The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-08-15
SHERIFF REFUSES
TO OBEY ORDERS
KEEPS PRISONERS IN HOME
eAFTER REQUEST
Beaufort Becomes Aroused Owe
Staying Of Aged Man and
Meeting Is Held
The State.

( Meeting Is Held
The State.
Beaufort, Aug. 10.-A mass meet
ing that crowded the court house to-
night voted to instruct the chairman
to appoint committee of three citi-
Nzens to collect, prepare and present
evidence against Sheriff j. H. Bailey
before the grand jury. This grew
out of his refusal and failure to place
Ralph E. Brown in Jail as directed
in the. coroner's commitment, which
found at the inquest yesterday that
Brown killed T. P. L. Bettison. The
vote was unanimous except for a
brother of Brown:
The sheriff kept the prisoner at his
home while the law requires he be
put in jail. Early in the afternoon
over 100 citizens met and sent a
committee to the sheriff asking him
to. meet with them and explain his
action. This he refused to do. So
ieitor Murdaugh was on his way
from Hampton and the meeting wa.
adjourned to. the evening. The So
kcitor was present then and advised
with the meeting as to the sheriff s
action. Just before the evening meet
ing the sheriff placed his prisoner in
jail, but again refused to attend the
meeting. Condemnation was ex-
pressed at the fact that the sheriff S
attorney and advisor is the attorney
for the defense in the case against
Brown.
Condemnation of the city govern
nlsnt for alleged leniency toward
Brown in former difficulties was gen.
eral, and motion was carried, 80 to
So, asking for the resignation of the
three commissioners, over two-thirds
refraining from voting on this issue
owing in part to the absence of the
mayor. Many women attended and
voted. Intense feeling was manifest
ed in the applause and speeches but
the best of order was maintained.
The committee sent to the sheriff
was, Alan Paul, L. H. Hall and Gus
Sanders, county treasurer. Nlels
Christensen was Chairman of the
meetings and Alan Paul secretary.
j. n. Bellamy and William Ait
nan made the motions that carried.
The solicitor has refused to consent
to q request for bail for Brown.
In the news account sent out yes
terday it was stated. that Bettison
was killed while seaed. A further
examination of the testimony shows
that at the corener's inquest no d.
rect evidence was presented to that
effect. Brown claims self defense
in his request for bail.
Beaufort, Aug. f1O.-The funera
of T. P. L. Bettison, whose tragic
death was reported yesterday, wa
held this afternoon at the Baptis
church of which he was member
The Rev. C.. E. Belts, ofhciated in th'
absence \of the Rev.lF. C. Helms, pas
: tor of the church. : The coffin wa
covered by many beautiful floral off
erings and numbers of friends at
tended. The only relative presen
was A. P. Bettison of Allendale. TIL
pallbearers were C. L. Baxter, J. A
Hinely, Harry Rogers, Gordon Black
w. NJ. Steinmeyer and N. Christen
sen. The interment was at tn
graveyard Of the Charles Street Bap
tist church.
Mr.. Bettison, who was 6S year
old. was born IN Barnwell. His faith
eF was T. L. P. Bettfson and his me
ther Annie Alexander of EdgefelG
He was married in 1879 to Miss Wi
hanson; of lYemassee, his wife dyin
in11S81. He is: survived by Prestol
Bettison of Williston and Williar
Bettisen Of Mississippi besides tn
brother living at Allendale.
Mr.. Bettison - lived in Beaufor
county during the last 81 years an
was a skilled.}worknan. lie was Of
cheerful disposition and leaves man,
friends in an walks of life to mourn
to tragic end.