The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-22
THE PALMETTO STATE.
Gov. Chamberlain and gx-Trensurcr Parker
Hardy SoIomon-'s Defunct Bank.


CHARLESTON. Feb. 1s.-A striking proof
Of the lnslncerity Of Chamberlain's reform and
his completely In the ruin Of South Carolina is
evlrced In the connvance Of the state authori-
ties In Parkers present absence. Parker was
found guilty In a civil suit and judgment en-
tered against him Of a large amount for defraud-
ing the State. lie was released from Jail upon
habeas corpus by Judge who is the intimate
friend Of Chamberlain, andnn an improper way,
as the State Supreme Court has lately decided.
At the time OF his release he was arrested upon
a criminal charge for this fraud and again re-
leased upon bail Of only t2,5O0 given by his wifo
and Others. Since then he has been res iding In
New Jersey, and has written several letters back
to Columbia. IL Il reported that he has ex-
pressed willingness to make clean breast OF
1t, provided he can get immunity that Capt.
Ladu's testimony was true, and that Chamber
lain did get his $4,000 Of the stolen coupons, as
the verdict OF the jury In the civil suit implied
Notwithstanding these facts, as yet no steps
have been taken to recover the defiant Fugitive,
either with or without the desired immunity.
The Grand Jury of Richland county, where tho
offence was committed. has been In session ten
DAYS, and no Indictment has been preferred
against Parker. Chambcrlain's friends alieRe
that this Is necessary prerequisite to requisi-
tlon for the fugitive upon the Governor OF New
Jersey. Inc whole thing Is sham. Chamber
lain and his co-cnnsprators are very desrUus
that Parker shall not come back.
Another peculiar feature of south Carolina law
Is shown In the present situation of tue Hardy
Solomons bank affair. This institution has been
the radical money proyider since 1869. When II
collapsed in 1874, II carried with IL $207 900 OF
state money. put there by the vote of Chamber
lain, together with the wreck Of the Bank OF the
state. including $500 cash aud all its sccuri-
ties, and large amounts In deposits OF county
funds. Among the assets OF Solomoas's bank,
which were turned over 70 Comptrocr Duncan
rs receiver, was note and mortgage OF +. j.
Moses, Jr.. for S25O The cX- Governor defends
the action brought on this note. and alleges
that he II not bound to pay II. because Solo
monss bank was fraud from the commence
ment. was never Incorporated and rs a copart-
ner3Lip had no couartuers. He further alleges
that no stock ever paid In, ana that no
valid acceptance of ito charter was ever made.
The plea has taken by surprise many people,
who wonder that Gov Chamberlain could have
been the legal adviser OF such an institution 50
long.
The real intent Of the uea can only DO TO force
aging the bank. Moses owes the money to some
body-either TO the bank as a corporation. or 10
those who have acknowledged themselves stock
holders, Or to the parties who were agents In the
Transaction. If IL Il no corporation, any one who
has acknowledged his interest, no matter how
small at any time during its continuance Il
liable for all Its debts as n cOpartner. And II
there are no copartncrs. then the aCknO wlcdged
agents, no have no responsible principals, are
likewise liable. Rather than have the corporate
capacity Of the bank questioned, and their pri
waite liabilities fixed, the interested parties
Chamberlain, Scott. Solomons y Co.. are likely
10 compromise with Moses Their liability, how
ever, being known. there l. nothing which Will
save them from it's imposition. unless they eau
keep the government IN Chamberlain hands
until the statute Of Limitation runs out.