The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-09-22
SENSATIONS and THRILLS MARKED
TRIAL OF LEE COUNTY WALLINGFORD

showed that he was not L. C. Hard
| ing and that he had been unlaWully
| held.
| Roy Blacks Testimony.
Roy Black, of Smithville, was the
| first witness. He said Oliver had Sc
cured from him by showing him a
| time certificate and a check on the
Bank of Whigham, each for $4,000.
He claimed that Oliver had deceived
him by his shrewd talk. The wit
ness, however, identified a number
of checks for various amounts, which
bore his signature and were drawn
on divers bank. These he claimed
had been drawn on funds OF mis- own
that he had deposited and that Oliver
had never returned but $500 of the
amount received.
Cashier Spence of the Bank of
Whigham, denied that Oliver had ev-
er during the time he held the po-
sition as cashier and as vice-presi-
dent of that bank had more than
small account there. He said that
he could not state that Oliver did not
have a deposit as claimed under the
cashier who preceded him, J. L. Bar
row, now dead, whom Oliver claim
ed was his partner in Whigham.
Three witnesses, H. D. Logan, w.
w. Hooks and Deputy Sheriff Phil
Coxwell, then testified that they had
heard Black say at the time he had
Oliver arrested that Oliver had no
money of his, as he had gotten it all
back Black, these witnesses said,
had told them he wanted to get some
of the S25, 900 Oliver had taken in at
the Smithville bank.
The attorneys for the plaintiff, |
however, tried to show that Black
said this in order to hide his mortifi- |
Cashier T. G. Tharpe, of the Bank of |
Leesburg, also testified to practically |
the same statement having been |
made by Black.
1t was the opinion of many that |
the evidence adducGd showed irregu- |
larities in the dealings on both sides
as regards both Oliver and Black, |
who was the main prosecutor.
Bankers Association Interested.
Demands for Oliver have come
from Telfair and other parts of the
cutOrs of the banker and saw mill |
capitalist are awaiting final results of
the trial at Leesburg before they
pounee upon him. 1t is rumored that |
the Georgia Bankers Association is
in reality prosecuting Oliver through |
the local plaintiffs. 1t is very certain !
that the Georgia Bankers Associa- |
tion is interested in the outcome of
the trial. 1t is said that the assOcia- |
tion regards Oliver as an enemy of
all properly conducted and regulated |
public banks, as his so-called private |
banks have never proved reliable, |
When Oliver began his meteoric ca
reer in Georgia by playing high fl |
nance at Climax he was engaged in
private banking, and at that time |
there was no state law that governed
the case. Now it is different, as there
are state laws governing even these
private banks. 1t is these laws, it is
said, that Oliver has clearly violated;
consequently the efforts of the state
organization of bankers to have him
prosecuted.
Oliver Is Calm.
In the meantime Oliver seems to
be as calm and as -unruffied as usual.
He spends his time in the Lee county
Jail, with many visitors each day.
His cell is fitted with an electric fan,
telephone and other conveniences
that serve to make his Imprisonment
less uncomfortable. He claims to
have violated no law. He says that
he could readily have made bond,
but that he did not desire to do so.
There are several other warrants
against Oliver, and these will be
served should he give bond.
Mr.. Howell was fined $500 for
contempt of court in knocking Attor-
ney Peyton down.