The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-23
WITH FORTUNE NEAR
SHE LIVED ALONE
STORY READING LIKE OUR MU-
TUAL FRIEND BROUGHT
TO LIGHT.
Miserly Old Woman Deposited Her
Money in Bank and Efforts Are
Being Made to Recover
from her Obligations Of
.. Uncle of Whom She
was Heiress.

". II. McCaw in Augusta Chronicle
Columbia, S. c., February 90
The proceedings which have been
instituted before the judge Of probate
here holding up deposit Of $4,000
in the National Loan and Exchange
bank by Mrs. Sallie A. Gibson until
the result can. be determined of ef-
forts made to revive an old judg-
ment for 100000 secured against
Mrs. Gibson's uncle, old esquire"
Levi Metz, will reveal a picturesque
story Of an old woman worth perhaps
100000 living in a tumble-down old
house in an alley alone for years with
a fortune in cash in an old greasy
grip sack.
One Of the most disastrous bank
failures this state has known was
that of the old Commercial bank here
about Is years ago. This was or
.sanized by c.. J. Iredell, now living
in Virginia, and associates, who are
now prominent in Columbia business
and social circles, upon the wreck OF
the banking firm Of Metz and Iredell.
The debts Of the Metz and Iredell
concern were paid out Of the new
bank, which held a number Of worth
less claims besides notes signed by
Iredell as manager Of the old firm.
Suit was brought against Metz as the
only financially responsible member
OF the frm, and Judgment was obtain
ed against him for $4,000.
Metz, thrifty Jew from the Dutch
fork secsion Of Lexington county
across the Congaree river from this
county, at one time owned perhaps a
dozen plantations in this and Lexlnss-
ton and Newberry counties. When
s.e ws.s taken up in supplementary
proceeding there was practically no
properss in sight to pay the Judgment
though his lawyers got fat fees, Fl
nally the judgment was compromised
for about $1,000. ..
About a year ago Metz died and
his neice, who had lived alone with
him in the alley where she now lives,
brought in this will drawn ten years
ago by Attorney Andrew Crawford,
and had it probated, paying the fees
in nickles and dimes:
"First give, devise and bequeath
to nv niece, Sallie A. Gibson, all OF
my estate Of any nature or kind what
soever and wherever the same may
be, whether it consist Of realty or per-
sonalty or chooses in action, or'clains
which now may be dormant but which
later may be developed against the
Commercial bank Of Columbia or
other corporations or persons, or per-
sons against whom I may have claims
or demands.
"And, secondly, I nominate, con-
stitute and appoint my said niece,
Sallie A. Gibson, executor Of my Will
with full powers hereby vested in her
to settle, compromise or liquidate any
and all demands which [ have against
others or which others have against
me-
ssIn testimony whereof have here
under written my name and affixed
NV seal at Columbia, in said state,
the 10th day Of December, 1897
"Levi Metz.''
The will is witnessed by Judge
Crawford, John A. Civil and Judge
Duncan C. Ray.
About six months ago, Mrs. Glib
son, on the advice Of her attorney, de-
posted in the National Loan and Ex-
change bank over $4,000 in cash,
gold and silver.
A few weeks ago city salesman
called on her to sell her some sup
plies for a new frame house she was
building.
"You look like a young man [
could trust with a secret,' she said
to him in a confidential mood, after
finding out that he was single man.
s:I will show you something that
looks good to poor man"
She dragged out that old grip sack
and poured the contents out on the