The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-29
4 VERY SAD CASE.
Mr.. j. Il. z. Gosgans Uses Trust Money for
Himeelf and Leaves-It Is a Fear
ful Warning.

f1l Warning.
There are some things that the hon
est journalist has to do that are not Il
all pleasant to him.
The Herald and News has made it 3
rule under its present management tc
publish as little crime or accounts oI
crime as it is possible for US to do.
1t is pleasure to us whenever We
can write pleasant notice of our fel-
low-citizens, and we always like to
copy pleasant things that are said OF
them elsewhere.
For the past three weeks there have
been all sorts of rumors and reports
and wLisperings in the air, abclt the
departure from Newberry Of Mr.. J. X.
P. Goggans, for several years one of
the leading and trusted and rising
young lawyers Of the Newberry Bar.
At first there was nothing but rumor,
but the matter has reached that point
now where it is best for ali concerned
that statement of facts be made. 1t
is now matter of record.
All of US are liable to get behind in
this worlds goods, and most of US do
We are debt-ridden people. Hardly
one man in ten could on demand pay
his honest obligations. But when we
have trust funds placed in our hands
they should be handled with great
care, and in no event should they be
appropriated to our own use.
Mr.. Goggans was executor in several
rot hnl do in h H.
hands, and they are gone 1t is moi,
our business to speak of his motives or
intentions, but only to state the facts
as we can get them. If we were to
express an opinion it would be that be
never intended to 60 wrong. Every
one had great confidence in him, and
many reposed money in his keeping.
He was executor of the estates of
Mrs. Jane G. Peterson and also of J. T..
Peterson. These estates involved sew
eral thousand dollars. His returns
have all been made according to law,
and from the record in the Probate
Court it appears that at the time he
left he ought to have had iE his possess
sion about $500 belonging to these
estates.
He was also the executor of the estate
of Mrs. Eliza NJ. Lake, aud trustee for
VIM. Brabham Goggans, but it does
not appear that he had much funds on
hand in these cases.
. For the other monies he had in his
hands or secured endorsements to get
he gave mortgages on all the property
be had in his name. These mortgages
have just recently been put on record
in the Clerks office.
The real estate thus mortgaged and
the personal property is estimated to
be worth $4,000 in round numbers.
On some of this are mortgages for the
purchase money not included in the
list given below, amounting probably
to $4,000.
There are rumors of other large
amounts, but these we are inclined to
believe are not true. For instance, it
was rumored that he had in his posses
sion $1,000 or $1,000 belonging to Mr..
Jos. Browns estate. This is not true.
He had collected $50 or SIS for this
estate and offered to pay it over, but
there was no one authorized to receive
it.
The following is the list:
On March 7th, two mortgages were
put on record, both to Geo. S. Mower,
one as endorser for 1000, dated No
1892, covering his house and
lot in town; the Elmore place, II acres,
and the Sem place of 135 acres. The
other mortgage is for $1,000, and dated
S0th December, 1892, and covering the
Lake place, $50 acres; the Floyd place,
2ll4 acres, and also the house and lot
in town, the Sem place and the El-
more place.
A mortgage to Sarah L. Goggans in
the penal sum of 1880, for the pay
ment of $S14.76, with interest from the
18th January, 1888, on the house and
lot in town, the Sem place, the Lake
place and the Elmore place: mortgage
dated 24th February, 1898.
A mortgage to Eva Fl. Gary in the
penal sum of 81, ,576.44, for the payment
Of S7SS.22, due 18th November, 1858,
and dated 9th February, 1898; on the
same lands as the Sarah L. Goggans
mortgage.
Then there is what we might call a
blanket mortgage, dated the Oath Of
February, 1898, to cover the following
amounts on the property named above:
TO Ida w. Barksdale for $500, with
interest from the 26th of December,
1890.
To Alice c. Chapman for $3.50, with
interest from January 1st, 1898.
To Mary e. Mack, of Aiken, S. c.,
for $500, with interest from the first Of
January, 1898.
To Jane E. Boozer for S4O.26, with
interest from 1891; credited 4th Febru-
ary, 1898, with S22; to Jane E. Boozer
as guardian, for S266. %, with interest
from 1891, credited February 9, 1892,
with S2l.29.
To Mary F. Dantzler for money col
lected at different times, 1891 SO, ex-
elusive of interest.
To Lou Wash Floyd as endorser for
s403.50, of date about January 25, 1898.
The last three mortgages were filed
in the Clerks office on 2lst March.
The $3.50 for Mrs. Alice Chapman is
money collected for her from the sale
Of her house in town and some Of the
other amounts are for monies collected
but not turned over.
In addition to the above the Nation
al Bank Of Newberry has a claim of
81, ,740, but it is secured by collaterals.
The above claims cover all the items
that are matters Of record, except such
amounts as may be due on the lands
for the purchase money.
When the rumor was first circu-
lated that Mr.. Goggans had left, the
editor Of this paper Indignantly denied
it. We could not for a long time be-
lieve it. But it seems now 10 be only
too true and that be has gone, not to
return. Where, we know not. And
so far as We know, no one is making
any effort TO find out. 1t is sad end
ing of what promised to be a bright
and happy and useful and honorable
career. For his family-his wife and
Herald and News has
The profoundest sympathy,
Mr.. Goggans has given up all the
he had, but it will not replace
.he trust funds, and the bulk of them
seems to he unsecured.
How he used this money so as to
ose it-whether speculating or in other
know not. 1t is reported
hat he did last fall deal somewhat in
cotton futures, but whether it was lost
hat way or not we know not. It is a
dangerous thing to use other peoples
money, il matters not how certain we