The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-12-22
HOLLEMAN RETURNS:
WILL FACE CHARGE
ANDERSON BANK CASHIER, WHO
DEFAULTED IN SUM OF $685.
600, SURRENDERS.
Left State Seven Years Ago-Con-
science-Stricken, J. Townes Holle-
man Comes Back to Take
Punishment.

Anderson, Dec. 18.-J. Townes
Holleman, who defaulted in the sum
of approximately $35 900 while cashier
OF the Bank of Anderson and who left
for the West about seven and one-half
years ago, leaving behind him a writ
ten confession, has returned and has
surrendered to Sheriff Ashley. He
returned voluntarily, declaring that he
had spent more than seven years of
torture suffering all the pangs and
pains, both mental and physical,
known to man, and that he wanted to
come back and take the punishment
that the law might enforce on him.
He visited local Office this morning
with number of friends and called
the sheriff over the telephone advising
him of his presence in the city and
stating that he was ready to sur
render. Magistrate Cox and Solicitor
Smith were also advised of his return.1
John K. Hood, counsel for Holleman.
stated to Magistrate Cox that Mr..
Holleman wanted to waive preliminary
hearing and wanted to give bond for
ms appearance at the next term of
the court of general sessions, which
convenes during the first week in Feb
ruary
Bond Fixed at $4,000.
With the solicitors consent the
magistrate fixed his bail at $4,000,
declaring that he had taken into con-
slderation the fact that Mr.. Holleman
had voluntarily returned and sur
rendered, indicating his desire to make
| amends for what he had done. The
bond was fixed by A. s. Farmer. Lee
G. Holleman an E. P. Vandiver. Mr..
Holleman then left on the midday
train for Seneca to see his family.
Before leaving Mr.. Holleman talked
freely and frankly with representa-
tives of the press.
He stated that the money taken
from the bank was lost in speculations
IN stocks and cotton-mostly cotton.
He said these speculations lasted dur
ing period of about twelve months
and that his troubles in the bank
lasted for about the same length of
time. On the morning of July 1S,
1909, Mr.. Holleman left Anderson.
taking with him only fourteen hundred
and forty dollars of the banks money.
He says that he could have taken con-
siderably more, that there was a great
deal of cash on hand in the bank at
the time. He thought, however, that
conditions were already bad enough
and he says he took only what he con-
sidered was necessary to get far away
from Anderson. Personally he says
he would gladly have given himself ub
to the law at the time. but he thought
that members of his. family would he
able to stand the ordeal better if he
left.
Tells of His Wanderings.
After leaving Anderson Mr.. Holle-
man says he bought a local ticket
in Greenville for st. Louis and there
bought local ticket for Kansas Citv,
not knowing where to go and not
having any objective point in view
He visited Salt Lake City and Colo
RADIO Springs and finally landed in
the State of Washington. He stayed
in that State about three years ami
developed rheumatism. Desiring TO
rid himself of the rheumatism he went
to Southern California and later de-
veloped malaria fever. He said that
up to this time he had not given much
thought to his returning to Anderson
and that while he was sick he hoped
that illness would develop into some
thing serious so that he might die and
put an end to everything. Later, how
ever, his condition began to show some
Improvement and he then decided firm
ly to return to South Carolina and to
make amends for the offense he had
committed. He spent seven and one
half years in the States on the Pa
cific coast, going for short while
into British Columbia. He met no one
from Anderson during his entire alb
sence and says that he naturally
avoided gonig to any place where
South Carolinians might be stopping.
Hard to Find Work.
Mr.. Holeman says that he found it
most difficult to secure positions, that
he made application only one time for
a clerical job, and on this occasion
was turned down. He worked at
manual labor around the lumber
camps and for while worked at Du-
Points powder factory in Washington.
His physical condition now prevented
him from doing any hard manual la
Dor for any length of time.
Mr.. Holleman said that it was a
most difficult matter to face his friends
and acquaintances here but before he
had an opportunity to get out on the
streets it became known that he was
/ in nff h. -