The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-09-23
STRANCERSCOLLECT
$7,OO0FROM FARMER
RECOVER S5,9ss WHEN MEN ARE
ARRESTED IN COLUMBIA.
Sheriff Finds 3 Guns.
Strangers Deposit Bond of $4oo Each
and Hastily Leave
Town.

A prominent Calhoun county farm
er. in the opinion of Sheriff F. F. H1ll'
came near losing $1,000 one day last
week in what the sheriff thinks to be
an ATTEMPTED swindle on the part OF
two men, J. F. Smith and J. NJ. An
derson, who claim to be from North
Carolina. The two men were ar
rested by Sheriff Hill soon after the
Calhoun county man had turned over
to them $1,000 in Liberty Bonds
which, the bond owner says, was to
be held by the two men as security
for stock purchased in a Texas con-
cern by the farmer.
The statesmen, one of whom 1orm-
erly canvassed this county selling
stock in a fish concern in Virginia.
approached the farmer and suggest
ed that he subscribe to stock IN the
Texas concern to the amount OF
$1,000, and agreed to take Liberty
honds for this amount, have them
transferred to the company they rep
resented and have the company mold
the bonds as security for the stock.
The farmer agreed to the transaction
and turned the bonds over to the
statesmen.
The bonds were brought to st.
Matthews by the two men, accom-
panied by the farmer, and were
transferred in blank, the statesmen
claiming that this procedure was nee
essary in order that the bonds might
be held as security for the stock. The
cashier of the local bank where the
transfer was made became suspicious
of the strangers, however the alacrlty
with which the farmer agreed to the
stransfer so clearly indicated that the
deal had been thoroughly Investigate
ed and was above reproach that the
cashier made the transfer without
comment.
Shortly after the two men had left
this county Solicitor A. j. Hydrlck
was informed of the deal and immedl-
ateI began an investigation. He as
certained that the men were doing
business in st. Matthews without
license and he, accompanied by Sher-
if Hill, began a search for the two
men and the bonds. Their chase led
to the Jefferson hotel, Columbia,
where the men, who were heavily
armed, were arrested at p. m. Cash
to the amount of s5,933 was found
on their persons.
Sheriff Hill went to the room oc-
cupied by the men at the Jefferson
hotel, accompanied by the hotel de-
I tective, aroused the occupants and
Informed them that they we're under
arrest. The men appeared very
much perturbed and declared that
their dealings with the Calhoun
farmer were absolutely fair. How
ever, the sheriff ascertained that the
Liberty bonds had been sold to
Columbia bank, and the money and
check found On the person OF the
two men were evidently funds de-
rived from the sale.
The prisoners were brought back
to St. Matthews and each required tc
put up bail in the sum of s400. After
their release, the officers says, the
men hired an automobile and went tc
North, and it is understood that they
hired an automobile there to go tc
Denmark. Shortly after leaving here
a telephone call was received from
Columbia asking if the men had lef
st. Matthews. It is said that the me1
will be re-arrested when located.
The money found in the pillow o.
one of the men was returned to st
Matthews. Sheriff Hill says three
revolvers were found scattered abou
the room in the hotel, and an empt!
whiskey bottle also was in evidence
He says the men declared their prop
osition to be legal and immediatel!
upon being aroused said they woult
give the money back if the farmeI
was not satisfied They had left :
call at the hotel desk so as to catcl
an early-morning train.-St. Mat
thews Carolinian.