The Watchman and Southron from Sumter, South Carolina • Page 3

A Girl Found Dead. MURDERED AN LEFT ED IN AN OPEN FIELD FOR WEEKS. A Prey to Buzzards-The Body Decomposed and Then Dried Into a Mummy by the Sun's Heat. Daily Itera, Nov. 25, One of the roost horrible tragedies with a sequel of crime and cruelty, rarely equalled, came to light on Saturday afternoon, and since that time Coroner Commander has been at work unearthing the mystery.

yet he not learned all the particulars, but enough has been ferretted out to satisfy bim that a bloody crime was committed, and the evideoce points so strongly to Dargan as the guily party that he was arrested yes? terday and placed in for safe keeping un? til the whole matter could be thoroughly' in? vestigated. Saturday afternoon Larringdon Gflover, colored, who was at work repairing an old bonse near the road just beyond the point where the Providence road diverges from it, in crossing an old field between the house and road discovered tbe dead body of a girl lying in the open field near a clump of dog fennel. The body bad been exposed to the elements for so many days that the flesh bad became shrunken and bittered by the san until it had more the appearance of aa Eg.rp*iaa than anything else. Tbs buzz.rds hud loro a portion of the clothing from the body and eaten the stomach and flesh portions of the thighs. It vas evident that the person bad been dead for several weeks and that, lying as it did, exposed to the sun and rain for such a length of timi, had passed through the first stage of decomposition, and under the intense beat of tbe sun bad begun to dry up ced mummify.

Tbe body was a horrible object to con? template, and the discovery of it, so unex? pectedly aod in such an exposed place, scarcely a hundred yards from a frequently travelled public road, was more than suffi? cient to unnerve and terrify the person making the grewsoroe find. Glover made haste to report the matter and I as soon as possible the coroner and sheriff were notified. Coroner Commander went to the place, which is in sight of Mr. Calvin W. Chand? ler's bouse, yesterday morniog and had an examination made by Dr.

J. A. Mood, who pronounced the body to be that of a giri, not fully grown, after a careful examination. Further investigation established the fact that the body, was that of Bertha Caldwell, a negro girl about 12 or 13 years old, who has been living with Bracey Dargan and his wife for some months. She was the daughter of Enoch Caldwell, a tenant on the place of Mr.

R. C. BUnding, in Concord township. Caldwell's wife has been insane for sometime, and he gave tlie girl Bertha to Bracey Dar? gan, wbo is a living on his own farm, rear the old Burkett place five and a half miles from this city, on the State? barg road. Bracy Dargan was arrested by Coroner Commander, bot he positively slated that he did not recognize the dead body as that of Bertha Caldwell, and described tbe clothing than she wore when she ran away from bim several weeks ago as wholly different from those found on the body of tbe dead girl.

Corooer Commander, however, went to Bracy Dargan's wife and induced ber to de- scribe the clothing worn by Bertha when she was last seen, and this description tallied ex? actly with the clothing fooud on the dead body. It was developed during the investigation that although the girl had been missing from Dargan's playe for several weeks he had said nothing about it, and as far as was known, had made oo search for ber. It is said that be told one person that he had whipped the girl and she had left him, but nothing was said by Dargan to indicate that she disappeared without his knowledge and consent. When Dargan was asked about the parent- age cf the giri he told the coroner that she was daughter of a wan named Caldwell who lived "up tbe country," but whose first naine he did not know. He also said when asked why he bad not reported the girl's dis- appe arance, that he did tell Lncy McCutchen and Bertha Smith of Mayesville that the girl had disappeared when he was io Mayesville on Tuesday last a week ago.

Coroner Com? mander went to Mayesville this morning and lon sd the two women mentioned by Dargan and questioned them concerning the mother, Lucy McCutchen said that she knew Bracey Dargan, but tbat she had no conversation with him when he was io Mayesville week before last. Bertha Smith said that she also knew Bracey Dargan, but she was away from home when he was at her house in Mayesville week before last and did not see him nor talk TVltb hiii. Neither had she heard anything of the disappearance of Bertha Caldwell. The investigation is still in progress at Mr. Calvin W.

Chandler's store, where more than a hundred negroes were colleced this morn? ing when the writer went eut to obtain the facts concerning the horrible affair. There were a number of witoesses to be examioed, and as there was a considerable amount of contradictory evidence it is deemed best not to go into the details of the tragedynntil the entire case bas been developed. From what could be the evidence points strongly to the conclusion that Bracey Dargan is either guilty of the murder of Bertha Caldwell, or knows much more about her death than be bus yet told. His whole manner and the evasive and contradictory statements made, ail lead to a presumption of bis guilt but uutil all of the threads of evidence that sur? round him net-like, have been gathered up and drawn in, with him iu the meshes, it is not safe to definitely conclude that he deliberate- i ly murdered the girl committed to bis care! and protection by ber father. The investigation will probably not be con? cluded to-day and a verdict can hardly be reached by the jury of inquest until to-mor? row.

Daily Item, Nov. 26. The inquest over the body of Bertha Cald- well, which was mentioned ie yesterday's I paper, was continued throughout the after noon, but could not be concluded, as the at tender.ee of all the witnesses could not be secured. The inquest was adjourned until Monday morning, when it is expected that considerable new information bearing upon the death of the girl will be forthcoming. The base cf Ayer's Hair Vigor is a refined and delicate fluid, which doe3 not soil or be- come rancid by exposure to the air, and which is as perfect a substitute for the oil supplied by nature ir; youth and health, as modern chemistry can produce.

Backten'? Arnica Salvo? Tho Bast Salve in the world for Cuts, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum. Fever Sores, Tetter Chapped Chilblains, Corns and al I Eruptions, and positively euros Piles or no piy required. It is guaranteed to givo per? fect satisfaction, or money refunded. 25 cants per box. For sale by Dr.

J. F. W. De 1 Public Sales. There ate uo SH Ito advertised by the Sheriff for December.

Io addition tu Ih-sales ndveitised in this paper, the following sales advertised else? where by the Master, to be made on saiesday December The American Freehold Land Mortgage vs. Samuel M. Pringle and Victor Pringle-Seven hundred and thirty acre3, situated in Concord township. C. Wulhurn vs Sheppard Nash Four hundred and eighty-seven acres, situ? ated in Lynchburg township.

Arabella P. Moses, vs. Julia Anderson and J. Ryttenberg Sons-Two hundred and ninety acres, situated in Stateburg township. Thomas B.

Johnston, vs Rufus. C. West berry and Marion Moire-Forty-two acres in one tract and twenty-three in another, situ? ated ia Swimrnin? Pens township. E. W.

A Buitraan, vs J. McRae, et al -Thirty nine acres, situated in Providence township. JAS. M. SeigoouB.

vs. Frederick S. acd John F. Reames-One hundred and sixteen acres, three miles from Sumter, on the Plow den Mill road. Jas.

H. Brown. Marv Morrissey and Ethel Brown, vs Kate E. Behre-Five hun? dred and thirty-three adjoining lands formerly of James Fullwood and others. The American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, vs.

Mary Lee Green, Wm. McD. Creen, Benj Barnett, A. A. Stau8s et al-One thousand and sixty acres on Lycbes River, in Mt.

Clio township. Absalom Elmore. Assignee, vs. H. A.

Scar? acres, adjoining land of Scarborough and Elmore. Helen Cain Ramsey, Administratrix of Est. Dr. W. A.

Ramsey, dee'd, vs. C. Norman Ramsey et al-Ninety-four acres, in Middle? ton township, and sixteen acres near old Manchester. C. Wuibern vs.

J. McD Law, Mar? garet A. Law, et al-Fourteeo hundred and fifty acres, known as the home place of J. Mci). Law.

Neil O'Donnell, vs. Eula Moore, Wm. Sinkler Moore, et al-Eighty-nine acres, ad? joining lands of W. W. Anderson and others.

W. F. B. Kaynswortb and P. Barron, Exors.

of S. C. C. Richardson, vs. D.

B. McLaurin, Massy Capers and others-For'y five acres, adjoining land McLaurin and Louisa Grant Six hundred acres, adjoining lands of Brownfield, Furman and others, ex? cepting four parcels of 45 acres, 35 acre3, 25 acres and 45 acres. The Board of the Theological Seminary of So. Ca and Ga. vs.

Marsena M. Lorine, G. W. Loring, Ella P. McFaddin, R.

C. Ban? ding and others-Six hundred and seven and three-fourths acres adjoining land of estate of L. H. Dinkins, estate ot Dr. Pittsand others, also five hundred and thirty-four acres adjoining land of estate of Jno.

N. Fri erson and others. Frank Adler vs C. F. H.

Bultman, Christina G. Bultman and otbers-Lot and building in city of Sumter on Main street adjoiog Planter's warehouse and others. Esther L. Moise vs. B.

R. Ingram and Rob? ert M. Jenkins-One hundred and thirty eight acres adjoining land of R. M. Jenkins, the Knox place and others, British and American Mortgage Co.

vs. Florida A. Burns, Robert L. Burns, et al Two tracts of 20S 72-100 and 28 22-100 acres in Privateer township. Geo.

W. Brown et al v6. Emily S. Placidia Reynolds, John S. Richardson et al -Five hundred and twenty-five acres, ad? joining lands of Rivers, Geddings and otbers.

The Appeal Dismissed. The Mills-Green Case Was Settled Yesterday. There was much rejoicing in admin- istratioo circles here when a telegram was received announcing thai the United States Supreme Court had dismissed the appeal in the case of Lawrence P. Mills vs W. Briggs Green, Supervisor of Registration of! Richland County.

The case is a fa- miliar one io Columbia, and the dis- missal of the appeal is another feather iu the cap of Attorney G-coerai Barber, who has been conducting the Dispen? sary and Registration cases with much credit to himself and to the State. The decision, too, is another black eye for Judge Goff, who has figured so much of late io South Caroliua affairs. The general opinion here was that the appeal would be dismissed and the announcement yesterday was not a surprise. The following in regard to the case was received last night over the Associ? ated Press wires from Washington The United States Supreme Court, io an opinion by Justice Gray, to-day dismissed without cost to either party the case of Mills vs. Green, in? volving the legality of elections to the Constitutional Convention, now almost through its work at Columbia, S.

C. The court said that, as it. is impos? sible to grant relief in view of the fact that the Convention had been in session for some time, it would dismiss the suit Justice Gary after ealing attention to the fact that the election for a Constitu? tional Convention, which it was sought to enjon, had already been held said "The duty of this court is to decide actual controversies by a judgment which can be carried iuto effect, and not to give opinions upon questions or ab? stract todeclare principles or rules of law which cannot affect the matter in issue in the case before ir It necessarily follows that when, pend- ing an appeal from the judgment of a lower court and without any fruit of i the defendant, an event, occurs which I renders it. impossible for this court, if i it should decide in favor of the plaintiff, to grant him any effectual relief, the court will not proceed to formal judg- ment, but will dismiss the appeal It is reported from Gibson, Glas-, gow county, Ga that Balam Han- cock was lynched last night by a mob for attempting outrage on Miss Dessie Shelton, a white girl IT years old. At Warrenlon, Ga yesterday i Florence Englirh and Amanda Cody, colored, were hanged for the murder of Cicero Cody, the husband of; Mandy, last May.

The woman and her paramour, Florence English, killed Ciscero Cody in his own home with a rock and a piece of wood. Meteorological Record. The following is a report of observations of weather taken xi Statuturtr, by Dr. W. W.

Anderson rh" pus' 7 '-feks ending Noverut er 24, 1895 Cl Teiuiieratiire. Condition. 81 75. 9 62. 10 61.

11 71. 12 71. 13j 72. 14 71. 15 73.

77. 17 19 20 21 22 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 41 5 6 78. 68 72. 69. 79 77.

79. 74 79. 78. 66. 58.

52. 55 52 58. 66. 68. 73.

70 81 73. 9 77. 10 75. 11 52. 12! 51.

13? 58 141 51. 15 62 16 IS 19 20 21 66. 66 66 69. 5S. 53 22J 63.

68. 24! 69. 63 5S. 48. 39.

42 54 46. 50. 57. 57. 58 49 48.

52. 45. 43. 48. 49.

52. 53 59. 62. 47. 47.

43. 47. 47 36. 44 55 58. 61.

66. 65. 52. 41. 38 36.

39. 42. 47. 49. 46.

49. 37. 31. 41. 46.

47. 76. 66.5 55. 50. 56 5 62.5 59.

65. 67. 67.5 60.5 63. 60. 58 5 56.

63 5 63 65.5 63.5 69. 70. 56.5 52.5 47.5 49.5 47. 55. 61.51 65.5 67.

69 5 71. 63. 46.5 44.5 47. 45. 52.5 50 5 57 5 53.

59 47.5 42. 52 57. 58 sw NB EB SE NW SW SW SB sw NE NE ENE NE NE NE SW SW sw SE ESE .34 00 I .00 .00 iCioudy. 31 .00 .00 Cloudy. .00 .00 Clear.

.00 .00 Clear. .00 .00 Clear. .00 Clear. .09 .00 .00 00 .00 IClear. .00 .00 .00 'Cloudy.

.25 .85 .52 iCloudy. .00 .00 jCIear. .00 01 .00 iCloudy. .10 'Cloudy. .03 .00 73 iCloudy.

.06 ICloudy 02 .00 00 .00 H'-'Cloudv. .00 .00 Clear. 00 Ciear. .00 IClear. .00 j-Cloudy.

00 .00 .00 00 iCloudv. Cloudy. Policeman Robert Knox arrested Ed Taylor, in Vevay, Thursday night and was on his way to the jail, when Taylor drew a revolver and fired, killing Knox instantly. Taylor escaped P. Roberts, who was pres? ident of the Thirty-First street bank of Chicago, which failed during the panic, was arrested yesterday, charged with perjury in a case wherein Roberts was sued by Commercial National bank for $20,000.

A committee of 450 of the Mer? chants and Manufacturers' associa? tion of Baltimore, is hard at work in an effort to fake to Atlanta on Mary? land day, December 6. the largest crowd that has yet visited the expo- sition. They expect to bring down 1,500 men. Heart Disease Kills Suddenly but never without warning symp? toms, such as Faint, Weak or Hungry Spells, Irregular or Intermittent Pulse, Fluttering or Palpitation of thfe Heart, Choking Sensa? tions, Shortness of Breath, Swelling of Feet and Ankles, etc. Dr.

Miles9 Heart Cure, Cures Heart Disease. Mr. Geo. L. Smith, of tho Geo.

L. Smith Mantel Louisville, vrites Feb. 2C, 1894: "For about a year I was a terrible suf? ferer from heart trouble, which got so bad I was obliged to sit up in bod to get my breath. I had to abandon business and could hardly crawl around. My friend, Mr.

Julius C. Voght, one of our leading pharma? cists, asked rue to try Dr. Miles' Heart Cure. I had used little more than a bottle when the pain ceased and palpitations entirely disappeared. I have not had the slightest trouble since, and today I am attending to business as regularly as ever." Sold by druggists everywhere.

Book on Heart and Nerves sent free. Address Dr. Miles Medical Elkhart, Ind. Dr. Miles' Remedies Restore Health.

HARB WHOLESALE BROKERS, -AND Cotton Storage Warehouse! PROPRIETORS. OFFICE COURT HOUSE 500 Tons Ammoniated Guano. 500 Tons Acid 500 Tons German COTTOX SEED MEAL, AND MEAT SALT FOR SALE GET OUR PRICES. We keep on hand a full of heavy groceries. FEED AND SEED OATS, DRY SA ET MK ATS, LARD, MEAL, GRIST.

FLOUR, SUGAR. RICE, COFFEE, POTTED MEATS, Correspondence solicited. Nov. 27. LOOK i NEXT I WEEK i In this Paper For the ANNOUNCEMENT of T.

C. SC AFFE. He is opening a lot of choice goods in all his lines. TAX NOTICE. OFFICE COUNTY TREASURER, SUMTER COUNTY SUMTER, S.

Oct. 1, 1895. The Treasurer of Sumter County hereby gives notice that his books will be open at his office io the Court House from the 15th day of October, 1895, to the 31st day of December, 1895, ioclu- i si for the collection of taxes for the fiscal year 1894-1895, for Sumter Couoty. The following are the rates per cen? tum of the levy For State purposes mills on every dollar of the value of all taxable prop? erty. For ordinary County purposes, 3 mills.

For Constitutional School Tax, 2 mills. Making a total of 9J mille. Also the following additional levies in the special School Districts enumer? ated below District No. 20-4 mills. District No.

18-2 mills. District No. 5-2 mills. District Nc. 12-2 mills.

District No. 16-2 mills. District No. 1-2 mills. Also one dollar on each poll between the ages of 21 and 50 years H.

L. SCARBOROUGH, County Treasurer. Oct. 2 Are you coming to the Exposition If so stop at the Leading Cotel, where accommo- dations are to be had for 1,000 guests per; day. The only first-class Hotel in the City i charging only $2.00 per day.

VICTORIA HOTEL J. W. GOfcLCKE, manager. Nos. 30-32-34 Pryor Street Half Block From Car Shed, Atlanta, Georgia.

Burglar proof safe for valaables, cars pass the door every five minutes for Exposition Grounds. Everything first-class. The best beds in the city. Telegraph or write ahead for accommodations. Remember we will treat you right, and charge you only $2.00 per day for Board and Lodging.

Porters at all trains. Sept. 18. Are without a rival for Tone, Touch and Durability. The Highest Standard of Ex? cellence maintained for fifty years.

PRIZE MEDALS: Centennial, 1876 Paris, 1878; Atlanta, ISSI New Orleans, 1884-5; Chicago, 1S93. Liberal Terms Send for catalogue. CHAS. M. STIEFF.

Baltimore, 9 N. Liberty Street. Philadelphia, 1204 North 5th Street. Washington, 417 11th Street. N.

W. Chicago, 178 Wabash Avenue, Sent. 18. PAYING POSITIONS GUARANTEED IN WRITING. Stu- dents'complete course in HALF the TIME at HALF the EXPENSE of other colleges.

placed month. Address nt once GEORGIA BUS. COLLEGE, Macon Ga. Nov. Estate of Ww.

W. Boykin, Dec'd. A LL PERSONS having claims against the aforesaid estate will present same, duly Musted, and all persons indebted to said estate, will make payment without delay, to WILSON D. SCARBOROUGH, Nov. 13-3t.

Qualified Adm'r. f'Tis Provoking toi a Good 'Tis provoking to miss anything you want to catch, but the most provoking of all misses that can befall anybody in Sumter is arriving at our Sale of Just a little too late to secure a share of the prize bargains which we're now offering in these goods. Capes at $3.39 cheap at 5.00 4.69 7.00 Lot 1-Cloaks at red'ed irom 7.00 Lot 2- 4.73 9.00 Lot 3- 5.93 11.00 Lot 4- 7.87 14.00 Lot 5- at 9.98 red'cd from 22.00 0 GOOD NEWS, HOWEY! For there7s not the slightest occasion for falling into any such piece of ill luck. -IN The chances are open to all. The great sale is in progress.

Every one is in vii ed to attend. The fun will last long enough to give all an opportunity to ar? rive before it's too late. Yon Need Not, but you may Miss it. Take warning from the Man who Missed his Train. yttenberg N.

W. Corner, Main and Liberty Sts. $. C. New York office, 84 West Broadway Look at these Prices: Why Shouldn't We Keep You Posted? 25 Ladies' Black Capes Braid trimmed, full sweep, at $2.35 30 Ladies' Black Capes, Fur trimmed, full sweep, at 2.58 20 Ladies' Black and Navy Capes.

nicely trimmed, at 2.98 25 Ladies' Black and Navy, finest cloth, nicely trimmed, 3.50 We will let you judge what the above are worth, by what others will charge you for them. What we claim for them is They are Genuine Bargains And can't be matched in Sumter for 25 per cent more. Look around you and compare prices and quality. We are willing to stand the test of the most rigid inspection. If Yon Wait JM IM Yen lani at Just tie RigM Price, Sec Us First.

Large lines of New Dress Plaids, Fancy Silk Mixtures, just in. Prices 15c up. LARGE LINE OF ETCNINGSj PASTELS? ETC, NOW IN STOCK. Palace Dry Goods Emporium..