The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-07
THE UNITED STATES vs. JOHN FRASER
~ CO., AND OTHERS.

Wc have received from Tho publishers copy Of
tho plcadnsa in this caso, fled up to this ato in
tho Circuit Court OF tho United States for lilo DIS
trtct OF Sonth Carolina. Ihoy consist Of tho bill
OF complaint filed by tho United States OH tho 30th
of May, 1867, and of tho separate answers OF
THEoDolE ID. WAGNER, JAMEsT. WELsMAN, GEORGE
A. TRENHOLM, WM. L. TRENHOLM, JOHN B. La
F1rrE No answer ZIP to this timo has boon Hled
OIL behalf Of CHARLES X. PRIoLEAU, ono of the de-
fcnilnnts.
Tho bill filed by tho United States, in substance,
alleges that tho above-namod defendants wcro,
prior to tho month Of April, 1861, and have over
sinco boon, copartnors, doing business in Charles
ton under tho namo Of JouN FRASER Co., and in
Liverpool under tho name Of FRASER, TRENHOLM
& Co.
That shortly after the broaking out of the lato
"unlawful rebellion" tho firm OF J. FRASER & Co.
was appointed Tho agent of tho s'su-called" Con-
federntc States for tho oxportation OF cotton
and othor goods, and for the purchase OF arms
and other military supplies for that government ;
and TINT GEo. A. TRENHOLM, "titular' Secretary OF
Tho Treasury Of tho Confederate States, employed
tho said firm rs financial agents OF tho said gov.
ernmcnt. Tint in pursuance OF such agency, the
| firm received largo amounts of cotton md othor
goods from tho said government. That mt tho cx-
piration OF tho war largo quantity CT goods,
moneys, and several steamships tho property OF
tho Confederate Statcs wero in Tho hands OF tho
said lirm, and nro still retained by them and that
with tho proceeds Of tho moneys and goods tho
| said iirm had nado largo purchases of real estate
in tho Statos Of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
and Texas.
Tho Bill then charges that all property of The
lato Confederate satos in possession OF tho doon.
dants nt tho closo OF tho war; and all tho real os.
| tate purcha sod by tho said defendants with the
proceeds OF such property, vested in tho United
| Statos by operation Of law; that trust in tho
said property resulted to tho United States, and
that tho said defendants held all such property as
| trustees for the United States.
Tho bill then proceeds 10 ask for discovery
and Ri account OF all tho aforesaid property, for
! an injunction restraining tho dofcndants from,
disposing OF, or oncumbcring tho said real estate
| FOR tho appointment OF a receiver, and for tho
payment and delivery to tho plaintiff Of oil the
! said money or property.
On tho 10th day Of May, 1867, tho injunction
prayed for by tho bill, was granted by Judge
| BRYAN on tho affidavit OF SAMUEL A. DUNCAN
special agent OF the Unitol State. Treasury.
The effect OF tllis injunction is to rcstrnn tho
defendants from disposing OF, or oncumboring
thei rcal cstato until THUR answers aro 1iod, or
until further order OF tho court.
Tho answer Of THEODORE DEnoH WAGNER nd
mits that all tho defendants, together with
EDWARD l.. TRENHOLM, WAS prior to April, 1861,
copartners, as alleged; that EDWARD l.. Tnrs
HOLM retired from tho two firms on tho 1st o.
september, 1861 that GEo. A. TRENHOLM retired
from Doth firms in November, 1854 that JAMES r.
| wEIsliAR retired about tho Ist Of January, 1866
and that JOHN u. LAfETTE has novcr boon
copartner.
That FRASER, TRENHOLM & Co.,, did hayo deal