Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-16
Sheriff Without Evidence Or Suspicion He Asserts
Bill Scarborough Recluse
Whose Only Mystery Was
Amount of Money He Had Hid

"Bill' Scarborough, as he was
generally and widely known, who
was found murdered Sunday, was
probably the most picturesque char
acter in Sumter county. Unlike most
men who live the life of a recluse,
his history is we'll known, he having
been born and reared here. Although
about his name being the romance Of
supposed riches hidden about his
combined store and residence, there
was little else of mystery about him.
He was considered queer or eccen-
tric, yet of brilliant intellect and fine
scholarly attainments. The story Of
his life is the story of a most in
teresting personality.
w. H. Scarborough was born 55
years ago in the city of Americus,
where he spent his entire life. lie
was the son of Mes Scarborough and
Mrs. Mary Jane Hames Scarborough,
who lived in the family home on
Prince street until their death many
years ago. His father was known
far and wide for his unusual men
tai attainments, having studied law,
but engaged in trading rather than
the practice of his profession. His
father died of cancer, and it was one
of the known eccentricit!cs Of his
son that he refused to handle money
direct from the hand of any person,
or touch books or articles handled by
others, so fearful was he of contract
ing the insidious disease.
Related to Nobility.
Mr.. Scarborough was directly re-
lated to Sir Frances Drake, one of
the most familiar characters of the
colonial period. 1t is said that he
was not very proud of this connec-
tion, often referring to the noble
man as "a damned sea pirate"
He was an only child, and was
reared under all the disadvantaI as
of loneliness. Having from his earli-
est years evinced thirst for knowl-
edge, he was permitted to read con-
tinually, absorbing all the informa-
ton possible in this manner. He read
his fathers law books, and became
we'll versed in legal lore. his men
tality was. remarkable in that he pos
sessed the unusual faculty of retain
ing what he read. Many children,
now grown, in Americus remember
the splendid assistance he gave them
during the trials and tribulations of
their school years. and whenever
something unusual came up in their
daily routine of study, they would
HE to Mr.. Scarborough to. get his
help, always readily bestowed.
While not a member of any
church. his proclivities in his early
youth leaned to the Methodist
Church, and his attendance at that
Sunday school, in company with his
schoolmates, was one of the sturdy
characteristics of his punctuality.
Those who knew him in his school
days, state that he possessed traits of
undoubted integrity, having never
been known to prevaricate to gain an
end for himself or his playmates. In
the settlement of school disputes his
word was accepted as final and abb
solute, with his decisions passing un-
questioned
Once Taunted as Dude.
He was also considered one of the
most Immediately dressed young
men of his set. a characteristic he
lost in maturity. So punctilious, in
deed, was he concerning the manner
and fit of his apparel, that he won
the pseudenym of "dude" and
dandy" He was scrupulous about
his clothes. and was known as an
invererate bather
Mr. Scarborough was a young
man of gentle manners and soft