The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-03-21
THE CASHIER OF THE BROOKHAVEN
BANK & TRUST co. ANSWERS THE
CHARGES OF Mr.. A. M. SUM.
MERS AIMED AT HIM.
Says He Entertained, but Did Initiate
Proposition to Pay Former County
Treasurer to Divide His
Account.
Investigation of the Linton Account
Invited by the Next Grand
Jury.
Copied from the Lincoln Co. Times

L am informed that Mr.. A. M.
Summers referred to me in his
article published on the 5th day of
March in the Lincoln County
Times and South Mississipplan as
being the "Brookhaven Banker, )"
who offered his son, Mr.. Wade
Summers $500 for one-half of the
deposit of county funds.
| am also informed that | am
referred to as having sent man
to him (Mr. Summers) offering to
pay 5000 per year for one-half of
the deposit of county funds.
Now, Mr.. Summers was misin
formed, for no one was authorized
by me or this Bank to make him
all offer of 5000 for his sons ac-
count or any part of it; further
more / did not make his son an
offer of $500 for one-half of the
deposit of the county funds.
One day Mr.. B. E. Summers,
an uncle of Mr.. Wade Summers,
came to me in the Bank and said
that he had been talking to his
nephew (Wade Summers) about
dividing the county money be-
tween the two banks of Brook
haven. He said that be had told
Wade that he believed it would be
advantageous to him politically to
divide the deposit between the
Banks, for he would thereby make
friends with the parties interested
in both the Banks. Mr.. Summers
also said to me that in talking
with Wade that lie (Wade) stated
that his campaign expenses had
been about So, 900, and that if he
gave the Bank of Brookhaven one
half of the deposit that be felt
like the Bank should share ONE
half of his campaign expenses.
Mr.. B. f. Summers also asked
me if | cared to talk with Wade
about the matter, and / told him l
would do so.
Afterward Mr.. B. E. Summers
and Mr.. Wade Summers came in
to the Bank and we discussed the
matter. During the discussion |
was asked if thought the Bank
of Brookhaven would pay one-haIf
of the campaign expenses of Mr..
Wade Summers if he gave the
Bank one -half,of the account. |
stated that | thought the Bank
would do so, provided it was not
against the law. Mr.. Summers
stated that he did not want Wade
to do anything that would get him
(Wade) into trouble, for he was
his nephew and cripple.
1t was agreed that the matter
would be talked over at some other
time, but l was not approached
again in regard to the matter, nor
did approach any one. | am sure
Mr.. B. f. Summers will bear me
out in this statement. For the
reason that there was nothing
further said on the subject by any
uf us the matter was never men
toned to the Board of Directors
of the Bank of BrookhaveD.
1t is my opinion that both of
these gentlemen were not aware
of the fact that such a transaction
would have been violative OF the
law. Twas not advised of the
law on the subject. / am sure
the matter would not have been
discussed had we known the law
On the subject. The position l
have since publicly taken on this
and other kindred subjects | am
sure will bear me out in this state
ment.
have also been informed that
the Brookhaven Bank & Trust Co.
has repeatedly been charged with
paying the present Treasurer, w.
6. Linton, for the deposit Of
county funds.
i assert that this Bank has not
offered or agreed through any
person to pay the County Treas
urer anything for the deposit of
county funds. These charges are
calculated to inlnre the Bank and
Mr.. Linton with some people and
should not be made unless they
can be substantiated.
| also assert that the officers and
Directors of this Bank have never
offered to pay for a Sheriff's or
Treasurer's account. nor have
they helped to pay the campaign
expenses of any candidate for
these Offices.
Ii there are any who believe
otherwise let them not make rash
statements, but have the Grand
Jury summon before them the
lofficers and Directors of the Bank
and the County Treasurer and
make a careful inquiry and inves-
ltigation into the matter. We
would gladly welcome such an in
vestigation, and | am sure the
County Treasurer would.
Respectfully
OSCAR NEWTON, Jr.