Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-18
The Case Of Mr.. Smith.


Now that the Amos Owens Cherry
tree company Of Henrietta and sur
rounding postoffices in North Carolina
has been disposed of by means OF In
dictments against the various proprie-
tors, who have either been arrested or
become fugitives, 1t is next In order to
investigate Mr.. ]. E. Smith, the Mon
ticello, Fla, publisher.
THE ENQUIRER does not know that
Mr.. Smith is a fraud or swindler.
It does not know that the owners OF the
Amos Owens Cherry Tree company are
swindlers and frauds. It does know,
however, of people who sent money to
both of them in compliance with their
propositions and who were to receive
salaries or other articles in return; but
who have received nothing, notwith-
standing that such compensation has
long since been due and owing.
While the case of the Amos owens
Cherry Tree company has been dis
posed Of with comparative ease, the
case of Mr.. ]. E. Smith, the Florida
man, seems to promise more trouble.
Mr.. Smith seems to have more nerve
than the other fellows. He has evil
IDENTIFY been holding on to his money
and he is in position to buy help from
influential sources. For instance, our
recent article showing how impossible
Mr.. Smiths scheme is as an arithme-
tical proposition has been answered by
slurring anonymous attack IN the
Columbia State, and in it's issue Of last
Friday that paper prints the following
from Mr.. Smith himself:
THAT $4,000 A MONTH SCHEME.
Mr.. Smith, of Florida, Writes Sensi-
BILE Letter in Reply to His Critics.
MONTICELLO, Fla, Dec. 18th, 1901.
Editor The State:
NV attention has been called to some
newspaper articles appearing in some
papers in South Carolina relative to me
and my business. Some Of these ar
ticles charge me with doing business
that is not legitimate.
While 1 have taken little notice of
these pieces, from the fact that their
as have q good many subscribers In
your state and want those who are not
acquainted with me in any way, to
understand the situation, I write you
this card.
In the first place Monticello, Florida,
is not so far away as to preclude COM
munication with her citizens, and az
we have truthful and reliable citizens
here, would 1t not be better for those
who try to condemn me to write down
here and find out what kind Of char
acter I am? We have bankers, law
yers, doctors and business men who
would answer important inquiries. If
postage be enclosed.
Or, If they would not be satisfied
with that, let them choose three reput-
able and competent men, who may
come to Monticello and look into my
business and my methods. I will take
pleasure in giving them every oppor-
| tunity and aid them to find out as to
whether I am honest and whether my
business Is conducted on an honest
basis. If they will do this, and the
| three men selected do not find me re-
liable and honest and my business con-
Quoted fairly and honestly, I will pay
| their expenses and five dollars q day
each for the time consumed.
I desire to say to your readers that
have been in Monticello nearly IL
years; have been in business here con-
tinuously since August, 1890. Before
coming here my life was spent on a
farm in Echals county Ca, and at
school in Athens, Ga. If during my
career here, or before came here, any
one who knows me or who has had
dealings with me, can say anything but
good Of me, I am not aware of 1t.
For eight years have published The
Constitution, one Of the ablest papers
In Florida. and 1t is conducted as legiti-
mately and as honestly as any paper
published In the state or out Of the
state. If any person wants to know
whether 1t Is legitimate let him ask
me.
The reports Of my methods of doing
business which appeared in a few pa
pers. are so far from the fact that am
convinced that the writer's have been
| imposed on, or are trying to injure me
without the semblance Of an excuse.
My method Is legitimate, honest and
based on business principles that are
correct and which have been found by
experience Of years to work all right.
While I don't hold myself up as one
Of the "holier than thou" kind. still I
am not ashamed of my record and
believe 1t will compare favorably with
that Of any who have tried to abuse
me.
I have had agents from time to time
working for me for many years, and
have invariably kept my contracts with
each one. IF any one has a right to
know what I am doing he can find out
| by asking me or others who know me
and my business. I have never failed
to give any informa ton desired, when
| asked, and in every instance the en-
quirer has been fully satisfied.
Respectfully,
J. E. SMITH.
In connection with this letter, it Is
only fair to say that the Columbia
State knows Of an individual who
claims to have worked for Mr.. Smith
for IA months and to have been paid in
full regularly every month. We have
intimated to The State that we would
be glad to have the name of this sor-
tunate agent for publication; but up 20
this time our esteemed contemporary
has declined to specify.
Within the past few days a citizen
of this county has said to this writer:
"a young lady Of my neighborhood
sent club Of subscribers to Smith re-
Gently. She was to receive a bicycle
for rs. was one of the subscribers.
The lady sent the names and the
money. That was more than a month
ago. All Of the subscribers received
one copy of the paper each forthwith;
but none Of them received another
copy. The young lady has not yet re-
ceived her bicycle"
A citizen of Yorkville has also advis-