Yorkville enquirer. [volume], January 27, 1881, Image 2

About Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006

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Jwaps and ^acts. |
r I
? There are only 15,000 real estate holders
in New York city in a population of 1,000,000.
? Two thousand acres of land, covered with
fine timber, were sold in Lewis county, Kv.,
recently at SI per acre.
? Iron is rolled so thin at the Pittsburg,
Pa., iron mills that 10,000 sheets are required
to make a single inch in thickness.
? An Arab legend says the feet of pigeons
are red because their ancestors walked in the j
red mud which settled upon the face of the
earth after the deluge.
? General Grant smokes ten cigars a day j
for which he pays twenty-two and a half cents '
a piece. And the Nation i9 asked to pension j
i.: I _
111UI UCtaUdC UC 19 9U JJVMJ1.
? A Hancock and English banner, in tatters,
still hangs from the liberty-nole at Charlottesville,
Va. No one will haul it down,
and the purpose is to let it float for four years.
? Brewer Gunther, of Paola, Kansas, has
committed suicide because the stringent State
law has rendered his brewing establishment
worthless.
? In Illinois a total abstinence society of
twenty members have adopted a novel method
for keeping themselves straight. Each
member has deposited 8200, which is forfeited
to the rest iu case he breaks his pledge.'
? The friends of temperance in Pennsylvania,
are circulating petitions to the legislature
requesting that body to take necessary preliminary
steps to submit a constitutional
amendment similar to the one recently adopted
in Kansas.
? The car in which Gen. Garfield will ride
to Washington in March, has been made at
Jeffersonville, Ind., at a cost of $17,000, and
everything in it. except the carpets and some
mahogany, holly and ebony used in decoration,
is the product of Indiana, and it is the
result of Indiana mechanical skill.
? Judge Barrett, of the Supreme Court of
New York, has granted an injunction to
Rufus Hatch restraining the Western Union,
the Atlantic and Pacific and the American
Union Telegraph Companies from entering
into any agreement of consoldation, and from
increasing their capital stock.
? A young couple of Fairfield, Iowa, who
had been long engaged, became involved in
a lover's quarrel and parted in anger. The
same night both of them attempted suicide,
and alike made failures. Convinced that
they could not live happily apart, a reconciliation
and hasty marriage took place the
very next day.
? The Baltimore Sun gives the Presidential
vote for President as follows: Hancock, 4,432,978
; Garfield, 4,430.327. Hancock's majority
over Garfield, 5,661. Weaver, Greenbacker,
received 305,088 ; Dow, Prohibitionist,
9,644 ; scattering, 1,793. Total vote, 9,182,834.
TheiSun says the figures were obtained
at the proper sources in Washington
and at State capitals.
? The system of prepaying postage by
means of small adhesive labels, to be sold to
the public and received by the postoffice in
evidence of payment when attached to letters
or papers, *vas first advocated by Rowland
Hill, in 1537, and was adopted by the British
postotfico 1840. The stamps were first
used May 6 of that year, and were introduced
in 1847 into the United States. All civilized
nutions have them.
? The recent opinion of the Asssistant Attorney
General for the Postoffice Department,
by which iuvoices, bills of lading, circulars
and the like are stricken from the list of third
class mail matter, is a decison of serious concern
for the business community. We believe
that these ought all to be retained on
the list, and further that the written words,
"Please remit," or "Shipped via," etc., ought
to be allowed on an invoice, and that receipts
should come uuder the same head. Why
not make everything third class mater that
the sender is willing to send unsealed ?
? A German correspondent of the Pall-Mall
Gazette writes that the financial distress in
Germany is very great. Selling prices and
land rents are falling frightfully iow. The
result is that the debtors on mortgage cannot
pay the interest on their debts, and are dispossessed
and their properties frequently sold
at half the value they had some time ago.
This depreciation cannot be attributed to
foreign competition, as the importation of
corn and other products has been taxed. It
is generally believed that the fall in prices
is due to the scarcity of cash.
? Comparatively few persons know how the
White House at Washington got its name.
It was given to it because of its color. The
building is constructed of freestone, and, after
the British burned the interior in 1814, the
- wans were so DiacKeneu that when it was rebuilt
it was found necessary to paint thetu.
Ever since, at intervals of a few years, the
whole structure receives a fresh coat of white
paint. The cumbrous title of Executive
Mansion was very naturally dropped for the
short and literally descriptive name of White
House, and now only figures in official documents
and correspondence.
? A Nevada newspaper thus describes the
swearing in of Miss Kittrell, a new clerk of
the Nevada Legislature : "Miss Kittrell is a
pale, petite young lady, with a very ssrious,
self-possessed manuer. Judge Hawley adjured
Miss Kittrell to support the Constitution
and the laws, not to bear arms against
her country, and to pay no attention to the
laws of the Legislatures of other States when
they happened to conflict with those of the
battle born State. He assured her from the
tome in his hand, that she was not elligible
as a servant of the State if she had, since the
adoption of the Constitution of Nevada fought
a duel, acted as a second at a duel or carried
a challenge to fight a duel. The young lady
was able to set Judge Hawley's mind at rest
on these points, for he seemed to take her
little nod at the end of his paralyzing sentences
as entirely satisfactory."
? The second court martial for the trial of
colored Cadet Whitaker, convened last Thursday
in the army building in New York
city. The following is the court: BrigadierGeneral
N. A. Miles, President; Colonel H.
A. Morrow, of the Twenty-first Infantry;
Lieutenant-Colonel Pinckney Lugenbeel, of
the First Infantry ; Lieutedant-Colonel J. M.
Braunon, of the First Artillery ; Major L.
Merrill, of the Seventh Cavalry; Major E.
V.Sumner, of the Fifth Cavalry ; Capt. R.
F. Frank, of the First Artillery ; Capt. J. N.
Lraig, ot the lenth Artillery, and Lapt. M.
Barber of the Sixteenth Infantry ; Major A. j
B. Gardner, Judge Advocate. Daniel H.
Chamberlain, ex-Governor of South Carolina,
and Prof. Greener, of Howard University,
conduct the defence. The charges are: .First,
conduct unbecoming an officer ; second, false
swearing, to the prejudice of good order and
military discipline. Gov. Chamberlain asked
for more time to prepare the ca3e for the defence,
and the court adjourned until February
4th.
? On the first day of the current month, a
money orders' Act came into force iu England,
which promises to work a complete
revolution in the system of postoffice money
orders in vogue there, which is not radically
different from our own. The old system was
very popular, at least we should suppose so
from the fact that during the past eighteen
years there were issued 220,691,472 money
orders, representing nearly S2,000,000,000 iu
gold. Still there was chance for improvement,
and the postoffice authorities think
they have taken advautage of that chance.
The new postal orders are a kind of printed
check which can be purchased at any mouey
order office in the kingdom. Each check has 1
a specific amouut printed upon its face, and j
there are various prices for which these postal ,
checks are issued. For instauce, a money I
order for ?1, under the old system, cost 3d.; i
a check for the same amount may be had for i
2d. If a person wishes a check for ?1 he j
has only to ask for one at any money order
office, and upon payment of ?1 Os. 2d. it will 1
be handed to him at once, saving him the
trouble of filling out a blank with details, a
proceeding that was formerly necessary, and
is now in this country. Another advantage
offered by this new system is appreciated by
business men: It is that postal checks cau
be purchased in any quantity at one time,
the only condition being that they must be
used within three months from the day they
are bought. Business men who daily send
away small sums of money can purchase
books of these checks and thus save themselves
the trouble of going to a busy post
office every time they have to make a remit
tance, such as tdey would wish to seuu
through the mails. As small a sum as Is.
can be sent by check for which the charge is
id. The new system is already appreciated,
aud it is claimed for it that it costs the pub
lie less aud yields the government more than
the old one.
She fotMlc (frnquiw.
YORKYILLE, S. C.:
THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 27. 1881.
SOU!CAROLINA NEWS.
? Large additions are being made to the
membership of Anderson Division, Sous of
Temperance.
? At the recent municipal election in Belton,
Anderson county, the "dry" ticket was
elected by a considerable majority.
? Wholesale dealers in whisky complain
that the new anti-Jiquor law has already cut
down the sales of whisky in this State. This
is the best evidence of its being a good law.
? The bar-keepers of Chester have resolved
among themselves, upon a forfeit of fifty dollars,
not to sell liquor on Sunday and to
abolish five cent drinks.
? During the year 1880, there were fortyeight
commercial failures in South Carolina,
with liabilities aggregating 8393,230. In
1879, there were seventy-three, with aggregate
liabilities of 82,429,740.
? A drove of mules which was purchased
near Montery, in Mexico, recently arrived at
Greenville. The/ were driven by way of
Laredo to San Antonio, from whence they
were shipped by rail via New Orleans.
? The Greenville News suggests to the
South Carolina militia organizations, which
propose to visit Washington and participate
in the inauguration ceremonies, that they attend
in red shirts.
? The Abbeville Press and Banner thinks
Mr. Absalom Blvthe is the only Republican
candidate for Congress during the late campaign,
who commands the respect of the white
people. Mr. Blythe declined to contest Col.
Evins' seat in Congress.
? Mr. John H. Miller, of Camden, Ala.,
has been elected Professor of Mathematics in
Erskine College. He. graduated recently in
that institution, and will enter upon a special
course in Johns Hopkins University during
the present year, taking charge of his chair
in Erskine in October.
? At the recent meeting of the Grand
Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., in Charleston, the following
persons were elected officers for the current
year: F. W. Sindorf, M. W. G. M.; J.
R. Sitpons, D. W. G. M.; Ralph B. Hanahan,
G. W.; F. DeMars, G. S.; John Heeseraan,
G. T.; G. M. G. W. Curtis, G. R.
? The following business failures were an
nounced in Charleston last week: J. M.
Greer, book and stationery, southwest corner
of King and Beaufain streets. Foreclosure
of mortgage?liabilities about 84,500. A.
Loryea, clothing, 276 King street?liabilities
reported at 84,000. B. K. Neufville, stationery,
70 East Bay. Made au assignment?
liabilities reported at 83,200. J. S. Bee, Jr.,
books and stationery, 281 King street. Made
an assignment?liabilities reported at about
83,800. E. H. Vuhrnian, wholesale liquor
dealer, 191 East Bay, made an assignmentliabilities
stated to be between 88,000 and
810,000.
? The fast mail train of the Air-Line Rail
road was wrecked three miles east of Gaffney's,
at 9 o'clock last Saturday morning. The
accident is supposed to have resulted from a
spread in the track. The train consisted of a
postal, a combication and a Pullman sleeping
car. All three of these leaving their
trucks, went down an embankment twenty
feet high, but remained upright. Three pas
sengers, Conductor Jno. Humphries and two
train hands were hurt, but not serious, Conductor
Humphries receiving the severest injuries.
The combination car, belonging to
the Richmond & Danville road, caught fire
and was consumed, but the other cars were
uninjured. The engine was drawn from the
track by the cars but did not go down the
embankment. Engineer Newman escaped
unhurt.
? The Lancaster Ledger says: "Mr. Bartlett
Adams, a young man, aged about twentyfour
years, committed suicide on Thursday
last, near Fork Hill Church, by shooting
himself with a pistol. Mr. Adams had been
in bad health for a length of time, and his
mind at times seemed to be greatly affected.
He left his home on Thursday morning, it
was thought, with the intention of going over
to the gold mine, and not returning, a search
was instituted for him on Saturday morning,
when his body was found about one mile
from home in an old dilapidated building. Our
informant states that he shot himself with an j
old pistol loaded with shot; the pistol having !
no hammer to it. It is presumed that he bursted
the cap with a piece of iron which was
found lying by his side."
? The News and Courier says that the Radical
leaders in the low country are organizing
a close corporation for the distribution of the
Federal offices. It says: "The main object
of the movement is to make room for Taft
and his associates. Taft is the choice of the j
Ring for United States Marshal. Straker |
wants the District Attorneyship, Ex-Mayor j
Cunningham and T. B. Johnson, of Sumter, '
are mentioned for Collector of the Port, j
Postmaster Boseman is to be put out of the ;
way and his place filled by a white man, and ,
in every other department of the Federal service
in this State, there is to be a complete !
revolution if the Ring can rule the President.
T. B. Johnson is also a candidate for United
States Marshal, and is not disposed to allow
Elliott and his crew to place him where they
please. S. R. Adam9, of Kershaw county,
is now in Washington pressing his claims for
the office of Marshal. He claims to be a
j
Republican, although for the last ten years
he has been engaged in running a saw mill,
and has not taken an active part in politics.
It is one of bis strong points that he is an
Ohio man. There are other candidates for
all the offices, but the names given are freely
talked about among the Republican managers.
It was asserted recently by a prominent
Republican, that the visit of Elliott,
Straker and Sam Lee to Gen. Garfield, at
Mentor, was a part of the policy of the ring,
who hoped to gain favor with him and secure
his promise in advance of his inauguration
to make the changes they have plotted
in the South Carolina appointments."
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
In the Senate on the 17th, a bill was pass
ed, authorizing the purchase by the Secretary
of the Treasury, for public use, the building
in Washington known as the Freedman's
Snvinps Bank. A bill was also passed for
? ?
the relief of Gen. Orel. On motion of Mr.
Butler, of South Carolina, the Senate took
tip, and passed without amendment, the Sen
ate joint resolution to create a commission
for the performance of certain duties under
an Act of Congress providing for the erec
tion of a monument at Yorktown, and the
proposed Centennial, celebration. Several
other hills, but none of general interest, were
passed.
In the House a number of bills were introduced
and referred, among them the following:
By Mr. Springer, of Illinois, amending
the revised Statutes iu regard to the prepayment
of postage on second class mail matter.
By Mr. White, of Pennsylvania, proposing
a constitutional amendment providing that
United States Senators shall be elected by
the people of each State, instead of by the
Legislatures. Mr. Cox, of New York, introduced
his apportionment bill. It fixes the
number of Representatives at 301, giving to
South Carolina 6.
In the Senate on the 18th, the Vice President
submitted a communication from the
Secretary of the Interior, transmitting the
complete census returns of 1880. Referred
to the census committee. The Chair also
submitted a communication from the Secre
tnrv nf the Interior, in resnonse to the Senate
resolution upon the alleged frauds in the
census returns from the State of South Carolina.
This was accompanied by a letter from
the Superintendent of the Census on the sub
ject. On motion of Mr. Butler, the same
were tabled and ordered printed. A bill for
the relief of B. Holliday, reimbursing him
for losses sustained by carrying the United
States mails in the western Territories, was
taken up and passed.
In the House, Mr. Sparks, of Illinois,
Chairman of the committee on military affairs,
reported back adversely the bill to p4ace
U. S. Grant on the retired list of the army.
The funding bill was discussed until the hour
of adjournment.
In the Senate ou the 19th, Mr. Williams
spoke in explanation of his bill to prevent
the introduction and dissemination of epizootics
or communicable disease of domestic animals
in the United States. At the conclusion
of his speech a select committee of five on
infectious diseases of cattle was agreed to.
It) the House, the funding bill was called
up as unfinished business, and after sundry
amendments, was passed by a vote of 135 to
125. The House then adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 20th, on motion of
Mr. McDonald, his resolution, introduced in
February, 1880, for the creation of a standing
committee of five Senators to receive,
consider and report upon all petitions and
bills relating to the rights of women as citizens
of the United States, and to be called the
"Committee on Rights of Women Citizens,"
wus taken up. Mr. Davis, of West Virginia,
said the rules required that proposition to go
to the commitrtee on rules. He moved to re
fer the resolution to that committee. Agreed
to?ayes, 26; noes, 23. The funding bill
was received from the House and referred to
the committee on fiuance.
In the House the naval appropriations bill
was passed. The evening sessiou was devoted
to the consideration of District of Columbia
business.
In the Senate, on the 21st, Mr. Logan,
from the committee on military affairs, reported,
with two amendments, the bill to place
General Grant on the retired list. After
some discussion the subject was disposed of
with a statement by Mr. Logan that he would
call up the bill at the next meeting of the
Senate. The Indian appropriation bill was
passed, and after an executive session the
Senate adjourned until Monday.
In the House, the Senate bill was passed
for the retirement of General Ord, with the
rank and pay of Major General. The remainder
of the session was occupied in the
consideration of contested election cases.
In the Hoyse on the 22nd, the only business
transacted was the concluding of a con
tested election case from Florida?Bisbee vs.
Hull?decided in favor of Bisbee, Republican,
who appeared at the bar of the House
and took the oatlvof office.
NORTH CAROLINA NEWS.
? Dallas township, in Gaston county, has
declared, by a vote of 23 majority, in favor of
the adoption of the stock law.
? The town of Durham has a population
of 2,107. The burnt portion of the town is
to be replaced with substantial brick buildings.
? The next session of the North Carolina
State Grange will be held at Raleigh, commencing
on Tuesday the 1st of February
next.
? North Carolina ha3 built a Colored Insane
Asylum at Goldsboro, at a cost of 842,000.
The estimated annual cost of maintaining
the Asylum at its preseut capacity
of 100 patients, is about 816,000.
? Mr. Best, the ostensible purchaser of the 1
Western N. C. Railroad, promises not only
to complete that enterprise at an early day,
including both branches from Asheville, but
also to build another railroad from Goldsboro
to Charlotte. He promises so much that the
State press fears he will do nothing.
? Alluding to the so called fast mail, the;
Charlotte Democrat truthfully says: If the
Department would quit spending so much
money on what is mis called "fast mails" on
railroad lines, (and which are unnecessary,)1
and devote a little more attention to the j
wants and necessities of the people living 10,
20 and 40 miles off from railroads, it would ,
be better for all concerned.
? The Charlotte Democrat says: During
the past thirty days, within a radius of 100
miles from Charlotte, eighteen persons have j
been killed by railroad accidents, and eight;
or ten wounded. The killed were six passen- i
gers and twelve men connected with the roads
iu various capacities, four being engineers.
The ground .everywhere is so soft from snow,
sleet and rain since the 19th of December;
that railroad traveling has become very
dangerous.
? The Concord Sun is responsible for the
following: One day last week, quite an amus- 1
ing scene occurred in the State House of
Representatives. A member from the "mounting
deestrick" had just received a petition
from his county asking for the passage of a
prohibition law. He took a drink and
thought over it, and thought over it and took
a drink ; drank and thought over it again,
and by the time he was reaoy to introduce it
in the House, he had a quart of drinks and
thoughts alternated, hidden below his shirt
collar. Then he introduced the petition
as a bill to regulate the production and harvesting
of corn and rye and all other poisonous
grain in the State, to tax all wells and
springs, and to allow branch water to be sold
at the drug stores only on a physician's prescription.
Jt is hard to get away with a fellow
who hails from the land of moonshine.
MERE-MENTION.
The official returns of the vote for Govern
or of Texas have just been published. They
give Roberts, Democrat, 166,101 ; Davis, Republican,
64,382; Hammon, Greenbacker,
33,821. Democratic majority, 67,898. It
is estimated that the trials of Cadet W hi taker
will cost the government 8100,000. A
bill has been introduced in the Tennessee Legislature
for the formation of East Tennessee
as a separate State. Plaisted, elected
Governor of Maine, as the fusion candidate
of the Democrats and Grecnbackers, has
taken the oath of office. A severe storm
occurred in New York city last Saturday
night. Much damage was sustained hy vessels
lying at the foot of 19th street, East river.
Telegraph wires were blown down, and considerable,
daniMge done to other property.
Of 2,250,000 passengers carried by steamers
in the waters of the GulfStates and lower
Mississippi Valley during 1880, not a life was
lost. Ten billions of silk worm eggs recently
passed through New York from Japan
to Italy. They occupied twelve hundred
cases, and cost in Yokohama nearly 81,000,000.
Since the sale of liquor was prohibited
in Carrolton, Georgia, five years ago,
the annual trade of that place has increased
from 8200,000 to 8500,000. A monument
to Edgar Allan Poe is to be erected in
Central Park, New York, at a cost of 810,
000. in INew Xnrk city, last year, over
823,000,000 were invested in new buildings of
various kinds. E. A. Sothern, the actor,
died in London on Friday last. The
population of the United States is four times
as great as it was in 1830?fifty years ago.
Reports of date as recent as the 23rd, from
southern parts of Indiana, Illinois and contiguous
territory, say there will be an almost
entire failure of the wheat crop, owing to the
late planting and the early and hard winter.
Not over one-fifth of a crop can be hoped
for. There was a snow full in New Orleans
last Sunday, the heaviest in that city
for fifteen years. A few flakes fell in Galveston,
on the same day, followed by a light
sleet.
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.
Serious Accident on a Northern Railroad.
A dispatch from Elrnira, N. Y., last
Sunday, gives the following particulars of a
serious railroad accident, from which it would
seem that such occurrences are not confined
to southern roads:
The Atlantic express left Elrnira last night
at 11 o'clock for New York. The train consisted
of one postal car, one express car, two
hnfr(rfl(re curs and nine Dassemrer coaches.
?e?D"?~~ ? ?->
most of the latter Pullman sleepers. When
twenty-five miles east of Elrairn, near a village
in the vicinity of Tioga, the centre of
one of the driving wheel axles of the locomotive
broke close to the wheel, and the entire
train was thrown off the track. The
train was going at the rate of thirty-five
miles an hour. The accident occurred on a
level where there was no embankment. The
engine kept its upright position, and Engineer
DeWitt applied the air-brakes as soon as
he felt the shock. The cars were stopped
very quickly, and the forward ones turned
over and over two or three times, some going
on one side of the track and some on the other.
The engineer and fireman escaped unhurt.
The postal car containing four clerks
almost immediately took fire and burned
with great rapidity. The oil lamps upset,
probably exploded, and added fuel to the
fire front the stoves. Every man in this
car, four in all, was roasted to a crisp.
Henry C. Brewer, the messenger, was in the
express car. Efforts were at ouce made to
relieve hint by breaking a hole in the side
door. He managed to get his head through
this hole, but the doomed man's legs were
fastened inside by piled up express matter.
The train nten made every effort to pull him
out, but the flames drove them away and he
perished.
The South Carolina Census.
Concerning the census of South Carolina,
the New York Herald has the following
Washiugton dispatch:
Col. Butterfield and his assistants have
completed their recent recount of the population
of South Carolina, and the result of their
investigation has been a striking confirmation
of the correctness of the Juue count. In
the localities where the'ftensus has been taken,
there is a gain of 450 over the June count in
a total population of about 21,500, in Abbeville,
Due West township; Laurens, Waterloo
township; Fairfield township; Number Eight;
Barnwell, Williston township; Lexington,
Broad River towuship; Chesterfield, Steer
Peu, Maro, Cain's, Williamsburg and Johnson
township. These were selected because
their increase was so large as to arouse suspicion
of crookedness. The inquiry shows
conclusively that the fault had been in 1870,
when the census was conducted by negro j
enumerators, who were very ignorant, and f
often by field hands and by incompetent officers.
The President thought the re enumeration
would satisfy everybody, and care was
taken by Gen. Walker to select such men
as would be endorsed by the most radical
Republicans. Col. ButterGeld, the Supervisor
of Vermont, and four assistants were
accordingly selected, and United States
Marshal Wallace was allowed to designate
the points to be recanvassed, he having made
the charge of fraud and urged the President
to investigate it. So thorough has this work
been done and so carefully was it done last
June, that the gain in 72 townships is accoun- j
ted for to a person, and the loss of ten persons
in the eight townships is explained by the
emigration of two families. As Gen. Walker
says : "I cannot imagine that there will
be further objections to the correctness of
the South Carolina census. Col. Butterfield
and his assistants are all Northern men aud ;
Republicans, and you may be sure if the
census has been stuffed they would have1
foimd it out. They went there with instruc-;
tions to take an entirely new census in the
localities where there was the greatest cause
for suspicion. I think the result of their
labors will settle the controversy about the j
correctness of the South Carolina census." j
The Liquor Law.
The following correspondence, publish-1
ed in the Chester Bulletin, fully explains it-1
self: The Bulletin says editorially. "It will j
be observed that the question raised in this j
correspondence is one of positive importance j
to our people. If the United States Internal I
Revenue officers have the power to grant
licenses ad libitum, iheil the late statute of
the General Assembly is a farce. We are
constrained to believe Judge Mackey has
laid down the law correctly, and if the county
commissioners exercise the same commendable
energy in enforcing the law as they
have in discovering it, it will not be long
before the States find out whether they have
any rights left thera."
Chester, S. C? January 17, 1881.
Honorable T. J. Mackey, Judge of Sixth Circuit:
Dear Sir:?I take the liberty of
stating to you that certain parties have been
reported to the couuty commissioners for engaging
iu defiance of law, in the sale of spirituous
liquor in Chester county, under license
(so called), issued by United States Internal
Revenue Agents. Have these agents a right
to issue suph license ? As the county commissioners
once had the prerogative of issuing
such license (now prohibited by law) outside
of incorporated towns, I write to ask whose
duty it is to forbid or stop the traffic, when
engaged in without license from the State auttiMfitiPQ?
RpBttPPtf'ii I Itr air vnnr ivhudinn t
servant, W. Banks Thomspon,
Chm'n Board Co. Comr's.
Chester, S. C., January 17, 1881.
\V. Ban/us Thompson, Chairman of the
Board of County Commissioners: Sir: In
reply to your enquiries of this date, I would
inform you that no United States Internal
Revenue Agent is vested with authority to
grant a license to sell intoxicating liquors
within the limits of this county or Mate.
Section 3244 of the revised statutes of the
United Slates provides that every person
who sells or offers for sale foreign or domestic
distilled spirits or wines in quantities of
less than five gallons at a time, shall pay to
the government of the United States, a tax
of 825.00. This is a special tax upon retail
dealers and not a license to sell. The Federal
authorities have always held inviolate the
right of the State under its general and inherent
police powers, to regulate or prohibit
the traffic in intoxicating liquors. Any citizen
may make an affidavit before a Trial Jus
tice for the ariest of any person engaged in
retailing intoxicating liquors in violation of
the laws of the State, but it is the special duty
of the county commissioners, as the board of
supervisors of the county, to make such affida
vit and secure the arrest of persons acting
under such pretended licenses beyond the limits
of municipal corporations. I am, sir, very
rerespectfully, T. J Mackky,
Circuit Judge.
DIABOLICAL CRIME OF TWO SfcGROES.
Near Prosperity, in Newberry county,' on
the evening of the 17th instant, as Miss Bessie
NVerts, daughter *of William Werts,
was going home fron^ her brother's,, whom
she h^d been visiting, she was assaulted
by two negroes, Dave Spearman and Sam
Fair, who, after effecting their fiendish pur
poses, tied her to a bush, first gagging her,
and then went to Mr. Werts' and got their
supper ; afterwards, returning to their unfortunate
victim and again committing acts of
violence, they killed her by choking her. At
the coroner's inquest, suspicion rested on the
above named parties and they were arrested,
and confession on the part of Sam first, and
then Dave, confirmed these suspicions. They
were then lodged in the guard house. On
Tuesday night they were taken from the
guard house by the infuriatad populace.
Sam was shot on the spot and left, as being
dead, but Dave was carried to the spot where
the crime was committed, tied to a pine tree,
and then shot. On returning, the crowd did
not find Sam, and at once search was institui.
J LI A H.nn I*. .iltt.l n f k Ifl ni/itko^'fl Q n ri
ItU. XiC WttU iwuuu ai mo HiULiici o aim
brought back to Prosperity. He was then
taken about one mile from town, where his
own life paid for his hellish acts, the negroes
assisting in the vindication of right.
The following particulars of the affair, as
certaiued subsequent to the lynching, ar^
furnished by a reporter for'the News and
Courier, who visited the scene of Che outrage
and telegraphed under date of last Thursday:
Miss Werts was greatly beloved in the
neighborhood where she was well known
and respected. Her father is a large farmer
living about two miles froiu town. On Monday
evening, Miss Werts proceeded on a visit
to her^rother, about a mile and a quarter
from home. Dave Spearman and Sam Fair,
the former a coal black negro and the latter a
mulatto, each about 21 or 22, were employed
on the place. Sam was ploughing in a field
in sight of the house, Dave working near her
path. Sam was seen from the house working
in the field until supper time, Dave's position
being hidden by the trees. At supper time
both came to the house, ate supper in the
kitchen under the observation of Mr. Werts,
who spoke with them on various subjects,
and did not see a trace of uneasiness about
them. After supper they went out again,
for the night. Dave was married and lived
with his wife 011 the place ; Sam lived with
his mother on an adjoining pJantution, to
reach which he would have to take the same
path as the murdered girl. ^
Miss Werts did not return that night, but
this excited no uneasiness, as it was supposed
she had stayed with her brother.
Next morning Sam went to Mr. Werts, considerably
agitated, and told him his daughter
was lying dead under a fence, about a half
mile from the house. Mr. Werts hurried
there, accompanied by Sam, and, on finding
the dead body of his daughter, sent him to
summon the neighbors, he waiting beside
her. In going to the spot, Sam had accounted
for herdeath by saying he thought
Miss Bessie might have injured herself by falling
over the fence. Neighbors and friends
quickly gathered, and an immediate investigation
wa3 made, followed by the discovery
of the perpetration of a hideous crime.
A coroner's jury met in Prosperity and
several persons were examined, no clue being
found to direct suspicion. Both the murderers
were present as spectators. Here Mr.
H. C. Moseley began some intelligent detective
work. Having an indefinable suspicion
of Sam's knowledge of the crime, he, in an
indifferent manner, asked him to take off his
coat and vest. He did so, and on minute
examination of the latter a strand of wool
was found near the lapel of the color of the
fringe of Miss Werts' shawl and a hair of the
color of hers near it. He became very ner
vous at this, and was taken aside and rigidly
interrogated. Little by little he furnished
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He and Dave, he said, had projected their
crime since last spring. Dave had told hira
that he intended to meet Miss Bessie that
evening, and asked him to join him. He refused,
and endeavored to persuade hira from
it. Dave had told him that night he was
afraid that, after his treatment of that young
lady, she was dead, and had asked him to
take another path home than the one the
body was found on to go home on, as there
was somebody on the other. He and Dave
went by the other path and separated, Dave
returning to his wife, and he going to his |
mother's house. He acknowledged that the
next morning he had told his stepfather that!
Miss Werts was not at home the night be-;
fore, although he had left home at dark and j
couldn't know other than by participation in i
the crime. He and his st< pfather had gone
to the spot on Tuesday morning, being told
by a negro thafhe had seen some one lying
by the road in the night, and he there found
Miss Wert's body. He acknowledged that
he would not look at her, but said it must
have been her lying there from her clothes. '
Dave and Sam were theD confronted in j
the court room before the jury, but Dave
denied every allegation of the other negro. I
They were then placed in the guard-house,1
where Trial Justice A. H. Wheeler had provided
a guard, and the jury, after sitting until
1 o'clock Wednesday morning, without a
verdict, adjourned to 1 P. M.
A large crowd had listened to the revelations
of Sam with intense indignation and
horror, aud after the adjournment of the jury
proceeded to the guard-house, overpowered |
the guard, cut down the door and took Dave j
out, leaving Sam within, not having proof
against hiui. The night was rainy and dark. !
A mass of men, among whom were a number
of negroes, swept rapidly along with the doer j
of this horrible deed towards the place of its
committal. Arriving there, Dave made the
following blood curdling confession :
He said he had laid in wait behind a large j
pine tree till Miss Werts returned from her
visit. As she passed him on the path, he
sprang behind her and seized her by the
shoulders. She entreated him piteouely to
let her go, promising everything in the world
she had if he would. He choked her until
insensible, tied a rag (afterwards found to be
Sam's handkerchief) tightly around her neck,
knotted it firmly to a sapling and accomplished
his infamy. He went to the house and
afier supper returned with Sam. They found
her still breathiug. Sam then outraged her,
he standing by. Sara then choked her to
death for fear she would inform on them.
They then removed the body about forty
yards, throwing it in the path just beneath
the fence. He told where he had buried the
rug he had used to tie her, and this was identified
hy Sam's family as belonging to him.
This ghastly and almost incredible tale,
told in the forest glade which had witnessed
its origin, moved his captors to frenzy.
Many were for burning him alive, but more
moderate counsels p evailed. He was tied
by the neck and waist to the pine tree where
he had lurked in waiting for his victim, and
about 4 o'clock in the morning, while the
sweeping rain fell heavily, a dozen guns flashed
out of the darkness and ended as monstrous
a story as ever reached human ken.
The negro was indifferent and cool to the
last, avering his willingness to die, and betraying
no fear.'
The party returned to Prosperity, where
they took Sara out of the guardhouse and
poured a volley into him, leaving him for a
corpse. They then dispersed. Later in the
morning it was ascertained that he had slipped
away and reached his mother's house,
about three miles distant. Durfng the day
the coroner's jury had rendered the verdict
already telegraphed. A strong party went
in search of him, and found him in bed
suffering from several slight wounds which
were pronounced not dangerous by the physicians.
He was taken to Prosperity in a
- J _ . A. 1 1 _ _ A,
ouggy unaer escort, anu lor an nour or iwu
a consultation was held as to bis disposition.
Trial Justice A. H. Wheeler and the jurors
endeavored to take him from the lynchers,
but were almost run over in the attempt.
The public square was crowded with stern,
determined men of both colors. Many negroes
as well as whites desired him burnt.
This view was again overruled. The prisoner
remained stoical.
About midday the crowd escorted the
wretch, who walked willingly to a pine grove
about half a mile from the town. He declined
to say anything more than he had
already done. He was led to a stoutly
branched pine tree, a noose put round his
neck and an agile negro climbed the tree
and passed the rope over a limb. Every one
grasped it, and the second of the fiends suffered
the vengeance of an outraged people. The
lynchers theu gradually and quietly dispersed
with hardly a dissenting voice against the
primitive but trustworthy justice they had
meted nut.
The funeral procession of Miss Werts had
only preceded this procession of veugeance
on the same road by half an hour.
The dead bodies of the fiends who perpe
trated the diabolical deed, and who suffered
a just and merited punUhment, remained
several days without sepulture. The authoritesofthe
colored church in that neighborhood
refused permission to bury them in
their grave-yard, and the negroes refusing to
bury the body o! Sam Fair, two gentlemen of
VT 1 ? ?-v/4 L?n nn Colnvita v of
ncwucrrj aeuurcu iua uunai uu uatmuaj ?*w
their own expense.
Miss NVerts was the only unmarried daughter
of her father, and was possessed of considerable
property. She was engaged, and
was to have been married in March to a
gentleman residing at present in Charleston.
Correspondence of the Yorkvllle Enquirer.
LETTER FROM BLACK'S STATION.
Black's Station, S. C., January 24.?
Since the disappearance of the snow and ice,
wc have had a great deal of cloudy and rainy
weather. The roads and streets are almost
impassable on account of mud, and the water
courses are very much swollen. At this writing
Broad river is too high to admit of usiug
the boats at the ferries.
As the time approaches for the election of
municipal officers of our town, there is some
discussion as to the wet and dry tickets. The
temperance wave that is spreading in every
direction over the State is having its effect
here. This question is a moral one in all its
bearings, and'while much good may be accomplished
by legislation, the church, by
bringing to hear its influence, could render ef
ficient service in the temperance movement
so auspiciously begun in our State.
The marriage of Mr. William Hester, of
King's Mouutain, and Miss Annie Parker, of
this place, was performed by Rev. Benjamin
Dixon, in the Methodist church, on lastThursday.
Notwithstanding the disagreeable weather,
there were a great many friends of the
happy couple present. The church was beautifully
decorated in honor of the event. Soon I
after the ceremony they departed for King's
Mountain, their future home, taking with
them the well wishes of scores of friends.
Joseph Jackins, Esq., of Baltimore, is on a
visit to his brother, Mr. W. A. Jackins, of
this place.
C. M. Green, Esq., has bought property
here and moved into town.
Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, wife of Mr. George
Moore, died in this vicinity a few days ago.
13-?cana,i, ?n aoi'A rnlnred nitiznn of
Ul lOLU AtlVlKWTf Ut UM Mgwv.
this town, died this morning. He was much
respected by the people of the community, 011
account of his political principles, having
acted with the Democratic party since his
emancipation. Ego.
Largest Book Published.?The edition
of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary recently
issued, in the quantity of matter t contains,
is believed to be the largest volume
published.
It will surprise many readers to know that
it contains eight times the amount of matter
contained in the Bible, being sufficient to
make 75 12mo. volumes that usually sell for
81.25 each ! Its vocabulary comprises over
118,000 words (4,600 of which have recently
been added).
It has a uew Biographical Dictionary, giving
brief important facts concerning 9,700
noted persons.
There is a Memoir of Noah Webster, a
brief history of the English language, Principles
of Pronunciation, Lists of 4,000 Scripture
Proper Names, 10,000 Geographical
Names, 700 common English Christian
Names, several pages of Proverbs, &c., a
vocabulary of Names of Noted Fictitious
Persons aud Places, and many other valua-1
bie features?all of which, in a volume of,
1,928 pages, embellished with 3,000 engrav-!
ings, go to make up a great store-house of!
useful knowledge. i
LOCAL A7FAIES.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
M. R. Smith?Executor's Notice.
H. A. D. Neely, Treasurer?Notice.
H. P. Adicke's, Nr.?Notice to Trespassers.
Johu M. Jackson, Chairman?The Court House
Roof
Alexander Miller, colored?Fair Warning.
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
John Walker, John Gardner and R. W. Shaw?
Fair Warning.
J. A. McLean, Judge of Probate?Citation?John
Ramsay, Applicant-Green Hunt,deceased.
John C. Kuykendal?York Drug Store Paragraphs.
T. M. Dooson?New York House.
Mrs. Fannie L. Dobson?The Emporium of Fashion.
Hunter, Oates A Co.?Guano.
J. J. Smith & Co.?To Our Friends?Cloaks and
Shawls?Clothing? Cassimeres and JeansShoes,
Hats, Ac.?Dress Goods?Sundries.
Wither* Adickes?Farmers.
?
PERSONAL.
Dr. J. R. Latimer has gone to Baltimore
for the purpose of attending a special course
of lectures on medicine.
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS.
^ 1 ? - ? a. ?1 117 "VT
uovurnor nagno<i nas appnmicu ?*. nurraan
Elder of York county, a Notary Public,
and VV. Randolph Sims, a Trial Justice for Chester
county.
DEATH OF MRS. GLENN.
We regret to announce the death of Mrs.
Elizabeth Glenn, wife of Sheriff R. H. Glenn,
which occurred in this place on yesterday
moruirg, at about 6 o'clock. In the prime
of life, Mrs. Glenn was attacked with paralysis
on the 27th of last month, eince which
time she was completely prostrated, not even
recovering her power of speech during her
illness. She was a most estimable lady,
whose loss from their midst will be mourned
by a large circle of friends.
C11URCHIE8 NEXT SUNDAY.
Services will be held in the churches next
Sunday as follows: s
Episcopal?Church of the Good Shepherd?
Rev. R. P. Johnson, Rector. Next Sunday
being the fifth, the Rector will officiate in the
church at Yorkville; services at the usual
hours, morning and afternoon.
Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. R.
Lathan, Pastor. Services at 10} A. M.
Pretibyterian?Rev. T. R. English, Pastor.
Services at the usual hours, morning and
evening.
Methodist Episcopal?Rev. Marion Dargan,
Pastor. Services in the Church at Yorkville,
at the usual morning and evening hours.
SUPREME COURT CASES.
The following cases from York county,
were argued before the Supreme Court in
Columbia, during last week. York ConBty
vs. John L. Watson. H. F. Adickestond William
and Thomas McGill, vs. John T. Lowry
and Feuton Diggs. Thomas W. Clawsou et
ah, vs. A. Eugene Hutchison and wife. J.
N. McEIwee, Jr., vs. J. N. McElwee, Sr. In
the latter case, the Court ,rendered a decision
uisilii&oiug tuc appuaii a ne w< *mw
case of A. S. Wallace vs. John B. Stokes, et
al., wts postponed until the next term of the
Court, owing to the fact that this case could
not be reached within the time allotted for
hearing cases from this circuit.
STAfE AND COUNTY TAXES.
An important notice from the County
Treasurer appears iu another column. The
Act of the Legislature under which he proceeds
is a foliows:
Be enacted, etc.. That all lands now on the
list of delinquent lauds, and all lands heretofore
forfeited to the State for the non payment
of taxes, and which have not been s.olcl
for taxes or reclaimed, may be redeemed by
the owners of such lands, or- those claim
ing under or through such owners, or those
having a legal or equitable right or interest
therein, on the payment of the taxes which
may be due and unpaid thereon with costs, but
without penalties: Provided, That said payment
shall be made on or before the 31st day
of May, 1881, in gold or siver coin. United (
States Treasury uotes or National Bank
notes: And provided, further, That this
Act shall not apply to any lands which, by
virtue of anv Act of the General Assembly,
have already become assets of the State iu
charge of the Siokiug Food Commission.
Approved December 24, 1880.
Under this act, all lauds forfeited previous
to the delinquent-land sales of 1878 and 1879,
may be redeemed upon the payment of the
taxes and costs?the penalty being remitted.
The stile of delinquent lands (for non-payment
of taxes of 1879 80) which should
take place on the 1st of February, has been
postponed until further orders from the
Comptroller.
RESIDENCE DESTROYED IIY FIRE.
About 5 o'clock on Thursday morning
last, the residence of Major Jaraos F. Hart,
on Congress street, near the depot, was discovered
to be in flames. The members of
his family, all of whom were asleep when the
discovery was made, barely escaped with
their lives. The Hook and Ladder Company
and a large number of citizens were prompt
to res}>ond to the alarm, but the flames had
made such progress and burned so rapidly,
that no efficient service could be rendered,
and soon the handsome structure was in
ashes. The origin of the fire id unknown.
The loss as to the value of the buildiag might
be stated at from $f,000 to 87,000, on which
there was 82,000 insurance in the Continental
Insurance Company. Of the furniture,
Ac., valued at about 81,500, only about
8200 worth was saved. At the time of the
fire, Major Hart was absent front his home
in attendance upon the State Supreme Court
in Columbia. In this calamity he and bis
family have the sympathy of the entire community.
The house thus destroyed lias a local history
of some inteiest. The lot on which it
stood comprises a beautiful park of twelve
acres. The house was built about the year
1815, by Judge Wm. Smith, at that time a
prominent and wealthy citizen of York county,
a lawyer of ability, and for several terms
a representative in Congress. In the construction
of the house, only the best heart
lumber was used, and at that period carving
and ornamental work being the rage on all
houses of pretension, no expense was spared
by the builder in this style of ornamentation.
We have heard it stated that the cost of the
house was $17,000, and after it was finished
was regarded as the finest residence then in
the upper part of the State, and persons were
known to travel a distance of sixty miles or
more for no other purpose but to see the
wonderful piece of architecture. Judge Smith
moved to Alabama, after which the property
passed through several hands. About 1852
it was purchased by the late Col. R. G. McCaw,
and from tho representatives of his estate
bought by Major Hart.
We learn that it is now Major Hart's purpose
to divide the spacious grounds into suitable
building lot3, which will be for sale,
through which a street will be run parallel
with Congress street and intersecting with the
streets to the north and south of the property.