Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-31
Daniel Hands Millions,
HOW THEY WERE SAVED FOR HIM BY FAITHFI
SOUTHERN FRIEND.

HOW THEY WERE SAVED FOR HIM BY FAITHFUL
SOUTHERN FRIEND.
Daniel Hands gift of 81 900 600 for the edu-
cation of colored children in the South did not
surprise any one in Charleston, S. c., according
to dispatch from that city. 1t was known a
year ago that he intended to provide in his will
that the interest on 81 900 600 should be per-
petually devoted to this purpose He has
simply moved up the dates and put his liberality
beyond the reach of LAWYERS and htigants
Geo. W. Williams, MIR. Hands old partner in
Charleston, told ON Saturday the story of his
connection with Hand and how he saved Hands
property from confscation by the Confederate
government. Mr.. Williams said:
Just fifty years ago / landed in Augusta,
Ga, from my Nacoochee home, and was
employed by Mr.. Hand as clerk in his estab-
lishment at salary of $50 per annum. At the
age OF twenty-one l became a full partner of
Mr.. Hand and remained in business in Augusta
until 1852. l removed that year to Charleston,
and established the house of George W. Will
liams Co. Mr.. Hand remained in Augusta.
At the beginning of the war MIR. Hand was in
New York attending to the purchasing of sup
plies for our Southern houses. As he was op-
posed to secession he remained in New York
and withdrew from the firm of G. W. Williams
d Co. in 1861, but his lifetime earnings were
at the South. In the meantime war ragged
in all its fury. Each section passed the Seques-
tratiOn act. Finding that Mr.. Hands interests
would be confscated, requested his immedi-
ate return to Charleston. Failing to get through
the lines at Baltimore or Washington, Mr. Hand
took the Western route. On arriving at New
Orleans he was arrested as a spy. l then tele-
graphed my partner, Mr.. H. P. Hollingsworth,
and Gov. Moore, vouching for Mr.. Hands in
tegrity. i keep most of my business letters
and dispatches, and on looking over my books
/ find the following, which will explain them
selves" Mr.. Williams thereupon produced the
following dispatches, all of the date of Novem-
Der IA, 1861:
H. p. Holtings,oorth, care of John E. Hyde & Co.,
Ne1c Orleans:
Will you please employ able counsel for Mr..
Hand. and see that he has every comfort and
protection? l have telegraphed Gov. Moore.
GEORGE w. WILLIAMS.
Coz. Moore. Nesr Orleans:
MIR. Trenholms dispatch was based on a con-
versation Mr.. Hand had with another party
He has not seen him for years. 1 feel confident
that can satisfy you that MIR. Hand is neither
Lincoln spy nor black republican. / will
send you satisfactory documents. Please see
that he has every comfort and protection.
am native Carolinian.
GEORGE W. WILLIAMS.
Mr.. j. M. Hand augusta:
Your brother has been arrested I think
that we can establish that he is not a Lincoln
spy. GEORGE W. WILLIAMS.
]. NJ. Hand was brother of Daniel Hand.
Continuing, Mr.. Williams said
Il finally succeeded in getting Mr.. Hand out
of prison in New Orleans but he was ordered
under guard to Richmond, Va, then the seat OF
the Confederate government While passing
through Augusta. Ga, his old home, the mayor,
who was his friend, had to send Mr.. Hand to
jail to keep him out of the hands of a mob. On
learning that Mr.. Hand was in Jail in Augusta ]
went there at once and secured his release. Mr.
Hand was sent to Richmond and was confined
| for weeks in the Libby prison with Yankees and
| negroes. In the meantime a vigorous
suit was commenced in Charleston to
sequestrate Mr.. Hands interests in the
hrm Of George w. Williams 4 Co. Al
the end of a weeks contest the suit ended in
| Mr.. Hands favor, and his interest in our firm
was thus saved from confscation. As South
Carolina was not comfortable home for one
suspected Of Union sentiments, Mr. Hand de.
eided to leave the South never to return. Be.
lore leaving, however, he confided all Of his
interests In the South to me, to be held and
managed as my own, and in case of further
attempts at confscation to be regarded as my
individual property. The real estate was all in
my name. The interests thus confided to me
had the same care and were managed as my
own. am gratified to know that of Mr.. Hands,
fortune of more than q, 600 600 81 900, 900 thai
l saved for him has been returned to the South
| colored people ," ~