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Richland County, South Carolina Newspaper Articles




The State - Sept. 19, 1911
Married Women Barred from Richland Schools
After the present session is completed no married women will be permitted to teach in the public schools of Richland county.  This was decided by the county board of education at a recent meeting.  While a rule of this nature has never before been made by the board of education of Richland county, it has been somewhat of an unwritten law for some time, and but few married women are at present employed in the publice schools of the county.

The State - Mar. 2, 1897
The Richland Mill Homicide
The jury of inquest in the Richland mill homicide met again last night at 8 o'clock in the office of Magistrate Smith and in a few moments rendered a verdict that John Yochum came to his death from a pistol wound inflicted by the hands of Bryce McComb.  The witnesses who testified on Sunday night were then required to give bond for their appearance at the April term of court.  McComb has retained John McMaster, Esq., to defend him.

The State - Oct. 6, 1914
Insurance Suit is First Tried
The fall term of the court of common pleas from Richland county opened yesterday with C. J. Ramage of Saluda presiding as special judge.  After the call of the roster, the case of H. A. Taylor vs. Fidelity-Phoenix Insurance company was taken up.  This was an action to recover the amount alleged to be due on a policy of insurance covering a house of the plaintiff.  The jury returned a verdict of $300 for the plaintiff. 

The case of Mary Nunnamaker vs. Smith's, incorporated, and H. K. Smith, was next taken under consideration.  This is an action for damages.  This case will probably be concluded during the morning.

The State - Jun. 23, 1891
Weston, June 22 - Mr. S. E. Rawls, one of the most progressive and oldest farmers in this section, died at his home, about eight miles from here, yesterday morning, of consumption.  Mr. Rawls was highly though of and had a host of friends in old Richland.  He leaves a family, but in good circumstances.

Miss Ruth Adams, of Fort Motte, is visiting Miss Mary Clarkson here.

The State - Oct. 25, 1921
Chief Justice Gary yesterday issued an order for an en bac session of the supreme court to be held Friday, November 11, for the purpose of hearing the cases of J. H. Faust, respondent, against Richland county, appellant, and Ben L. Kelly, respondent, against Richland county, appellant.
The supreme court itself has been unable to agree on a question of constitutional law in the cases and all the circuit judges will be called in to hear the arguments November 11.

The appeal is taken from the Richland county court following suits there by the defendant.  Both cases are practically identical and will cover the same ground.  The defendant claims that he resides about a mile out of Columbia on the Two Notch or Camden road and that the county in rebuilding this road filled in drainage ditches and built up the roadbed in front of his house, causing great volumes of water to run through his yard, garden and property.  It is further claimed that great holes were washed in the property and the pillars of the house were undermined by the tar as well as washing away the top soil.  Damages to the extent of $2,6000 were asked.

The case is one of considerable interest, involving a constitutional question that will have a bearing on future work to be done similar to this.

The Charleston Courier, June 24, 1816
Died, in Columbia, S.C. on Thursday night, the 13th Inst. after a few days illness, Mr. Reuben House

The State - Nov. 5, 1897
Camps A. C. Haskell and M. C. Butler will vote for colonel of the veteran regiment of Richland county tomorrow at Lightwood Knot Springs, and immediately afterward the vote will be canvassed and the election declared.  Col. Wm. Wallace and Capt. W. H. Sligh are spoken of in connection with this high office.  The regular monthly meeting of Camp Hampton will be held in its newly renovated headquarters at 8 o'clock this evening.  A full meeting is desired, as the camp will cast its vote in the election of colonel of Richland county regiment, and delegates to Lightwood Knot Springs will be appointed.

The State - Nov. 6, 1897
The regular monthly meeting of Camp Hampton was held last night in its headquarters.  Commander Capt. R. S. DesPortes presiding.  Col. Cadwallader Jones and Mr. Milton Leveret were proposed for membership.  Comrade C. M. Douglas was reported as being ill and members of the camp were requested to show him attention.  The camp was reminded that it was pledged to subscribe $100 to the monument fund to Confederate women in South Carolina.  The finance committee of the South Carolina division will meet in the camp's headquarters next Wednesday night at 8 o'clock, and it is hoped that the amount pledged will be in hand at that date.

The camp then went into an election for colonel of the Richland veteran regiment, and Col. D. Cardwell was chosen for the high position by a large majority.  Major Brooks was appointed by the camp to carry the vote to Lightwood Knot Springs, where the vote of the three camps comprising the regiment will be canvassed, and the election declared.  A letter from Col. Wm. Wallace was read declining to allow his name to be used as a candidate for the colonelcy of the Richland regiment.

The telegram was received from Gen. M. C. Butler regretting that he could not be present, owing to important business engagements in Washington, D.C.  Capt. W. H. Manning of Gen. Coward's staff was then introduced and delivered an eloquent address on the subject "Only a Courier," which was listened to with great interest and attention.  At the close of his stirring speech Col. McMaster spoke in highest terms of the fine effort, and moved a vote of thanks to Capt. Manning, which was unanimously carried.

The camp was invited to visit Lightwood Knot Springs today and carry one day's rations with them, which was accepted as a whole, and the commander appointed the entire camp as a delegation.  Speeches will be made by Col. Wm. Wallace and Col. Jno. P. Thomas, and a most enjoyable time is anticipated. At the next meeting of the camp Col. McMaster will deliver an address on the battles of Boonsboro and Sharpsburg.  The camp enjoyed the new furnishings and renovation of their headquarters, and were much moved by the introduction of a bust of the lamented heroic Tennessee martyr, Sam Davis, the Confederate scout, who died an ignominious death at Pulaski, Tenn., rather than disclose to his captors from whom he obtained the information fund on his person.

The State - Feb. 11, 1918
Robbers Enter Richland Street home in Absence of Owner
Robbers entered the home of Mrs. C. E. Brown at 914 Richland Street sometime between Tuesday and Saturday of last week and looted the house.  The intruders forced an entrance from the rear and took advantage of the absence of the occupants of the dwelling.  Mrs. Brown is off on a visit and the losses can not be determined until she returns.  The robbery was discovered Saturday and the police were immediately notified.  An inspection of the premises showed that the burglars evidently took their time about going through everything in sight.  They forced open every container that gave any evidence of the presence of valuables and things were scattered all over the place.  The police are working on the case and as soon as Mrs. Brown returns the amount of the losses will be ascertained.

The State - Jun. 24, 1910
F. R. Way Accused of taking money under false pretenses
Following his arrest in Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday, F. R. Way, formerly engaged in the drug business in Columbia, was brought here and lodged in the Richland county jail yesterday, confronted with a serious charge.  Way is accused of obtaining money under false pretenses.  It is charged that Dr. Way secured several thousand dollars of his wife's money by misrepresentation, it being alleged that he borrowed the money from his wife with the promise to give a mortgage on certain property for the amount, and that he told her he had made such a paper and had it recorded.

The charge is preferred that the mortgage was not recorded and that no such document was found.  The accused has been absent from Columbia some time, leaving Columbia shortly after the failure of his business.  After the bankruptcy proceedings, Mrs. Way appeared before Magistrate Frost and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Dr. Way.  This warrant accounts for the latter's presence now in the Richland jail.

Dr. Way was one of a firm which purchased the DuRant pharmacy last year and was engaged in the operation of this drug store until last summer, when proceedings were instituted that resulted in the firm being declared  bankrupt.  The preliminary hearing for the prisoner on the charge of obtaining money under false pretenses is ordered by Magistrate Frost for Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.  Mrs. Way is at present in Greenville, but is expected to be present at the preliminary hearing.

The State - Sept. 5, 1914
The governor has issued a proclamation, offering a reward of $50 for the apprehension, delivery and conviction of Morris Jones, charged with the murder of John Turnipseed in Richland county on February 2, 1912.

The State - Oct. 6, 1914
Memorial services in honor of the late Ernest Gary of Columbia, judge of the Fifth circuit, and of lately deceased members of the Richland Bar association, P. H. Nelson, P. T. Youmans and G. R. Rembert, will be held Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the Richland court of common pleas, according to an appointment made yesterday by C. J. Ramage of Saluda, special judge, presiding.  Wm. H. Lyles, president of the bar association, has requested the secretary, Alan Johnstone, Jr., to give due notice of the memorial session and has assigned members of the bar to prepare resolutions on the deceased members, as follows:  On Judge Gary, D. C. Ray; on Mr. Nelson, B. L. Abney; on Mr. Youmans, J. B. McLauchlin; on Mr. Rembert, C. S. Monteith.

The State - Jun. 27, 1922
John T. Parker, white farmer in the upper part of Richland county, was acquitted yesterday in the criminal court on a charge of having shot and killed Mary book, negress, who lived close to the defendant.  The jury retired at 5:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon and the decision was announced 45 minutes later.

Wesley Strickland, young white man, pleaded guilty of stealing a motor car from L. P. Scott and Judge Townsend sentenced him to serve three years in the penitentiary.  Strickland told the judge that he took the machine and abandoned it when the gasoline supply was exhausted.

William Green, Negro, pleaded guiltily to a charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, and was given three months or a fine of $100.  Green shot and injured another Negro named Jasper Bolick and the judge was informed that Green was paying the hospital bill and that Bolick had asked that mercy be extended the prisoner.

Solicitor Spigner called the case against John W. Crocker yesterday morning when court convened and attorneys representing the accused asked for a continuance until Thursday.  It was intimated that the defense would make an effort to show that the defendant is insane.  Crocker is held for killing Superintendent Davis at the Richland count almshouse on May 28.

John T. Parker went on trial for his life at 10 a.m. and the verdict of not guilty was announced at 6 o'clock.
Dr. M. Langford of Blythewood testified that Mary Book died from the effects of gunshot wounds received in the region of the head and throat.  He said the body was peppered with shot that appeared to be No. 3.

Annie Davis, negress, said she was in a field when she heard Parker shout to Mary Book, "Say! Say! Come here and het these -- cows or I'll shoot the -- cows,"  She said she could not hear what Mary Book said in her reply.  The witness said she heard a loud report and running through the neck of woods she found Mary Book's body in the corn field.  The woman said Parker said, "I have killed Aunt Mary, I was shooting at a rabbit."  The witness said she told Parker that he lied.  The woman said there was no weapon of any kind near the body of the dead negress.  The witness said Parker never said anything to her about stumbling over a bush.

Walter Davis said he heard Parker curse abut the cows being in his corn field and that Parker had claimed he shot Mary Book accidentally while attempting to shoot a rabbit.  The Negro said Parker told officers that he fell over a bush and the gun fired.

Sheriff Heise, Chief Dunnaway and Coroner Scott testified that they went to the scene of the killing and that Parker had claimed that he was in the field with his gun when he stumbled over a bush.  The three officers were united in the opinion that the bush was a small affair with several sprigs and not calculated to be of sufficient strength to throw a person to the ground.  The coroner said there was no obstruction anywhere between the point where Parker said he was when the gun fired and the spot where the negress was shot.  He said the bush was very small and did not think it was strong enough to trip anyone.

Chief Dunnaway said the bush that Parker showed him was a "volunteer bush," one that usually grows up in any field.  Sheriff Heise said the bush was about 14 inches tall with several small sprigs.  He said he saw no evidence around the bush of any one having fallen down.  He saw foot prints, he said.

Parker took the stand in his own behalf and declared that the gun had fired when he stumbled over a bush.  The witness said he had no desire or reason to kill the negress and that he had his gun to shoot rabbits when it was accidentally discharged.  Parker said he saw cows eating his corn and that he called on Mary Book to take them away.  He said two left and the third one was near him when he wheeled with his gun in hand.  Parker said he stumbled over a bush and the gun fired.  He said he did not see the woman.  The witness said he asked his brother to notify county officers.

The jury in the case was composed of H. J. Dent, W. M. Yelton, E. C. DuBose, M. A. Ballentine, E. C. Culley, E. J. Lever, J. D. F. Monts, C. A. Scott, J. A. McCracken, W. H. Tiller, W. E. Rawls, and T. J. Elkins 

The State - August 8, 1911
WORK FOR REUNION - Captain Starling Will Have Charge of Disbursement of Funds

Captain WD Starling has been made disbursing officer for the fund of $1500 appropriated by the State of South Carolina for the Confederate reunion. Mr. Starling has had years of experience at this sort of work and at several reunions held in Columbia the commissary department was turned over to him. (contributed by Brenda Duckworth)

The State - 1909-07-19
SOLDIER DYEING AT THE HOME - Thomas Mood, Volunteer with First Company-Served in Watles’ Battery Throughout the War

In the Confederate Home, opened but a few weeks ago, the Angel of Death is already hovering. Thomas Mood of Richland County was at the point of death last night. He was desperately ill all day as a result of sunstroke.

The afflicted man enlisted with the Richland Volunteers in Maxey Gregg’s First South Carolina regiment and later joined the Wattles battery of artillery. He was well known in Columbia in the days when the volunteer fire department was at its best, be he has somewhat dropped out of sight for four or five years. He has been in very frail health for some time, and Capt. WD Starling, the commandant, feared that he could not live through the night. (contributed by Brenda Duckworth)

The State - 1895-04-16
A DIME READING

On Friday evening there will be a dime reading given for a charitable cause at the residence of Mrs. WD Starling. An interesting program has been prepared and the ladies who have the matter in charge should be given a large audience. (contributed by Brenda Duckworth)

The State - 1906-08-22
THE TIME IS NOW

The place is Shandon. A home there will be a home not only in the chill of winter, but in the heat of summer. With the cool breezes and scarcity of mosquitoes the discomfort and irritation of summer are removed.

We have lots to suit any taste, at prices lower than the same quality of lot can be bought anywhere near Columbia. No trouble to talk the matter over and to show the property.

For those who would prefer buying a ready made home rather than to build their own house, we have a most desirable place for sale. This place is in Shandon and is a bargain at the price for any homeseeker.  R.W. Shand, President, 1328 Main Street (contributed by Brenda Duckworth)

Charlotte Daily Observer, NC July 23, 1906
SEABOARD DETECTIVE DROWNS

MR. GEO. F. FITZWATER, Head of Railroad’s Police Organization, Fell Between Two Tug Boats at Savannah – Was Guarding Company’s Property From Strikers

MR. J. M. HARRISON, the local detective of the Seaboard, received a telegram today summoning him to Savannah at once on account of the drowning there at 2:40 this morning of MR. GEORGE S. FITZWATER, the head detective of the Seaboard system, who had been in Savannah recently in charge of 25 armed assistants protecting the road’s interests in the strike there of the stevedores against the Coast Line and Georgia Railroad people.

MR. FITZWATER was a powerful man physically and a good swimmer and that he lost his life by drowning is a surprise, as well as a shock, to his Columbia friends. It seems that the Seaboard’s wharf is off on a little island from the wharves of the Coast Line and Georgia roads and MR. FIRZWATER has been using a tug to patrol his company’s property and prevent the strikers interfering with the stevedores at work there.

Persons arriving here this evening say FITZWATER, in attempting to step from one boat to another, fell into the water between and has not been seen since.
 

The State September 18, 1921

Officers Disturb Youthful Couple
Irate Father Claims Daughter Too Young to Marry - Sheriff Gets Busy

Sheriff Heise's office was a busy place yesterday afternoon when an irate father rushed into the office and asked for the arrest of Condy Geddings, who had married his daughter, who, he claims is 14 years old. Geddings was married to Annie L. Foxworth at about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon in the court house by a minister and the couple left on the 4:30 o'clock train for Manning. Mr. Foxworth asked for the arrest at 5:30 o'clock and Sheriff Heise wired the sheriff at Sumter to detain the couple.

Mr. Foxworth said his daughter was only 14 years old and he insisted that Geddings be placed under arrest. The train rolled into Sumter and the sheriff questioned the couple, according to advices from that point. A message from the official of Sumter county caused another stir. The sheriff announced over the telephone that he allowed the couple to proceed to Manning as he had refused to make the arrest following their announcement that they had been legally married. The couple was armed with the marriage license.

Grasping another chance to stop the young husband, the father appealed through Sheriff Heise to the sheriff at Manning. This official promptly told the Richland county officer that he would hold the couple in custody if they reached that point. Mr. Foxworth told Sheriff Heise to have a warrant issued charging Geddings with abducting a girl under 16 years of age.

The State - March 9, 1993

CRASH KILLS FORMER COLUMBIA WOMAN ANNE CHAPMAN, WIFE OF BANK EXECUTIVE

Anne Morrison Chapman, 58, of Atlanta and formerly of Columbia, was killed Monday in a car accident in Williamsburg County. She was the wife of NationsBank executive Hugh M. Chapman.

Anne Chapman, a native of Georgetown, was killed when her 1985 Mercedes Benz, headed east on U.S. 521, collided with a tractor-trailer, said Williamsburg County Coroner Harrison McKnight. The accident happened two miles west of Andrews.

Cpl. D.R. Webb of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said the driver of the westbound tractor-trailer, Delouis Davis, 30, of Hemingway, was trying to slow down. Webb said Davis wanted to avoid hitting cars in his lane as one was trying to turn.

"He apparently went into the other lane as he was braking," Webb said. Chapman's car struck the fuel tanks on the passenger side of the truck. Webb said charges are pending.

McKnight said Chapman was taken to Georgetown Memorial Hospital where she died on arrival at 2:05 p.m. from trauma and multiple injuries.

Chapman was a graduate of Converse College and was a former board member there. She also served on the board of Brookgreen Gardens in Georgetown County and was active in civic affairs in Atlanta, said Chris Spencer, a NationsBank spokesman.

Her husband is the chairman of Nations Bank South, which includes the corporation's Florida, Tennessee and Georgia operations. Hugh Chapman also oversees all trust operations for Nations Bank, Spencer said.

Hugh Chapman also formerly served as the chairman and chief executive of C&S South Carolina. He went to Atlanta in 1986 as president of C&S Corp. In 1989, he became vice chairman of C&S/Sovran Corp. He assumed his current job when NCNB and C&S/Sovran merged in July 1991.

Anne Chapman is survived by her husband; three daughters, Allston Chapman of San Francisco, Rachel Chapman of New York City and Mary Boyd of Chapel Hill, N.C; her father, James B. Morrison, of Georgetown; and a grandchild.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Mayer Funeral Home of Georgetown


The State, September 11, 1921 - Transcribed by Carrie Fichtl

Shandon News.

Home from Mountains.

Mrs. C. D. Harden and children have returned from a month's stay in the mountains.

Returned to Florida.

Mrs. Marion B. Craig and two daughters, Alice and Elizabeth Craig, who have been on a two weeks' visit to Mrs. Charles Suydam on Blossom Street, returned to their home in Jacksonville Friday.

Visitor From Charlotte.Mrs. James P. Gladden from Charlotte is the guest for a few days of Mrs. H. D. Butler on Blossom Street.

Mrs. Lawson's Guests.Mrs. Henry Baldwin and her daughters, Misses Mary and Elizabeth Baldwin, of Macon, Ga., have been on a visit to Mrs. BaldwinÕs parents. Mr. and Mrs. John E. Lawson on Woodrow Street, returned home Friday. Another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. A. B. Weatherabee of Belton, has also been with her parents and left for home last week.

Mrs. Lawson's guest from Clearwater, Fla., Mrs. T. A. Spivey, went home last week.

At Home Again.Russell Rabb, who has been visiting relatives in Florence, returned home last night.Guest from Jacksonville.

Miss Sara Flelming from Jacksonville is the guest of Mrs. John E. Lawson on Woodrow Street.Former Resident of Columbia.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest D. Taylor from Salisbury, N. C. and their little son, Taliaferro Holmes, are the guests of Mrs. Taylor's sister, Mrs. Stephen Prevost, on Queen Street. Mr. Taylor spent his boyhood in Columbia and has many friends who will be glad to welcome him.Leaves for the Citadel.

Morris Burnside, after spending his vacation here, leaves tomorrow to resume his studies at the Citadel in Charleston.Leave for Virginia.

Misses Agnes McDuffie and Claudia Gilchrist leave Monday of Farmville, Va., where they are pupils in the State Normal Institute of Virginia.Returned to Durham.

Miss Augusta Gilchrist left last week to resume her course of studies at the Conservatory of Music at Durham, N. C.News of Two Shanden Boys.

The numerous friends of two former and popular Shandon boys who have been for several years residents of New Orleans and are graduates of the medical school of Tulane University, Dr. Alfred and Dr. Mims Gage, will be interested to learn that they have recently received foreign appointments. Alfred has been made assistant surgeon in a hospital in Trujillo, Honduras, and Mims has been appointed acting surgeon for the United States Public Health Service at Belize, British Honduras. Their mother and sister, Mrs. A. A. Gage and Miss Kathleen Gage, are still making their home in New Orleans.

Woman's Auxiliary Meet.The Woman's auxilliary of the Shandon Baptist Church will hold its monthly business meeting in the church Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. This will be an important meeting and all the woemn of the congregation are urgently requested to be present. the annual election of officers will be held at this meeting.

Silver Tea.

The silver tea given by the woemn of the Shandon Methodist Church Friday afternoon in the new Sunday school rooms was a great success. The program included an instrumental duet by Mrs. J. H. Shirley and Mrs. Todd;

A vocal solo by Miss Myrtle Davis; a piano solo by Miss evangeline English and a reading by Mrs. Eugene B. Rabb, followed with an instrumental duet by Mrs. Joe Shealey and Miss Mabel Toney. A group of selections on the piano were pleasantly rendered by Mrs. Algie Sims. The event ended with a sweet course served by lovely ladies who included Misses Margaret Puckett, Mary Watkins, Elizabeth Hartin, Willie Davis, Della Louise Harliee and Coralee Summerset, Miss Elizabeth Harliee collected many donations at the door.

'Among the Breakers.'

This entertaining little play given at the Waverley school auditorium under the auspices of the Shandon epworth leage for the benefit of the piano fund was a most decided success.

Mrs. Coleman's Guest.

Miss Edna Coleman of Florence is the guest of Mrs. C. G. Coleman on Cypress Street in Shandon.Visitors From Augusta and Chicago.

Mrs. Sallie B. Fleming of Augusta was the guest last week of her sister, Mrs. M. E. Chandler, and her niece, Mrs. L. J. Davis, at the home of Mrs. Davis on Olive Street. Mrs. Fleming's son, from Chicago, D. G. Fleming, met her in Shandon and accompanied her home.Returned From Spartanburg.

Mrs. M. E. Chandler is at home again from a three weeks' visit to friends and relatives in Spartanburg.

Called to Bedside of Sister.

Mrs. J. B. G. Campbell has been called to her former home at Calhoun Falls on account of the severe illness of her sister, Mrs. Lawrence.Home From Vacation.

The Rev. and Mrs. W. S. Harden returned Tuesday from a delightful summer vacation. They visited Montreat and from there went to their old home at Statesboro, Ga., where Mr. Harden was a former pastor. They made the trip through the country by automobile.




 

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