Memorial Exercises Held in Chesterfield, Three Thousand People Gather to Participate "Experience Meeting" of Veterans  PAPER: The State 1908-05-12 transcribed and submitted by Pam Rathbone Chesterfield, May 10: In the entire crowd of 3,000 people who were at Chesterfield for the reunion of the Confederate soldiers yesterday, the only exceptions to the general good time were those who were sorry that they were not "old vets". The early morning train which brought the veterans from the western part of the county was met by a committee from the local chapter of the U. D. C. and hot coffee and sandwiches were served in the waiting room, which had been decorated for the occasion. From then until the arrival of the 10 o'clock train from the Cheraw the old soldiers had the town in charge and were occupied in renewing old friendships and telling war-time yarns. Another large crowd came in on this train, together with the Columbia Concert band, which had been engaged for the occasion. The exercises at the court house were opened by a prayer by the Rev. B. S. Funderburk, pastor of the Baptist church at this place. The Hon. G. K. Laney, the speaker of the day, was then introduced and gave a very appropriate and thoughtful speech. Mr. W. J. Hanna, commander of Camp Winnie Davis, then called for a general experience meeting form the veterans. This was one of the best things of the day, as among other things he called on W. T. Lowry, a member of the Eight South Carolina regiment, to explain how he got out of the smoke-house when he was foraging and was locked in by the lady of  the house. The Hon. J. M. Hough, who is one of the most popular of all the veterans of Chesterfield, although he is now a resident of Chester county, then gave a talk which was very greatly enjoyed by all. Mr. Hough said that statistics show that there were 26 Yankees to four Confederates and according to that the Yankees must have been cowards. But to call the Yankees cowards was an insult to all the Confederates, as no army of cowards could have held the Confederate army for four years., no matter how great the odds. Crosses of honor where then awarded to 11 veterans by Mr. W. J. Hanna, who presented them with a little speech, stating the meaning and significance of these badges. The concert band then made to the academy grounds where the provisions had been placed. After the veterans had finished the crowd was then fed and all were satisfied. After dinner another informal experience meeting was held on the academy grounds and a fine program rendered by the band. The crowd then proceeded to the cemetery in the same order as the morning parade and the graves of all the soldiers were decorated. This was the end of a happy and glorious day. Reading Eagle, Dec 5, 1934 Two Die in Chair for Army Officers Murder Columbia, S.C., Dec 5 - Mortimer N. King, of canton, N.C. and Frank Harrell, of Union couty, South Carolina, were electrocuted at the State penitenitiary here shortly after 7 o'clock this morning for the murder of Maj. Samuel H. McLeary jsut off the Raleigh-Columbia highway on July 2 last. During what is said to have been one of the mose widespread searches for a missing United States army officer in recent years, Mortimer N. King, and Frank, alias Sherrod Harrell, young cotton mill workers were charged with the murder of Maj. Samuel H. McLeary, who waas killed by two men July 2, on the roadside 11 miles south of Cheraw, S.C. Shortly after the army officer had dropped from sight, authorities of both the Carolinas were notified by the War Department to be on the watch for him.  No suspicion of foul play was aroused, however, until the major failed to call for money wired to a hotel in Columbia from Raleigh, N.C.  At first it was thought he had suffered a mental oberration, and his wife joined in this theory. Traced by the major's automobile, which he and his accomplice had driven away from the scene of the killing, King was arrested two weeks later at his Canton, N.C. home.  It was then that the remains of the murdered officer were located.  King directing the officers across the South Carolina line to a spot a short distance from the highway where the body had been left. King confessed on July 16, implicating Harrell, for whom a search was instigated.  Harrell and his brother, Gerald, were arrested in Nashville, Tenn., on a charge of vagrancey, the night of July 22.  No importance was attached to the arrest by the Nashville officals until the following morning, when a circular sent out by the State of South Carolina describing Frank Harrell was received.  Harrell's identification resulted and he was returned immediately to South Carolina after waiving extradition rights.  His arrest brought to a close a search throughout the South. Later Harrell substantiated King's confession. During the trial, held at Chesterfield, S.C., the county seat of the district where the crime was committed, King attempted to shoulder the blame for the murder, though Harrell showed the greater emotion of the two....(unable to read remaining article.)

THE MURDERER CASH TWO   LETTERS,   ONE  FROM THE FUGITIVE, THE OTHER FROM HIS FATHER. contributed by John Howell, transcribed by Dena Whitesell The New York Times, March 11, 1884 Charleston, S. C, March 10.—A feature of the Cash trouble to-day is the securing of the following letters of the murderer Boggan Cash and his father, E. B. Cash: Cash's Depot, Feb. 27,1884. Dear Friend: I received the message sent me through Mr. King Timmons and beg to assure you that I have no ill feeling in the world toward you for what you said against me. I know that men are apt to say and do under excitement that which they would be unwilling to do upon reflection. I am glad that you are willing to give a fair hearing. I have no regret whatever for the shooting of Richards, and hope that he may die. My only regret is the accidental wounding of Mr. Coward, who, I am proud to hear, is now on the mend. Truly yours, BUGGAN CASH. Cash's Depot, S. C, Feb. 28,1884. To My Dear Friend: Madison has told me that you are under the impression that Boggan and I are angry with you. We are not angry with you now, nor have we been angry with you at any time. We know how natural it is for all to sympathize with a fellow who gets the hot end of a poker, and men are apt to make remarks before they stop to inquire into all the particulars. If Boggan had not killed Richards I would have done it on the same day he was shot, and if he had recovered I intended to kill him on sight. We have heard from 500 people, and there is almost universal rejoicing over the act, and we have heard of only three men who condemn the deed. Of course, our enemies will try to blow, but we ask no sort of odds. Yours truly, E. U. CASH. The State Constable's posse surrounded Cash's quarters before daylight this morning, but did not find Boggan Cash, and reports are to the effect that Cash has not been in the neighborhood since Saturday night. It is reported that he was seen in the swamp last night with a dozen armed men. There is little doubt that if he does not soon surrender he will be captured or killed. The murderer at all events is now confined to the swamp, and his capture is regarded as only a matter of time.  Col. Cash was to-day sent to Columbia Jail. Col. Cash Dead The Man Who Fought The Last South Carolina Duel The New York Times - February 28, 1888 transcribed by Dena Whitesell Columbia, S. C., Feb. 27.—CoL E. B. C. Cash, the famous duelist and "fire eater," who killed Col. William M. Shannon, a prominent lawyer, in a duel in August, 1880, and who subsequently for 10 days detied the entire power of the State to arrest him, died at his home in Chesterfield County on Saturday of paralysis, aged 66 years.  He was buried yesterday in the grounds adjoining the Cash mansion, beside his son, Boggan Cash, a young desperado, who was shot and killed by a Sheriff's posse five years ago while resisting arrest for the murder of the Town Marshal of Cheran. Before the abolition of slavery Col. Cash owned large plantations and several hundred slaves. At the outbreak of the war he was one of the first in the field, and commanded the Eighth South Carolina Regiment at the first Manassas battle. He was a bold and desperate fighter. After the war he settled upon his lands and planted. He was a great sporting man and owned fine horses. He had a very quick temper, and since the war had killed four men. Two of these were negroes, whom he killed for some slight provocation. In 1880 Cash fought the famous duel with Col. Shannon. The difficulty grew out of a quarrel between the ladies of the two families regarding the division of some property. Col. Shannon, although an old man, accepted Cash's challenge and was shot through the heart. The people of the State condemned this duel so severely that shortly afterward the Legislature passed the anti-dueling law, putting the duelist on the same footing with an ordinary murderer. The Cash-Shannon duel was therefore probably the last which will ever be fought in this State. McManus, Judith the oldest colored woman in South Carolina, died October 18, 1928, on the plantation of J. A. Arant near Pageland in Chesterfield County. By tracing back we know that she was 120 years old. She was brought from Sumter District when she was one year old and bought by Calvin Macy, who was Mr. Arant’s uncle for $450. She married Jim McManus many years before the war and became the mother of four children all who were born before the war and died while young. She lived with Mr. Macy until the war. But neither war nor anything else could sever the tie that bound her faithful heart to those she lovingly called her ‘white folks’. She joined a white Baptist Church, where she kept her membership as long as she lived and was baptized by a white preacher. Her husband died 30 years ago. She lived with Mr. Arant’s family through all the years and after she became so old that she could no longer help with the farm work Mr. Arant refused to let any board of pensions provide for her, but provided her from his own table through her last years. About four months ago he saw that she was getting quite feeble, so he hired a woman to wait on and care for her, though she did not become entirely helpless as long as she lived. She never wore glasses. She was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery near the Arant plantation. Funeral services were conducted by the Negro preacher, the Rev. J. T. Martin, details. Observer 11/27/1928, p1 (contributed by Edith Greisser)

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