The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-08-11
ARRESTED FOR BOARD BILL
WARRANT SWORN OUT BY MANA
GER r. C.. WRIGHT.
Gave a Worthless Check to Get Into
the Race for Attorney
General.


General.
On account of a charge that he re-
fused to pay board bill at Wright's
hotel, B. B. Evans, candidate for the
office of attorney general of South
Carolina, was arrested Sunday after
noon. The warrant for his arrest was
issued by James H. Fowles, Jr., mag
istrate When the arrest of the can
didate was made Mr.. Fowles was au-
tomobiling near Eastover. On Mr..
Fowles's return to Columbia Evans,
who had been in Jail for several
hours, deposited a cash bond for his
appearance August 29, when trial
of the case will be heard by Magis-
trate Fowles. Evans, it is said, will
fight the case on the ground that he
missed certain meals included in the
bill.
R. C. Wright, manager of Wright's
hotel, said yesterday afternoon that
the arrest of Evans followed his fail
ure to pay bill for board after ur-
gent request from the hotel. Mr..
Wright said that the defendant was
warned that the bill would be turned
into legal channels unless it were
paid. When no payment was forth
coming, the arrest followed.
Mr.. Wright said that he told Evans
when he commenced taking his meals
at the hotel before the campaign
opened that on account of the very
low rate given he would have to pay
for all meals whether he attended
these meals or not, and that Evans
agreed.
The bill the hotel claims Evans
owes amounts to s36.75. Evans
mailed a check to the hotel for s19,
and deposited a cash bond with Mag
istrate Fowles completing the s36.75.
The case will come up for trial
August 29, the defendant in such an
action having 21 days to come into
court with reply to the charges.
Since the campaign opened, the
matter of Evans's personal finances
has been the subject of more or less
discussion in the State, especially as
he was unable to pay the assessment
levied upon candidates for Office and
yet has managed to continue in
campaign which must of necessity
cost a candidate something like $500.
The question frequently has been
asked, "Who is paying Barney
Evans's expenses?" and this no doubt
arose from the rumor that he had
given a worthless check with which
to pay his campaign assessment. Gen.
Willie Jones, chairman of the State
Democratic executive committee, at
the time asked Evans if the check on
the Bank of Columbia was good and
Evans replied that 1t was packed Dy
$1,000 in collateral"
Newspaper men, hearing that the
check had been protested, asked Gen.
Jones for information and he declined
to give 1t. Later Mr.. Lyon himself,
as a matter of curiosity, wished to
find ont who Evans's financial back
ers in the campaign were and asked
Gen. Jones the same question. The
answer to that inquiry is found in the
following letter. which withholds the
name:
columbia, S. c., July 19, 1910.
Hon. J. Fraser Lyon, Columbia,
South Carolina:
Dear Sir-In accordance with
your verbal request to give you a
statement as to the payment of cam
paign assessment by Mr.. B. B. Evans,
as a candidate for attorney general
in the present campaign, 1 have to
state that he gave me check on the
Bank of Columbia for $50, being the
assessment required, at 1855 a.
M, June 21, 1910, the time for Ill
ing pledges expiring at IL o'clock on
that day. On the 22nd of June this
check was presented to the Bank OF
Columbia for payment and was re-
turned unpaid. This check was af-
terward taken up by friend of Mr..
hvans's so that his assessment has
been received by the State Democratic
executive committee, as will appear
by reference to the books, which l
exhibited to you this morning.
Very respectfully,
"WILIE JONES,