The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-06-09
He TOOK Them In
An Escaped Convict FIeeces
Many Georgia People.
POSED As A RICH MAN

the Deposits, II Is Said, IN Some
Remarkable Explorations - III:
Assets Less Than One Hundred
Dollars All Told.
High finance Of remarkable or
der by which, it is alleged, Geo.
eians nave been swindled out OF
sa50,ooO has come to light follow
ing the arrest OF A. D. Oliver, presi-
dent OF the bank OF Climax, Ca
and three other banks in the south
western part OF the State.
Oliver arrived in Georgia last jan
uary and professed to be an eastern
capitalist. He displayed great oeai
of money and said that he had about
s5,OOO,o0O on deposit in banks II
New York city and elsewhere. Ae
announced that he intended to IN
vest these millions and that Georgia,
suited him. Accordingly he bought
rinbered lands, saWmills, banks, au-
tomobiles, etc
1t is said he secured the ready
cash he needed through deposits IN
his banks, in which the public hao
confidence, and with partial pay
mepts OF cash, usually small amounts
he would buy other properties, CIV
ing him to outward appearances
large holdings.
He controlled a bank at Climax, he
esta blisned one at Attapulgus, ne
purchased one at Pelham, he purchas-
: ed a planning mill at Thomasvilie' one
at Pelham from D. N. Rogers, one OF
the large lumber dealers in that part
Of the State, and erected and put
into active operation an enormous
one at Climax. This is not the sum
of his operations.
The town OF Climax is fast becom-
ing center of all sorts Of manu-
featuring and industrial enterprises.
Oliver has erected a $4,000 resi-
dence and he is building several
brick stores.
While doing all this he found time
to make love to Miss May England,
and four weeks ago married her.
He gave the bride $1,000 in cash and
diamonds valued at $4,000.
The bubble burst when Oliver was
arrested on a warrant sworn out b?
Thomasville man to whom he had
given a New York draft for sI0.-
600. The draft came back marked
mo funds" and Oliver was arrested.
Examiners took charge OF the four
banks and they found less than slo0
all told. In one bank at Thomas
Vile there was oniy SO cents Just
one month ago Oliver bought four
automobiles and presented them to
the cashiers of mis- four banks.
Oliver has been identified as an
escaped convict with an unexpirea
term Of eleven years hanging over
his head. The Identification, *hiCE
was made Thursday morning by
Sheriff T. o. Jones, <of Aberdeen
county, Miss, came as climax 10
the sensational arrest Of Oliver sew
eral days ago. when he was aeeins
with his young bride iu a rented
automobile.
Sheriff Jones reached Bainbridge
Thursday morning and Immediately
went to the jail. The moment he
saw the ex-banaer, he positively de-
clared that the prisoner was a fug-
ative from the Mississippi penlten-
tiary, where he was known as
Charles Harding.
The sheriff said that Oliver es-
capped from the Aberdeen penlten-
tiary on December 31st, 1908, anc
although the greatest efforts were
made to capture him, he succeeded
in making coed his escape and al
trace was lost Of the man. On the
sixth day Of January, this year, eX-
actely seven days after the alleged
escape from the penitenttary. Olive.
arrived IN Climax, Ca, the little
queen city Of the lower Wiregrass
region.
The stranger entered the little
town absolutely peaniless, but IN
a very short time, he was reputeo
to be worth millions and began buy.
Ing banks, saw mills and property
throughout the whole section Of the
hrSo
became famous sor his ready replies
10 all proportions, I'll take it, jus'
wrap it up" This applied to land
houses and stocks and in fact, every
thing that was purchasable.
He had the reputation Of never
refusing to trade and he always paid
small proportion in cash, insisted
that the seller deposit the money IN
one of divers many banks, aoG
thus the endless chain OF kiting
continued, until divers trade
amounted into the hundreds Of thou
sands.
He purchased automobiles at
wholesale and gave them right and
left in wanton prodigality to ais
newly-made friends. He built many
fine houses and the whole country
stood aghast at his wealth and his
napoleonic business ventures
Oliver was seriously III shortly
after his arrival in Climax and his
recovery was il part due to the
faithful nursing given him by MISS
Rosa English, beautiful young girl.
sixteen years of age, who tendecly
administered TO his wants.
When he recovered from his des-
perate illness, ne coUrted the beau
tifu. girl and in short time taey
were married and he promised tc
endow her with his millions. Il:
lives, like prince and spent money
lavisi1y upon his. vOung bride. S5