The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-03
HIS FRIENDS DISAPPEARED.
DEsERTION OF COL. NEAL WAS A
GREAT Surprise.

Notwithstanding His Influence in
Politics Had Helped Many of Them
to Success, They Knew Him Not in
the Trying Hour When He Needed
BOndsman-WOn McLaurIn's
Election for Him and often Aided
TiIIman.
Columbia. 5. c.. Sept. 2.-The failure of
Col. Meals former political and personal
friends 10 come to his support this week
has been surprise to many, and makes
the case of the ex-superintendent of the
penitenuary much more serious than it
has heretofore been considered.
1t had been supposed that when the
pinch came his friends would advance him
the money with which to square accounts
with the state, and the money paid in few
juries hereabouts would find a verdict
against him if the prosecution should be
continued by the state for forms or poll
cy's sake,
But the friends have not shown up, nor
have his relatives, and Col. Neal is con-
nected by blood and marriage with a num-
Der of men who could supply the deficiency
without embarrassment. And when these
people refused to sign a bond for So, 500
for the attendance of the accused at the
Court of General Sessions, when the ri.k
of his not doing so is infnitesimal the
hope of their paying out money for him
vanished
DesertiOn Was Complete.
There has seldom been a case where
the sinking ship has been so completely
deserted by the rats. Prior to his defeat
for reelection as superintendent of the
penitentiary last January, Col Neal had
for four years been the leading man in
political manipulations. A reformer, but
not an extremist, he had influence with
both sides in the legislature; smoothed out
rough places, patcher up personal enmi-
ties and pushed the projects he advocated
to success.
Men of different shades of politics met
at his house, among them Senator TIL
man. He was a close personal and politi-
cal friend of Senator McLaurin, and when
the vacancy in the United States senator
ship was occasioned by the death of Sena-
tor Earle, Col. Neal used all his influence
with Gov. EIerbe to appoint McLaurin to
office pending an election by the legisla-
ture. This was done, and then the peni-
tertiary superintendent pulled off his coat,
took charge of Mr.. McLaurins campaign
and went to work. The result was an easy
victory for Senator McLaurin.
EFT Tu. TiIIman.
Senator Tinman was in town on the
night Col Neal was searching for bonds
men, but he did not come TO aid his
friend.
There is considerable sympathy for Col
Neal While about s11,5OO is the amount
charged against him, he seems to have
Appropriated to his own use only $500
the balance being for he hire of convicts
10 irresponsible men who were conducting
his plantations. He took the notes of
these men and they were worthless. The
peniteniary directors are blamed for ac-
cept.ng such straw notes or allowing
them TO be accepted. 1t was the duty of
the directors to supervise such matters
but they seem to have left everything in
the hands of the superintendent.
The three charges on which indictments
have been made-breach of trust, embez-
Element and falling to turn over to his
successor pubic tundS IN mis- possession
all refer 20 the $1,000 used by the super
intendent, the greater part of which he
has acknowledged appropriating so that
nothing but conviction Is possible.
Expected to Pay 1t Back.
Col. Neal was generous, spent money
freely, and at the same time was ATTEMPT
ing to pay a relative a $4,000 mortgage
on his plantations. He hoped for big re-
turns from the cotton crop, and was con-
fident of reelection, so he used the states
money from time to time, with the expec-
tation of paying 1t back when times were
better with him, but he was one of those
who met defeat, and so exposure followed
He is the first South Carolina Democratic
state official to be prosecuted for the i'm
proper use of public funds, although there
have been more than hints that others
have fattened while feeding at the public
crib.