The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-11-30
More Light on the Chart Matter.
Editor TIE TINES:

GOiIOI : S1S A4AGo.
agree with you, I think the trustees
should explain why they used so much Of
the public money in buying so many OF
these arithmatical charts (Which, to my
mind, is of doubtful value) when there is
such cry for moro money for our public
schools. As chairman of the board Of trus-
tees for school district No. 5, Santee town
ship will explain how our district got into
the chart business in as few words as pos
sible.
Mr. Creager, the agent for these charts,
came to see me first. After be got through
showing them to me | directed him to
Messrs. r. C. Plowden and John ". Clark
(the other trustees Of our board), so he
went to see Mr.. Plowden first. When he
got through showing the charts to Mr.
Plowden he pulled out blank form Of
agreement for Mr.. Plowden to sign, and,
to save Mr. Creager the trip back to his
place should Mr.. Creager and myself agree
on number of charts and price, Mr.. Plow
den signed it and TOLD Mr.. Creager that be
left the matter Of filing the order with me,
which was positive understanding. Mr
Creager went on then to see Mr.. Clark.
MIR. Clark signed this paper with Mr.. Plow-
den, telling Mr.. Creager that be, too. would
leave the whole matter with me. Messrs
Plowden and Clark are both honorable
gentlemen and will swear in any court that
they did sign blank paper, but did moi
tell Mr.. Creager to ship them any charts.
Mr.. Creager came back to ses me again,
called me out to his buggy and said, "Now,
Mr.. Burgess, for the order; 1 have seen
| Messrs. Plowden and Clark, and they both
like the chart, and you can or must fill the
order" told Mr. Creager so far as was
concerned we would not take any charts at
all that it would teke too much money
. from our district. Mr.. Creager insisted on
me taking six anyhow, three expensive
! ones for the white schools and three for the
colored not so expensive. told him posi-
lively would not take any, and told him
if be got en- order he would get it from
Messrs. Plowden and Clark, that two was 6
majority of three and would not agree tc
give MIN an order. Mr.. Creager, before
leaving, asked me to write to him in Man.
ming, that he would be there, and maybe
| would change. But before be left be told
me not to write, that he would come back
and see me again. I told him 'alrlght,
and he left for Manning as thought. and
have not seen him since that day. In
about one week after he left me- three charts
| came addressed to r. e. Plowden. Mr.
PTowden shipped them back the next day
! I thought that wes lie end of the cner'
business, but not so. In four or five days
the three charts which Mr.. Plowden ship
ped back, came to him again with three
others, with good many small books. Mr.
Plowden did not ship them any more. He
might have been afraid the next time he
would get twelve, as they doubled them the
first time. The charts are in the depot
now and have been ever since they were
shipped back. Maj a. Levi traded for our
paper (Which was filed out by Mr. Crea
ger to suit himsel) at considerable dis
count and says he will have his money
We notified Mr.. Bowman, our county treas
urer, not to pay the claim when presented
that the whole th:-~ was fraud. MIR
Bowman says h i" ty 81 e.s.1
when presented.
So Mr.. Editor, -. IT. ...2s, ag
daily that We VI! 20. T.
money for sometl 80 L.. T..,-..
Jordan, S. e., >"s