The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-07-01
j. SAM MORTON ARRESTED.
Potato House Man in Custody at
Skowhe9an, Maine.


is wanted in Bamberg, has been ar
rested by the authorities Of Skcwhe-
gan, Maine, on a warrant issued in
| Orangeburg in connection with a
plant propagating concern in that
city. Sheriff Dukes and deputy
left Orangeburg the latter part of
last week for Maine to bring Morton
back to South Carolina to answer
charges brought by the Orangehurg
| concern.
Before going to Maine the Orange
burg officers went to Columbia to get
requisition papers from the COVER
nor. AS Maine is a long way from
Orangeburg it will probably be sew
eral days before Sheriff Dukes re-
turns with his prisoner. The Orange
burg warrant also includes John F.
Digmah, an associate of Morton. So
far as learned there are no charges
against Digman in Bamberg.
Some weeks ago Morton came to
Bamberg and made business propo-
sition to several Bamberg gentlemen
to erect a potato curing house, here.
His proposition was accepted and a
company, with capital stock Of
$4,000, was organized. Some three
weeks or so ago Morton returned to
Bamberg and informed the gentle
| men interested that he had two car
loads of building material, hollow
tiling, here and that it would re-
quire $4,000 to get the material from
the railroad company, it is said. A
joint note was signed and the money
was secured. A new York exchange
on the Park National Bank was given
Morton, who is said to have carried
the check away with him.
Before going, however, Morton
went to S. G. Hollifeld, Southern
Railway agent here, to see about the
freight charges on the two carloads
of material. When he learned the
amount of the charges, $326.35, he
protested strongly that the charges
were excessive, and at first refused to
pay the charges, taking the matter up
with the shippers, who answered him
by wire telling him to pay the, charg-
es and that if there was any excess
they would take the matter up with
the railroad. He thereupon gave Mr.
| Holliield a check on a Orangeburg
| bank for the amount and secured the
freight bills. The check was return
ed by the Orangeburg bank with the
notation of insufficient funds.
1t was ascertained that the ma
terial had been shipped here to 81.
Sam Morton" on open account, in
stead of order notify as it is said
| Morton had led the potato house
| hackers to believe. This caused
them to become suspicious at once,
and the New York bank was wired
to hold up payment on the $4,000
check. There appeared to be little
possibility of having the check re-
| fused payment, however, as it was
thought that Morton would hardly
go direct to the Park National Bank
to cash the draft. However, he did
do so, and some days later the Bam-
berg gentlemen were notified that
Morton had presented the check and
had been refused payment. He wrote
back himself about it and expressed
evident surprise that he was not
trusted, and stated that he would be
back in South Carolina some days
later. He did not appear however.
In the meantime the, Orangeburg
concern, which is said to have last
about $500 through Morton's deals
with them, got busy and had war
rant issued for Morton and Digman.
This warrant was served in Skowhe-
gan.
Although payment on the big check
was stopped, Morton is said to have
secured about $500 from the potato
house men which has not been re-
covered. Morton's Orangeburg
machination is told by the Times and
Democrat as follows:
Sam Morton and John F. Digman,
wanted in this city under charge Of
breech of trust and conspiracy to de-
fraud, are now in jail in Showhegan,
Maine. Sheriff Dukes will leave this
morning for Columbia to secure
requisition papers. He will then
proceed to Skowhegan for the two
men.
"Information that the men had
been arrested, presumably yester-
day, was received in a telegram by
Sheriff Dukes early yesterday morn
ing from the Sheriff at SkoWhegan.
He Immediately communicated with
the men here financially interested
l. klN~