"The Free Lance" Issue: October 14, 1904 SUICIDE IN LAURENS Laurens, Oct. 12,--About 2 o'clock, this morning Goldsmith THOMPSON, a young man 32 years of age, and a son of O.G. THOMPSON, judge of probate for this county, fatally shot himself through the head with a pistol and died three hours later. He was alone in his room at the home of his father, near Madden's four miles south of Laurens. A physician was promptly telephoned for but nothing could be [cut off] NOTORIOUS BLOCKADER George CENTER, the state constables say, is one of the most notorious blockaders in the dark corner up towards the mountains, where the rough and broken configuration of the land offers fine opportunities for running illicit stills and making liquor in a manner not recognized by the laws. Friday last Constable HOWARD of this city and a number of officials from Greenville, seven in all, heard of something doing up about the point where George Center's abode is located, and they struck out about sundown, reaching their destination about midnight. After dismounting the party reconnoitered for a few minutes, but all was quiet about CENTER's house and no one was to be seen. Then about 200 feet away the constables found what they were looking for - a big still and twenty fermenters. The party set to work to destroy the still and soon accomplished their task. They also found 2000 gallons of beer and a quantity of low wine which was seized. After completing their work the party started on the journey home. They made no arrests but the raid is regarded as a very important one. $1,000 FIRE AT WOODRUFF Woodruff, Oct. 8-Last Thursday morning about nine o'clock while ginning on the second bale of cotton J. W. and D.W. ANDERSON lost by fire on J.D. DARBEY's old stand, a gin house, saw mill. The fire was caused by friction of shaft that ran the fan of the blast suction. When the fire was first discovered it was a small blaze, but before the machinery was stopped the fire had flashed over the lint room, through the windows and doors. Soon everything was burned to the ground and into ashes. There was no insurance. The loss of machinery was about $1,000. LOCAL AND PERSONAL: --Miss Catherine STEWART of Rock Hill has secured a position as stenographer in the office of W. D. NESBIT. --Col. Robert ALDRICH of Barnwell is visiting in the city. --H. L. EDNEY has sold the Crescent Café to James BOBO who will continue the business in the old stand. --Mrs. HAZARD of Georgetown is visiting at Stanyarne WILSON's. --The following young ladies from Spartanburg County are attending the Lander Female College at Greenwood: Misses Eunice BENNETT, Essie MORGAN, Mary Sue WALKER, Ellie WALKER, Louie ANDERSON, Carrie ROGERS, and Lily YARBOROUGH. --W.A. NEAL Jr., has returned from an extended business trip to Georgia. --Miss Maude CARRIER spent Sunday at Glenn Springs. --Will WILLIAMS has been sent up for 30 days violation of contract by Magistrate J. M. SMITH of Dutchman. --Miss Mary OLIPHANT has returned from Union and is now with the Harris Grimes Co., where she will be glad to see her friends. EXECUTORS SALE State of South Carolina Spartanburg County By virtue of authority given us in the will of W.J. TUCK, deceased, and also by the order of the Probate Court, we will sell to the highest bidder before the court house door, on sales day in November, 1904, one lot of land containing seventy-nine acres more or less, lying on the north side of Shoaly Creek, bounded by lands of P.W. CHAPMAN, J.B. CLEVELAND, G.W. TUCK, deceased, and Mrs. Martha WILLIS. "No self respecting girl would think of marrying a young man who had no faults for her to reform" NO CIRCUS THIS YEAR There will be no circus for Spartanburg this autumn as far as is known to date, on account of the city tax of five hundred dollars which is imposed by the city on circuses for giving performances here. LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION Spartanburg, Carrie C. BOMAR, had filed a petition asking that letters of administration on the estate of Thos. M. BOMAR, deceased, late of said county. J. J. GENTRY Probate Judge 10-6-1904. FLATWOOD ITEMS: --Miss Fannie NOLAN was the guest of Miss Sadie WILLIAMS Sunday. --Rufus WHITE of Spartanburg paid his parents a flying visit last Sunday. --Smily WILLIAMS and Claud PARIS visited friends near Cooley Springs Sunday. --Miss Bessie WHITE visited Miss Carrie KIMBRELL Sunday evening. --Rev. L. C. EZELL visited at Eli WILLIAMS Sunday night. free post Lisa