The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-15


posed to loan it to him for I per cent.
payable semi annually: another at 8
per cent. annually. He asked me
about it and told Elm if he lost his
job he would advise him to take the
8 per cent As to why I notified the
bank not TO pay it was in consequence
of papers on the cotton which would
prevent me getting it. There was a
$4,000 note in the Farmers and
Merchants Anderson bank which
Mr.. Fowler had endorsed and which
bad gone to protest. Mr.. B NJ.
Boris, and Mr.. j. @ Hammond were
the other endoraers. The note was
made by Col Neal. They notified
Mr. Ragsdale not to move any cotton
from the farm. He went over to take
the cotton to sell it and meet the
draft, when he was notified that
others hsd a lien on it. Then he told
the bank not to pay the note. He
has never ascertained from Col Neal
what those Ragsdale notes were
given for
He had told Col. Neal he had
given the draft and Col. Neal told
him that If he had had the opportunity
he wonld have advised witness not
to have done it I told Col Neal
that he knew that was not morally
responsible for the hire, and Col.
Neal replied that was true. Col
Meals general tenor was that he
himself was responsible BE said 30.
He said Col Neal told him that he
had informed the board of the trans.
fer Of his contract, and he was
shocked when some Of them told him
they knew nothing about it BE
was dealing with Col G Neal as an
individual and did NOT know that
there was anything contrary to law
in the transaction.
In answer to Senator Livingston
he said there was no secret agree
ment so far as he was concerned
He had nothing to conceal he
didn't know whether the board knew
about the reconveyance Of the farm.
He said that be had told the board
that he did not hold himself Liable
for the hire. This when Mr. Cum
ningham showed him the memoranda
during the session of the Legislature.
He could not remember whether he
had made the verbal agreement with
Col Neal about the use Of the con-
victs before or after he made the con.
tract for convicts. It was really Col.
Neal's contract and witness was
never required to sign q bond az bad
previously been the case. He pro-
duced some letters and papers
bearing on his testimony as to the
sale of cotton.
Nj. B.. Z. Burriss. bookkeeper Of
the peniten.isry, VAS the next witness.
He has kept the books dariag Col.
Nsal's term. He san only the B. B.
Ragsdals' nete. Gong back to 1896
the Watson contract 1ss made. The
6rst note which came TO him wss 10
April. 1896, for 81. $50 spd Vas given
BY Mt. Wsssos. Itvss payable in the
fall. The noss Vas not paid as
ns.aris,, bns. Ma charged BY the bsnk
70 the psnissntiary seeoant. Co
December, 1885. ihs note aud interest
slsse. ma&asity mas ehss1sa. The
anouns eas $l,560, isss the discount.
Tbs hira foe 1896 amonassd % some.
shine over 81 800. Some time n
1887 Col. Neal 1old him Of settle
nept be had ksd With IN ssson aud
turned over $318 81. Col. Neal ssid
ths note he'd hsss setslsd up sod che
$e1S.87 sas 70 90 oa convict hire fen
1896 He thinks the note Of one .el
the Raesdsles we taken up in this
transaction.
In February, 1898, Mr. Clarke. 0,
Col Jones. told bin they had a note Of
B. B. Rsgsdsle. He called Col. Meals
attention to it aud be said il had been
arranged. He didu's say anything
about the circumstsooes of giving the
pete. In February. 1898. Was a
$2.398 note BY Watson to cover the
'97 convict hire In April, 1897, there
Was . payment of $172 by check.
which vas not paid. Col. Neal said he
would arrange the matter with the
bank, snd it was carried as each. 1t
Was given by Col Neal personally, be
saying be would have to pay discount
on the note. lie knew nothing about
the Nesl and Watson private contract.
Col. Neal bad never told him anything
aboutit. He knew nothing about the
G. W. Rsgsdale note until about six
weeks ago. when be learned of it
through . letter to Gel. Neal. Col.
Neal deposited notes in payment Of
1898 convict hire He was under the
impression it was Watson note. As
VfY ' -P