The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-10
IN THE TOLLS OF THE LAW
< T.. James. Mining Engineer. Ar
rested for Violation of State Law
Released Afterwards.


Milledgeville, Ca, was arrested Satur-
day afternoon by Deputy Sheriff
sykes for violation Of the Interstate
law In that he was selling mining
stock in this county without having
first paid a license of $50 and put
up a bond Of $4,000 in order to do
business in this State.
James purports to be a mining en-
gineer formerly owning the Silver
Queen mine, but which was sold out to
corporation doing business under
the laws Of Arizona and which is
now known as the Silver Queen Min
ing Company. James says that he
sold cut his interest in the mine for
100000 and that he and other agents
are now out to sell stock to the
amount of 100000 in the corpor-
alton which has its head Offices at
Atlanta, with a man by the name of
ii. Nj. Turner as president. James.
when first arrested, tried to make
light Of the charge and show that he
had not violated any law, but look
of intense relief came over his face
when Magistrate Wells, after a con-
Versation over the long distance
phone with Insurance Commission
er McMaster at Columbia. informed
a ha
not sell any more stock OF the bogus
company in this State. Judge Wells
gave Instructions that James was to
leave the State which that gentle
man insisted were very harsh as he
intended TO comply with the law and
he did not see what right Judge Wells
had to make him leave the State if
he was not selling the stock Of the
mining company
1t seems from what Mr.. James had
to say and letters he showed in the
magistrates court that he has been in
this county ever since the middle of
November. One letter which James
exhibited was from Commissioner
2acMaster and was to the effect. that,
ptne office OF the commissioner had no
authority over the sale Of mining
stock and that, therefore he could not
prevent James from selling his stock
In this State. A second letter from
Mr.. McMaster on December 22nd in
formed James that the corporation
charter had been investigated anG
that as it gave the company, among
other things, the power to buy and
sell land that it did come under the
provision Of the insurance office and
therefore James would have to pay
the State license of $50 and put .up a
bond of $4,000 in order to do busi-
ness in this State. James says that
he went ahead and sold stock after
receiving the first letter, but stopped
selling after getting the second letter
and 1t was because there was no evil
dence that he had sold stock after
the receipt Of the letter that Insur-
ance Commissioner McMaster ad-
vised that he be dismissed with the
warning to sell no more stock.
letter from Insurance Commits
soner McMaster to the sheriff stated
that Mr. McMaster had written to III.
NJ. Turner, Young street, Atlanta, and
that a letter had been received from
that official of the Silver Queen Min
ing Company that there was no per-
son in South Carolina authorized to
sell the stock of his company and if
any person was selling the stock of
the company to have him arrested
or TO see that he obeyed the law. 1t
was after the receipt of this letter
thar steps Were taken by Deputy
Sheriff Sykes to have James appre-
hended. A book of the stock of the
company, each share Of which was
signed by Fl. NJ. Turner president,
was held by the Sheriff as evidence
of the fact that James had sold stock
in this county. The book, however.
had only a few shares left in il and
the stubs showed that nine shares
had been sold out Of it in this county
during November and December.
most peculiar and suspicious cir
cumstance connected with the sale of
the stock OF the company was that il
was sold only to negroes James
stated that the chief attorney for the
company was also negro. He said
that he was under instructions from
the president Of the company to sell
only to negroes. He further stated
that he had sold only enough stock
since he had been in this county to