The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-01-21
ONE ARREST IN
Florence CRIME
EDMUND BIGHAM PLACED IN
JAIL ON CHARGE OF MURDER
AFFIDAVIT BY LAWYER IN
cLUDES STATEMENT BY ONE
OF DEAD WOMEN WHEN MAX.
NC WILL BEFORE KILLING

VI DEfAA "SNSAN VAAAAN A'e<AAH-
NC WILL BEFORE KILLING :.
Florence, Jan. 20.-The tragedy
near Pamplico last Saturday after
noon which cost the lives of three
members of the Bigham Family and
two adopted children, took sensa-
tional turn this afternoon when Ed
mund Bigham, one of the two snr-
viving members of the family and
the first to appear on the scene of
the tragedy, according to his state
ment, was arrested at the plantation
home and brought to the county jail
here. His wife accompanied him to
the Jail. Edmund Bigham was ar
rested by Deputy Sheriff M B. Burch
on a warrant sworn out by-John W.
McCracken the father of the two
children killed. Coroner Smith and
G.. M. Rose, an officer of Pamplico,
accompanied him. Bigham is charged
with murder. He submitted to the
arrest quietly and manifested little
or no concern. He refused to make
any statement tonight when seen
at the Jail.
The persons killed on the Bigham
plantation last Saturday were: Mrs.
M. NJ. Bigham, her daughter, Mrs.
Margie Black: Leo and John Nc
Cracken, two adopted children, and
L. S. Bigham, br' her of Mrs. Black.
The mother and the daughter apd
one of the children were apparently
killed instantly. The youngest child
died at 5 o'clock the following morn
ing, and L. S. Bigham, who was
thought at the time to have COM
mitted the crime, was found dead
in the woods about mile from the
home at, II o'clock the following
morning. He grasped a pistol in his
hand, and a bullet had pierced the
right temple. The other four victims
also died of pistol shot wounds.
Negroes for Witnesses.
Coroner Smith said this. afternoon
that several negroes would be ar
rested and held as material wit
nesses. 1t is his opinion that now
that Bigham is under arrest other
testimony bearing on the case may
be forthcoming.
In making the arrest of Bigham on
the warrant of McCracken, the affi-
davit of Philip Arrowsmith, an at
torney of this city, was given great
consideration. In his affidavit Arrow
smith declares that he had been the
attorney for Mrs. BLACK and for L
(Smiley) Bigham, two of the persons
killed, since the spring of 1920 and
that, therefore, he had become init,
mately acquainted with their af.
fairs.
At the outset of the affidavit, which
was sworn to before the coroner
Mr.. Arrowsmith declares that Ed.
mund Bigham has no interest in the
estate of the late Senator L. S. Big,
ham, this having been conveyed to
his mother and brother. He also
declares that the payment of the
bond escheated by DR.. Cleveland Big.
ham, who was convicted for the muir.
der of his wife and sentenced to
three years in the state penitentiary
had been provided for by deposit OF
amount sufficient to cover the bond
in local bank. The money was
the proceeds Of a mortgage on the
estate lands and that Solicitor l.
M. Gasque of this judicial circuit
had in his possession the certificate
of deposit. Mr.. Arrowshmith also
,evrs that he has in his possession
all of the original deeds relating to
the Bigham lands. Continuing, the
statement says that on January 8
1921, L. S. Bigham and Mrs. Margie
Black came to his home and at their
.'equest he accompanied them to hi:
office where Mrs. Black, who was
greatly agitated, made the following
statement:
Feared for Life.
II signed three blank deeds in thu
presence of witnesses and left then
with Smiley so that if anything hap
pened to me my fathers estate could