The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-03-31
Distinguished ViStS.

There was in Manning last Friday,
quite a distinguished party OF gentle
men, they came here on business with
Judge John S. Wilson. The party was
composed Of Attorney General Lyon
and Comptroller General Jones: of Co
lumbia, Captain Simeon Hyde and W.
A. Holman, Esq, of the firm of Legare,
Holman and Baker, OF Charleston, and
Mr.. John o. Edwards, former treasurer
of Berkeley. The case argued before
Judge Wilson was the bond of Mr.. Ed
wards was sueo, for a shortage claimed
by the comptroller generals Office,
amounting to S5,5e6.23, this was the
amount claimed to haye been short when
Mr.. Edwards turned the books of the
treasurer's Office to his successor. Mr..
Holman contended that certain portions
|oi the complaint were not sufficiently
specific in the following respects:
II When and l:ow under what cir
cumstances the amount therein alleged
to be found to be due was so found and
ascertained.
.:2. By specifying the date and
amount of each item constituting the
said amount as alleged"
The effect of this would have been
to make the complaint state detailed
statement or bill of particulars thereof.
Judge Wilson's order refuses the mo-
ton TO make the complaint more def
mite and specific and the plaintiff, the
State of South Carolina: is allowed to
amend the complaint by changing the
third cause OF action therein and by
amending the prayer so as to make it
conform.
This is a most extraordinary case.
Mr.. J. O. Edwards was the county treas
urer, of Berkeley county, an inspection
of his Office showed deficit. MIR. Ed
wards contends there is no deficit. and
insists that there is not cent OF the
public money short. His bondSmen have
every confidence in him, and stand ready
to make good any shortage without
suit, but Mr. Edwards persists in pro-
testing against the shortage leaving
nothing for the bondsmen to do, but to
allow themselves sued and make the
State prove Mr. Edwards a delinquent.
When this alleged shortage was first
made public, Governor .Ansel suspend
ed Mr.. Edwards, and appointed his sue
cessor, but so far as we have heard no
criminal action has ever been brought.
Mr.. Edwards has the sympathy Of the
people OF his county who have known
him all Of his life, none believe that
there is any criminality in his acts, If
it is true that shortage exists, it is
the result OF complicated book keeping.
1t will probably take an expert account
ant TO go over the books of that county
for several years back TO find out the
exact status, in the meantime MIR. Ed
wards maintains his innocence, and de-
nands the fullest investigation.
Here is case where an innocent man
may have had an irreparable injury
done him. The fact OF his books being
found short. no matter the cause, and
the same being published TO the world
is calculated to do him harm. and when
the matter is finally Investigated, and
it turns out he is right, there is no rem
edr for him. His reputation has beer
seriously crippled, the Office which he
held has been taken away, and now, al
though it is proven the alleged short
age is the result of q lot Of double en-,
tries. nulla bona tax executions, anc
other matters which date away back O.
his administration he has no relief iron
the State.