The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-05-04
|. SMILEY BICHAM
WOULD END IT ALL
LETTERS COME TO LIGHT WITH
DIRECT BEARING ON FA-
NOUS CASE.


Lere and intend to end it all-you1l
never see ne alive again." or words
to that effect. L. Smiley Bigham is
alleged to nave written from Pamplico
tc his brother, Edmund D. Bigham,
who was then still in Georgia and is
now held in the death cell of the
South Carolina penitentiary in Colum-
bia under sentence to be electrocuted
for having killed Smiley. This, with
much other information bearing di-
rectly On this iamous case, is contain
ed in letters whic,. have come to light,
are now in the hands cf Edmund's
attorney, A. L. King, and probably will
be made the basis Of a motion in the
coming term of criminal court for a
new trial for him on the ground of
after discovered evidence.
The letters arc understood to be
typewriter, and signed by Smiley
with either pen or pencil. The sigma
ture on the letters, compared with
checks of Smiley that were paid
through the First National Bank of
Florence, has been pronounced genu-
inc by local authorities, who qualify
as experts in handwriting. Of the
signature on the checks, there can
be no doubt, of course, so long as
the bank accepted and paid them.
Mr.. King declined today to discuss
in detail the letters, but did admit
having them. He lid not state either
what use he intends to make of them,
but the logical procedure is said to
be to seek new trial on the ground
of after discovered evidence.
As nearly as could be learned, these
letters were written during the early
fall months, chiefly August, in 1920,
Immediately before Edmund returned
to Pamplico from Georgia in Septem-
Ter or October. The letters were ad-
dressed to him in Georgia. The kill
ing of Smiley, his mother, his sister,
Mrs. r. A. Black, and her two adopted
children, came in January 1921, fol-
lowing.
In one letter, which is believed to
clear somewhat the record in the case,
It stated that the family owed Edmund
SO much money, around $4,000 in all,
that Smiley had no hope OF their ever
being able to pay it. He said they
could not even pay the interest on
the debt. It stated also that the
family had had deed for the proper
ty made in Charleston in August, and
it was ready for execution upon Ed
mund coming back to Panplico. These
statements, if confirmed, would tend
to clear up the alleged mutilatien OF
the deed which came to light about
the time of the trial. Persons who
followed the details Of the case re-
member that the deed, which was al
legged to have been mutilated,' was
made in Charleston and the original
date was in August.
One letter also stated that the fam
lily had practically concluded arrange
ments to pay the bond Of DR.. Cleve-
land Bigham, who skipped his bond
of $4,000 while at liberty under the
charge of having killed his wife.
Probably the principal letter of the
batch, is one relating to the unhappi-
ness of the family. In this, over the
signature which is said to be Smiley's,
Smiley wrote that conditions at the
Pamplico home were very unpleasant.
He averred he had to board out all
the time to have any peace at all. In
consummate unhappiness, he wrote to
the effect that ne intended to lend
it all-you'll never see me alive
again."
E. NJ. Singletary, clerk of court,
has passed his opinion on the sigma
ture in the letters. When asked this
morning relative to the matter, he was
surprised the information has become
public. He declined to divulgc the
contents of the letters, :s 2 confiden-
tial matter. But he did state that ne
had passed his opinion on the sigma
ture, in comparison with Smiley's
proven signature on the paid checks.
He said he believes the signature is
genuine and stated further that the
letters have created considerable doubt
in his mind as to the guilt of Edmund,
of which he has never doubted be-
fore.
These letters have been just discov-
cred, which is the reason they were
not introduced at the trial Of Edmund
here last March a year ago. If ac-
cepted by the court as bona fide let