Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1918 — HOUR IN JAIL CAUSES FARMER TO BUY BONDS [ARTICLE]

HOUR IN JAIL CAUSES FARMER TO BUY BONDS

A brand new American flag flies from the home of Thomas Middleton, a farmer, living near Spartansburg.. Also Middleton today is the owner of $1,500 worth of Liberty >onds of the third issue. And finally, notice has been served on all who talk against the government and the war that Randolph county is loyal and will not brook anything that savors in the least of disloyalty to the Stars and Stripes. Middleton owns a farm of 140 acres and is director of a bank, in Spartansburg. He has consistently refused to buy Liberty bonds, subscribe to the Red Cross or to aid the government in any way. Reports said that Middleton said “We got into this war of our own account and through no fault of any one else. A farmer has done enought when he raises corn, wheat and meat.” Z Chairman Carl Puckett of tne county council of defense instructed the' sheriff to bring Middleton to Winchester. Middleton was taken to the office of the county council of defense and questioned before a committee of fourteen citizens. Middleton declared that he would not buy bonds, the council reported, that he would not fight and reiterated his belief that a farmer had done enough when he raised foodstuffs. Chairman Puckett of the defense council ordered the sheriff to lock Middleton up in jail on a charge of disloyalty. Middleton declared that if the sheriff did so he would be made to suffer for it. The citizen’s committee informed the sheriff that they would back him in anything that might occur as the outcome of jailing Middleton a!nd the fanner was placed in jail. Middleton remained defiant for an hour. At the end of that period he sent for Chairman Puckett and the sheriff and promised that he would back the government hereafter. He purchased $1,500 worth of bonds at once. Middleton then was taken to a store by the committee and ordered tc purchase a $2.50 American flag. The committee then escorted him to his home and superintended the £ lacing of the flag on the Middleton ome.