The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, January 11, 1923, Image 2
mm "
WILLIAM PAGE
I AS A WITNESS
Trial of Case Against Officers
and Directors of The
Bank
FARMERS BANK OF AYNOR
Incidents of a Bank Failure
Which Stirred People
in 1Q1A
AAA A %W A V
Mr. William Page was sworn here
as a witness for the plaintifl* jn
case of W. A. Freeman, Receiver,
against the officers and directors of
the old Farmers & Merchants ftnnk.
This is the case in which the Receiver
is seeking to recover from officers
of the bank the big loss that was sustained
by the bank by the stockholders
who put their money into it. So
far as the depositors in the Hank are
concerned they have already been paid
75 per cent and they will be paid in
full before it is over as the stockholders
are liable for an amount equal
to their shares of stock in order to
pay the people who deposited money
there.
Mr. Page was examined by Mr. F.
L Wilcox, of counsel for the plaintiff,
and he testified as follows, in subyjtance:
"I a?^ seventy-eight years of age
on next Monday. I was an original
stockholder to the amount of $500.00,
and T subscribed $50.00 for a little
granddaughter.
"At the meeting of the stockholders
at which the directors were selected,
I was present but I do not remember
that I was elected as a director. I
^as nominated but word came afterwards
that I could not serve on account
of living so far away from the
bank. I know that W. R. Lewis was
the president, W. W. Russ vice-president,
and W. P. Hardwick cashier and
George Officer .assistant cashier. 1
cannot name the directors.
"I was here at a meeting of the
stockholders when they voted to pay
a dividend of 4 per cent. I cannot
0 jrive the date. There was no other
dividend ever paid. I think all the
directors were present when the dividend
was declared.
^ A imna?4- x?rn n ?i/l a o 4- f n .
n i t wan uuiui; at tuat meetinp
to *he board in words. I got $20
And a little over for my sh^re of th??
dividend. At this meeting George W.
Hardee asked Percy Hardwick if the
bank was out of debt. Hardwick f?v>swe^od
that it was. He was then asked
if M*e building had been naid for
and if the safe had been paid for and
he answered yes. He was then nsked
if the Walter Porter property had
been p'?;d for and he said that it had
been. K*o said that the bank was entirely
out of debt and had made ?
per cent, but they would only pay <
per cent. W. R. Lewis, or someone
else, ir.rde a motion to keep the A jei
cent in the bank, but this was votec
down and they decided to pay the
dividend. These statements by Hard
wick at that meeting were not ques
tioned by any person present. T can
not remember whether W. B. Cbestnn
was present, but recall that W. R
"Lewis and W. P. Hardwick were botl
there. Myself and W. R. Lewis wen
brothers-in-law. I came to Conwa]
often at that time, oftener than T d<
now. We were the best 6f friends,
went to the bank sometimes when
camo to Conway to see Mr. Lewis,
usually found him in the bank. I wa
here one night and saw Percy Hard
wick and Percy wanted me 'o com
around to the bank on the followinj
morning to see how they did busings?
1 went. They were certainly taking i
the money, and I saw them taking i
in; but I never did see how it got oui
I did my banking business at tha
bank. \ did more there than I di
fit A < AAf T tl'o o t<M Vva^ U tin Imi
??v * jl ? av> in uuvu uaiirv?"> uu
ffrd most of my business at Conwaj
as I had confidence in this hank.
I cannot give the exact date, bu
shortly before this bank broke, I mc
H. L. Buck on the street, and f.ii
^omethinp about the prospects of 1fc
Bank of Aynor, the Farmers' Stat
Bank, and Mr. Buck said that the cor
dition of the Aynor Bank was notl
Jng to. compare to the bad conditio
of the bank at Conway. This was th
first time I had heard of this bur.
being in a failing condition. Refoi
the Aynor bank became involved
had hpftivl rumnv that fit** nr
ers* State bank was not so prood *<r
about the first statement I hea*
about this bank in Conway was tf
one made by Mr. Buck. It was a sho
time before the bank was closed,
left Buck and went hurriedly into tV
bank and found in there Mr. Lew
and Mr. Officer. I spoke to Mr. Lew
about my money on deposit, and 1
and Mr. Officer both pot on their fe
and said the bank was all right ai
to let them alone and no* withdra
the funds. Mr. Lewis pulled out
bank statement and said that it w;
sworn to. I did not look at it. I
paid the bank was in good conditu
50
ooot>
CIGARETTES
ioc
^ GENUINE
2&M "Bull"
PWM DURHAM
ft <ftir ^ TOBACCO
*
I
,-v , . , t
md that they had plenty of money. I ]
told him that what I wanted was not
l money but wanted to know that it
) was in good shape .and feel satisfied.
I then went to the depot to take the 1
train home but the train was one-half I
* hour late. This Rave me more time <
and as I was not satisfied 1 went back I
to the bank and called W. R. Lewis to
the front while Mr. Officer remain- |
( ed on the inside and could hear what
l we s*?id I told him that I was not i
satisfied. He said to go and ask ,
i Frank Burroughs if I did not believe
what he said. I told him that. he.
Lewis, was in better condition to know
the bank and its condition than F. A.
Burroughs and that I had co'^e to
him. He repeated that the bank was
all right. I went home and in a few
days T heard it was closed.
When the 4 per cent dividend was
paid it was stated by some present
that it should have been done in or;
der to keep the men in heart.
Both W. R. Lewis and George Officer
told me when I deposited my <
money in the bank, and also afterwards,
tlvif the bank was all right.
I do not think I had more than two or
three hundred dollars in the bank
when it failed. I had intended to
check the balance out when Hal L.
Buck told me what T said he did, and <
I went at once to Lewis and Officer
and wanted to take it out but I did
not check it out because they said the
bank was pood/'
On cross-examination, Mr. Pape
stated that The Farmers' State Bank
of Aynor, of which Percy Hardwick
was president, had failed before the
Farmers' & Merchants did that he,
' Page, had been a director of the Bank of
Aynor and tried very hard to pet
Percy Hardwick out of it and that
1 Hardwick was induced to tender his
; resignation and witness thought that
it was accepted but later Steve Lewis,
who seemed to favor Percy, manaped
to pet the resignation withdrawn
and Percy remained on until the bank
failed.
; Mr. Page also told in a very amus|
inp manner a story of one occasion
; when he had pone to Aynor to attend
a meetinp of directors at the hank at
that place and while he was standinp
> nearby, Percy Hardwick and Georpe
' Officer had come up to attend the
; meetinp also. The bank examiner
' was expected to be present but it
! turned out that he did not come. No
meetinp was held. Mr. Officer had in
his hands a small canvas bap, described
by Mr. Pape as resemblinp an old
i time shot bap, and accordinp to him,
( it was about one foot lonp and four
to five inches in diameter. Witness
, did not see the money on the inside
' of the bap but it looked like it con,
tained money and if it had been fy ps
. in the bap he would have known it
I from the impression on the canvas.
| He stated th.nt it was a money bap
| and looked like it had money in it and
| that it was full to the very brim. He
.? i . i _
. went on to say that wnen it was oe?
cided that the examiner would not be
1 there and that no meeting would he
? held that Mr. Officer turned to Mr.
r Hardwick and said, "Well, what do
1 you want me to do with this," and
? that Hardwick answered and said:
- "Take that on to Conway; we will
- not want that here any longer now."
Witness stated that he had every
t confidence in the world in W. R. Lew.
is. He said he had not the least idea
i that W. R. Lewis profited one cent
5 at the expense of the funds of the
i Farmers' & Merchants Bank and that
i W. R. Lewis was his friend and relaI
tive, and worthy of being trusted, or
I words to that effect. He said that he
T could not tell who got the money or
s where it went. He had seen some of
- it deposited and he knew that the
r stock had been paid in, but he never
saw it mid out and he did not know
who got it.
n After the examination of two witt
nosses, Messrs W. A. Freeman and
t. William Page, the reference was cont
tinued until ten o'clock on Wednesday
(\ morning, January 17th, when the
^ hearing will go on.
RELIGIOUS CENSUS
TO BE TAKEN
It
The religious census of the town
will be taken by the three Sunday
e schools next Sunday afternoon.
0 The visitors consists of fifteen from
each church and will meet at the
Methodist church at 2 o'clock Sunday
" afternoon and there will go out three
i toerether. representing each of the
Sunday schools of the town. The
C committees have the work mapped out
in fine shape and expect to complete
^ the work in about three hours.
ie MILLIGAN-COOPER
rt
X Mr. J. Perley Cooper, of Dunn, N.
,e C., and Miss Zella Millipan, of Allsis
brook, S. C., were happily married
is Sunday, December 24th, at 2:30
ie o'clock in the afternoon.
et The marriage was quite a home
1(j affair and only a few relatives and
,w close friends witnessed the ceremony
a Mr. L. W. Cooper, uncle of the
a.s ffroom officiated.
le The bride is the daughter of Mrs
>n Harriet Millipan and is one of the
most popular younj? women of hei
community. Mr. Cooper is mana^ei
of the Southern Marble Works, o1
Dunn, and is a promising younpj husi
nesa mail wnu imr> mauc iimuy niciiu:
here since moving to Dunn about i
year ago.
The bridal couple wpant the holiday:
B. B, VAUGHT J. T. BOOT*
> Free Shampoo!
We are giving a free shampoo witl
each haircut, except Friday and Sat
urday, beginning next Monday, Jan
uary 15th. Look up the shop next t
Candy Kitchen.
Come one?Come all?To
VAUGHT & BOOTH BARBER SHOI
This offer lasts till February 15t
MAN STRIKES Cnfa.0 ,
WITH AUTOMOBILE
While on his way from school, little
Paul Quattlebaum, Jr., was struck by
the left fender of an automobile driven
by Beaty Gillespie, and came near
being run over. The Chief of Police,
who was standing nearby, on Main
Street, immediately placed Gillespie
under arrest on a charge of reckless
driving and placed him under a bqnd
of SI0.00. In the Mayor's court
Gillespie drew a fine of $7.50.
STARTING OFF RIGHT
The Conway Baptist Sunday school
of the first church made a good year's
start last Sunday, having every officer
(seven in number) present, every
teacher (twenty-two in number) present.
and eighty-four per cent of the
total enrollment present.
The Primary department was full
and running: over, having 64 present
out of an enrollment of 70. Thf? Jwnior
and Intermediate department,
with 12 classes had perfect attendance
in six and only one absent in easn of
the other six. The adult ladies class
were all present except one and she
was sick. The Annex class was forced
to get more chairs in order to seat
the number present.
The folks were there on time with
a smile and seemed to be happy on the
first Sunday of the new year. Even
the pastor could not keep still.
It had been previously announced
that Miss Lucy Spivey would have
charge of the opening- exercises. She
being- in the W. M. U. Training school
at Louisville, of course was not present,
but she had her program there,
including songs, prayer and a short
address to the Sunday school. The
program was carried out by Miss
Wolf and Miss Evelyn Snider. Her
prayer and address were both short,
but impressive.
When Mr. Chon, our secretary
made his quarterly report, it showed
a perfect attendance of all the officers
except three .and they had only1
missed one Sunday each; teachers
average of 88 per cent and a long list
of pupils who had been present every
Sunday .for the quarter.
The Annex Class will have charge
of the opening exercises next Sunday
morning and the ladies of the choir
have been asked to give the singing
over to 4/a. men on that dav. We un
derstand that the boys of the Annex
Class have been asked to bring: every
musical instrument from the whistle
of the mocking bird to the base drum.
We are looking ford ward to one 6f
the bet:t programs we have had recently.
Everybody is cordially invited
to be with us next Sunday.
J. C. SPIVEY, Supt.
o
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY
Ike Johnson was before the Mayor
on a charge of being drunk and disorderly.
He contributed $10.00 to the.
town in the way of a fine.
o
WIFE-BEATER FINED
Stevon P.almley was up before the
Mayor on a charge of beating his
wife. He was fined $10.00 and was
warned not to come up again for that
offense.
o
Trespass signs on stiff card board
wil| protect your land in 1923. -Buy
these cards at Tho Herald office.
* * * * *
Writing tablets that are different
at The Herald office.
with friends in Horry and Marion
Counties, S. C., returning to Dunn
Saturday, December 30th, where they
will make their future home.
Their friends wish for them a long
and happy life.
o
TAX RETURNS FOR 1923
The County Auditor of Horry County
will attend the following places at
times specified for the purpose of
taking returns for the fiscal year
1923, of all personal property, also
_ 11 x J* -w-% ? n A a ? ?.
an transrers 01 iceai estate wnicn
have been made since last return. All
able bodied male persons between the
a^es of 21 and 60 years are required
to return poll tax.
Executors and Administrators are
required to make returns of all property
under their control. Failure to
make returns within the time specified
subjects the delinquent to a penalty
of 50 cents on the dollar.
Monday, January 15th.
Gallivants Ferry 9:00 to 12:0C
Aynor 1:00 to 3:00
Cool Spring 4:09 to 5:00
Tuesday, January 16th.
1 Wampee 9:00 to 11:0
l Little River 1:00 to 2:0(1
Brooksville 8:00 to 4:01
, Wednesday, January 17.
I Daisy 9:00 to 10:M
Nathan Bellamy's Store
12.00 to 1 KM
Ebenerer 2:00 to 3rfH
Red Bluff 4:00 to 5:0<
; Thursday, January 18th. )
' Stalvey 10:00 to 11:(M
? Burgess 12:00 to 2:0(
p Cooper's Store 8:00 to 4:0<
Friday, January 19th.
~ Bayboro 9:00 to 10:01
A llcKr/tnlr 1 1 'Aft tn 1 9 'ftl
< ft I IHI/I V/\# I\ # < A A V v W AM |V'
Loris 2:00 to 4:<X
Tuesday, January 23rd.
^ Rehohoth 9:00 to 11:0'
- Mt. Pis^ah 12:00 to 1:0'
Hinson's Store 2:00 to 4:G
* r# Wednesday, January 24th. j .
Stevens X Rds 9:0G:il> lliO*
| Jollies X Rds 12:00 to 1Y0
[ F'oyds Schoolhouse .... 2:00 to 4:0
Thursday, January 25th.
Spring Branch 9:00 to 11:0
11 Grassy Bay 1:00 to 2:0
Friday, January 26th.
* Green Sea (BufTldn's Store)
* 9:00 to 12:0
Jem. X*fets.? 1:00 to fc:0
The balanpg of the time at <th
Auditor's office m^ConWav. Rem em
| ber the time is out on February 20tl
r N. C. ADAMS,
. _ , County Auditor.
k 12)21 |22~4t.
/
^
' I - .
1, =
WALK A BLOCK ANE
BANK]
SA
NOW GOING <
CONWAY DE
1 BARGAINS
I BY THE ORDER OF THE \
MUST BE SOLD.
MEN AND
This is your opportuni
Don't let it si
You know as we
merchant must make
?otherwise he couldn
This store does n
IT WAS ORDERED T
II AND SELL WE MUS
No matter what ]
you pay no more th
chant pays for it at
some cases you buy
we bought it for less
THIS
IS LOADED WITl
I ABOUT 5000 PAIR SHO
ill MEN'S AND BOYS'SUITS
:|| DREN'S COATS TO SELL
J COME ONE!
CONWAY Dl
x<l H
I ?BANK
0
"Upper Main St. New Spr
vmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
/ ,
SAVE A DOLLAR [
RUPT
I F
'^1 A ^1
ON AT THE
PT. STORE
galore"!
TRUSTEE! HIS STOCK
REGARDLESS
WOMEN
ty to save money!? I
lip by you! . I
11 as we do that a I
a profit on his goods, I
't stay in business. I
ot ask any profit,? I
>
O SELL the STOCK |
irou buy in this store |
an the biggest mer- I
'
t wholesale,?but in I
it for less, because I
>TORE
H NEW GOODS. I
ES, and more than 1000 I
i and LADIES AND CHIL- 1
COME ALL! I
:PT. STORE
RUPT?
irey Block, Conway, S. C.