The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-05
AFTER THE TOWN OF AIKEN.
A Georgia Lawyer Claims the Site IN His
Property.
Especial to News and Courier.
4sSSpSSIioiASI
J. 4. SLIGH.
April 81, iooS.

AUGUSTA, April 2.-Here's big and
genuine sensation for South Carolina!
A young Georgian, and an editor at
that, passed through Augusta this af-
ternoOn on his way to Aiken to begin Il
lawsuit for the recovery Of the entire
town. Think Of Aiken, the greatest
resort in the South and the richest of
the smaller cities in Carolina, all clam
ed by one man
The young man is Julien B. Rodgers,
one of the editors and the business man
arer of the Macon Evening News. He
is we'll known to the writer, and is one
of the finest young fellows in the South.
He is handsome, well-built man, Il
fraction larger t.lan Samuel \. Tupper,
Jr., and almost as good-looklng as that
comely and popular youlg Charleston
ian. He was born in Waynesboro, near
Augusta, and since leaving college in
Macon some years ago he has been en-
gaGed in journalism in that city. He
was married about two years ago to
lovely Georgia girl, and they have a
bright little boy, whom they will re-
christen Lord of Aiken, if they recover
that beautiful town.
The News and Courier representative
interviewed Mr.. Rodgers as he was
waiting for the Aiken train this after
noon, and he feels confident of establish
ing his claim. His attorneys in Aiken
are Col. A. G. Hammond and John
Gary Evs MS, and they have examined
the records of Aiken and adjoining
counties of Barnwell and Edgefield,
and inform him that they have ample
evidence to begin his suit. They have
urged his presence in Aiken before We'd
nesday, and they hope thereby to re-
cover large part Of the property will
out any contest, as on that day certain
leases expire, which, if Mr.. Rodgers
puts in objections, it will be legally inl-
possible to rene. He is now in Aiken,
consulting Messrs. Hammond & Evans,
and they will begin the suit at once.
1t seems that many years ago Rodg-
ers's grandfather, Beverly NJ. Rodgers,
of Augusta, purchased about 700 acres
of land in and around the elevation
upon which is now built the town Of
Aiken. He boughtit as speculation
and decided certain lots to the South
Carolina Road, provided the company
would establish a station and town.
Mr.. Rodgers died very suddenly and
his affairs were considerably mixed.
His children were all small, and when
the father of the present Julien Rodg-
ers took charge of affairs the deeds were
lost, and the bare fact that his father
held some land in Carolina was all that
he knew Of the p' rchase. Meanwhile
settlers took possession of Aiken and it
grew to be town. Fictitious sales seem
to have been effected, and while the
deed of the elder Rodgers was recorded
there seemed to be no record OF deeds
from him to purchasers of much of the
land that is now innocently held by
real buyers. The Rodgers family slept
over their rights until recently, when
an aunt in Texas wrote to Julien ad-
vising him to look up the old records.
He took hold of the matter and the
lawyers have discovered pretty warm
trail in the way of evidence, showing
that at least two hundred acres in and
around Aiken have never properly
passed out OF the possession OF the
Rodgers family. Mr.. Barney Dunbar,
a prominent and wealthy citizen of Au-
gusta, who is related to the Rodgers
family, seems to have called the matter
to mind, and as he is an old resident
and familiar with Carolina, he wrote to
his relative in Texas advising that the
matter be looked into, with what effect
may be seen and with what results the
Carolina Courts will show.
Mr.. Rodgers does not know as yet
what part of Aiken is affected by his
claim, but his information is that the
whole town is included, and if so the
little city will be considerably shaken
up. 1t is an important and serious
matter to Aiken, and it is also quite
important to Mr.. Rodgers. He says
that three of his family will share with
him whatever he can recover, and he
will push the suit for all it is worth.
This means that hundreds and hundreds
of thousands of dollars of property in
Aiken are at stake.
AIKEN NOT ALARMED.
AIKEN, April 3.-Aiken people are
not at all disturbed at the prospect of
losing the land on which the town is
built. When the News and Courier APP
peared this morning, announcing in
big head lines Mr.. Julien B. Rodgers
immense claim, it caused quite ripple,
but it was ripple of amusement. a
broad smile overspread the countenance
of every ore who read the article. Your
correspondent met Mr.. Julien Rodgers,
and found in him rising young jour
nalist of Macon. He thought that the
newspaper article did him an injustice
and somewhat exaggerated matters.
He said he had quite fallen in love with
Aiken, and thought it one Of the pretti-
est places in the South. He leaves here
for Macon, Ga, tonight, leaving his
interests in the hands Of his attorneys,
Major Spann Hammond and Mr.. John
Gary Evans.
Mr.. James Aldrich read the account in
the News and Courier, and said that
the best thing about the claim was that
it advertised Aiken as health resort.
He treated the matter lightly and was
disposed to think nothing would come
of it.
Mr.. B. P. Chatfield, of the Highland
Park Hotel, was questioned. Yes
wonder who wrote that burlesque"'
The Hon. D. S. Henderson was very
busy, but found time to say that the
claim was all bosh, that Beverly Rodgg-
ers sold out all his title in the lands in
question forty years ago.
Hon. O. G. Jordan said that in 1874
he had occasion to look up the claim
for another Rodgers heir, and found
there was no ground for action. Il
wouldn't give Is cents for the claim.
You may print that in the News and
Courier as my sentiment"
1t is the general opinion that it is
second Voolfolk case. The April term
of Court meets next week.
of Dad