The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-05
THE PASSING OF G.. r
N
(By AL

North Carolinian whoc limbed from
poverty to a millionaire-who lost his
money and died in the state hospita,
under sentence for a term Of from
ten to fourteen years, convicted of
larceny. His name was c.. +. King
He was we'll known in North Car
lima, nee lived in Greensboro, and
since 1898 a been a resident of
Boston.
King was an operative in a Swep-
sonville cotton mill 35 years ago
quit that ~drudgery and went out as
a book agent at the age Of IL selling
a Life Of Christ. From that bust
ness he started out to run a news
paper-made out little success Of ii
at Danvilie. Va. and the took up
thee ause Of labcr-quit that and
turned his attention to advertising.
lie worked in Atlanta, ST. Louis.
Memphis and other southern towns
made good in feature" advertising,
and finally drifted into Boston. He
made a contract with the Boston
Traveller and while on that paper
formed what he called the New Eng
land Newspaper League and with a
party Of good newspaper men repre-
senting a half d, zen first-claSs New
England newspapers. invaded the
South and did a great amount Of
business writing up towns and indi-
yiduals. He made some money out
of his. n saw the possibilities of
greater things. Then ne formed
what he called the Great Eastern
Newspaper League. securing for his
aggregation the New York Sun. the
Philadelphia Times, the Boston Jour
nal and the Baltimore Herald-went
to Pullman. Ill, bought as his own, a
private car, painted the names of the
papers represented upon it. and
started out, crossing the continent
three times. visiting scores of the
principal towns and cities-making
good. He had with him a staff of ar
fists and correspondents. l was with
him as a cOrreSpondent-and earned
To know him very we'll. l was his
friend while he was living, and am
his friend now, that he is dead.
After quitting the newspaper bust
ness King concluded to be what he
called a financial agent. He was do
ing newspaper work in Boston when
one day there came into his Office a
man from Texas named Crowther,
and wanted to know If King knew
any one who might be interested in
Texas oil land-Crowther claiming
that as a well digger in Texas he had
discovered valuable oil lands; that he
had leased them; that he wanted
wouey to finance them. King didn't
know any one. but after talking the
matter over with myself and Charles
Ehrman. concluded that he would
himself investigate and if Crowther
had the goods he would put it over.
King had little money of his own
at that time. He went to the
Humphrey advertising agency Of Bos-
ton and ordered in a FIVE inch double
column advertisement in all the
morning Boston papers explaining
that he had a 100 per cent PROPOSE
ton to offer two or three men with
capital. To call at his Offices in the
winthrop building between $50 and
ii o'clock that day and he would
present what he had.
Many people called, but one, Will
liam Usher, u suburban shoe man
facturer. concluded to become inter
ested. King told Usher that if he
would finance the scheme he woulG
give him a certain amount of stock ir
the to-be organized King-CrowtheI
Company. King frankly admitted ht
knew nothing about it. All he knew
was what Crowther had said. He
wanted Usher to go himself or sen(
a representative to Texas with him
and decide on the ground whethel
there was any oil and worth while.
Usher said he would send his son
William. a young man about 80 years
Oh age. and King and young Ushel
got busy. and the elder Usher CAV,
his son q certified check for $5,OO(
with which he was to pay for tn
charter and meet all expenses il
Texas. 1t was agreed that if tn
ian looked good hat the leases ar
the opportunity should be incorpor
ated for s 3,e00, zoe.
King and Usher went to Texas
They made a complete examination
ana called in experts-and Ushe
cashed his $1,000 check: secured tn
Charter and King FASTENED home.
Then it was that one of the mo
effective advertising campaigns eve
pulled oil in Boston was inauguratet
Display ads and readers made tn
Boston papers groan. They all Gag
criy accepted the copy. and the da
or the Opening" on State street
procession Of investors a quarter OF
mile long was in waiting. The Stat
street offices were piled high with a
the palms and flowers that Newman