The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-02
.RAINE CLAIMS He
WILL REPAY ALL
LOSSES IN BANK
Feeling Not Guilty, Pleaded
Guilty to Secure Shorter
Sentence still Fights Trial
on Main Charge.

II is the purpose of C. Hunter Raine
to repay everyt penny that was lost
by depositors OF the old Mercantile
bank. when that institution was
wrecked In 1914 The sum totals ST.
O9l 900 in round numbers.
Raine did not say how he expected
to acquire the 1901 900 which he stole
from the bank
BY an unprecedented action on the
part Of the directors and large de-
postors Of the bank, directed largely
by Gen. Luke n. Wright, the largest
losers In tho wreck forfeited more than
their fair pro rata of'the loss and the
depositors OF amounts less than $1,000
got dollar for dollar.
This was the statement Raiue
made on the witness stand Wednesday
morning during the hearing of the ha
beas corpus proceedings which he in
stituted to obtain his release from the
county jail. where he has been held
since Monday, when he was surrendered
to the sheriff by his bondsmen
The habeas corpus proceedings are
being heard by Judge Ben r. Capell,
of Second division, circuit court. Hugh
Magevney, Raine's attorney completed
his side OF the case Just after the noon
hour struck. Sam o. Bates state
attorney, and his assistant, John Exby
Immediately started the presentation OF
the states answer.
Ralne was the only witness on The
stand, He recited fully the events which
led up 10 his plea OF guilty In fedora
court, in February, 1915, when the
United States government called him
to account for using the mails In CON
nection with wrecking Of the Mercan.
tile bank, Raine served sentence III
fhA fp1pFul nanit tnnI iurU
He entered the federal penitentiary or
Feb, 10, 1915, and was released on Oct
II. 1913, he said.
Got Short Sentence.
81 felt that | was not guilty Al
charged in the Indictment but that
was technically guilty. for the reasor
that the bank was insolvent and NJ
longer was doing business" Raine said
"On the advice Of my counsel | plead
ed guilty, as he explained that in view
Of the nature OF the case against me
| probably would get Is years in tn,
penitentiary II ] pleaded not guilty anC
was tried, whereas II ! pleaded guilt
| would get but five years Becaus,
Of my age and my purpose to pay bacI
what | owed, ] pleaded guilty on Feb
Is, 1916"
The hyJeas corpus hearing opene,
at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday morning be
| fore Judge Capel. Exclusive OF attor
neys, court attaches and reporters, onl,
| four spectators were In the courtroom
As regular opening time came around
| however, many lawyers dropped In anC
| listened with interest to the argument
advanced by Hugh Magevney for hi
| clients release.
Special Jail Room.
Raine sat beside Magevney, clad II
\ neat light gray suit and wearing
| light green bow tie. He smoked sev
| era cgarets during the course OF tn
hearing and listened with close atten
ton to every word that was spoken
| The two nights spent In the count!
| jail had left no mark upon the ex -hanl
| president. apparently. His linen wa
| spotless His room at the jail Is on tn,
second floor, second room from tn,
| front and is not behind the ceiling higt
steel bars. which keep the ordinary
| prisoners from freedom. Raine has
| bed and two windows light his room
From his door he can look down int
| the foyer of the jail (if jail has suci
| q thing He Il accompanied to luncl
each day by Edgar Harris, execution
| deputy sheriff, who has been detailed
| by Sheriff Perry to watch over his dis
| tfnguished prisoner. Raine eats hi
breakfast and his supper at the jai
| each day
From indications at noon wednesda,
the RaiAe habeas corpus hearing prob