The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-05-08
YEARS OF FORGERY.
SUDDEN AND STARTLING DEVELOP
MENTS FOLLOWING AN ARREST.

SUDDEN AND STARTLING DEVELOP
MENTS FOLLOWING AN ARREST.
Full Confession of Long Series of Crimes
Deeds and Mortgages Made to Meet
Emergcncics--Lcd on From one Fraud te
Another.
GREESv1LtE, S. c., May There
was general surprise here yesterday
when it became known that Spartan
Columbus Dickson. familiar known as
''Lum' Dickson. had been arrested TO,
forgers-. The news spread rapidly
down town and people were soon talk
ing of nothing else. Astonishment
was intensified as the character ano
extent of the crimes became known.
Mr.. Dickson is about fiftv years old
He was born in this county and has
lived here all his life, and his family
has been prominent in mercantile anc
business affairs for years. Nearly ever
since the war Mr.. Dickson has been
engaged in buying and selling rea!
estate. He has rarely missed a land
sale, and hundreds of tracts in the
city and county have passed through
his hands. He has always been 8
quiet. unassuming man, attending
closely to his affairs and living and
dressing plainly. He has not for a
long time had the full confidence OF
business men. but no direct charges
have been made against his character.
There has been feeling that he was
visionary in some Of his ideas and
scattering in his enterprises. In fact
some of those who have known him
few or none could claim to be init
mate with him-have long expressed
the belief that he was somewhat un,
balanced mentally. Several years age
he laid out a tract of land Just beyond
the city limits which is known as the
Dickson annex" A year or two ago
he invented a cotton chopper and on
this he seemed to pin his faith. II
was the one subject on which he be-
came enthusiastic and seemed to be
able to talk freely, his general man
ner of speech being slow and hesitat-
ing and rather awkward.
Five weeks ago he went to Texas to
push his cotton chopper, selling coun-
ty rights He carried with him, he
says. only s72 in cash.
During his absence Carr Sudduth, a
farmer who lives some distance above
the city, saw an advertisement an
nouncing that the farm on which he
lives and which he supposed to be his
property to be sold on next salesday
under mortgage held byMiss Rosalie
Turpin. Mr.. Sudduth naturally hur-
ried to town to investigate. 1t was
then discovered that Mr.. Dickson had
given a mortgage on the place which
had never been satisfied and which
had passed into Miss Turpin's hands.
The land, containing 9s acres, was
sold by the late S. J. Douthit, master,
in November, 1888, and was bought
by S. G. Dickson. Dickson was given
time to comply but in the meanwhile
sold to Mr.. Sudduth, making a deed,
which was not recorded. In January,
1854 Dickson paid the cash portion of
the purchase money and took a deed.
giving mortgage for the balance,
deed and mortgage being dated back
to the day of sale 1t was this mort
gage which was subsequently bought
by Miss Turpin.. Mr.. Sudduth has
Mooney & Earle to repre-
sent his interests.
Discovery of this transaction caused
quiet comment and enquiry. Mrs.
Dickson was called on by Mr. Sudduth
and others interested. She did not
understand the facts thoroughly but
saw there was trouble and telegraph
ed Mr.. Dickson to return. As soon as
he could have money enough sent
him to get home on he started back,
here last Saturday morning.
He sent for Geo. A. Norwood, presi-
dent Of the Greenville Savings bank,
and Professor G. H. Judson, who man
ages the financial affairs Of Furman
University, both of whom held sup
posed securities of his on which they
had lent him money, confessed that he
had given them quantity of forge
ries and offered to make what restitu-
ton he could.
Yesterday morning Mr.. Norwood
went before Trial Justice Whitmire
and swore out three warrants against
Dickson. In each of them @. II. Jud-
son andT. Q. Donaldson are named as
witnesses and each of them charges
forgery They charged that he forged
a sealed note of John B. Crane for
$3.50; note and mortgage of Oliver
Charles Williams and Ed
die Williams for s1,S00; sealed note
and mortgage of w. P. Roddy for
$50; sealed note and mortgage Of W.
B. Ward for $50; sealed note and
mortgage for $40 of persons not
named.
Constable William Whitmire was
given the warrants and proceeded to
search streets and offices for Dickson,
at last going over to his house. Re-
from his unsuccessful hunt,
the constable met Dickson in the street
and Immediately informed him that
be was under arrest.
The prisoner showed no surprise or
but walked on to the trial
Justices Office where he entered and
sat down as quietly as fit was the
most ordinary business matter. He
said he had not yet determined what
he would do, asked an opportunity to
consult his friends an enquired what
bail would be required. He was told
ne would have 10 give bond of So
300, and with the constable walked
out. Hesaw several of his friends and
:alked freely with them, discussing
lis crimes and making no attempt to
leny or conceal them. The only
evidence he gave Of emotion Was when
ne mentioned his wife and his father,
he latter very old man who lives in
lpper Greenville. Speaking Of them,
ne broke down.
He seemed to have no definite plan
or purpose until about $50 o'clock