formation other than that "there
would be nothing doing regarding
postoffices in the immediate future" I"
1t is understood that he was engaged
in attempting to secure the postof-
flee at Greenville for A. A. Gates,
a citizen Of that place.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
POLES ON THE PARK

The telephone poles on the Public
Square are being taken from in
front of the National Bank and
Whites store and are being pub on
the Monument Park. This will give
five posts on the Park and according
to Mr.. Gregory the "post will be
painted green" and will not affect
the looks of the Park"
The move is am expensive process
for the telephone company, the
freight on the cable alone, amount
ing to a hundred dollars. The
change will cost the company
around five thousand dollars.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
THE MARRIAGE OF
MISS MARGARET COTHRAN

News was received in Abbeville
Tuesday afternoon of the marriage
of Miss Margaret Cothran and Mr..
j. D. Holstein, of Edgefield, the
happy event taking place in Aiken.
Since the breaking up of the
Cothran home Miss Margaret has
made her home in Edgefeld. She
left many friends in Abbeville who
extend their best wishes to her and
to Mr.. Holstein, their congratula-
ions and good wishes.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
SELLING CANDY

The ladies of the Civic Club who
are on the committe to erect the
Confederate marker in front of the
Stark home, are selling candy as a
means of raising money to help with
the enterprise. This candy is<home
made and is of the highest quality.
The candy is on sale at Austin,
Perrin's Drug Store and the accom-
modating gentlemen in the store
will be glad to serve any one inter-
ested in helping the ,ladies.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
MOB LYNcHEs NEGRO

Tampa, Fla, March 14.-William
Bowles, a negro, was lynched by a
mob near Eagle Lake in Polk county
this afternoon after two deputy
sheriffs had arresed him for making
improper. remaks to young white
woman. AS the offices were taking
the negro to the county Jail at Bar
tow they were held up by mob Of
armed men, overpowered' and the
negro taken from them. The negro
was hanged to tree near the road
side.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
WATCH DARC;AN

R. L. Dargan, of 'Spartanburg, but
formerly of Abbeville, has just re-
turned from a meeting of the Eqnit-
able agents in Savannah. It will be
pleasing news to the friends of Mr..
Dargan to know that in the first
months of the year he qualified for
every prize offered by the Equitable
fer the amount of insurance written.
Each district is assessed a~ certain
amount of insurance to be written
and the agent who writes the largest
percentage of his assessment is given
a prize. Other prizes are offered for
merit as an insurance writer. OAR
gan won on every show down.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
KIRBY-EDWARDS

Miss Ola Kirby, of Abbeville, and
Mr.. VIM. P. Edwards, Of Union,
were married this wednesday,
morning at the Baptist parsonage by
DR.. Louis J. Bristow.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
CHANGING BASE

Mr.. w. T. Stephens, one Of the
trusted employees of the Seaboard,
has been transferred to the Birming-
ham division for short while and is
at work there now.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
SPENDING THE DAY

Mrs. ]. S. Stark, Miss Fannie
Stark, Mrs. Herman Benton and
Mr.. J. W. MceKe spent the day
Monday in Anderson.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
MEN: /
What is Your Great
est Problem?

Why did Samson lose his hair and
the enormous strength for which he
was famous? Why did Marc Antony
daily along the Nile when- he might
have been at Rome winning an en-
pire?
What is responsible for half the
crimes committed by men, two
thirds of their unselfsh acts, and
nine-tenths of their ambition?
What keeps man working his
brain overtime, spending a fortune
on telephone calls and flowers, and
lowering midway between anxious
expectation and blissful Cor other
wise) realization?
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Japan leads the world in the num-
ber of divorces granted annually.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
Local
News

i : PERSONALS ::
Mrs. Van Noy Weir, of Athens, IS
in the city for visit to her tather'
Mr.. A. B. Morse. $500.
Mrs. Nettie Pruitt and daughter,
Miss Margie, of near Due West, was
shopping in the city Wednesday.
) Remember the Easter egg hunt at
the home of Mrs. w. P. Greene
Thursday afternoon at four o'clock.
Miss Lillian Richey has gone to
Atlanta where she will spend some
time visiting friends.
Mrs. Charlie Hinson and her live
: " daughter, LaRue, spent Wednes-
&: day in Elberton with friends.
, Mr.. Ecv. Snipes was over from
Winder, Ca, Tuesday shaking
:, hands with his many friends.
MIR. w. j. Ammons, of Calhoun
Falls, was a business visitor in the
city Tuesday.
Mrs. A. B. Galloway, and Mrs. W.
C. Dupre went over to Greenwood
Monday and spent the day.
John R. Tolbert, Of Smithville,
was among the visitors in town
Tuesday.
Mrs. Gillian, Of Glowing Springs,
came to town Tuesday and spent the
day shopping.
Mr.. l.. A. Jackson, a substantial
farmer of the Prosperity section,
was a visitor in the city Tuesday.
Try some of the homemade can
DIV on sale at the A1stin-Perrin
Drug Store. Your money goes to
the Confederate marker to be erect
ed soon.
Miss Margie Guillebeau has re-
turned to Greenville after week
spent with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. L. A. Guillebeau.
Mr.. E. H. Longshore went over to
Greenwood Tuesday and gave the
people of that slow old town an op-
portunity to know what "a game
sport looks like.
Mrs. John Drew Cade was shop
ping in Abbeville Tuesday, knowing
where to come for good styles.
Miss Norma Klugh, of Greenwood
is in the city visiting her. sister,
Miss Louise Klugh.
DR.. Hunter and Mr.. j. L. Nc
Combs, of Bethia, were in town
Tuesday telling that times are dull
in their section.
Former Sheriff Burts and his
young friend, Mr.. Herman Moore,
of Honea Path, were on our streets
Wednesday.
Mrs. Bob Hodges and Miss Ella
Hodges were in town Tuesday see
ing their friends and trading with
the merchants.
Mrs. Charles Leroy, of Willing
ton, was in town Tuesday, buying
spring hats and frocks at Mrs.
Cochran's.
Mr.. apd Mrs. ]. B. Schroeder were
called to Olanta this week by the i'll
ness of Mrs. Schroeder's sister, Miss
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mr.. Ecv. Snipes was over from
Winder, Ga, Tuesday shaking
hands with his many friends.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mrs. Charlie Hinson and her live
" daughter, LaRue, spent Wednes'
day in Elberton with friends.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

MIR. w. ]. Ammons, of Calhoun
Falls, was a business visitor in the
city Tuesday.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Miss Lillian Richey has gone TO
Atlanta where she will spend some
time visiting friends.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mrs. Nettie Pruitt and daughters
Miss Margie, of near Due West was
shopping in the city Wednesday.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Miss Margie Guillebeau has re-
turned to Greenville after week
spent with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. L. A. Guillebeau.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mr.. E. H. Longshore went over to
Greenwood Tuesday and gave the
people of that slow old town an op-
portunity to know what "a game
sport looks like.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mr.. and Mrs. S. ]. Link, Mrs. Fan
ME Marshall, Miss Kate Marshall and
Mr. Bob Link of Abbeville were a.
mong those who attended the funer-
al of Mr. C. M. Calhoun held here
yesterday.-Index-Journal..
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Remember the Easter egg hunt at
the home of Mrs. w. P. Greene
Thursday afternoon at four o'clock
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16
{: personals

Mrs. Van Noy Weir, of Athens, is
in the CITY for visit to her father,
Mr.. A. B. Morse. .'
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mr.. !. A. Jackson, a substantial
farmer of the Prosperity section,
was a visitor in the city Tuesday.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mrs. A. B. Galloway, and Mrs. W.
e.. Dupre went over to Greenwood
Monday and spent the day.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Try some of the homemade can
DIV on sale at the A1stin-Perrin
Drug Store. Your money goes to
the Confederate marker to be erect
ed soon.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mrs. Gillian, Of Glowing Springs,
came to town Tuesday and spent the
day shopping.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

John R. Tolbert, Of Smithville,
was among the visitors in town
Tuesday.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Mrs. John Drew Cade was shop
ping in Abbeville Tuesday, knowing
where to come for good styles.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

Miss Norma Klugh, of Greenwood
is in the city visiting her. sister,
Miss Louise Klugh.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-16

DR.. Hunter and Mr.. j. L. Nc
Combs, of Bethia, were in town
Tuesday telling that times are dull
in their section.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-31
Rough Branch News.

Cades, March 29.-Miss NancI
Wheeler of Florence in the charming
guest of her cousin Miss Hazel Han
nah.
Miss Matte Julia Graham of Cokel
college is spending the Easter ho'i
Gays with her parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. Press Tanner OF
Marion are visiting Mr.. and Mrs. H.
Foxworth.
Miss Ruth Patterson of Bennetts-
Vile was the guest of her sister Mrs
Jim Graham, Jr., the past week.
Misses Docia and Harriet Bruorton
of Andrews spent the past week end
with their sister, Miss Rosa Bruorto''
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. w. B.
Cox.
Mrs. R. F. Epps is at the Baker
Sanitorium in Charleston for treat
ment.
Mr.. L. L. Gaddy, of Bennettsville.
spent Sunday at the home OF Mr.. anG
Mrs. Jim Graham, Jr.
The Methodist Sunday school had Il
most enjoyable egg hunt in the grove
at the church Saturday afternoon.
Miss Rosa Cox entertained few f
her friends last Saturday night in
honor of the Misses Bruorton of An
drews.
ScribblerS.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-31
District Methodists Gather Here.

About fifty preachers and laymen
Of the Methodist church gathered here
yesterday in attendance upon the
Kingstree District Educational Set
Up meeting preparatory to the Edu
cational campaign which is soon to
fake place in the Southern Methodist
church.
Among those present were DR.. H.
Y. Snider of Wofford college, Mr. LIE
land Moore, Conference director OF
Education; Rev. G. C. Edwards, Con-
ference Secretary of Education; and
Prof. J. C. Guilds, President of Colum-
bia college. The address by Or. Snider
was the outstanding feature Of the
meeting.
A sumptuous dinner was served the
visitors at the church by the ladies
of the local congregation.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-31

tack on the prosecution for introduc-
ing the Arrowsmith testimony and be-
gan to vent his opinion on the Arrow
smith fee of $4,000 for Strengthening
cut the affairs of the Bigham estate,
Mr. Gasque rose and asked that such
attacks be stopped.
Judge Memminger promptly assert
ed the courts preroagtive and gave
Mr.. King notice that any further at
tacks of such nature would result in
his being denied the privilege Of fur
ther argument and another attorney
be appointed to present the case tc
the jury.
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 all the blame upon
himself and said he hoped the jury
would not allow his outburst to influ-
ence their attitude toward his client
Aside from this incident Mr.. Kings
speech was impressive and was pro-
nounced by those who heard it to be
"a mastery piece of advocacy. Mr..
King relied principally upon the de-
fense's theory of the insanity Of Smi-
ley Bigham, his committing of the
murders and his subsequent suicide.
He did, however, bring into his speech
the testimony bearing upon the al
legged insanity of Bigham's father and
laid stress upon the prejudice shown
by neighbors against the defendant.
The presentation of the case by So
licitor Gasque is said by lawyers and
laymen to have been an exemplary
work of its kind, He connected his
facts in logical sequence. From the
9Th of January, when it set forth
that Edmund D. Bigham whipped his
sister because she accused him OF
stealing certain papers connected with
the Bigham estate, until the day when
Mrs. Bigham tried to smuggle bot
tie of chloroform into her husbands
cell, Mr.. Gasque did not leave an uri-
connected link in the story.
The story ran that Edmund D. Big
ham, the son of rich father had sold
his interest in the estate to his broth
er and sister and gone away fol-
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 recover
ing an interest in property to which
he was in no way entitled.
From the time of his appearance in
the Bigham household there had been
g. succession of chickering's and disputes
eliminating in the incident which
drove Mrs. Marjorie Bigham Black to
Florence, where at Attorney Arrow,
smiths office, she had made a will
giving everything she had to he:
brother, Smiley Bigham, to whom she
and two of her adopted children.
confided the care of her cid r.-othe,
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-31

and her two little adopted children.
In this will she had set forth her
fear of some person, whom she did not
name in the will, who had obtained
possession of three deeds covering
property of her estate, which she had
signed in blank. Following this came
the declaration of Smiley Bigham on
Tuesday following the visit to Flor
nece, when he said t. Mrs. Kirton, as
Mrs. Kirton said on the stand, that
edmund Bigham was cutting up and
threatening 20 kill all of them. Il am
not afraid of him, but Margie is. 1t
he will behave himself l am going to
give him a piece of land, though he is
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-31
Cyclone

A small cyclone or swept over a
section of the Hebron community o !;
Tuesday afternoon, March %, des-
troying several out-buildings and
causing damage estimated at about
$4,000 on the farm of Mr.. ]. E.
Thomas. The storm covered only a
small area. No other damage in the
community has been reported.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-31
BICHAM GUILTY.;
SENTENCED TO DIE
SENSATIONAL CASE CLOSED
MONDAY-TO APPEAL TO
SUPREME COURT.

On Saturday afternoon, January
18th, 1921, there was crime commit
ted on the Bigham plantation neal
Pamplico in Florence county, which
in atrocity and blood-curdling details
to the imaginative mind, stand para
mount in the criminal history
of the county. 1t was at first
thought thu. L. S. (Smiley) Bigham
had committed the crime and made his
escape. On Sunday morning the dead
body of Smiley Bigham was found in
the woods near the Bigham home
where the lifeless remains of his
mother, sister and two children were
awaiting final rites. Then it was
thought that suicide had followed the
numbering of these women and chill
dren.
There were many rumors in the
community and a strong doubt sool'
prevailed as to the guilt of Smiley
olRudul. Lie COIOlICl anu IoA0iS ~
vestigating the murders were evident
ly doubtful and before they finished
their deliberations, P. H. Arrowsmith,
an attorney of the Florence bar made
certain affidavits which placed a
strong suspicion of guilt upon Ed
mund Bigham, brother of Smiley and
he was arrested and placed in the
Florence Jail. Then after the coroner
and jurors had gone further into the
case with their Investigations, on
February End they found that Mrs.
NJ. NJ. Bigham, Mrs. Margle Black,
L. S.. Bigham and the two McCracken
children came to their death at the
hands of E. D. Bigham.
The accused, E. D. Bigham, was
placed on trial for his life at Flor
ence last Thursday. The summin-up
of the case by the attorneys, the find
ing by the jury and sentence by the
Judge is given here as reported to the
Charleston News and Courier by its
Florence correspondent Monday: