The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-14

marvel was that a southern man could
be found who would turn over a mil
lion and half Of dollars without being
asked to do so. kilograms were sent to
Charleston inquiring into the particu-
lars of the transaction, for it was I'M
derstood that Mr.. George W. Williams
was the southerner alluded to.
AS has already been stated, 4Mr. Will
liams went from his home in Nacoshee,
Ca, to Augusta, and in his eighteenth
year procured a situation as! clerk with
Mr.. Darrell Hand. So energetic and
faithful was the mountain boy that he
was made a full partner at the age of
tWenty-one. 1t was then and there
that the foundation of Mr.. Hands for
tune of two or more millions of dollars
was laid. At that time Mr.. Hand was
MT worth more than five thousand dol
lars. Mr.. Williams was the chief man.
ager in Charleston. Mr.. Hand, being
opposed to secession and afraid of the
results of war, withdrew from the firm
in 1861, and decided not to come south,
but to remain in New York. His life
time earnings, however, were nearly all
in Charleston, and he had to take the
chances of the war. In the meantime
the war between the north and south
ragged and gold debts due the firm by
the million went into Confederate mon
ey. Each section passed the Sequestra-
ton act.
AS Mr.. Hand was no longer a citizen
Of the south, and was known to be a
Union man, the Confederate authori-
ties took measures to sequestrate his
interest in the firm of George w. Will
liams & Co. Mr.. Williams, finding that
his old friends interests would be con-
fiscated if he remained at the north,
sent messenger to Louisville, KY, re-
questing his immediate return. This
was fearlessly done, notwithstanding
Mr. Williams was informed that if he
brought Mr.. Hand to Charleston his
house would be destroyed by mob.
He also reinstated Mr.. Hand as part
ner in his firm. at a cost OF more than
a quarter of a million dollars to him
self. Mr.. Hand, failing to get through
the lines at Baltimore, took the western
route On arriving in New Orleans he
was arrested and imprisoned as q
Lincoln spy" Mr.. Williams tele-
graphed to Governor Moore, Of Louisia-
ma, vouching for Mr.. Hands integrity.
He finally succeeded in getting Mr..
Hand out Of prison, but he was sent
under guard to Richmond, then the
seat of the Confederate government.
While passing through Augusta, Ca,
his old home, the mayor found 1t neces-
sary to send Mr.. Hand to Jail to 4ro-
tect him from a mob. The mayor was
4 IL l. 80
the Jail. Mr.. Williams went to Angus
ia at once and shared Mr. Hands
quarters in the cold walls Of the Jail
until his release was secured. After
much vexation, trouble and expense Mr..
Hand was sent to Richmond and con-
fined in the Libby prison nearly a.
month awaiting his trial as a spy. In
the meantime a vigorous suit was COM
menced in Charleston to sequestrate
Mr.. Hands interest in the Charleston
firm. Mr.. Williams employed the best
of counsel and after an exciting con-
test, which lasted for several days, the
suit was decided in Mr. Hands fovor
and his interest in the firm of George
w. Williams & Co. was saved from
confiscation. The court and jury deci-
ded that Mr.. Daniel Hand had not for
feited his estate by change Of residence
or by any Unreasonable act against the
state or Confederate government"
AS South Carolina at that time was
not a comfortable home for one sus-'
pected of Union sentiments Mr.. Will
liams divided his last gold dollar with
his friend and advised him to go to the
| toin re Car n1ina to wait
the issues of the war. Before leaving
Charleston Mr.. Hand cont1ded all Of his
personal property to the man who had
stood by him under such trying cir
cumstances, to be held, managed and
considered as his own. The real estate
was already in Mr. Williams name and
needed no transfer. Having been so
severely dealt with by the Confederate
authorities he decided to go north the
first opportunity never to return, which
resolution he carried out to the letter.
During the early part Of the war
northern and western houses furnished
Mr.. Williams firm with large. quanti-
ties of goods, with a full knowledge that
the laws of the Confederacy were
against collecting such debts; they re-
lieu SllIlISly upOlL lAOiloL VI LhC AA4 Ia
for their pay.
Two cargoes of coffee were also i'm
ported from South America after the
fall of Fort Sumter. One of these sue
ceeded in running the blockade in o.
tober, 1851, chased by the Federal gun
boats. The Confederates were t hus
supplied with three thousand bags of
coffee. All debts of honor Mr.. Will
liams felt his duty to pay. He started
money north via Atlanta and Louis
vile, KY, but it was intercepted by the
vigilance committee, forbidding money
paid to the enemy, threatening criminal
prosecution if it was done. Mr., Will
liams, being determined to provide for
the payment of these debts, RENTED
four hundred thousand dollars sterling
exchange to Liverpool and London.
When the war was over the debts were
paid In full, with interest.
AS the war progressed Mr.. Williams
fortune, and that of his partner was
fast going into Confederate money and
Confederate securities, with a prospect
Of almost total loss. In this emergen-
cy Mr.. Williams naturally looked
around for other investments, hoping to