Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-02-09
Late Railroad News.
THE STATE LEvYNe-oN RAILROAD PRO
pERrY FOB TAXES SAID TO BE DUE.

ANDERSON, S. c., February 4.-The
down freight was arrested here to-day
for the non-payment of taxes. Sherln
Gaines locked the engine to the track.
The, rear boxes of the train lay across
the street crossing. The train men re-
ouested that they be allowed to move the
train SO as to clear the crossing, but the
Sheriff, fearing the train would escape,
refused to unlock the engine. The She
riff was then arrested by the city authori-
ties for obstructing the streets and the
matter stands that way now. Sheriff
Gaines telegraphed to Governor Tillman
for orders, but has not yet had reply.
Sheriff Nance, of Abbeville, tried to
levy on R. & D. freight at Greenwood
Friday. The boys got news of his pur-
pose by wire and drove the train through
town at thirty miles an hour and the
Sheriff was left lamenting.
| AIKEN, February 4.-This afternoon
Sheriff Tyler levied on fourteen box cars
| living on the side track at Aiken, sup
posed to belong to the South Carolina
Railway Company, for taxes. The taxes,
penalty and costs, before the levy now
claimed to be due by the South Carolina
Railway Company, amount to s1,156.76.
The Sheriff notified Agent Tindal this
morning that an execution had been
issued against the road, and asked him
what he proposed to do. Mr.. Tindal
said he would wire the receiver and give
the Sheriff an answer by O'Clock. Up
to that hour no answer was received and
late this afternoon the levy was made.
Several of the cars are loaded with
freight.
NEwBERRY, February 4.-Sheriff Riser
to-day levied on freight train OF the
Richmond and Danville Railroad for the
balance due as claimed by the State for
taxes for the year 1892. The railroad
had paid taxes according to what 1t con-
sidered a just assessment. The balance
claimed by the State is Sl,540.10 on the
Richmond and Danville, including pen
alty: and on the Laurens Road s15o.5O,
including penalty. When the freight
train from Columbia arrived here to-day
| the Sheriff took charge of it and put his
oepu., N it and permitted the engine 10
do what shli.--, was to be done, and
when that was done he f--tered the en-
CINE to the track with big chain and
there it stands tonight. On the Laurens
Road he took possession of the first class
passenger coach and fastened it to the
track and passengers for Laurens had to
take second class passage or none at all.
Sheriff Dukes, of Orangeburg, on
Thursday levied on an engine and two
cars OF the Charleston, Sumter and
Northern Road for unpaid taxes.
LAU,.ESs, February 4-There is moth
ing new in the railroad situation this
morning. except that another box car has
been levied upon. In all, three engines,
eight boxes and a lot of tools are in the
hands of the Sheriff.
A CLASH OF AUTHORITY.
CHARLESTON, S. c.. February 6.-Pro-
ceedings were begun in the United States
Court here to-day, which threaten TO
bring about a conflict between the State
and Federal authorities if the Sheritfs OF
the different counties attempt to carry
out the orders of Gov. Tillman to levy on
railroad property for taxes now IN dis
pute. Or. Saturday freight train on the
South Carolina Railway was chained to
the track. There were fourteen freight
cars. eight cf which were loaded, the
< lue being about $1,000. The amount
of taxes claimed by the State is not over
$1,000. The road is in the hands OF d.
II. Chamberlain, Receiver, appointed by
the United States Court. Receiver Cham
oerlain's petition to the court, filed
TODAY. claims that the taxes, according
to legal assessment, have been paid, and
that the balance claimed by the State,
about $1,000, is illegal and has been SO
declared oy the court. The seizure and
sale OF the property would put stop to
the business of the road; that the entire
property is in possession and under the
control of the court, and the court should
protect its property and not permit the
exaction of an illegal tax: so declared oy
the court IN March, 1892.
Upon hearing the petition Judge Simon
ton signed the following order:
..It appearing, by the petition, that
certain personal property, alleged to be
in custody of the court and in the hands
and under the control of receiver, duly
anno;nted has boon seized by and under
an execution for taxes alleged to be
unlawful and not due or payable, it is
ordered that NJ c. Mitchell and NJ. v
TYLER. Treasurer and Sheriff OF Aiker
county, show cause at Charleston, OF
February 10th, why they should not be
attached and punished for contempt O
court; also, why they should not bt
enioined and restrained from interfering
with any or all of the property OF th'
South Carolina Railway"
5 In the meantime temporary injunction
$ is granted restraining the officials from
5 levying npon the property in question
. Similar writs were issued at the suit o
, the Richmond and Danville Railroad
/ citing the Sherifs and Treasurers o
Abbeville, Anderson and Newberry coun
ties for contempt, the rule in these latte
cases being made returnable at Green
vile March Sth. A detachment OF UDite'
: States marshals was sent out on this after
moons trains to serve papers. In all thes
cases the railroads have paid the take
based on the original assessments OF prop
erty. The County Auditors, however
raised these assessments, it is claimed
Arbitrarily and illegally, and the cour
: has so decided. The Governors order
: to the Treasurers and Sheritfs are to 6
. ahead with the executions temporarily
: The Intervention of the Federal Court
. will probably produce something OF a
a exciting clash of authority.
/ THE FIGHT BECOMES HOTTER.
: COLUMBIA, S. c., February 7.-Th
clash has come and Gov. Tillman and tn
Federal Court are in direct conflict owe
the railroad situation in the State. Gov
"A {ha 11JlQ