The Gaffney Ledger from Gaffney, South Carolina • Page 1

WE GUARANTEE The Reliability of Every Advertiser Who Uses the Columns of This Paper. THE LEDGER. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. 16, 1894. GAFFNEY CITY, S.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1898. $1.00 A YEAR. ESTABLISHED FEB. STAGY. J.

WARDLAW. President. Vice President, THE NATIONAL BANK OF GAFFNEY. Capital $50,000.00. and WiLt, make liberal county loans on approved paper.

buy elnims, receive deposits C. Rosa. Cashier. MURDER TO BE AVENGED. YORK COUNTY MURDERS TO BE HANGED.

Superstitious Negroes Kill an Old Man Because they Believed He Was a Conjurer--To Die For Their Deed. Having completed all other business before it, the Court of General Sessions on Thursday morning took up the case of the State against Amzi Dunovant, Frank Castles and Eliza Goore, charged with the murder of Ben Goore, on the night of the '13th of June, last. The story of this murder was told in The Enxairer at the time of the finding of the body of Ben Goore in an old unused well, some weeks after the killing. The circumstances of the case were unusually blood ling, and the whole affair has attructed deep interest especially in Bullock's Creek township. The defendants have been in jail since their arrest and were without counsel until a few weeks ago, when they secured the service.

of Messrs. F. and John R. Hart. In the meantime.

Solicitor Henry had taken occasion to visit the scene of the tragedy, talk with the witnesseswhite and colored--and, as is his custom. especially in such raordinary cases, get as close to the bottom of the whole shocking business as possible. Upon the opening of the -doors of the courtroom for the afternoon sion on Thursday there was 8 big rush for seats, and within IL few moments the auditorium was crowded. A large majority of the audience was composed of Negroes, principally from the neighborhood of the murder. They had been waiting around the courthouse nearly all the week, and showed much eagerness in their efforts to secure places where they could see and hear to the best advantage.

Before the trial proceeded far also, there were indications very which showed that the feelings of the colored contingent were unusually stong against the prisoners. The first witness put up by the state was Angless Castles, a boy who said he was 14 yeans of age; but who looks and talks like he might be considerably older. He is the boy who first told about the killing of old Ben Goore, and pointed out the well in which the body was afterward found. As a witness, he proved to be something of a prodigy. In answer to questions of the solicitor, he told his story in a clear, straightforward manner, and was not the least confused by the searching questions of such a shrewd cross-examiner as Major Hart.

Briefly, the story of Angless Castles was to the effect that having talked about the matter on one or two previous occasions, on the night of the 13th of June, Amzi Dunovant and Frank Castles proceeded to carry out their plans for doing away with old Ben Goore. The witness was a son of Ben Goore's wife; but worked for Amzi Dunovant. He lived with Goore except when his mother--Eliza Goore-was away from home, and then he went to Amzi Danovant's. The two houses were only a stone's throw apart. On the night in question, Eliza Goore was away from home and Angless was stopping at Dunovant's.

Frank Castles came along about 11 o'clock, and the threeAmzi, Frank and Angless--proceeded to the old man Ben's. Amzi took along with him some pieces of rope that had been used to suspend a quilting frame. It was arranged that Angless should go in front, and when old Ben opened the door, the other two rushed in and seized him. After a brief struggle they put a rope around his neck and choked him to death. Then they tied his hands and feet, while his body was still jerking and twisting in its death agonies.

Next they inserted a rail under the ropes. Amzi shouldered one end and Frank the other, and thus, with Angless accompanying them, they carried their burden a distance of a quarter of a mile to within a' few yards of the old well. Here they removed the rail, after which they picked the body up by hands and feet and threw it over into the depths below. Then Amzi threw in a number of stones, after which, the job completed, all left the place. Angless did not go near the old well again except for some apples one day, and he saw Amzi there, throwing in more stones.

In answer to questions by Major Hart on the cross examination, Angless said that after the murder, Amzi and Frank searched the pockets of the murdered man and also a closet and a trunk, looking for roots. He stated also that he heard Amzi say, on a previous occasion that old Ben had poisoned his, Ami's child, and that he, Amzi, would fix "him. On another occasion he had heard Amzi say, "'That if Uncle Ben don't quit meddling about my house, I'm going to put him out of the way." Major Hart asked the boy sharply why it was that he had not told about these things for so long a time, and and the boy said his Uncle Amzi had threatened to kill him it he told it. Then the Major tried to get him to say how he had at last been induced to give it away; bat he failed to give an answer to that question. "Didn't you tell Mr.

Plaxico," asked Major Hart, "that you did not know anything about what had become of Ben Goore?" "Yes, sir," answered the witness. "Then," continued the Major, "It you told this story, why did yon afterward tell about the killing?" it was right," the witness answered; and here came the first manifestation of the sympathies of the colored auditors. They commenced to applaud by stamping their feet; but the demonstration was promptly checked from the bench. The next witness was Sarah Dunovan, wife of Amzi. Her testimony on the direct examination, 80 far as it went, corroborated that of Angless.

She said that Amzi and Angless had left the house at about 11 o'clock with another man whom she did not see; but whose voice she made out to be that of Frank Castles. Shortly after they left the house, she heard the noise of a struggle over at Ben Goore's. Some one exclaimed Cod Almighty," and shouted murder three times, after which everything was quite. She told how Eliza Goore-old Ben's wife--came to her home that morning, made a trip across the creek and came back in the afternoon; but did not, upon the direct examination, testify to anything which seemed to directly conneet the old woman with the conspracy. At the conclusion of the direct examination, the court adjourned for the day, the cross examination to be resumed on Friday morning.

Mr. John Montgomery testified to the finding of the body of Ben Goore in the old well, covered with large stones. The hands and feet were tied as described Angless Castles, and there was a rope around the neck. The next witness examined WaS Mr. Aycock.

It developed that shortly after the imprisonment of the defendants Mr. Aycock went to the jail and, though, interviews with them, secured confessions. Major Hart the usual question as to whether promises or intimidation had been used to secure the confessions, and upon the statement that the witnesses had talked of their own free will, the Major inquired very severely as to the motive of the witness in making the visit. Mr. Aycock said that be went to the jail purely from motives of curiosity.

Then addressing the court, Major Hart said he wanted to condemn and denounce as unfair this common practice of allowing to visit the jail and induce ignorant prisoners to make testimony against themselves. He said that the practice was too common; that it was the custom of the sheriff to pick out of prisoners for the purpose of using this information against them, and he would like the court to take such action as would put a stop to it. Solicitor Henry replied that he had nothing to say about this special case--of the witness on the standbut in justice to the sheriff he would say that he had never gotten any information from that. official. He had found that the sheriff thoroughly understood his duty, and discharged that duty pe.

tectly. It had been his observation that the prisoners in York county jail got all the protection to which they were entitled, and that he felt safe in saying that the prisoners in York county jail got better protection than those in any other jail in the state. Major Hart then said that he wanted to repeat that he did not believe that the shriff catechised prisoners with any improper motive--he was sure that such was not the case. After this little digression, Mr. Aycock was permitted to go on with his testimony.

Castles and Dunovant had told him separately about the same facts that had been testified to by Angless Castles. He was not permitted to testify as to the result of his interview with Eliza Goore, for the reason that the deputy sheriff was present at the time it took place. The state rested at 12.30 yesterday. Before entering into the defense, Major Hart asked the court to instruct the jury to bring in a verdict of acquittal in the case of Lizzie Goore. The major argued that inasmuch as the indictment charged her with being a principal.

and the evidence failed to connect her with the crime except possibly as an accessory after the fact, she could not be convicted under the indictment. The court declined to instruct as requested. Old Lizzie Goore professed complete innocence of any knowledge of the murder until after the finding of the body in the old Gwinn well. She had been very much distressed about the disappearance of her old man, and feared that some harm had come to him; but of this she was not certain, for the reason he had been accustomed to go off without saying anything to her, and occasion he had remained away about three weeks. She claimed that she lived happily with the old man and had no desire whatever to get rid of him.

After argument by counsil, the jury took the case, remained out about 20 minutes and' returned with a verdict of guilty as to Amzi vant and Frank Castles, and guilty, with a recommendation to the mercy of the court, as to Lizzie Goore. The sheriff had taken precautions to check any demonstration on the part of the audience, and the verdict was received with profound silence. On Saturday morning Major Hart made a motion for a new trial for the woman, on the ground that she had not been connected with the murder except possibly as an acces. ory after the fact, and she could not be legally convicted under the indictment. His honor refused the motion, and proceeded to sentenge the prisoners, Amzi Dunovant and Frank Castles.

are to be hanged on Friday, December 2, between the hours of il a. and 1 p. and Elizabeth, ahas Ibby Goore, is to spend the remainder of her days at hard labor in the state penitentiary. Cherokee Fall Chronicles. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) CHEROKSE FALLS, Nov.

farmers of the surrounding country are dumping their 44 and 5 cents cotton off here hurriedly. The Cherokee Falls Manufacturing Company has delayed repairing the factory dam until next spring, but the speed is off yet. Rev. Mr. Cauthen, the Methodist minister, filled his last appointment at this place, before conference meets on last Sunday night.

Mr. Cauthen is an able minister, and we hope he will be sent to preach for us another year. He will have preached for us four years after preaching one more. We are sorry to note that Mrs. Elijah MeSwain, of this place, is seriously ill.

Abner Allen, who has been parulyzed for about two years, 's very ill. Mr. Mike Plonk, the hustling liveryman of Kings mountain, is visiting his brother, Superintendent J. C. Plonk, of this place.

Miss Mamie Harling, who is now attending Limestone College, came home last Friday. Mr. Garland Torrence, of Gastonia, is doing some repair work in the card room. Deputy Adolphus Smith has been stirring "blind tigars" in this community. Mr.

Smith is an old officer and understands his bus ness. Mr. J. J. Pong went to Grover on business Saturday.

Quite a large number of Cherokee's boys went to Gaffney last Saturday. Mr. Levie Plaxico, one of the comcompany's hustling clerks, spent Sunday at his home on Kings Creek. Mr. J.

L. Roberts spent several days on his farm, near Grover, last week. Mr. John A. Bolton, former card grinder at at this place, has moved back here to resume his old position.

We get THE LEDGER every Thursday and all are very anxious get the contents of its newsy columns. THE LEDGER is an up-to-date county paper. FACTORY BoY. Gowdeysville Dots. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) GOWDEYSVILLE, Nov.

EDITOR: As there hasn't been any news from Gowdeysville in some time I thought I would give a few dots. Farmers are very busy now, picking out their cotton and gathering up corn. People are begining to take up their potatoes and from what I hear the potato crop is turning out very well. If people would plant more corn and potatoes and not so much cotton I think there would be better times in the country. The gins are moving along nicely.

Mr. Foster and Mr. Kendrick, are doing some nice work. Mr. Both Hughes is rejoiceing over the arival of a big bouncing boy.

Mrs. Margerite Huskey visited in our community last Sunday. Mrs. Huskey is one of Cherokee's most amiable old lady's, and is always a welcome visitor in our community. We hope she will call again soon.

We understand that Mr. Hall E. Jefferies has opened up a store at the postoffice. We wish Mr. Jefferies much success in his store.

From all reports the wedding bells are going to ring in our community soon. BANJO PICKER. Bucklen's Arnica Salve. The Best Salve in the world for Cuts, Bruises, Sores, Ulcer, Salt Rheum, Fever Su. 195, Tetter, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruption, and postively cures Piles or no pay required.

It is guraanteed to give perfect satisfaction or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. For sale by The DuPre Drug Co. LOWER CHEROKEE NEWS. NOTES FROM AND AROUND ETTA JANE.

The "Kernal" Approved "The Ledger's" Advice to Correspondents--John H. Inman Waylayed and Robbed. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) ETTA JANE, Nov. highly appreciate what THE LEDGER" said last week under the caption "Help for Correspondents." And we take our part of it with all the grace and dignity imaginable. We are well aware of the faults of correspondents and freely acknowledge we have as many, or even more than any one else.

The shoe fits us to a But, in the future, as in the past, we will place our mess at the disposal of the editor and allow him to do the dissecting, to cut out any and all items that are out of place or of an inadmissible nature, to boil our correspondence down until it will fill any such spaco as he may have for it, and we will not fall out with him for exercising this prerogitive. We don't want to monopolize the paper to our use, but gladly yield space to our brethern of the quill. We shall always, when convenient, speak of anything that we think will improve the minds and morals of our readers. The newspaper is and should be an educator, and every one who writes for it is a' teacher to the extent of his or her writings. A great many fail as correspondents when they undertake to criticize their co-workers, and delve into matters they can't sustain.

Look on the bright side of things, the dark side will always present itself. Adjt. Stephen A. Dougless' theory: "Questions which no gentlemen will ask no gentleman need answer." We have tried to encourage our young men and women to write up the news of their respective neighborhoods and give it to our county paper for the benefit of its readers. But they seem loth to undertake it, and 80 the matter ends.

The world is always looking for men; men of character; men who are not for sale; who are true to the core. We may not all be great in the eyes of the world, but we are truly great if we do our duty even though that work be only the finding of men who shall do greater work than we have done or can do. Mr. G. S.

Black and William Henry Black have sent us correct diagrams of the plank a foot square sawed so as to fill a hole 16x9. We thank Miss Annie Laura, of Grindall, for what she says in the Union Times in regard to seeing those drunk men on her way home from Gafiney. right young lady, speak your sentiments and encourage your sex to do the same. And you will reform more dessolute young men than you can in any other way. Let us have sontething from your facile pen for THE LEDGER readers.

They will enjoy it, we assure you. Miss Grace Whisonant has answered our question of last week. The goose weighs 20 pounds. We dug our potatoes last week. The crop is unusually short this year.

Mr. J. R. Warmoth, of Hickory Grove, was through this section one day last week with a load of home made saddles and harness. Mr.

Meek C. Parker. of Gaffney, was in this section last week fixing clocks, watches, and sewing machines. Jimmie and Sammie Strain finished hauling corn last week. Miss Pearl Whisonant, who has been quite sick for sometime, I am glad to say, is up again.

I am sorry to learn that my old friend and army comrade, J. Wesley McKown, got hurt a few days ago. He was thrown from a horse and got some of his ribs broken, so I hear. Mr. G.

T. Wood, another old and tried veteran of the late war, I am sorry to note, has been sick for several weeks with malarial fever. He was improving at last account. The C. E.

Society held its convention meeting at Salem yesterday evening. The topi: was "'The good fight." A general attendance of the active members and some good talks added much to the interest of the meeting. The next meeting will be held at the home of R. J. Kirby next Sabbath night.

There are two classes of people in the world--The lifters and the leavers. When there is a score of leavers to one lifter, its no wonder the world moves slowly in improvement. These leavers are always ready to take credit to themselves when anything of note has been accomplished. But when earnest, hard work is at hand they are wanting. Oh these leavers! What burdens they might lift from the shoulders of others, if they were only to do their share of lifting.

The colored people had an entertainment on the York side last week in which John Almstead was seriously if not mortally wounded by the handy pistol. A group of white 'boys (or men) were seen on the side of the public road yesterday (the Sabbath day) just beyond Howell' ferry with creature in a sack, supposed to be a blind tiger. One of the party was keeping it quiet by picking 8 banjo. The brute WAS gagged with a corn cob which its keeper could remove and replace at will without provoking even a growl from the animal. Hon.

C. W. Whisonant is sowing wheat. He does the most of that kind of work on his farm himself. Mr.

Edward Byars has returned to his farm near Owen's ford. Mr. F. A. Goforth and Mr.

Sam W. Foster went to Gaffney with cotton last week. Mr. Julius T. Howe is still very sick.

Everything that can pick a boll of cotton is needed in the cotton patch now-a-days. Considerable excitement was raised among our York county friends last week by a report that a dog had gone mad in that neighborhood. Jeff Estes was attacked with chills last week whet put him in bed for a few days. He is up again. Mrs.

Harper says: never was an angel of God, however bright, terribie and stong, that was able to roll away the stone from the grave of a dead opportunity." The Fowler brothers have cut and cured a fine chance of pea vine hay this season. Mr. John H. Inman was waylaid knocked down and robbed of $219.00 as he was returning from Lockhart Shoals last Monday night. Two negroes and a white man are supposed to have done the deed.

A negro by the name of Wade Jeter has been arrested and lodged in jail at Union. Mrs. Laura Estes was taken suddenly ill last Friday evening and for a while it was thought that she could not live. She 19 afflicted with asthma. Mr.

John It. Fowler has had a ious attack and is quite unwell. He has been sick for more than a week. Drs. Wood and Ward have been to see him.

Crops of all kind are fairly good, but nothing extra this year. The cotton prospect in August was very encouraging. A man takes a central square of 40 acres within a square of 160 acres, and gives to each of his four sons rectangular forms equal in every respect, and making up the balance of the farm. The father and sons are to have dwelling centrally located in their respective farms. How far will each be from his nearest brother, and how far from the father? How many will tell us? There is a sad propensity in our fallen nature to listen to the retailers of pettty scandal.

With many it is the spice of conversation- exhilerating gas of their minds. Without any intention of doing intentional injury to a neighbor, a careless remark, relative to some minor fault of his, may be signed by a babbler, and, through the babbling tribe, each one adds to its bulk, and gives its color a darken hue, until it assumes the magnitude of a slander. Few are without faults--most persons are at times inconsistent. Upon these faults and mistakes petty scandal delights to feast. Washington said: "To persevere is one's duty and be silent is the first answer to columny." Live so that when people speak evil of you nobody will belive it.

is our advice. J. L. S. Written from Willie.

(Correspondence of The Ledger.) WILLIE, Nov. seems that the fighting blood of our boys has been predominent during the past few weeks. There has been several fights and rucuses in our section during the last week or two. But, hoping that the boys will conduct themselves in a more gentlemanly manner in the future, we refrain giving names and particulars this time. Mr.

"Dock" Babb, one of the best citizens and farmers of Clarence, died of typhoid fever last Monday, and was buried at Holly Springs Tuesday, the 1st inst. Mr. Babb leaves a wife and three children to mourn his death. Mr. James Ponder, of this place, died yesterday morning at about half past six o'clock.

He had been sick but a short while, and before be was taken sick he was the largest and healthiest looking man of this community. Mr. Ponder leaves an aged mother, a wife and six children to mourn their loss, all of whom have the most profound sympathy of the entire community. The remains of Mr. Ponder were interred at Pleasant Hill at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

The funeral service were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Whilden, of O'Neal. S. C.

CUMTUX. Use Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup at once, if your child has croup or bronchitis. Waste no time; delay may be dangerous. Dr.

Bull's Cough Syrup cures at once. It is a safe and infallible remedy. All druggists sell it for 25 cts. GOOD ADVICE. Col.

W. D. Camp Advises a Reduction of Cotton Acreage. MR. EDITOR: Some time in the latter part of last year the Southern States formed fl Cotton Grower's As.

sociation and some of the farmers of South Carolina formed a nucles in Columbia and recommended that each of the counties form a club or organization, and that body appointed a chairman for each county. Your humble servant had the honor of being appointed for Cherokee county, as it was known that I had allied mygeli with the Farmer's Alliance from its incipiency, I y.as solicited and urged to call a meeting of the of this county, but as I had not.ing new to tell them I declined. could have told them nothing more than had been repeated at each elub meeting. The only solution I but was to reduce the acreage of cotton and raise more grain and food crops. I thought it would be an insult to the intelligence of the farmers of Cherokee county to be telling them again and again what I am sure they have been told and know, but as I have been reading of late some agricultural papers I find some facts and figures which I think might be of sOl.

value to our farmers under the ridieulously low price of cotton that has existed for the past two years. Wit the farmers continue to put in large areas of cotton or will they pursue the wiser policy of reducing the eatand planting largely in food erup-! A cotton grower cannot afford to grow cotton at cents. He had us well be playing in the sand. He furnishing cotton for the manul.e. turer below cost.

The immense of cotton and its ruinous low Fri 44 attracting the attention of the world, The New Orleans Cotton Excher-e reports the production in the Southern States for 1897-8 at 11,199 bales. The Northern mills consumed 2,211.470 bales and the Southern mills 1,231,841, a total consumed 10 America of 3,443,583 bales. The overplus was either exported to foreign countries or stored in our warehouses and on our farms. The entire crop of the world, America, Egypt. India and elsewhere, is reported ut 14,290,000 bales, and the total consumption of the world is bales or 63,000 bales more than the production of the United States alone.

leaving a net surplus of bales to be brought forward to the present crop to depress prices. The world's markets are being completely demoralized by such excessive overproduction. The Southern States, particularly, are growing too much cotton, yet this very serious, painful and self-evident truth seems to have no affect upon our planters. Unless practical and scientific men can discover some new and greater uses for cotton the price cannot rise. Then, dear friends, if you will listen to an old friend, plant less cotton, make all the grain that you will need on your farm, raise wheat, oats, rye, corn, peas, potatoes and food crops of any kind, reduce your cotton acreage, concentrate manures, udopt the intensive system of growing cotton-for it is the only way by which we can compete with the world Lu growing cotton.

Now, don't be deceived any longer by large acreage in cotton hoping for better prices. Take the above advice. and, my word for it, prosperity will be yours. Respectfully, W. D.

CAMP. Cheap Railroad Rates. On account of the State Fair the S. C. G.

R. will issue tickets from Gafiney to Columbia for $250 for the round trip on the 15th, 16th and 17th. Trains will leave this city at 10:15 and will arrive in Columbia the same afternoon. There will be no change of cars. Mr.

Thomasson, the obliging and accommodating agent at this place, assures THE LEDGER that every effort will be made that will tend to the comfort Band accommodation of the patrons of his road. Four Crops This Year. E. D. Darwin.

of Kings Creek, left with us Monday some pears from a tree on his farm which had borne four crops this year. The first crop ripened in June. Since that time two other crops have ripened, and the tree now has a crop that is too late to mature being now about the size of hickorynuts. An Enterprising Druggist. There are few men more wide awake and enterprising than Dul're Drug who spare no pains to secure the best of everything in their line for their many customers.

They now have the valuable agency for Dr. King's New Discovery for Consumption, Coughs and Colds. This is the wonderful remedy that is producing such a furor all over the country by its many startling cures. It absolutely cures Asthma, Bronchitis, Hoarseness and all affections of the Throat, Chest and Lungs. Call at above drug store and get a trial bottle free or a regular size tor 50 cents and $1.00 Guaranteed to cure or price refunded..