The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-02-28
| TIE STORY OF AN
Old .MISER'S FORTUNE
The Astonishing Sequel Of Columbia
Ba--t Failure Years Ago
WOMEN KEPT FORTUNE IN CARPET BAG
When Induced to Deposit. it in Bark
the Lawyers Jump at the Chance to
Revive an CID Judgment Against an
Uncle Who Died Years Ago.

ceedings which have been Instituted
before the judge Of probate here hold
ing up deposit Of $4,000 in the Ma
tional Loan and Exchange Bank by
Mrs. Sallie A. Gibson until the results
can be determined of efforts made to
revive an old judgment for 100000 Sc
cured against Mrs. Gibson's uncle,
Squire Levi Metz, will reveal 9, pic
turesoue story of an old woman worth,
perhaps, 100000, living in a tumble
down old house in an alley alone for
wears 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 about Is
wears ago. This was organized by c.
J. Iredell, now living in Virginia, and
associates. who are now prominent in
Columbia business circles upon the
wreck of the banking firm Of Metz &.
Iredell. The debts Of the Metz & Ire
dell concern were paid out Of the new
bank, which held a number of worth
less claims beside-notes signed by
Iredell as manager Of the old firm
Suit was brought against Metz as the
only financially responsible member Of
the firm, and judgment was obtained
against him for 100000.
Metz, a thrifty Jew from the Dutch
Fork section of Lexington county
across the Congaree river from this
county, at one time owned perhaps
dozen plantations in this and Lexing-
ton and Newberry counties. When he
was taken up in supplementary pro-
ceedings, there was practically no
property in sight to pay the judgment,
though his lawyers got fat fees FL
nally the judgment was compromised
FOR about $4,000.
About year ago Metz died and his
niece, 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, I give, devise and bequeatlh
to my niece, Sallie A. Gibson, all of my
estate of any nature or kind whatso-
ever and wherever the same may be,
whether it consists Of my realty or per-
sonalty or. chooses in action, or claims
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 whim I may have claims
or demands.
"And secondly, I nominate, consti-
tute apd appoint my said niece, Sallie
A. Gibson, executor of my will with
full power hereby vested in her to set
tie, compromise or hquidate any and
all demands which 1 have against 9TH
ers or which others have against me.
I'm testimony whereof I have here
under written my name and affixed my
seal at Columbia, in said State, the
10th day OF December, 1897.
The will is witnessed by Judge
Crawford, John A. Civil and Judge
Duncan C. Ray.
About six months ago Mrs. Gibson,
on the advice Of her attorney, deposit
ed in the National Loan and Exchange
Eank over $4,000 in cash, gold and
silver
A few weeks ago a city salesman
called on her to sell her some supplies
for a new frame house she was build
ing.
You look like a young man I could
trust with a secret she said to him
in a confidential mood. after finding
out that he was single man. 81 will
show you something that looks sood to
! q poor man..
She dragged out that o:d grip sack
and poured the contents out on the
bed in front OF his startled gaze.
He helped her count it. There was
$4,000 in all in bank notes, in de-
nominations up to $500.
The voting man then dutifully set
about to persuade her to deposit it in
bank He told her how she might be
| murdered and robbed and how safe
and reliable the bank was. She had
had what she considered bitter eX-
perience with banks and was at first
opposed to changing the hiding place
of the treasure. Finally the young
man induced her to put the
money in bank. Then the story Of the
big deposit got out from the bank,
and the lawyers got busy.
Mrs. Gibson has lived in a very try