The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-07-18
Tuesday, July 18, 1905
THE DARGAN SUICIDE

regarding the failure or the lndepen-
dent Oil Company This article, rs it
shows, was published before the news
of the suicide Of Mr.. Dargan reached
the editor of that paper.
The facts regarding the financial con-
ditio1 of the company as discovered by
Mr. Williamson, who succeeded Mr.
Dargan as president most probably ac-
count for the suicide of the latter. His
death was one of the most remarkable
ever chronicled, and there seems TO be
some facts and circumstances connect
ed with it. which, when brought 10
deplOrable occurrence. The public has
not yet been given all the facts con-
nected with the suicide of Mr.. Dargan
and it will not be satisfied until it
knows what occurred in that law office
in which the suicide and his brother
spent an hour behind the locked doors
Mr.. Pegram Dargan could make state
ment which no doubt would startle the
public. 1t is highly probable, though,
that he will never tell what occurred
then ana there. 1t may be that his
statements would make him an acces-
sorry before the fact to the murder OF
his brother. There is no way of forcing
from him a statement of what occurred.
Enough about it is known to show that
he could refuse 20 answer any Gues-
tions on the ground that such state
ment might tend to incriminate him
self.
This article from the Wadesboro pa
per indicates that there had been gloss
negligence and deception in the man
agement of the company. Mr.. Keith
Dargan probably preferred death to
facing exposure and the disgrace which
would come from a correct statement to
the public q his stewardship.
The theory has been advanced that
the two brothers had made an agree
men. 10 take the poison together ana
that after Keith Dargan has swallowed
his part Of the poison his brother :
courage failed MIN and he refused TO
take his 1t will be remembered that
part of the acid was poured into a
glass, which Keith Dargan drank ana
that he balance was put into bowl
and mixed with hiskey. This was rot
touched, or if 50 a very small part of
it was drunk.
The Wadesboro paper says:
The news that the independent
Cotton Oil Company had failed. which
reached WadesbOrC last Friday. Great
ed considerable excitement and a great
deal of talk. OWING to the fact that
the company owns an oil mill. ice
plant and ginnery here. Exact figures
as to the liabilities OF the Company,
which is caEitalized at S1.00O.O00 are
not obtairable at this time. but enough
is known to cause those who have
stock in the concern to give up all
hope of ever realizing 4 cent on it.
The independent Cotton Oil Com
pany was organized December. 1903,
under a charter obtained in South
Carolina. with HEADQUARTERS at Dar-
lngton. s. c. The company IT this
time owned mills at Darlington. Che
raw. Marion. Manning and Davis sta
ton. Sll in South Carolina. During
the spring of the same year the Inde-
pendent Oil COMPANY purchased the
oil mill at this Dlace and subsequently,
built mills at Kingstree Timmonsvilla
and Haner. all South Carolina towns.
The company also aWns a large num-
ber Of ginneries. which arc run in con-
Gection with its mills An ice plants is
operated by the mill at this place.
II. X Dargan General Manager.
From the organization the Indepen-
dent Cotton Oil Company. until the
cay of its failure was practically un-
Ger the control of Robert Keith Dar-
gan. of DARLINGTON. first as general
manager and president. Mr. Dargan
was also eX-officio treasurer of the
COmpanY.
A False Statement
The last annual meeting of the
stockholders of the COMPANY was held
at DarlirCton June 9Th. At this meet
ing Mr.. Dargan made a statement
which showed thai the company had
in available assets. outside the cost OF
the plants. from $4,000 to 100000
net surplus. and on this showing rec
be declared. The dividend was de-
clared. rayable August 1st 1t goes
without saving. however. that this
dividend Will never be paid.
At called meeting of the board of
directors. which was held in Darling
ton about June 21st. Mr.. Bright Will
hanson. president OF the Bank OF
Darlington and a large stakeholder in
the company. was elected president OF
the companv to succeed Mr.. Dargan.
who had resigned. Mr.. pargan. how
ever. did not resign as general man
aeer and treasurer. and continued to
fill these offices.
Something Rotten IN Denmark.
AS soon as he assumed the duties OF
the presidency of the company Mr..
Williamson began an Investigation into
the condition of it's affairs. He soon
discovered that large amount of oil.
and other products of the mills. re-