The Brunswick times-call. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1900-1902, 1901-06-25

bou n d to pay, in a full settlement wite
the bank, under consent ln wIiting of
all parties AZ interest either as orsoi
tors or stockholders; that at that tim,
both he and the then judge OF tue supt
FLOR oourt, and the grand jury at thai
time In session, had made a thorough
Investigation Of the matter, which i. =
vesti gstlou had Satisfied them that mir.
Lane had been guilty of no crime OF
any character, but had Displayed bad
business judgment, and that after the
Investigation and settlement a decree
had been entered by the court in The
equitable prooeenings to wind 10 the
affairs Of the bank. sbeOlving Mr.. Lane
OF any liability OF any character, e tber
OWL or criminal, upon payment OF the
amount stated. The s ,icitOr General
stated that he had advised the last
grand jury, who found the bill of In
dictment, that in his opinion no crime
was involved In the matter and that
Mr. Lane hSd made the f9|es' legal
and moral repAration for whatever
mistake he bad made, but they had seen
fit anyway to find q bill Of Indictment
and since that time he had made no sec
ret OF the fact that il those interested
In the bank should see tit to employ
counsel to prosecute the csse he would
havs no objsction, but that failing this
'' wcnln ask the nnnrt IN 0rAnra nniIa
prosequi.
Hon. W. G. Brantley, OF counsel for
DIR Lane, sopplemsnting the remarks
of the Solicitor General, stated that a
nolle prosequi ought to be entered, +,
fret, herauss there WAS no crime known
to the law charged in the indictment,
and second, because the facts aud Or
cumstsnoee Of the case showed that no
crime was committed. M Brantlsy
then read to the court the decree in
the Merchants and Traers Bank liti
CATION referred to bg the Solicitor Gan
sral and also read the petition upon
which 1t was based. This p petition
was an intervention filed By Mr.. r Y,
Lane, the father OF Mr.. A, H. Lane,
stating that his son WAS insolvent, bn,
that he himself stood ready to pay sll
amounts for which A. H Lane could
bs held evan morally liable. Petition
was magnificent in its portrsyaI of the
protecting care Of a father for his son
joined with the s:ern justice and up
rightness so sloquontly ond simply an
nounoed.
Judge 8. G. Atkinson, who was at
the time OF counsel for the Reosiver of
the bank, and Mr.. W. T. Kay, who re
presented the creditors of the bank,
both stated to the ceurt that the whole
transaction had taken place with the
fullest knowledge OF all oonce ned, after
various conferences, and after full
investigation Of all matters had satisf d
them not only that there was no crime
involed but that, in fsot, thsre was
grave question whether Mr.. A. II
Lane could be held legally liable for
sny of the amonts offered to be paid by
his father. Mr.. r. Y. Lane, and furih
er announced that 1t appeared to them
that il 1t WAS the hopse Gf public jus
tice being vindicated, it had made its
appearance rather late, and that it had
been great surprise to them, knowing
the facts as they did, when they heard
that an indictment had been found By
the grand jury.
Judge Seabrook, in granting the
order allowing the nolle prosequi. and
stating that he thought this an emin'
emily proper case for such action
stated also that of course no re fleotior
WAS intended upon the grand jury whit
J fund the bill Of iDpiotment, because