The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-04-10
REFUSE to RESIGN
EXAMINER RHlNE DECLINES TO
VACATE OFFICE
TAKE MATTER TO COURT
He Declares That Governor Blease's
Act Removing Him is Purely Ar
bitrary AMI That He VIII Hold His
Office Unt;l Ordered by the Court
tn RelipcUiSh the Same.
to RelinGUish the Same.

ssThe Governors act IN attempting
to remove re from Office is purely
arbitrary, and his statement that the
condition of the bank was not pub
lished is false. I shall disregard
his order and shall hold the Office un-
til ordered by the Court to rel!a-
ouish," is the statement which was
issued at Columbia Monday after
noon by State Bank Examiner B. j..
Rhame, when he received the copy OF
Governor Blease's proclamation re-
moving him from the office OF State
bank examiner.
This means that Mr. Rhame Will
refuse to surrender his Office until
ordered 70 do so by the Courts. and
that the Courts will finally have to
decide the whole matter. This IS
the latest development in the situa-
ton growing out OF the incidents
surrounding the Lexington Savings
Bank, now in the hands Of a re-
ceiver. The bankruptcy proceedings
now pending in the Federal court
were brought on the initiative Of the
bank examiner. This he explains in
his statement.
Mr.. Rhame fled with Governor
Blease his answer TO the letter Of the
governor Of recent date in which the
chief executive asked the bank eX-
aminer to explain his actions in con-
nection with the condition OF the Lex
ington Savings Bank in not report
ing the condition OF the bank two
years ago. when il was learned that
its condition was shaky and asking
the bank examiner to resign II he
could not explain his stand. The
bank examiners statement is lengthy
and ends with his refusal to resign
the Office. The statement explains
many of his acts il connection with
the bank.
The examiner explains that he is
not required to report bank condi-
tions to the governor, that he is
required to report such with the State
treasurer and this he did in connec-
ton with the Lexington bank. He
explains that the Lexington bank was
not incorporated and as a private
concern was so connected with Pres
ident Roofs business as to make il
almost impossible to ascertain the
actual condition of the bank. The
examiner further explains that the
Jaw requires him to take hand in
closing out a bank only when there
is manifestation Of fraud on the part
Of the management and that as there
were no evidences Of such in this
case ne took no steps toward closing
the institution
He had no way, ne said. OF know.
ing whether the bank was solvent OF
insolvent. AS to the deposits in the
bank of State and county funds the
bank examiner stated that he did
not know until recent date that
such were in the bank and that he
has no right to discriminate in favor
Of State accounts in q bank as against
the deposits of individuals, so that
had he known there were State de-
posts he could have acted il DO other
manner.
The letter OF Mr.. Rhame to the
Governor was followed by the Cover
nor's order removing the bank en-
aminer and the latter's refusal to be
removed until ordered to do so by the
Courts. Governor Blease stated over
the telephone tonight that he had not
selected a successor TO Mr.. Rhame.
The matter Will now go in the courts,
where it will be threshed out.