"The Free Lance" Issue: March 20, 1903 part 1 "It is cowardly to fall in love and then try to crawl out of it" NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT CREATED County Superintendent ELMORE has returned from Greers where he spent Monday conferring with a number of leading citizens regarding the creation of a special school district. The new district will be known as Greers special school district and will include the town of Greers and portions of Spartanburg and Greenville counties. Spartanburg: The dead body of Lewis PITTMAN, a Rock Hill mill operative about 50 years old, was found Tuesday morning on the Southern Railway near the western city limits in a mangled condition. The find was made by section hands passing to their work. There was an arm and a leg broken, a jagged hole under the chin and another in the top of the head. {This could be considered too much detail} Plans for New Houses Carter & Co. are preparing plans for remodeling of the residence of Elisha BOMAR on the corner of Henry and Spring streets. The work will represent an outlay of $3,500 and when completed the house will be one of the handsomest in the city. The same firm is also preparing plans for the remodeling of Dr. VERNON's residence at Wellford. NATIONAL/SC BRIEFS --The grand Purim masquerade charity ball took place in Orangeburg Tuesday night. It is the fourteenth of its kind to be held. Parties from all over this and adjoining states attend this social event annually, it is considered on of the most enjoyable affairs of the ding given in this state. --George Washington FORD, a Negro, was found dead with his head smashed on the railroad near Mars Bluff Monday. FORD, it is thought, jumped from train No. 55 Sunday thinking at the time that he was near Mars Bluff and that the train was slacking up, but it had passed the station and was running at a rapid rate. --Sunday evening at the A.C.L. yards in Florence, Crusoe and Sam SERVICE, two Negroes in the employ of the Coast Line, had a slight fight which resulted in SERVICE being severely cut about the throat. It seems that MILLER had previously threatened to kill SERVICE. In the fight SERVICE fired several shots at MILLER, but all went wild and no damage was done by them. [Not sure if Crusoe's last name was Miller - is confusing] --Three attempted desertions have occurred at the Port Royal marine barracks since Friday night. One of the men was captured by Town Marshal HAYES at the Port Royal depot as he was boarding the train. Two other marines drove through the country to Seabrook station. They then boarded the train and got as far as Yemassee, where they were recognized, arrested and returned to the barracks. Ten dollars is a standing reward for the return of each deserter. Each of the men had discarded their uniforms and were attired in civilian dress. --News has reached Williamston of a tragedy in Memphis, Tenn., on last Thursday which resulted in the shooting to death of Rev. C.W. DePEW, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, and a former resident of Williamston. The details of the tragedy have not been learned, but from the facts as gathered it seems that Rev. Mr. DePEW discharged from his service an employee who acted as driver about the place, and his discharge so greatly enraged the man's wife that she determined to assuage her wrath with the preacher's blood, and procuring a revolver, she met Mr. DePEW and shot him dead. --Mrs. Emily C. WEYMAN, formerly a resident of Greenville, died on Saturday last in Columbus, Ga., aged 68 years. Mrs. WEYMAN was born near Pendleton, SC and was a daughter of Capt. John Maxwell, who was prominent in his day and generation as a large planter and [cut off] THEY MADE UP QUICKLY The sequel to the story published in Saturday's paper of the attempt of Violet ARROWOOD to run away from her husband, took place late Saturday afternoon. After the arrest of the woman and her confinement at the police station her husband was notified and at once visited his spouse in the lock up. The man was anxious to "make up" but the woman was obdurate. However, after a few exchanges of affectionate expressions the two decided to try matrimony again and were accordingly permitted to depart in peace. MAJOR ELFORD OUT AGAIN The many friends of Maj. Jos. M. ELFORD are glad to see him again at his office and at work. The major says he has had certainly a long holiday of three months, caused by a visit from his annual caller: Monsteur La Grippe, but he thinks that his long rest was necessary as he was becoming tired after 43 years of consecutive work for the city and 35 as real estate and insurance agent with an only occasional recess of two weeks during the year. He expresses himself as grateful for the many kind visits received and the many sweetmeats and flowers sent him by his esteemed lady friends. ARRESTED FOR ROBBERY AT GREERS Officers DODD, COOKSEY, and BATES Tuesday pulled Earle VAUGHAN, a colored gentleman from Greers, out of bed at a colored restaurant on Magnolia street where he was spending the night and carried him to the lockup for theft. VAUGHN yesterday afternoon stole $32 from his father-in-law at Greers and came up to Spartanburg to "blow in" the money. The authorities at Greers notified the Spartanburg police to be on the lookout. They spotted the Negro, but had to telegraph back to Greers for a more accurate description. As VAUGHN filled the bill completely he was arrested. Very little money was found on his person, but while en route to the police station, he told where the stolen money could be found. He had hidden it between the quilts of the bed on which he was sleeping when officers found him. He had spent about $5, leaving $27. VAUGHN was carried home by an officer from Greers. Free post Lisa