Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-09-02
DR.. Prather and Asso-
ciates First And Last
Bidders
So, 500 MORE THAN
DEBT Is REALIZED
Question Now Arises AS
To Who Gets The
Surplus.

In the presence of crowd of 200
representative citizens Of Sumter
county gathered at the court house
steps, the Y. M. c. A. property was
sold at public outcry at IL O'Clock
this morning by T. 0. Marshall. re-
ceivr, for $31, ,050. The successful
bidder was DIR. w. S. Prather, rep
resenting a syndicate of local physi-
clans, composed of Drs Prathers
Glenn, Grubbs and Smith. The sale
was conducted under court order
to satisfy debts totalling approx
mately $23, 900.
The sale, which was keenly watch
ed by the interested gathering, was
attended BY spiriting bidding on the
part of Dr. Prather, who stood at the
side of Mr.. Marshall, Lewis Ellis, rep
resenting the Drs Wise, of Palms.
and John Sheffield, representing the
unnamed party DR.. Thad Wise
stood at Mr. Ellis side and Mr., Ellis
ceased bidding when the figure passed
$25, 900. Mr.. Sheffield's final bid
was S31, 900. When DR.. Prather an
nounced an offer of $50 higher than
that figure Mr.. Sheffield announced
''I'm through" and the property was
knocked down by Mr.. Marshall.
DR.. Prather reiterated today that
{ L l.. Df I1if,acnIf aTa hfS
associates in buying the property
was to protect the city hospital, al
ready struggling, by keeping pri-
vate and competing concern out OF
Americus.
Edward Young Clarke, of Atlanta
was present at the sale representa-
tive of the Salvation Army, but was
not a bidder, he having negotiated
with DR.. Prather for taking over the
building in case he succeeded in secur-
ing it.
Ellis First to Bid.
The sale was opened by Mr.. Mar
shall, after reading the official no
tice of sale, announcing that he held
a private bid of $4,000 and that he
would now receive public bids. The
$23, 900 bid had been made Monday
by Dr. Prather. Mr.. Ellis was first
with a bid of $23,500. The bids
climbed 500 at time to $4,000
and $4,000, when Mr.. Ellis ceased
bidding. With only DR.. Prather and
Mr.. Sheffield then competing, the fig
ure went to $4,000, when Mr.. Shelf
field announced $25,50O. DR.. Prath-
er raised the bid $50, and Mr.. Shelf
field made it even S25,600. When it
reached $25,700, Mr.. Marshall, evi-
IDENTIFY confused, announced the bid
to be $27,7O0, but no one objected
and the next bid was $27,800, then
/ $28,000
During the climb Of the next thou
sand dollars the tension grew and the
jumps were greater. From S28,100
bid by DR.. Prather, Mr.. Sheffield
jumped to $28,25O, and was answer
ed by $3.50 hike. When $4,000
was reached fifty dollars raises were
in order until after DR.. Prather an
nounced S29, $50, when Mr.. Sheffield
called $4,000. The bids then jock
eyed slowly up the ladder $50 at
time until Mr.. Sheffield announced
at $31,05 that he was through.
May Go to Salvationists.
DR.. Prather this afternoon, speak
ing for himself and associates, gave
out the following statement:
''The Salvation Army, which sent
a representative here from Atlanta
this morning, is negotiating with Us
to take over the Y NJ. c. A. proper
ty, and it is more than likely that an
arrangement for this disposition Of
/ it will be reached. If the Salvation
Army does take it over, they giA
make extensive Improvements, and it
Continued on Page Fourl