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NEWS OF THE WEEK IN TOWNOFCLINTON Meeting in Interest of Wil son Candidacy. PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS ON POPULAR PEOPLE White Sale and Turkey Dinner by Daughters of Confederacy?Child* ren's Chapter U. D. C?Trl-Htate Orphanage Conference?Base Hall Season Opens?Other Items. Clinton, March 25.?On Thursday evening In the Utopia Hall an enthus iastic meeting of citizens resulted in the organization of a Woodrow Wilson club. The chief speaker of the even ing was President Douglass, who as a former Princeton student, was able to give a most interesting ac count of Woodrow Wilson. He spoke for more than an tiour in the very highest terms, praising Wilson as a man and a scholar. The Rev. J. E, Mahaffey was also a speaker! though he confined his speech to a few min utes. The officers elected are: Pres ident, Mr, W. 10. Hell; Vice Presi dent, Mayor W. M. McMillan; Secre tary, Mr. Wilson W. Harris. White Sale and Turkey Dinner. The ladies of Stephen 1). Lee chap ter U. 1). C. held a white sale on Thurs day and served a turkey dinner and oyster supper in connection with it. The receipts were about $11 f> and the expenses less than $2i> so that the treasury is enriched about $00 for the day's work. Children's Chapter U. D. C. A children's chapter, lT. D. C. aux iliary to the Stephen 1). Lee chapter, was organized here on Friday after noon at the residence of Mrs. Thomas Lyon. The officers elected were as follows: president, Miss .lulin Owens; 1st vice president, Miss Kate Shnnds; 2nd vice-president. Miss Sara Hunter; recording secretary, Miss Nancy Ow ens; corresponding secretary. Miss Essie Copeland; treasurer, Miss Doris Lyon; historian. Miss Helen Bailey. The regular time for meeting will be the hist Friday in each month begin ning next Friday, March l'O. At this meeting, which will be hold with Miss Julia Owens, a name will he select ed for the chapter. - TrI-Stafe Orphanage Conference. On April 2, I?, and i a conference of orphanages in North Carolina. South Carolina and Georgia will he held at the Thornwell Orphanage, An inter esting program of speeches and dis cussions has been prepared. Hase Hall Season. The base ball season opens here April first when the 1'. C. team plays Furmnn on the first and the second. Chautanqnn Pinns. The committees who have in charge the arrangements for the chautauqua to be held here the first week of Juno, met in the Pythian hall Mon day evening to perfect plans for the attractions. Social Iffolrs. Misses Zee Wright and Dorothy Ow ens entertained tho Senior class of the Presbyterian college on Thursday evening at a very elegant affair. On Saturday afternoon Mrs. J. W. Copeland, Jr., gave a lovely St. Patrick party to the members or the Act aeon Hook club and a number of Invited guests, every detail of which was charmingly carried out. The young men of the lOukosmian Lieterary society of the Presbyterian college entertained the 1 friends at their annual banquet Fr. Jay evening at the Clinton hotel. The'repast was served In beautiful style by Mrs. King and her assistants. Clover speeches and toasts brought tho evening to a happy close. The young ladles and gentlemen who so ably presented "Her friend the enemy" last spring will soon be k gin rehearsals for another play to be f given undor tho auspices of the U. D. C. A mock trial will be held in Clin ton under the auspecles of the Pub lic Library Association In April. Miss Ireno Little entertains tho Embroidery Club this afternoon. Little Janet Lenke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Leake, has been crit ically 111 with dlpthoria but Is better and will probably recover. Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Copelnand arc In Baltimore, Md., called there by the critical Illness of their son, Dr. Rut ledge Copeland. I ' WAS FOULD IMURDEY DUE TO CONSPIRACY? Reports from Mountvllle Tell of Al most Unbelievable Plans Made on tho Lifo of (ho Late Mr. Bryson. Mountvllle, March 23,?The people of Mountvllle are still In a bewildered and nervous state over the murder of W. H. Bryson. The posse, who, during the week, searched the coun try from here to Columbia, have re turned without the murderer, Wesley Hill. Other negroes suspected of hav ing some knowledge of the crime have been "waited on" and, If their I evidence Is to he r el fed upon, the In formation given by them arouses some suspicion that the murder may have been the result of a conspiracy. This discovery may lead to other arrests. In the meantime It is anxiously hoped that the real murderer may he appre hended. The awful crime of last Saturday, preceded a few weeks ago by the hold attempt to burn S. N. Crisp's store and followed Wednesday morning by the burning of W. L. Teaguo's barn, has created a sensation in the minds of thinking people. Whether there is any connection between the murder and the two burnings, or either of them, of course. Is not known, but the fact that the three incidents occur red within n few miles of one anoth er, and that they followed one anoth er in close succession, Rives some ground for thought. About two o'clock Wednesday morn ing Mr. \V. L. Tongue's barn, four miles from Mountvllle, was complete ly destroyed by lire. With the barn which was a large two story build ing, perished also six head of mules and horses, three buggies, carriage, wagon, harness, a quantity of corn and fodder, all of last year's crop, and other valuables. A quantity of cot ton nearby was barly saved by dili gent work. The barn and contents was a complete loss as there was no Insurance. The burning is thought to have been incendiary. Our mail carriers, Messrs. S. B. Goodman and J. H. Motes, had some very unpleasant experiences during the severe storm of last week. Hut they were faithful to their official trusts oven to the extent of exposing themselves to dangerous risks. Mr. Goodman, attempting to cross the Hooded Benverdam Creek Friday morn ing, was carried some distance down tho stream by a deep and swift cur rent. The buggy having hung on a tree, he, standing on the dash hoard and shafts, succeeded in unhitching the horse and, mounting tho animal from the rear, made his escape. The mail was held above water and came out safe and dry. After the water subsided the buggy was brought out Saturday badly damaged. Mr. Motes ;*'so braved the storm, going Friday and Saturday as far as tho Davenport bridge on Little River, which was so damaged that it was impossible to cross the stream. During this week r number of our public spirited citizens have taken ad vantage of the fair weather to improve the conditions of our public roads, dragging, scraping and hauling sand nnd rock to repair deep holes and oth er bad places. Among t'ioso who de serve creditable mention for these pub lic favors, are, Messrs Calton Chase, S. J. Knsor, Paul and William Fellers, J, B. Richardson and T. J. Coloman. These have all done work which great ly relieves difficult public travel. Mrs. (Jennie Kramer of New York lias been spending tho winter at Mountvllle, making her home at the Teague boarding house. She is a na tive of this state, but after ma riage lived In New York until the death of her husband a few years ago. While she owns a good homo and other property in New York, she prefers to make her home among her friends in the south. It Is said hero that Dr. A. S. Cook has accepted a call T>y tho Unlversa llst church at Camp Hill, Ala. and that ho has given tip his work In this state. He will movo his family to Camp Hill this spring. Mr. N. B, Crisp was away from home most of last week, attending meeting of Hunter township equalization board at Clinton, and mnklng a busi ness trip to Sumter, Blshnpvlllo and other places. Mr. John Richardson of Columbia is visiting relatives here and nt Cross Hill. The Cotton Market. Cotton was bringing 10%o on tho Laurens market yesterday. Only about 1,000 bales In the two warehouses. ALL ABOARD FOR POLITICS, S. C. HANDSHAKERS AND SPELLBINDERS ARE OUT With the Coming of the First Breath of Spring the Boys Have Gotten the Warm Blood of Good Fellowship in Their Hearts and They Can't Reject the Im portunities of their Friends to Make the Race The fight is on. The first bomb in the campaign for national, state and county olllcers has been fired in this county. A number of the candidates have hearkened unto the voices of their friends and have placed their names before the public as "being willing" to shoulder the responsibili ties of office for the coining two years. To be sure it is all unselfishness that allows them to take up the mantle of the people and to protect them from the wily politicians, hut they have put all consideration of themselves in the background and now they are ready to stand up for the rights of the dear people. Some have announced themselves as certain to be in the race. Others have listened to the voices of the friends and are on the way. I*. S. Senator. This year will see the election of a I'nited States Senator, to fill the seat now occupied by Senator Tillman. Senator Tillman will be in the race to sutceed himself, while W. Jasper Talbert, of Kdgelield county, will op pose him. The campaign has not liv ened up yet, but the honored Jasper has hinted that one of his planks will be fewer federal pensions. Congressman. In this district, a congressman is to be elected. Hon. Joseph T. John son will in all probability be in the race to succeed himself and it's going to take a good one to beat him. No other candidate has evinced any de sire to try conclusions with Mr. John son so far. State Offices. Of course Cole I>. Hlease will be in the race to succeed himself in the governor's chair. Judge Ira B. Jones will oppose him and has already put a few hot ones over. John T. Duncan, one of the og^s out of last year's nest, will also be there with some more hot stuff on the "Columbia King" and the "Asylum Deal." John T. makes things pretty interesting, if he doesn't have much weight. Licnt. Qov. C. A. Smith has announc ed thai he would be in the race to succeed himself. No other has an nounced lor this office so far. For the office of secretary of slate it seems, from the present prospects, that Mr. It. M McCown will have no opposition, although a plenty of time is left in which to make things hum. A. VV. Jones is the only man in view now to hold down the office of comptroller general. Mr. Jones has come to be somewhat of a "landmark'' at Columbia, so it is doubted if any body will come out to tear him down. Capt. It. H. Jennings has announced that on account of physical infirmi ties, he will not be in the race for treasurer again. This means that a pretty lively tilt is in view, for the treasurer's job Is very much sought after. Sam'l T. Carter, who has been in the treasurer's office for some years will offer for Capt. Jennings' place. D. W. McLaurln, state land agent, will also be In the race for this office. Doubtless a few others will be at tin song and dance when this number is called. For adjutant nnd Inspector general the present Incumbent W, W, Moore will in all probability offer. As this office always has quite a number of men wanting It, several straight-backs will probably be In for some fun. It is said that the Charleston military I folks aro looking around among their own kith nnd kin trying to settle on some good man from down that side I to represent them. Whether Capt. Rlchardon, who was in the race last year, will run again Is not known. Capt. Newnham is also keeping rpilet. J. F. Swearlngen has had consider able opposition to his policies while In office, so It would not be n surprise if he did not find himself opposed by several dauntless educators. It has been whispered around that Laurens county might furnish one of these. How about It? Now. for Fraser f.yon's job. That race Is going to be a honey. Mr. Lyon has been having the boys walk a chalk line now for several years and it looks though as If ho will have to keep his boots shlned if he con tinucs on the job. There is thnt fel low Peoples, from down about Barn well, (not familiar with his Initials) and then dear old "nub** Evans says his "hat is In the ring." (Not that beaver). And then there are number less rising young attorneys who look With longing eyes upon this job. Lyon is probably in for the hardest race that he has yet been up against. Toot! Toot! Look out for the cars! Whose coming for railroad commis sioner? Col. J. H. Wharton, of this county for one. Col. Wharton is a smooth one and he is going, to shake hands with more voters than all the rest put together, there is no doubt. Somebody has got to "git up and git" to beat the colonel. And then there is John Q. Richards. John (!. is some pumpkin when it comes to talking to the dear people. He is a formidable antagonist. even for Cansler of Tir/.ah. who announced several years ago that he was going to keep running until he caught up. Thai railroad com mission job is greatly sought after. Other candidates are sure to come out. 10. J. Watson will have to go before the people this year if he wishes to hold his Job and it is generally sup posed that he has a hankering after it. It has been rumored, without de nial, that J. Rutledgo McGhee, of Greenville, will be In the rnee to op pose him. Mr. McGhee is red-headed and will probably make things hum along with some vim. Commissioner of Insurance McMas t,er will also have to speak to the peo ple this year if he has any opposition. '? but as yet nobody has come forward. Solicitor. It Is a foregone conclusion that lion. ' R. A. Cooper Is going to be in the race to succeed himself. He has al ready said so. Will he have any op position? it is whispered from Green wood that Mr. T. Coke Turner 's con sidering the race. Nobody else has been spoken of so far. Count) Officers. For the senate, it is fairly certain 'that Mr. W. C. Irby. Jr., will run and it has been rumored that Mr. It. ! D. Boyd will he in the race. For a time, it was said that Col. John M Cannon would offer for the senate, but he has now decided to held off for a few months and take a shot at ; the mayor's ofllco, For the house it Is fairly certain that Dr. J. II. Miller will offer again. Oth I ers either avowedly out or prominent ly mentioned are II. S. Blackwoll, W. W. Campbell, and W. It. Richey. Sr. Doubtless others are coining, for this [is going to be some political year. For sheriff John D. Owings Is sure to he in the rate. Capt. T. J. Duekett has been mentioned as a possible oon ' tender as well as J. T. Reden, of Gray Court. John F. Holt will he with the boys again for the office of clerk of court. C. A. Rower will also bo there and possibly others. This is going to be a hummer. J. Waddy Thompson has already de clared that he will bo In the race to succeed himself and Mr. Joel A. Smith has let his friends know that he in tends running. So far neither Treasurer Young nor Coroner Hairston have any visible op position. Tho probate judge, the supervisor and the superintendent of education do not have to run this year. Water is Cure. According to a copy of the bacterial am lysis made by the state Chemist, Dr. F. L. Parker, the water now being supplied the city Is free from con tamination and contains no bacterial indications of contaminations. In oth er words there are no "bugs" in our H20. To Make Address. Supt. of Kducation Geo. L. Pitts will he out of his office today and tomor row attending a meeting of farm dem onstration agents and educators at Clemson College. Mr. Pitts Is on the program for an address and will speak on "Boys Corn Club Work and the County Fair." He will return Friday. DISTRESSING ACCIDENT AT BOYD'S MILL PLANT Superintendent J. Helton Divvcr Elec? trocutcd While Working with Wires. One of the moat deplorable acci dents that has ever occurred in this vicinity took place at the Boyd's mill plant of the Reedy River Power Com pany Sunday morning about 11 o'clock when Superintendent .1. Helton Divvcr was electrocuted while at work on scaffolding supporting one of the lar^e transformers. Mr. Dlwer, according to the reports which came from those who visited the plant Sunday afternoon, was busy rushing the work of drying out the machinery which had been put out of commission by the recent Hood. In this work use was made of the cur rent from the emergency plant In this ' city. Some work of a very simple I nature remained to be done In the large transformer In the power house building. Mr. Divvcr told one oT his assistants to go up and do the work. They objected. Btating that they did not know how to do it and were afraid to. Mr. Divvcr. not being wil ling to force (lie men to go where they did not wish to. went up himself. More he continued his work touching the i big wires, which were harmless so long as an electrical circuit was not mado by touching two of the wires or by allowing them to come in < ,.n tact with two parts of his body at the same time. ? Unfortunately, as he worked his heel touched upon one of the switches and completed the elec trical circuit. The current, rushed through his body, paralyzing the mus cles so that he could not extricate himself. One of his assitants, Mr. Elledgc, who was nearby, ran to one of the cut-off plugs and cut the cur rent off, but not before it had got ten in its deadly work. The? body of Mr. Divvcr, relaxing arter tlie? cur rent was cut off, fell to the floor, a distance of about ten or twelve feet, nnd in a few minutes he breathed his last. Immediately after news of the acci dent had reached Laurons, a num ber of friends and business associates of the deceased went out to the plant In buggies and assisted the undertaker in bringing the body to Laurens, from where it was shipped to Anderson Monday morning. The funeral ser vices were held in that city yesterday. Mr. Divvcr was a native of Ander son, though he had lived in Laurens for several years. Iiis lather, the late R. R. Divvcr, of that plnco, (Hod some years ago, but his mother still survives him nnd lives there. Mr. Divver was married Jus! last .Inn. lo Miss Grace Cater, of Anderson. She was at Boyd's mill at the time of the nccidehl mid was prostrated with grief One brother, Mr. T. M, Divver. lives in this city. Other brotherr and sis ters are Mrs. 11. I). Masters, Anderson; Misses I.ula and Mar.-, of Anderson; Miss Sophia, of Santa Anna. Cat.; Mr. R. W. Divver, Santa Anna, t'al.; W. S.. Harry and Hugh DJwor, Anderson. Mr. Dlvvor was '-',2 years of ago. Mr. Divver was vorly highly regard ed here, lie was a man that always attended to his own .affairs and never meddled in those of others. He was a young man peculiarly pure and up right in life and was of a consecrated Chritian character. Until his mar I ringe he was a member of the Bap tist church, but he joined the Pres byterian church soon after his mar riage' and both he and his wife took great Interest in its work and ser vices; His death was a gerat shock to his ninny friends here, the grief of his wife and family striking a pect!? Marly sympathetic chord in the beans of all those who were acquainted with him. A PUN. IT II CLEAN-UP BAY. The Ladled of The CItIc League Bine Selected That Bay For a Real Ov erhonltng. Tho ladies of the Civic League have announced that Thursday, April 4lb will be "Clean-up" day In Laurens. Tho premises of every business con cern and every home In town will be expected to have a general clean up and overhauling. The day following Friday ? the entire town will be care fully Inspected by a member of the city health department. "Clean-up Day" Is a special day set apart in each season for the purpose so clearly set forth In Its name. It has been observed In Laurens and In all other hustling towns, for the past few years, with a great deal of suc cess and with great benefit to the towns. Take part. BEAUTIFUL BUILDING ALMOST COMPLETE Keys Probably Turned Over This Week. FINISHING TOUCHES ONLY TO BE MADE The l.aurens Count) Court House, Be gun in the Full Will Probably bo Turned Over to the Count) Com? missloncrs (he Latter Cart of this Week. One of the most beautiful court houses in tho state will be turned ov er to tho Laurcns county commission ers when Contractor Rounds, of tho firm of Mll8hburn & Rounds, puts tho last little touch on the new building probably the latter part of this week. Mr. Rounds, In speaking of the work yesterday, stated that be was now go ing over the structure, looking at tho places that needed dressing and put ting on the final touches. This, ho said, would probably be finished In a day or two and then he would ho ready to deliver to Supervisor Hum bert the keys to the building. The building is thoroughly as well as artistically constructed. It was originally designed by Luther Hamp ton, of the linn of Hampton & Prof fiit, of Spartanburg while Mr. Hamp ton was living here. After moving to Spartanburg he was assisted by other members of the firm and also A. Ten F.yk Brown, of Atlanta. The build ing was to have been finished on January 10th but tho severe winter hindered the work. The building is steam heated and olectric lighted throughout and dress ed in hardwood. Tho safes are fire proof, as are all tho record rooms. The lobby on the first floor is of Tor razo tiling, while Ihe floor of tho court room is of stained hardwood. All other floors aro cither hardwood or concrete. Though it cannot he said to be fireproof throughout, it would bo very hard for a fire to start and get. under any headway. Cppor Story. The main court room is on the sec ond floor as in the old building. Tin entrance for while people is on the south side. Filtering this door one conic- into a lobby, on each side of 'which are withe s rooms for while . people, ill'- one to the right being for I ladles while ihe one to the left \a lor men. The entrance lor negroes . on the opposite side of the building is arranged in th" sumo way, except , the right is for im n and the Iff for women. j The court room Itself is a beauti ful auditorium with a large Stained I glass concave skylight and with hnnd | some plaster work. The fixtures are of mahogany. Oilier Rooms. In the northwest corpi r of tho sec ond floor is a consultation room. Next to It is a Indies wailing room with all sanitary conveniences. Next to this room is the detention room for pris oners on trial and then next to ibis I room is th" grand Jury room, a largo and airy chamber with lavartorlos ad joining. Oll tie- opposite side of th" Court room and in (ho northeast corn er is one petit jury room and next to it is a witness room. Another petit, jury room is oil the southeast corn er and between this room and the witness room the judg's private room witli toilet locker, etc. lirvt Floor. On the fust floor are the different offices. Wherever needed, the officers have fireproof safes. In the north west corner is the office of tho pro bate Judge, about where it was be fore but with added room and light. N'cxt to this is tho office or the sup erintendent or education with a rail Ing to separate the white and negro people. The treasurer's office occu pies the center of this side of the building and has fixtures like a hank opening upon the corridor. This will give the troasun r and bis help plen ty of room and allow them to attend to tho tax payers In the order that they come up. The auditors office Is In the northeast corner as before. On the opposite side of the building and in the southeast corner is the ofnCO of the clerk of court as It was be ? fore, his record rooms being further toward the center of the building but reached through the lobby of his of (Continued on Page Five)