The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-26
most interesting aspect.


II appears that "a few DAYS before
her death. Mrs. j. Began cain. n sis.
ter is alleged To have signed deeds
! transferring cerain OF the lands &c
Mrs. Margie Black This is said to
| nave becn after the Cleveland Big
nam bond had been arranged for
In view of the fact as presented in
the Arrowsmth affidavit, that l.. $
Elghan had not only been made tho
beneficiary of Mrs Blacks will, but
ne also had i'm his possession deeds
signed in blank which he could have
used as he desired. 1t is urged that
the question of motive fOr the muir
ders on the part of l.. $. Bigham, as
TAR rs property consideration was
concerned had been removed.
The affidavit of Philip Arrow
smith, an attorney of this city, taken
| by Coroner W. Marvin Snlith, is as
follows:
| Il was attorney FOR Mrs. 49,. VI
| ligham, l.. s. Bighan and Mrs. MAJ
gle n. Black, and have, therefore.
| been rather intimately associated
with them since opening of the spring
of 1920 My employment was with
regard To the estate lands of l.. s.
Righam. ST., deceased. and in which
Edmund Bigham had no interest,
having conveyed to his mother and
brother.
Pursuant to my employment / ar
ranged with the First National bank
of Florence, by mortgage of the prop
erty, for the bank to issue its GER
tiiicate of deposit for an apount
sufficient TO pay to the state of South
Carolina the Judgment which had
been rendered on the bond escheated
upon the default of Dr. Bigham
in 1910. This mortgage is duly re-
corded and the certiacate of deposit
is i'm the hands of Solicitor Gasoue.
During the last term Of the GRIM
inal court. us county attorney, in
connection with the Investigation
then being conducted by that body
into the mutilation of the county
records OF which were alleged to have
before them. which / did. AS county
attorney ] had no information i'm re-
gard to- the matter which they were
/ investigating, but as Mr.. Bigham's s
attorney 1T was my pleasure to ad-
wise the grand jury that ] had in
my possession the original deeds, the
records OF which was alleged TO have
been torn from the books, which |
would be very happy to display to
the grand jury OF any one else upon
request.
subsequently some members Of
the body called at my Office and in
spected the original deeds. vcn-
tured the opinion to the grand jury
that Mr.. Righam could hardly be
guilty of destruction of the record
and the retention of the original
deeds, as common sense and prudence
would have dictated the destruction
of the original deed and the preser-
vaion at all cost. of the records. AS
matter OF fact, l have i'm my pos
session all OF the original papers re-
latinS to the Bigham lands.
Although / was frequently in con-
ference with Mr.. Bigham, who was
rather inclined TO discuss frequently
and ut length matters affecting him
he never at any time mentioned the
postoiiice matter to me.
"On saturday night, the Sth of Jan
uary 1927, between $3.50 and 9
O'Clock. Mrs. Margie A. Black and
her brother. l.. s. Bigham. came to
my home and requested me to go
with them to the office. as they
wished me Immediately to handle u
matter of great importance to them
At that TIME Mrs. Black appeared to
bc greatly agitatcd. | was already
preparing To leave home to go to
the office with w. Marshall Bridges
and q. t. Bryce. /. therefore, accom-
panied Mrs. Black and Mr.. Bigham
to the office and Mrs. Black then
made this statement TO me. (She
said in words To this eifect
II signed three blank deeds in the
preseuce Of witnesses and left them
with Smiley. so that if anything
should happen 10 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. When
attempted TO secure possession Of
them Emund flew into a passion and
threatened To take my life as we'll as
that of my mother. gave up all
hopes of getting he deeds back, and
his conduct is such that | am afraid
he will Kill me at ANY moment, and
| want YOU to prepare my will giving
all Of my property To my brother
Smiley, and charging him, as | know
he will. to take care of my mother
ana my two little adopted boys
Il said to Mrs. Black that II was
nConceivable to me tEat her life was
i'm danger at the hands Of her broth
er. and Smiley, at that time, said If
the matter werp left to him he had
no doubt but that he could prevail
upon Edmund to give up the deeds
ana the whole master would be there
by settled. Mrs. Black. however, in
sist ed that her lie was in danger
and requested me to draw the will
e was after office hours and there