The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, March 15, 1899, Image 1
WATCHMAN, Xst*bll h d April, 2S6C uBe Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TK X SOCTHKON, Kttebltehed jone. is*6
4S>toe i ^ SUMTER. S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15.1899. New Series-Yol. XVIII. No. 33
Pr Olb wd 2 wry Wednesday,
W ^ steen,
\ T SXS :
. ] $1.50 n^oniir^-^i; ndvinoe .
... . - - - - -
j^^^^^l^^^^^1*^ v^"1 " " ' ********* ' ^
' ^^^^
i ^ MB-;
' ? iM ee; ntoV to x$ t MiZ ot ibo
psnkeotiary. Ta commit^ e^oasittH of
. i ig chairman ; 8eos^ of Ker
' \j^^^^ft ^m ^^tew^ od w*s^
sandy Cor tbe to*-e$t gatioo. -?. He .witt.
; tive BOattorney, so ^ that
Non^eg/wiU be feond ali right
? e^onaiR e decided 'io hold the
- ia wang* io the room of the " ec to
vi^ ^ *#
: :)R^iJo st tao pcaitentior y tho coot-.
r*. Thc cocieren^ woa in the- shape
"}/ iim&B gin'* Taylor's
^ trt sheoM be caada. Hu had hie
..' 'C^S^ ''.ero to
o H ing to oVwith tho iovesttgatioo
g & t^^
>3a^ ti fifith *od Colonel Neal
h ^Jo^rwo fawiay io r tanos
ie fcoroiog ow the iottttoton. Thia
m^f.^lm dene oe ^W sf, thoogh tho
? lil so*e**l days Jt* r, oftor formt,
ate^ have bee* inspected.-Colombia
Eword. v
'.A3?, f Hil AFTEENOOl S8S810&
Tfr/Taylor tit W ^
bx^eeper io the &*t Wcasory for
Assto* tin jrasttag tm tho doy book,
^ ^^^ -^
nstnnst oxters,'bnt astatoy tfete wonid
^*^r^^tooaoo toted wichet tb etc
Mr.Taffar rsniied tant ihore far
ngiling to ifldffi^f toy dishonesty
wpej wow tntrety clerical error , ta
book tocping. IE poc pg tho dedoj
< tia there io no exeesfrof $7,073.05 to
bo edesied iWthe ortdit dc *e
$10 and $24 wer addition to thc
credit tide. The balance thoo wooid bc
$$,909, to be dedooted from the credit
tide of tho {wotto acoooot. Ho thinks
theseart cr dita doe to that tceoaas,
bot ht hat oo4 had tne to investigate.
Io reply to Gol. Nets he said that bo
did, not **y '*** peoiteotiary is
abort. Tba $6.889 meaos that there
it o ogled io oot potting down oo tba
;ri lodger figo ret amoootiog to that mach.
So, fer at bo ooold BOC there it oo re atoa
to empote tfcot the ttttoo of the pesi
teotwy w wroog. He did not thick
toythiog wrong except what bo eiJt
exton io booUrcoping. That it t* far
at be ooold jodge from hit exaoinati \
<3ross exsA ed by Mr. Sterno**^
b . id: *This arsooot arose
thc raiiore to carry the figorct from one
\t l *J te* If ali tho item m
ptjgfi f ly traoaferred tho acoooot might
be sorroot."
Col. Neal rovarked, totto-Toee:
ftbot'o a right
Ofotroiio Coooiogboovof tba boord
of directors, wat tbe next w Un ese. Ho
hw boon obottotoo eight years, sic ec
Col. Tolbert wont io to ofioc. At to
tbe hiring of convicto, bo toed they
wore hired io vari os woyt. Oath or
credit piont wore adopted. Generally
aboat November tba contract aatter it
tokos np. Tho directors first decide on
hst tarp!aa labor they would hove nod
as to its price. Tho saperiotendent it
thea instructed to place it. A oontrtot
it r xjairod, and o sufficient hood it also
required. Notes have been takco for
labor, lo regard to discounts, ooo
tinto last year tho soperintcodeot was
instrocied if he made notes to fis them
so they ooold be disecan ted. Prerioas
to ibot ho did cot think it bod boon
MM-w--.' : ? " i --?
doce. It has been reported from the
Carolina National Bank that there were
past due several notes. Oae note was
by C. W. Ragsdale for $2,000. dae
December24.1898-/anotherof W.W.
Rase ell for $600. Then there was a
balance of a note of Mr. Scarborough
of $48, but that has been paid np;. J
6 Watson had a check for $2,600;
which wu unpaid when the witness got
thia statement from the ba ak, ten days
ago. He presumes that the Ragsdale
and Rastdll notes were endorsedby the
superintendent, ioogh fee did not
kw#: The $2:6^6 #a a check to
tike np a note of B. B. Ragsdale.
Witness got the note by depositing the
cheek, which was a five day paper on
an Anderson bank.- It was held up and
not paid by Mr' Watson. There are
no records in the peniteotrury as to this
note. ; We made a contract in 1896
with Mr. Watson for three years.
Settlements were made in 1896 tod
and 1897 in cash. We presume thia
unte waa made for the purpose of mak
ing the settlement The/ penitentiary
was liable through the endorsement of
the roperiotendent. The directors
were getting cash, and they did not
know anything about these notes. He
first learned of these notes during the
Legislature, about tba time of the
election for superintendent The eon
tract was made with Watson; though
he used the eon vieta on a farm formerly
owned by Col Neal. He did not know
bow /the Raudales got mixed in it.
Mr Watson . had told witness that he
bad a lease of the farm. As to the C. .
W. Ragsdale note, it is the same io
amount as that due for oocyict hire by
Mr. Watson in 1896 He , knows
ootbiee about the Russell note. He
thinks Russell is a railroad contractor
and hi home in Anderson Coan ty. He
bad asked Col.Neal about these not s,
but be did not get any information ex
cept that they would be settled Wat
son's contract for 1898 is on paid The
contract is for about $2.500. He could
find no bond with the contract. W. H.
Hammond, on the books, is due about
$790. He denies that be owes it,
claiming to have paid H to Col; Neal.
It doea no* show on the books. The
same is tree of the Cooley and Fowler
contract, for about the same amount.
The Fretwell account is also claimed to
hate been pud to Gol. Keel. Cooley
is a different mao from Cooley, euperio*
tendent of one of the farms W. W.
Russell and Col. Neal are brothers-io
law. As to the produce made on the
farms,'a grant deal is eonsumed on the
farm.; Cotton and nata are about all
that ie sold. The rest is used in the
.maintenance of the penitentiary. So
with the meat
By MT. Livingston i The contract
with Warnow was ade k 1896. lt
waa in writing. It was known that
Col. Neal's. Mr. Watson reported he
had the land IeaaacL ge could sot: tee
anything* wrong tn it. He presumes
thai the C. W Ragsdale note was for
tho payment of tan first year V contract.
He does not know wno C. W. Rags
dale ia, nut has heard he te a brother of
the other Ragsdale, who works for Mr.
Watson.
By Mr. Stevenson : Contracts have
been made thia years for about 268
convicts, which includes the Clemson
eon vieta. Tho Penitentiary gets about
$6 par mea th for a farm hand. The
mao who hire pays for food and the
guard. Th hulk of tue convicts hired
thia jaar go to Anderson County. Mr.
Watson, Mr. Hammond, Cooley and
Fowler have some. These contracts
were brought op for approval, and the
board at first refused to approve. The
men pleaded that they would settle op
their eeeounta, although they claimed
pot to owe the money, rather than lose
the contracts.. Mr. Watson's ooo tract
is not for work on the Neal farm. He
assured us bis indebtedness would be
paid. None of those in arrears have
paid op to the present.
By Mr. Hay : The superintendent
sold the oats on orders from the
directors The cotton was sold in
various markets. The board has every
nason to believe that these sales were
honestly made. They ail knew what
had been made on the farms,
i By Mr. Patton : The contractors
who claim to have paid Col. Neal said
they had receipts, but they did not
produce them. They came to
Columbia to renew ethe contracts and
brought no papers with them. The
board authorised him to make the col*
lections, bot no action was theo taken,
to investigate whether they had paid or
not. This waa to be done at the present
meeting, and the delinquents bad been
warned that they most settle up
J. S. Fowler, of Cooley & Fowler,
reame next. As to the balance against
him in the penitentiary report, amount*
lng to orer 1800, be said that he had
paid Col, Ne-! $500, with which he
had not been credited. He first knew
of it io August when the bookkeeper
sent him a bill. Tbe money was paid
on February 24. 1897. He produced
a receipt io the shape of a draft, which
was marked paid. It was drawn on
bim by Col Neal. There were ex
pense accounts, losa of time, etc.,
which reduced the amount be owed,
and which has been settled by bim.
There waa an understanding that the
money would be paid, but they didn't
ezpeot to lease again. At tbe time i
was brought op Col. Neal was sick
bat he did not remember exactly wba
arrangement wa s-to be made. Bnt tb
matter was to be left open. Col. Nea
was to go np the country, aod get tb
money. Coi. Neal was to settle wit]
me. The contract was renewed witl
that understanding. If Col. Nea
arranged to secure me for the money !
was to advance it to him. He sai
Col. Nea), who said he bad tra veil io j
expenses sod accounts wbioh woo h
balance the matter. No arrangemen
to settle the matter bas been perfect*
jost yet, bot he woold know before h<
left Colombia what was to be done.
At thia point the committee took i
recess caril tomorrow morning at 10.3(
Mr. Cunningham will probably be re
eailfid aod other members of the boan
will be witnesses. Mr. Watson is here
and it is said that he is to settle op hi
s oouots at ooee. He will also be a wit
ness, as will Mr. Hammond, wh<
claims to haye paid Col. Neal.-Cor
News tod Courier.
v "
From Colombia Record, March 9.
The investigation was resumed ot
10.30 this morning, Mr Fowler being
on. tbe witness stood He repeater
that he bad not received credit foi
tbe $500 be bad paid to Coi Neal b)
draft Taking the expense accounts,
etc., they might take op the amount.
Tbe discrepancy is in reference, to the
draft of 1895.
Mr. R B Watson was next sworn
He waa shown a contract and said il
was for work on a plantation he
owned, which was formerly owned
by Gol Neal He acquired it in
1893 For 1896 *&7 '98 he did not
work:convict labor under the con
tract Col. Neal worked it He
reeoid tba farm to Col Neal foi
$14.000-8 credit transaction. He
didn't remember whether it wai
before or after the contract for con
riots was made, bot thinks it after.
Papers were produced showing thal
the conviot contract and ibo iransfei
of land was made on tbe same day.
He got no convicts during '96, Wi,
98 for bis own use.
Referring to the penitentiary re
port for 1896, be is credited with
paying $2,000 dr mere for convict
Mrs ; he said he knew nothing1 of it
He supposed if he was liable, it was
ander tbe contract, bat be never
used convict hire. In January, 1897,
he is credited with paying over $300
aa a balance for 1896. He denied
that he owed any balance In April,
1896, be was credited by the report
for $1,482 75. He was not positive
whether he had paid that on the
settlement of hie contract, which ex
pired in 1895 Since theo he has not
need one hoot of convict labor. In
1896 Mr Barries wrote that witness
had given a note for the hire of con
victs for thai year. The cotton raised
on the Anderson and Picketts forms
was sold to factories. Tbe balance
conting to me to pty for the land was
tornad over to Col. flea!. The amoco*
was$1,465.85 It was to be credited
to payment for convict labor He^ot
a receipt signed by Soperintendeat
Neal. Mr. Stephenson remarked
that there waa no credit in the report
Mr. Watson said in latiera and fro
personal statements from Gol. Neal
be waa told that all aceoonta bid
been baianced np he supposed it waa
correct. Col. Neal ran the Pickent
farm. C. W. Ragsdaie snr>erintetided
the Picken* farm and B B. Kagsdale
tba other He didn't know exactly
how many convicts were worked.
Aa to the check for $2,000 given by
bim, be said his attention was called
to it when be read the report for the
past year. He looked over the report
and found his name appearing as doe
$2,574 He made inquiry. It was
not in conformity with the agreement
and be asked Mr. Borriss about it,
who said the account in my name
amounted to $2,800. But some ex
pense would have to come off,
amounting to $200. He aaw Mr.
Cunningham, who' showed him a
memorandum furnished him by the
Carolina bank on which the Ragsdaie
notes appeared. His impression and'
mine was tbat the B. B. Ragsdaie
note wee for convict hire for 189&
and that of C W- Btgscale-for 1897.
Then fae asked mer to see if I could
arrange matters, stating that Col.
Neal bad said be had about 250 bales
of cotton unencumbered. Col. Neal
was sick, but he told me that be bad
about 175: balee. Considering bis
prostration aod tbe fact that he bad
promised to pay $2,700, and knowing
that I would be protected by tbe
iand, I gave Mr. CaoDingbam a draft,
and also in consideration of the state
ment which had been handed to me
by Col Neal in reference to convicts
hire for 1897.
He said it was painful to have to
tell the reason why he recalled the
draft. It was a ten days' draft. His
first draft was for $2,600 Mr. Clark,
of the bank, didn't appprove of this,
and another was drawn on January
25, 1899. I expected to get $2,700
from Col. Neal, as a third payment
on the land. In November he stated
be would be able to pay it and went
on to say something about the bal
ance. He said he had arranged to
borrow the balance. One man pro*
posed to loan it to bim for 7 per cent
payable semi annually : another at
per cent, annually. He asked me
about it and told bim if he lost hit
job be would advise him lo take thc
8 per cent. As to why I notified thc
bank not to pay it was in consequence
of papers OD the cotton which would
prevent me getting it. There was a
$2,000 note in the Farmers' and
Merchants' Anderson bank which
Mr. Fowler bad endorsed and which
bod gone to protest. Mr. R M,
Barris, and Mr. J. Q Hammond were
the other endorsers. The note wat
mode bj Col. Nea). They notified
Mr Raged ale not to move any cottoi
from the farm He went over to take
the cotton to sell it and meet the
draft, when he was notified thal
others had a lien on it. Then he told
the bank not to pay the note. He
bas never ascertained from Col Nea
what those Kagsdale notes were
given for
He bad told Co). Neal he had
given the draft and Col. Neal told
him that if be bad bad the opportunity
be wonld have advised witness not
to have done it I told Co) Nea!
that be new that I was not moralVj
responsible for the hire, and Col.
Neal replied that was true. Col
Neal's general tenor was that he
himself was responsible He said so.
He said Col Neal told him that he
had informed the board of the trans
fer of his contract, and he wac
shocked v/hen some of them told bin
they knew nothing about it. He
was dealing with Col Neal as ac
individual and did not know thal
there was anything contrary to law
in the transaction.
In answer to Senator Livingston
he said there was no secret agree
ment so far as he was concerned
He bad nothing to conceal He
didn't know whether the board knew
about the reconveyance of the farm.
Ho said that be had told the board
that he diel not bold himself liable
for the biro. This wheo Mr Cun
ningham showed bim the memoranda
during the session of the legislature
He could not remember whether be
bad made tbe vorbei agreement with
Col Neal about the use of the con
victs before or after be made the con
tract for convicts. It was really Co),
Neal's contract and witness wai
serer required to sign a bond as bad
previously been tbe case. He pro
doced some letters and papen
bearing on bis testimony as to the
sale of cotton.
Mr. B. E. Barrite, bookkeeper ol
tho penitentiary, was tho next witness.
He has kept the books doriog Col.
Neal's term. He saw only the B. B.
lUgsdale's note. Gong book to 1896
die Watson contract wai made. The
first soto which came to him was io
April, 1896, for $1.560 oed was given
by Mr. Watson. It was payable ia tbe
fall. Tho soto was not paid at
maturity, bot was charged by the bask
to tbe penitentiary account. On
December, 1896, the note and interest
after matarhy was oh arg ed. Tbe
emottoi was $1,560, liss tko discount.
The hire for 1896 a m coated to some
thing over $lr800. Some time ia
1897 Cel. Neal told hi of a settle
cot be bad bad with Watson aaa
turned over $318 87. Col. Neal said
the note bad boos settled sp tad the
$318.87 was to go os convict biro for
1896 He thinks the sot of ooo of
tho Kagsdale s waa takes up is this
transaction.
In February, 1898, Mr Clarke, or
Col. Jones, told him they had a note of
B. B. Bagsdals. Ho called Col. Neals
attention to it and be said it had been
arranged. He didn't say anything
about the circumstances of giviog the
note. Io February, 1898, was a
$2.398 note by Watson te cover the
'97 convict hire In April, 1897, there
was a payment of $172 by oheok,
which was oot poid. Col. Neal said he
would arrange the matter with the
bank, asd it was carried as ooah. It
was given by Col Neal personally, be
ea jin g be would have to pay discount
on the note. He knew nothing about
the Neal and Watson private coetraot.
Col. Neal bad never told bim anything
about it. He knew oothiog aboot the
C. W. Kagsdale note until aboot six
weeks ago, when he learned of it
through a letter to Cel. Neal. Col.
Neal deposited notes in payment of
1898 eon riot hire He was under the
impression it was a Watson note. As
to the aooount of W. Q. Hammond of
$992 at the January meeting of the
board, he asked the chairman to ask
parlies owing to come down and settle
They eame in February, Mr. Hammond
prodaeed a statement, a draft and
check. The cheek was on bank of
Anderson of November 27, 1895,
for $500, given to Col. Neal as
superintendent, He said that was
in adv tn oe for 1896 eon riot hire.
At the end of 1895 there was to his
credit $49 24. The oheok had no con
nection with that. That oheok does
not appear to have been deposited io a
Columbia bank. The oheok was stamped
paid by the Andersen bank. The pro
ceeds have never been entered upon tbe
books of the penitentiary. He is not
aware that the penitentiary ever got be
money.
Oo February 24, 1897, Mr. Ham
mood was drawn opon by Colonel Neal
for $756 17 at ten days. That draft
was discounted at Farmers and Mer
chants bank of Anderson. It was
deposited to the credit of W. . Neal,
superintendent. The Fowler draft waa
drawn oo the same date. That made
somewhat over$l,300 OD deposit in the
Anderson bank. It appears on tbe
books of that bank that the amount bad
gone oat during March of tbe same
year. Tbe officials said it was drawn
ont by a draft from Columbia. Tbe
Carolina bank says it was for gi,352
12. which was given theo on Feb. 26,
1897. On tbat date Neal told bim be.
bad deposited W Q. Hammond's ac
count, $05617, $600 less thao tbe
draft Colonel Neal bad drawn on bim.
Also $255 on tbe aeeeont of Cooley &
Fowler, $244 less than the draft Mr.
Fowler accepted. The Carolina Na
tional bank informed me tbat $812 and
soma cents, the sam of tbe two smoantt
deposited, were to the credit of Colonel
Neal Superintendent He also deposit
ed $539.95 to bis personal account.
That, with thc deposit to tba credit of
the superintendent, makes np the
amount of tbe Anderson draft. Colonel
Neal told him to oredit the $238 95 to
expense account and the items would
be given him later. Bat this bas
never been done. Mr CUD ningham
had sent him to Anderson to have a
settlement with Mr. Hammond and1
there he found out the facts.
The accounts Colonel Neal put to bis
own personal account in the bank could
not go to the expense account. Expense
aeoonnts are never paid to the Superin
tendent. The statement that the
amounts had gooe to the expense
account was a misrepresentation of facts.
Mr Hammond after paying expenses
paid $856 17 and the penitentiary did
not get $300 of the amonnt. The J
J. Fretwell ease was for a thousand
bushels of oats at 50 cents a bushel.
Mr. Fretwell showed bim a receipt
from Colonel Neal in settlement. He
ascertained tb is since January.
He knoW8 nothing about the W. W.
Rassel! note. There was a Fretwell
.nd Russell note for $625. of which
tba penitentiary got $600. the $25
being for. discount. Vv W. Russell
bad never hired convicts. Sometime
during '98 Russell and Fretwell were
urged to settle the note. Later be was
informed by the bank that the peniten
tiary bad been credited with $600.
Fretwell and Russell owe something
like $235 over and above the note.
The committee took a recess until
3.30, in thc meantime holding a private
conference
COL NEAL ADMITS
That He Used Penitentiary
Money Privately.
Columbia, March 10.-Colonel
Neal was on tb* witness stand yes
terday He told of bil financial
troubl e at the time of bia election ae
superintendent and hew he had
deeded his farm to Mr Watson to
secure bim for $6,000. B. B. Rag*
dale waa foreman of the farm and
Colonel Neal agreed to help Watson
out by paying $500 a year ont of hie
.alary. WaUon waa to keep an ac
count of what waa made cn the farm
and if be could pay himself he should
do so and tarn the farm back to Neal.
This arrangement was kept np during
'93, $4 and '95 Ragsdale became
dissatisfied sad other arrangements
hod te be made. Watson counted
np that Neal owed him $14,000 to
pay for the place, and Colonel Neal
agreed to take charge of tbe place
and pay $2,000 a year and 7 per
cent on the $14,000. Watson made
a contract for 30 conviens Tbe first
year Colonel Neal paid bim $3,000,
including expenses. It took about
all that waa made and it was the
same thing in 1897. No settlement
bas been made for the past year.
During 1896. '97 and '98 the mana
ger was dissatisfied and "Watson
turned over the place to us to run as
best we coold." Tbe crops from the
; Pickens place were used to pay
Watson.
He admitted that the penitentiary
bad not been paid for the use of the
convicts. The only thing to repre
sent -payment was the two Ragsdale
notes which bare never been paid
He admitted that the convicts under
the Watson contract were to be need
by bim and be was to get tbe benefit
of tbe profits.
In answer to a question! be said
that money which should have gone
to the payment of convicts hire for
1896, '97 was psid on his personal
debt to Watson. He said he never
made a dollar on either of the planta
tions for tbe year mentioned.
A receipt signed by Colonel Neal
for $1,465 85 and given to Watson
was shown. He could not recall what
it bad been given for, and the
following colloquy between Colonel
Neal and Watson occurred as to tfee
receipt :
'.What is yonr recollection ?" ask*
ed Colonel Neal of Mr. Watson.
"Wasn't the crops of '96 cotton off
of the two farms taken to Piedmont
and Pelzer and sold by me V*
"Yes."
"And we had a settlement on Feb
roary 22,1897, in which yon paid me
the amount doe on the first install
ment, and there was a balance left
over that I gave yon a check to the
Bank of Anderson for ?"
"Yes:*
"Bet I didn't give yon no receipt
as superintendent for it ?"
"Yon gave me that receipt,"
pointing to the one in Colonel Neal's
hand
"There waa no transaction at ali in
inference to it ?"
"You gave me that receipt."
"The cotton was sold in your name
and the money deposited in the bank
for it. The cotton was delivered at
Piedmont and Pelzer and sold by you
at both places, and the moaey depos
ited in tbe Farmers' and Mechanics'
bank ?" % \
"I beg your pardon. One draft on
the Bank of Anderson," replied Mr.
Watson
"Anyhow, the money was deposit
ed in your name in the bank and then
and there paid ont by me for expen
ses Mr Ragsdale got his salary
right in your presence ?"
"No, be wasn't there. Nobody waa
there bot you and me and it was dis
tinctly understood when tbat note wss
given-"
"Which note ?"
I "That note you are talking about
That I was to sell the cotton myself
and take out tbe first payment and
pay you for that note on convict
hire"
"No, sir."
"In accordance with that we had
the settlement "
"Now, Belton yon know that the
balance of that cotton crop, aside
from what went to pay you that year,
was paid out that day in town tp
Dick, Tom and Harry for expenses of
making that orop and that no part of
it was paid to me as superintendent
of the penitentiary "
"Will you say that that was not
credited to you at the Farmers' and
Merchants' bank to your individual
acccunt. OD that day ?" -
"As superintendent ?"
"I don't know how you deposited
it but to your individual account "
The Bagsdale cotes were given to
keep from bothering Mr. Watson.
The board didn't know anything
about it
He acknowledged that he got $500
from Mr Fowler and had it charged
to himself for traveling expenses.
He .kept a memorandum of expenses
and settled at the end of each. year.
While this money had been need no
account of it appears on the books.
Mr. Watson was the first witness
this morning He produced. a tele
gram sent to Colonel Neal os* Febru
ary 2, 1899, telling him to protect
draft, as bc declined payment. Coir
one! Neal wired back to hold the
draft he would go to Anderson in a
day or two.
A letter was read from Neal to
Watson, sent November, 1896, in
which he expressed the opinion that
the cotton would psy all expenses
and leave some to pay to Watson
A letter of March, 1898, from Col
onel Neal was read. It was a
personal note in reference to selling
cotton. Another during the same
month, bnt.it bad no especial beariog
on penitentiary affairs proper.
Colonel Neal was recalled and Mr.
Stevenson asked him about the
Russell note for $600. Tbe note
was for what he was due for convict
hire.
Besides the note there was possibly
a sum of $200 in dispute. The firm
of Russell & Fret well often made
notes dering thc continuation of their
contract. He cocld not say that he
could realize on the note through
Russell's property. Fretwell himself
ia a poor man. Sometimes both,
would sign notes and sometimes one.
They paid promptly until they got ia
some trouble with the 3 C's road.
There will be no trouble about the
note-it will be paid.
Mr. Stevenson remarked that it
was already past due two months
He said that the note had not been
reported as paid to the penitentiary.
Continued on Next Page.
ROYAL
^ asowtax PURE
Makes the food mere delicious and wholesome