The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-31
LOUD Wall OF WOE
HOW A MISSOURI BARBER
SHAVED THE INNoCENTS.
G. e. Mills Played the Role Of Mil
lionaire, Flew High, Got Much
Cash and Left Alabamians
to Mourn.

months ago, man of neat and unassum-
ing appearance registered at the Age Ho-
tel in Lamison, Ala, as Major c. F..
Mills, and 1t was circulated he was worth
100000. This report soon put him in
touch with the most influential people in
Lamison, forty-three miles south of Sell
ma, which, though a town of only three
stores, a church and forty-five inhabi-
tants can rather could boast of much
wealth. as it is situated in the finest
pine center OF Alabama. Mills then
launched the Yellow Pine Lumber Com
pany with himself as President and Treas
urer, and the concern soon proved the
main industry of the place; shares at
500 being sold fast. Mills next bought a
number of small mills in Marengo. Clark
and Wilcox Counties and put them In
operation. From these mills, for which
he gave notes at thirty, sixty and ninety
days on the Yellow Pine Lumber Com
pany, in less than four months he ship
ped East about fifty car loads at an av-
erage price of $500 car. The timber
used was obtained in like manner. being
bought at fabulous prices. for time meant
everything to Mills.
About ten days ago Mills wished to es-
tablish the Bank of Lamison for his own
convenience, so he stated, but further
developments show it was for reference.
To show his shrewdness he went to De-
mopolis. Ala. to get, as President of the
Bank Curran Shields. whom he heard
vas one of the most popular and 'nfiuen-
tial young men in the business circles of
Demopolis. Shields was then working for
Myer Bros. wholesale merchants. and
had been fifteen years. Mills offered him
a princely salary and finally persuaded
Myer to release Shields.
While in the store he ordered between
$500 and $500 worth of goods to be sent
direct to Lamison. On this same trip
Mills went to the First National Bank
of Demopolis and showed certificate for
$45O, 900 on the Bank of San Antonio, Tex,
explaining that 1t was joint account
with his sister, who would not be of age
until December / and that he would like
to borrow $3.50. giving notes on the yell
low Pine Lumber Company. This was
arranged. He then went to Mark Bros.
and bought eight mules for $1,000 giving
a check on the Bank of San Antonio and
that marked the downfall of Mills. the
millionaire!
Returning to Lamison, Shields az Pres
ident; P. F. Dumas of Lamison, as Cash
Ter, and the remaining officers. men re-
puted to be wealthy and beyond reproach
were installed in the Bank of Lamison
whose popular stock was $4,000, all paid
up. These officers. from every indication,
were not familiar with the banking bust
ness. and 1t is alleged the entire thing
was left to Mills. That he fixed things to
suit his own schemes and duped those
who placed confidence in him is the I'M
qualified opinion of the many bankers
with whom he did and tried to do busi-
ness The bank Is said to have been in
ccrporated under the laws of Alabama.
but this did not detract from the manner
in which Mills made use of 1t in the fur
theranee of his operations.
But on Monday great was the fall there
se.
Marks of Demopolis, on Monday APP
peared, demanding pay for the eight
mules or the mules, the check on the
Bank of San Antonio having been turned
down and notification sent that no man
named C. f. Mills had bank account in
that city. A search was made for Mills,
but he could not be found-one remark
overheard having been enough for him.
The cashier was unable to pay the
amount, as the great 7000-pound safe con-
tanned nothing-save modern improve
ments. Not even the proverbial bottom
dollar could be found. Marks took the
mules from the lumber yard and other
stock owners made a raid on Mills's pri-
vate stable, taking their own, FIVE fine
driving horses and one saddle horse and
the surrey and buggy rolled out the same
way.
Such news travels fast, and before long
the Bank Of Lamison was literally bank
ed with checks ranging from $40 to $500.
on the Yellow Pine Lumber Company,
the brownsville Lumber Company. and
the Thoma ston Lumber Copany (the two
last companies have not yet been start
ed, the total amount running high into
the thousands. But the Bank, which is
fitted up as handsomely as any in the
South could only be turned into a law
Office from which attachments were Is
sued instead of cash.
There will be about sufficient assets to
nav 8 cents on the dollar of liabilities.
Not only does Lamison suffer but people
all over the country between Mobile and
Selma, and others too many to enumer-
ate.
Mills was located in Birmingham where
he has formed the Eastern Coal and Lum-
Der Company, but only his overcoat ana
grip was found at his elegant Office
rooms as he again left hurriedly. Rumor
says ne is now in Cincinnati
He had on foot a railroad from Lami-
son to Sweetwater. Ala, about twenty
eight miles. 1t had been surveyed and
contracts given to local construction
companies. with drafts on the Yellow Pine
Lumber Company, of course.
Nothing much Is known Of Mills's past