The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-08-25

remaining 80 per cent being ap-
proximately the amount of counter
claims against the company bring
ing suit.
( The circular issued by my
friends two years ago was distrib-
uted in Marlboro county and es-
pecially at Clio on the day of the
campaign meeting there, which
was nearly a month before Mr..
Rogers issued his circular. 1t was
printed in Pee Dee Advocate Of
made-was published in papers all
over the district was seen by
dozens of people in the county be-
fore being published, whereas the
circular of Messrs Rogers and Ell
lerbe was printed by persons bound
to secrecy-all coaxing and impor-
tunities failed to get from him an
admission that the circular had
been issued.
If Messrs. Rogers and Ellerbe
honestly believed there was merit
in their circular, why all this Sc
crecy? Why did they wish to
keep 1t from me, until too late for
reply before the primary?
The envelope inclosing Mr.. Rog-
ers' circular mailed me shows by
postoffice stamp that it was mailed
Saturday morning, Aug. %, 1908,
when Mr.. Rogers knew was in
Hartsville. having left Benefits
vile at $50 O'Clock Friday after
noon Aug. 21, 1908 and could not
return until Saturday night-too
late to reply and get to the people
before the primary the following
Tuesday. Aug. IS, 1908. l have
other evidence that the purpose of
Messrs. Rogers and Ellerbe was to
prevent my securing their circular,
but the above is sufficient.
Now l ask why this persecution?
Why should T. 1. Rogers hound me
thus? Mr.. Rogers is a relative of
J. E. Ellerbe and connected with hin
Dy marriage. The late Gov. Eller-
be, brother of j. E. Ellerbe. was q
brother-in-law of T. l Rogers. Be-
lore Mr.. Rogers last circular was
issued, j. E. Ellerbe stated during
his speech at Nebo in Marion coun-
ty that he proposed to flood that
county with circulars, or words to
that effect. The circulars are being
distributed. Is this not significant? Z?
This is not the first time that
Mr.. Rogers has attempted to be-
smirch my business character and
reputation.
Those who know me and are
familiar with my business career
nave always been ready to bespeak
their confidence. Was my business
failure in the nineties and the set
tlement of my affairs in 1894 clean
and honorable? On account of for
mer attacks upon me by Mr.. Rogers
l deemed it right and proper to Sc
cure the two letters following:
"Bennettsville. S. c., Aug. 20,
1906.
Mr.. P. A. Hodges, Bennettsville,
S c.
Dear Sir:-At your request
beg to state that in 1894 when you
assigned all your property to
me for the benefit OF your credi-
tors, II was done after carefully
considered your entire business af-
fairs. Owing TO your heavy losses
by making advances on liens, il
was all that could be done to paw
up each creditor and guarantee 20
each one his pro rata share of the
assets. You turned over to me at
that time your entire proper,v
which was sold and paid to the
creditors accepting the terms of
the assignment. There were some
who did not accept and reduced
their claims to judgments and
since that time you have paid on
all claims and settled all costs in
the courts. In my opinion your
conduct was straight throughout.
! Yours truly,
ct. w. Boucher"
"Bennettsville, S. c., Aug. Goth.
1906.
| Hon. P. A. Hodges, City.
Dear Sir:-You request from
me a statement as to your moral
conduct in reference to your fail
ure in business about the year 1894.
represented the largest or some
of the largest creditors against