Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1910-05-12
CHAS. S. MAY IS AGAIN FREE
BY TIE GOVERNORS PAROLE
Former Rock Hill Official Liberated
From the State Prison Health
the Cause.

kuc SduSe.
Saturday morning Chas. S.
May, former city treasurer of
Rock Hill, was paroled from the
State prison in Columbia by
Governor Ansel. The parol of
Mr.. May was secured by influ-
ential York county friends of
the man and was based upon
the representations to the
governor that the state of his
health was such as to mean GER
tain death for him if he were
held in prison much longer.
1t will be recalled that a short
age of several thousand dollars
was discoveredin Treasurer Mays
accounts with the city of Rock
Hill about two years ago and
that he was arrested on a charge
of embezzlement. When the
case came on for hearing in
the general sessions court at
Yorkville Mr.. May pleaded guilty
and was given a three-year
sentence in the York Jail. He
served several months. of the
sentence in Jail, but was trans
ferred to the State prison in
Columbia on account of the low
state of his health. The case
is one which attracted wide
attention throughout York county
and the following interview
which Mr.. May gave The State
Saturday will be read with
interest:
1 am grateful to my friends for all
that they have done for me- and espe-
cially am l indebted to Gov. Ansel Z"
said May yesterday, as he was getting
ready TO return to his wife and little
daughter at Rock Hill II shall go to
Hendersonville. n. c.. md try to get
back my health. or at least my
strength. and then ! propose to come
back to Rock Hill and start all over
again"
The story Of this young mans humil-
iation is indeed unusual. His father.
rom j. May, was one of the most pop
ular men OF York county, but died
early In life and soon thereafter was
Followed TO his grave by his wife
Charles =. May shared his fathers
popularity, and year after year was
elected city clerk OF Rock Hill. He
had very profitable fire insurance
business also. He attended the meet.
ings in Columbia OF the South Caro-
lima fire insurance agents, and was
popular with his fellow members.
The public might never have known
that he was a defaulter, but for his
own confession. His statement yester-
day was as follows
The American Audit company four
years in succession checked by books
%. X and stated that the books were
well kept. The next year l was check
ed 800 short | had been living too
expensively / had dread of my
health breaking down. and l got TO
drinking.
Il decided to make a clean breast
of the whole affair. To Mr.. Cherry.
chairman OF the finance committee.
announced that l was short in my ac-
counts. He replied that IL was a small
matter. only 800. When / told him
that my shortage was over $4,000 and
had covered a period of several years
during which my books had been audit
ed and approved. Mr.. Cherry seemed
To think it impossible.
when l convinced him, he asked
what | proposed to do. l told him
would dispose of my home. pay the city
and quietly resign. He stated he
thought this would be adequate resti-
tuition but would have to submit the
matter TO the other members of the
committee. Naturally a man in a pub
lie position has enemies. and so had L
in council.
Il gave up my hume. endeavored to
make full restitution. bat this did not
satisfy some persons in Rock Hill
They insisted upon a warrant for my
arrest AS late as o'clock one night
friends and relatives were at my house
begging me TO leave Rock HILL that
/ would be arrested the next day at
noon. | told them that / would stay
and take my medicine Mai. T c Beck
ham. the magistrate, came in person
with the warrant. and was so full of
tears. for he was my fathers bosom
friend, that l saved him the sadness
and went to his office and surrendered
Very quickly cash bond was raised
l almost feel glad for my troubles
sometimes. because they showed me
how loyal We're my friends.
Matters rocked along for some time
and my friends heard that Solicitor
j. Is. Henry would push the case To
the limit. Several of them went 70
Chester to plead with him that l had
made restitution of every dollar But
To one and all he turned a deaf ear
i feel no resentment toward Mr.. Henry.
He did his duty. and 1 honor and re-
spect him for it. y responsible clerk
in a Chester cotton mill had default
ed. and he had not been indicted, pend
ing an investigation to see how much
the shortage was In the meantime the
clerk ran away Therefore, there was
some criticism of Mr.. Henry, and he
was not TO blame for pushing my case
for 1 was a public official
My friends yet urged me to leave
the country. agreeing TO put up the