Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-02-06
HELD PENDING INFORMATION.
John Fountleroy Taken In Charge on
Suspicion ut WestminSter.

the other day OF the appearance on
the road\between Richland and West
minister OF man whose actions gave
rise to suspicious rs to his purpose
in the vicinity in which he was taken
in charge. He had stopped over
night at home in the Richland COM
munity, and decided In the morning
to make an early start toward the
Georgia line. He gave his name,
when Deputy Sheriff B. r. Moss first
interviewed him, rs Sir John Fount-
leroy, and he states that he is ma
tive OF Virginia. He Is evidently a
knows not few people Of promi-
nence. In South Carolina. He states
that for some time he has been on a
visit to friends In the Biltmore sec
tion OF North Carolina, and was maxi
ing his way to Georgia at the time
he was taken in charge. "A telegram
has been sent to brother in a dist
ant city, and Fountleroy is being
held pending hearing from this
message There is no charge against
him, he being held merely under sus-
picion Of possible connection with
some espionage work.
When taken In charge by Deputy
Sheriff Moss he had in his possession
sack full OF letters and papers, in
many Of the papers there being some
Kind OF powders, all of which, SO far
as ascertained, are absolutely harm
less. Fountleroy Is a great writer OF
letters, and this feature Of his de-
meanor gave rise to suspicion, as he
weuld sit up practically all night
writing one letter after another, put
ting them away in sack which he
carried.
+ In response to query as to his
nationality, his reply was quick and
emphatic. ooh, American" he said,
American for 200 years back,
though, as my name indicates, am
Of French extraction" He felt sure,
he said, that his predicament wag
due to the unsettled condition of the
country, any little peculiarity giving
rise to suspicion. He holds no iii
feeling toward the local authorities
on account of his Incarceration; in
fact, his references to both Sheriff
and Deputy Sheriff Moss and the lat
yter's wife are most complimentary.
They are so nice" he said, "and
have treated me with every consider
alton possible under the circum-
stances. He is satisfied. he said,
that he will be released just as soon
as the Sheriff's telegram Of inquiry
Is answered, "and then" he said
with smile, 81 will go on my way
rejoicing, for | have nothing to con-
ceal and have told the truth; It's
truth that sets us free"
Fountleroy is quite an interesting
person to converse with. He has 4
good face, pleasant countenance and
Is as affable and open, to all appear
ances, as any man could be. Sheriff
Jas. M. Moss Is impressed with the
man to such extent that he feels sure
also that the answer to his inquiry
will justify his release. Under the
circumstances, however, he will be
held until all the little peculiarities
of the situation have been cleared up.
Another Case Of Interest. =
Interest will center locally in the
following dispatch from Augusta,
Ca, one OF the parties having but re-
Gently been in Walhalla, where he
entered into some business prospect
I've deals with Deputy Sheriff B. r.
Moss, OF whom the party giving his
name as Serdenberg gave evidence
Of wishing to purchase some lands.
Mr.. Moss was somewhat suspicious OF
the party, but was unable to draw
from him or observe anything about
him that would warrant detention.
The dispatch is as follows:
Augusta, Ga, Feb. 2.--United
States Assistant District Attorney
Wallace Miller, OF Macon, made q
public statement tonight completely
generating DR.. r. L.. Rhodes, who
Is lieutenant in the medical off,
GERS reserve corps, t.S.A., and was
charged with tipping Off George r..
Serdenberg, alleged German spy, that
the secret service men were after
him."
Mr. Moss noticed the very nervous
condition Of Serdenberg when he was
here, and thought something was
strange about the man, but could
bring nothing to the surface to JUS
tify any action on his part. Serden-
berg left here, and evidently made
his way pretty directly to Augusta,
where he landed in a hospital. The
DR.. Rhodes mentioned, who was at
tending serdenberg while in the hos
pital, hearing that secret service men
were looking up Serdenberg's rec
ord thoughtlessiy remarked to his
patient that he, the doctor, under
stood that secret service men were
investigating him. This gave rise to
the arrest Of DR.. Rhodes for giving
information OF this fact to a man who
was really under surveillance of the
officials, and this, 1t is said, Is the
ground upon which the physician was
arrested. His release is based upon
his uniformly patriotic demeanor,
and the ascertaining Of the fact that
the remark he, made was the result
of an impulse to Joke with a patient
Of whom he had not the slightest
suspicion. DR.. Rhodes is member
OF the medical reserve corps.
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