The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-09-11
How Aiken County was Robbed of
$1,000.

AIKEN 6. c., September 5, 1873.
EDITOR REGISTER The following present.
ment was read here In open court on WGdnes-
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AIKEN CoTN-
TY.-To the Court OF General Sessions, IN ana
for the county aforesaid The grand jury beg
leave to report that they have investigated
the actings and doinGs OF the board of special
commissioners appointed by the act OF the
General Assembly of the State aforesaid, APP
proved March III. ISL, 1t relation to the pur-.
chase of the property situated in the town of
Aiken, commonly called the Gregg mansion
for q court house. They respectfully that :.
i. Lee, Frank Amin. =. X. Rivers, {. ID.
Hayne, John III WoolIey' F. i. H {; MoEd and j. \
H Cornish constituted the said board, ana ut
the time hereinafter mentioned said board
was fully organized, that's. }; Lee was CHAIR;
treasurer thereof; that prior to the purchase
of said Gregg mansion by said board as court
house for the count of K en- the said Gregg
mansion was in the hands of the said r. j. Z.
Wood, as real estate agent, for sale, and that
the same was held for $1,000, II could have
been purchased for 5000; that on March I, 49,
said property was conveyed TO the county OF
Mary A.. Fleming, wife of William Gregg, du-
ring their Joint lives. for the sum Of $1,000;
that William Gregg, the husband of the ben
cticiary Of the trust, came TO Aiken about one
month prior to the date of aforesaid convey
ance, and met S. J. Lee, Frank Arnim, 7. Il.
Rivers, G. d. Uayne, John Woollcy and j. n.
Hayne AZ the Aiken Hotel. and then and
there entered into n conspiracy to defraud
the county Of Aiken in this; The said indi-
viduals, as members Of said board, agreed to
give the sum OF SlJ.00O for said Gregg man
sion, aud the said VIM. Gregg agreed TO give
to the members Of said board thcSum Of Sd,
their reward; the said VIM. Gregg thus secu-
ringat least $1,000 more than the said proper
~ worth and the said commissioners securing
S,GU as their share of the spells 10 be obtain
Of 49, nf }ln anrnf. nf lion
This conspiracy 10 defraud the said county
was defeated in ono Of its aspects to-wit:
That d. +. Fleming, then trustee of said
property, after the bargain made as aforesaid
board, refused to give the said members the
said s. 900 promised as aforesaid, but collect
ed it and retained it. That +. J. {. Wood,
thodgh not a party to the said Infamous trans
action, knew Of its existence; that j. II. Cor
nish and Levi Cllavous are dead, and that w.
II. Reddish never acted with said board. and
knew Of said transaction that along with
this preSentment and as Il part thereof the
written testimony OF c. D.. Hayne, and as doc
umentS throwing light upon this question,
and the report OF the County Commissioners
made to this court at May term, 1873.
We, therefore, present the said S. ]. Lee,
E Fran v: Arnim' + l. T. T. h WeaJ e + 2. fHa ayne,
William Gregg and D.. f. Fleming for con-
spiracy to delraud the county Of Aiken for
breach Of trust with fraudulent intent, and
such Other crimes as are made out against
Foreman.
AIKEN, S, G.. September i 1873.
After the above was read in open court,
Judge Mackcy ordered bench warrants to Is
sue Tor the parties concerned, and told the
Sheriff not 10 let the grass grow under his
horses hools until every nan was arrested.
ton last night for Lee, Ghayne, Gregg and
Fleming. The trial will doubtless be quite