davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1962-05-27

Pecos farmers who were as.
sessed penalties totaling $257,.
1852, 1t was a different matter;
for one of them, a 32-year-olo
grower who was assessed $39,.
900 1t could be disastrous. And
they blame Billie Sol for theil
troubles.
The acreage allotment scheme
worked this way:
In the flourishing. long,
staple cotton country it is mol
land that is important; that
can be bought for $50 an acre
What is important is a cot
ton allotment-that is, author
ization to grow cotton on a spe-
cific piece Of land. And land
having a cotton allotment may
sell as high as $500 an acre
Cotton allotments are a part
Of the history of a piece oi
land; they cannot be sold and
they cannot be transferred.
An exception is provided fol
allotments on land taken over
by eminent domain. These al
lotments go into a national pool
and the former owners, within
three years, may reclaim them
and even transfer them from
one State to another.
This offered an opportunity
for a grower to Increase his
production. Since it was legal
to lease land having allotments
some Texas growers arranged
to sell land to those holding al
lotments for land taken over by
eminent domain and then lease
the land back.
Billie Sol was a latecomer in
this field. But in 1860 he gave
it his usual intense attention.
He came to me an asked me
about 1t and how 1t was done"
said one farmer. II told him to
see my lawyer. I don't talk to
Billie Sol. He's way out yonder
Evening star., 1962-05-27
Church Dispute

Billie Sol has been some
thing Of a controversial figure
in the church for long time.
One member said he told the
minister he would walk out IL
Billie Sol spoke in the church
again.
A serious rift occurred when
Billie Sol was elected an elder
in September. 1860. A group
opposing him moved out and
set up another church.
One Of the schism leaders
was Mrs. Ruth Gregory, a Pecos
housewife who said: I'VE Just
opposed him because he was
not qualified to be an elder"
AS one who can quote the
Bible as we'll as Billie Sol, she
cited as qualifications for a
church leader lst Timothy. 81:
Moreover he must be well
thought Of by outsiders. or he
may fall into reproach and the
snare Of the devil"
Billie Sol, said Mrs. Gregory,
did not have a good report
from without because he was
trying to run people out Of
business and was underwriting
them. The feeling within and
without was very bad"
One of Billie Soils many
sided interests was in schools
connected with his church. He
was a supporter of the Nash
vile Christian Institute. a
school for Negroes and solicited
funds for scholarships in many
parts Of the country and raised,
money for others.
According to Texas officials,
there has never been a system
Of accounting for the funds
Billie Sol received in these ac-
tivities.,
Texas Attorney General Will
son said his office is looking
into this to see II Billie Sol
dealt with church funds like
he did all his other funds"
Evening star., 1962-05-27
Religious Precept

With Billie Sol Estes. bust.
ness and religion seemed to q
hand in hand. One of hi
quoted prescriptions Of success
was lust keep Gods command.
ments and fear no man."
With an ambition which ap.
peared to have no bounds, Bill
lie Sol was a fearsome compet-
itor. More than one Pecos and
West Texas businessman sold
out to him rather than engage
in a struggle.
How many businesses he was
in no one seems to know for
sure. Ray Mcpherson, Of the
First National Bank, said he
did not know. but I've heard
about 40"
Besides fertilizer, grain stor-
age and farming. his interests
include the Pecos Daily News,
a cement company, oil wells, a
pump and we'll company and
a 100000 funeral home.
Until financial woes overlook
him, he billie Sob apparently
was one of the most generous
supporters of the Church Of
Christ. The church is founded
strictly on the teachings Of the
New Testament and the words:
Thus saith the Lord"
Until he resigned last month,
he was an elder in the Pecos
church and often spoke there.
II don't believe many go to
church as much as he did,"
said one citizen.
Mr.. Boyett, the minister.
said: He might land at the
airport is minutes before a
service and he would be there"
At a recent Sunday service
Mr.. Boyett spoke about Chris
tian love. If a man does not
love his fellowman. he said,
then he does not love God.
Evening star., 1962-05-27
Describes Deal

Questioned by Texas inves-
tigators, L. G. (Bo) WorSham,
who had 2,400 acres in cotton,
described how Billie Sol sold
him. He said he was called to
Billie Soils office and asked If
he could use a little extra
money. II said, well, anybody
could use a little extra money
as long as it's all right" Mr..
Worsham related.
II asked him what he meant.
Well, he said that he had used
up his limit of credit He
needed a place where he could
buy some more tanks ... I says,
Well, Billie, I'm doing all
right, and I don't think I would
be interested. . > We talked
on.
Billie Sol told him, the farm
er said, that he would be given
a hold-harmless agreement un-
der which the manufacturer
would take back the tanks in
full settlement if payments be-
came in default.
80 they convinced me-" Mr..
WorSham concluded. He went
into five separate deals, sign
ing some of the papers in blank.
When the tank deal was pub
licized, Mr.. Worsham said, he
telephoned Billie Sol and asked
where the tanks were. WELL"
he quoted Billie Sol as saying,
they are just scattered here
and there. We have the tanks"
He said he was promised a list
Of them but never received it.
L. B. hnSon, another
farmer, testified that Billie Sol
called him in and he soon found
himself in on the deal.
WELL" he said, IT didn't aim
to be, but I wound up on one
of them, I tell you what,
that boy is a salesman.
Mr.. johnson said he also
signed some Of the papers in
blank. Later he thought better
of it and called Billie Sol to
cancel the deal. We'll" he said,
"he billie Sob sounded like
he was crying. I was able to
stay with him over the tele--
Evening star., 1962-05-27
To Pecos in 1851

Billie Sol arrived mere in 1851
after way stops at Snyder and
other places in the plains.
Opinions differ on what he was
worth then. HE was just an
other farmer like the rest Of
us" said w. M. Mattox who
later defeated him for the
school board.
Banker Holcombe disagreed
and said Billie Sol must have
had some resources then. When
he came to Mr.. Holcombe a
year later he presented a finan-
cial statement showing assets
of $185, 900, debts Of $68,300 and
a net worth of $4,000. 1t was
not a certified statement but
Mr.. Holcombe said he verified
1t.
II thought he was as fine a
young man as I have ever
seen," the banker said. His
only fault was being slow in
paying bills. He never paid a
dollar he owed unless he had
to-"
The banker said Billie Sol
was a born salesman. II be-
lieve he could have sold ice to
the Eskimos."
But he failed to sell the bank
er when he came in two years
later with q financial statement
showing $1.3 million in assets
and a net worth Of $744,000. It
was an inflated statement, the
banker said. He added that the
bank then began to draw away
from Billie Sol.
While the bank would still
lend him money, it now de-
manded 100 per cent security.
Billie Sol now owes 1t $l00, 900,
but the loan is secured by 1900
head of dairy cattle valued at
100000, Mr.. Holcombe said.
Evening star., 1962-05-27

phone, but I couldn't do it in
his office"
Mr.. johnson said he thought
he had retrieved all the papers
he had signed. Ten months
later he found out that his
name was on a chattel mort
gage registered at the Reeves
County courthouse. Many other
farmers found their names on
papers they said they had not
signed.
In all, between 80 and 40
farmers signed chattel mort
cages totaling about $22 mil
lion at the present time. These
were discounted by IL finance
companies.
Evening star., 1962-05-27
Boom in Pecos

For several weeks now, this
community of 12,728 according
to a sign on its outskirts) has
been enjoying a boom of sorts.
Reporters. Federal and State
investigators and worried fl
nance company men have
swarmed in in such numbers
that a resident wryly remarked:
IF this would Just keep up, we
wouldn't miss Billie SOL"
Such attempts at humor are
rare. Everyone realizes that
Billie Sol and his empire, jerry
built though it may have been,
spurred the local economy. And
his downfall is bound to be felt,
too.
The cotton growers are not
unaccustomed to bad years. An
unreasonable rain may ruin a
young crop. They know how to
meet natural misfortunes.
But Billie Sol is something
else. He has touched many lives
and the life of the town itself.
Many Of the farmers already
are tightening their belts in an
ticipation of bad times.
A leading grocer said people
are buying less since the Billie
Sol bubble burst. They used
to come in and buy coffee,
canned goods and other staples
by the case" he said. They're
not doing that now"
Another said credit was
tighter. Maybe that's a good
thing" he added. There's been
too much buying on credit any
way" .
Mr.. Holcombe. the banker
who helped Billie Sol on his
way, estimated that business
was off 8 to 8 per cent. Z
However. Mr.. Mcpherson Of
First National. through which I
Billie Sol conducted much Of .
his business in recent years, 4
saw no great immediate i'm 1
pact. But he expressed concern :
over what may happen next !
year. q
In the West Texas cotton <
area, Mr.. Mcpherson explained, 4
farmers get financial backing &
very early In the year. Almost s
all Of them have made their Z
1862 crop loans and are going
ahead with this years crops as 4
usual. 3
But next year could be Diff !,
ferent story. Financing could 5
be harder to obtain. The cot I
ton acreage cancelled by the !
Agriculture Department, unless /
rescinded. will reduce volume. {
But for 40 or more farmers 4
in the Pecos area the darkest
shadow is thrown by the chat 7
tel mortgages on fertilizer
tanks. Between now and next )
February. the usual financing
time. the finance companies
holding the mortgages may 4
take judgment to recover their q
B
If that happens, most of the
farmers involved in the deal {
say they will be wiped out. Y
That, they say, is the legacy
left them by Billie Sol who :
often liked to say that Christ
gave the world the remedy for
all social ills: "As ye would +
that men do unto you, do you
likewise unto them" i
Evening star., 1962-05-27
The Tank Gumbit

The Estes tank deal has been
described by Texas Attorney
General Will Wilson as simply a
"kiting" operation. 1t worked
like this:
With his pyramiding debts
harasSing him and his expand
ing grain storage operations
calling for more cash, Billie Sol
went to West Texas cotton
growers with a proposition that
he, in effect. borrow their
credit.
He proposed that the farmers
buy from a company with
which Billie Sol was connected
anhydrous ammonia tanks.
which are used in transporting
the liquid fertilizer to farms.
They would sign chattel mort
cages for the tanks and then
lease them back to Estes.
In return the farmer was
promiSed-and in most cases
got-10 per cent Of the total
purchase price in cash. If, for
example, he bought 100 tanks
at $1,000 each, he received
$4,000 in cash. He also re-
ceived monthly payments from
Billie Sol for lease Of the tanks.
which covered the payments he
had to send to the finance
company holding the mortgage.
The scheme caught on like
a Florida land boom. One
farmer wound up with his name
on chattel mortgages totaling
$80O,000
1t may be said that the farm
ers who participated in the
scheme should have known bet
ter. But they had gone through
two poor seasons and some of
them were feeling a financial
pinch. And then. Of course,
there was the responsiveness of
Billie Sol.
Evening star., 1962-05-27
Pecos Billie Sol: The Story Of Meteoric Rise and Fall
Continued From Page Al

Continued From Page Al
his pool. 1t Is said that the
rule applies to children, too.
The Estes home is set in an
undistinguished neighborhood.
On one side and behind him are
modest homes. On another side
is a television repair shop and
just beyond that is a sign point
ing to the city dump.
His air-conditioned offices
are about a mile away. Outside
there is a neat sign reading
Billie Sol Estes Enterprises. :"
The Federal receiver presides
there now.
Evening star., 1962-05-27

For this report on the personality and
monipUlotioas Of BiIIie Sol Estes,
StoH Writer Cecil Holland spent
more thon o week in Texos taking
TO dozens Of persons ossoeioted or
ocquointed with the indicted fnon-
eisr end checking records Of his
opeFotioHs.
Milford chronicle., 1962-05-11
Chess Tourney
Lists Winners

In the second round of tourna-
ment play Leon Tschantre, being
behind by pawn most of the
game, succeeded in pushing one
across the board for a Queen on
his 39th move and wasted no time
in forcing Ed Cline to resign 5
moves later. This was Cline's first
appearance in tournament play
and Tschantre's first victory.
Joe Abramson won his first
game by defeating Ric h
Kawadler in Is moves. Abramson,
handling the black pieces, used a
Queen backed up with a Knight
to mate Kawadler's castled King
by capturing a rook pawn. This
game is the shortest in tourna-
ment play and produced the first
actual mate.
Jack Aptt outlasted Larry Dono-
van in a very close game, lasting
2 hours and minutes, with 35
moves being made by each player.
With a Rook and Queen on Dono-
vans second rank, Aptt forced an
exchange Vi hOOh lOI Slut0u VI
mate. Seeing this, Donovan put
Aptt's King in check for three
consecutive moves. Not being able
to continue checking the White
King, Donovan resigned.
Third round of 5-round
tournament will continue on May
18th at the Milford Fire House
with Aptt playing Ka wadler
Tschantre playing Donovan and
Cline playing Abramson.
All tournament games are be-
ing annotated, and the players
are being rated on tournament
games only.
GA Tournament Standings
Player Apt: Won 2. Lost 0,
Pct 1000.
Player, Abramson: Won 1, Lost
1, Pet. 500.
Player, Donovan: Won 1, Lost 1,
Pet. 500.
Player, Tschantre: Won 1, Lost
1, Pct. 500
Player, Cline: Won 0, Lost 1,
Pct. 900.
Player, Kawadler: Won o. Lost
L, Pet. 000
Milford chronicle., 1962-05-11
Boy Scout News

Rain or shine, more than $50
Boy Scouts and Scouters are ex-
pected to greet the dawn of May
19 from sleeping bags and tents
at Trap Pond.
This Sussex County public park
and camping site will awake from
its long winters nap to gaze upon
beehive of activity, the likes of
which have not been duplicated
there in many year.
The occasion will be the an
nual spring camporee, sponsored
by the Sussex District camping
committee of the Boy Scouts of
America. The dates are May 18,
19 and 20. George Coulter, camp
ing chairman, says 25 units and
s Explorer posts in Sussex County
will be on hand.
Units will compete for awards
in scouting exhibits. An overall
camp award will be made for
scouting g excellence. Individual
awards will be made for cooking,
compass, fire-buildmg and many
other scout achievements.
Parents of participating scouts
are invited to attend the exhibits,
dinner, and campfire beginning
Saturday afternoon, May 10, eli
NAKED by a court of honor.
Milford chronicle., 1962-05-11

Wise Homes of Salisbury INC. to
Jeremiah l.. Robinson and Ella B.,
Georgetown HID, lot:
Peter w. Shockley and Emma P.
to James L. Trader and Delois d.,
Baltimore Hd., IL acres.
CORRECTIVE DEED = Joseph
NJ. Kline and Natalie T. to Victor
Condos, Jr and Dorothy, Baltimore
Baltimore HID, lot no. IA, blk. 5.
The Glatfelter Pulp Wood Co. to
Floyd S. Russell and Hilda E., Nan
ticoke HID, "a acres.
John G. Holland and Lora ID. to
Hilliard NJ. Palmer and Gladys M,
Lewes and Rehoboth Hd., lot IL
on 4th st.
Earl R. Golden and Bertha M. to
Elwood Kitchens and Pauline,
Georgetown HID, lot.
Daniel G. Anderson, Jr. and Mar
ian R. to Austin L. Beally Lewes
and Rehoboth Hd., lot 5, blk. Al.
Milford chronicle., 1962-05-11
Real Esfute Transfers
In Sussex County,
April 30th to Nav 4th. 1869


H. Vernon Needles and Irma w.
to Freddie Smith and Mabel, Broad
kiln Hd., Whites Add. lots 80, 48
and 49,
Stephen Yager and Helen to Fred
j. Bullock and Mary j., George
town Hd., 33 1-3 acres with imps.
T. Paul Swain and Mary Alice to
Chester ]. Walls and Margaret E.
Georgetown Hd, Swain Acres, lots
56 and 81 and 2'10" of lot SO, High
land Ave.
Nanticoke Real Estate Co. to
Gladys D. Hickman, Seaford H d.,
Woodside Manor, lot 219.
Wise Homes of Salisbury, Inc. to
Edward Upsher and Annie, George
town. Hd., lot
The Pure Oil Co. to Seaford
Motor Co., Inc, Seaford Hd., o t.,
1929 So. fit.
Lester c. Hitch and Flora NJ. to
Norris l.. Niblett, Little Greek Hd,
w side King ST., lot.
Maurice Hurd and Florence H.
to VIM. L. Boone and Rachel c.,
Cedar Creek HID, Slaughter Beach,
lot 68 with imp.
Raymond d. Newnom to VIM. X.
Kenton, Cedar Greek Hd., lots.
Mabel S. Cannon and Harry W.,
Harry L. Cannon Jr. and Carla G.,
Mary Louise Clapperton and Ray
mond to Carl E. Parker, III and
Phyllis Anne, North West Fork HID,
lot with imp.
George H. Carey and Lulu X. to
Nelson W. Adams and Shirley LIS,
Nanticoke Hd., lot
j. T. Bryan and Phamie W. o
Wilco Inc, Seaford HID, lot on 13A.
John c. Barber and Patricia H.
to Howard F. Galloway, Broad
Greek HID, Harrington Tract, lot
No. 2.
Eugene c. Ellison and Elizabeth
A. to Joseph E. Warrington
Marian H., Broad Greek HID, lot II.
Thomas L. McElhaney and Le-
nora V. to Jon C. Barber and Pa
tricia M. H., Broad Creek Hd., Nan
ticoke Acres, lot SO.
Daniel H. Locates and Jennie P.
to Leon ]. Tyndall and Georgia A.,
Broad Creek HID, 21.4 acres.
w. and r. Kirwin, Inc. to Laurel
Flour and Feed Mills, Inc, Broad
Creek Hd., 2 acres.
CORRECTIVE DEED - Millard
F. Murray and Beatrice to State of
Delaware, Dagsboro Hd., 0.208 ac
Frank A. Timmons and Sarah E.
to Henry L. Kirby and Margaret A,
Dagsboro Hd., Piney Neck L acre.
Milford chronicle., 1962-05-11
MILLVILLE
Millie c. Banks
Phone: DickersOn 461

Mothers Day service will be held
next Sunday morning at the Mill
vile NJ. E. Church by Rev. Melvin
E. Wheatley. Everyone is welcome.
Mrs. Helen West, Mrs. Louise
Dale and Mrs. Ruley Banks attend
ed the Womans Society of Chris
tian Service Zone meeting last
Monday. evening at the Grace M. E..
Church in Millsboro. Mrs. Walter
Palmer, Conference President, was
the speaker.
Mr.. and Mrs. Herman Vogel, Jr.
and family of Kennett Square, Pa,
spent last weekend at their apart
ment here.
Mr.. and Mrs. James Savage and
Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Justice are
vacationing in New York State, this
week
Mr.. and Mrs Tom Hickman and
family spent the weekend in Ger
mantown, Pa, with relatives.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Banks and
daughter Suzanne of New Castle,
were guests last week of their par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Banks.
Sympathy is extended to the
family of Walter Hudson OF Ocean
View, who died on Sunday.
Mrs. Atlanta Simpler spent the
weekend with her grandchildren,
Mr.. and Mrs. Claude Reed in Chin
colleague, Va.
Guests at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Edward Short on Satur-
day and Sunday, were, Mr.. and
Mrs. Clay Wharton and son Tony
of Milford, Mr.. and Mrs. Courtney
Evans of Salisbury. Md, and Mr..
and Mrs. Chester Evans of Ocean
View.
Miss Jane Evans spent the week
end with Donna CULLEN.
Thought for the Day-"All Hon
or to Mothers. Motherhood is socie-
tvs greatest career; Christian
motherhood society's greatest as
set"
Milford chronicle., 1962-05-11

Pepper Brothers, Inc. to VIM. G.
Pepper and Nancy F., Baltimore
HID, 1.55 acres.
/, Bethany Realty Inc. to Vernon d.
Kalkman and Ruth ", Baltimore
Hd., Bethany Harbor Sec lots Al
and AZ.
Bethany Realty Inc to John
Thomas Markle and Erma F., Balti-
more Hd., Bethany Realty Harbor
Sec. lot No. 35.
line A. Healing and Catherine An
tonik, Baltimore HID, Bethany
Beach, lot No. 10.
Gertruce Etlzer to Daniel G. Nc
Mum and Helen A., Baltimore HID,
lots 249, $50 and 251.
Esther Palmer to George l.. Dun
can and Elizabeth, Baltimore HID,
lot with imp.
Carrie E. Lynch to Bruce Ray
Dolby, Sr. and Lois W., Baltimore
Hd., 2-5 acres.
Percy T. Davey to Horace F.
Tyre and Ella M, Baltimore HID,
AZ acres and lot
Rowland ID. Scott and Sallie ",
Charles c. Allen, c. Clarence Allen,
Warren L. Allen and John r. Allen,
T-R Aliens Hatchery, Indian River
Hid, Is acres.
Alice Josephine Fleps and Carl
]. to Lands E. Wilson and Anna j.,
Georgetown HID, lot with imp.
Carey ID. Sapp and Dorothy ]. to
George Mears Cannon, Georgetown
HID, lot No. 9. Sec. C.
NJ. and w. Holding Corp. to Chas
j. Webb and Jane c., Lewes and
Rehoboth HID, lot No. 10, blk. 10,
Ann Acres.
Milford chronicle., 1962-05-11
ST. JOHNS
Mrs. Laurence Kitchens

Thought for the Day-"Each
temptation we overcome and each
grace we gain is the Holy Spirits
work in u.s."
Hereby we know that we dwell
in Him and He infus, because He
hath given us of his Spirit" John
Abb. @
Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Johnson had
as their guests on Sunday, Mr.. and
Mrs. Miltoq Johnson and girls of
Baltimore, Mrs Helen Renfrow, Mr..
and Mrs. Robert Dickerson and
Miss Darlene Dickerson.
Mrs. Ida Gordy is a patient in
the Memorial Hospital in Whining
ton, as a result of fall in her
home in Harbeson on Friday. Her
many friends wish her a very
speedy recovery.
Mrs. Alberta Justice spent III e
weekend with Mrs. Hattie Short.
Mrs. Sallie Truitt spent Sunday
with her aunt, Mrs. Lottie Truitt
in Bridgeville.
Mrs. May Kitchens and son Ver-
non spent Saturday evening with
Mrs. Hattie Short.
q "If we love God. He abides with
us and helps us in every time of
need"
John Revel will be the speaker
at the worship service at st. Johns
Church on Sunday morning at IL
noon.
"The gem cannot be polished
without friction nor man perfected
without trQls."
Mr.. and Mrs. Wayne Rust were
in Oover on Saturday,.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. G.. Rust, Sr.,
Mr.. and Mrs. w. G. Rust, Jr., and
little daughter Denise. motored to
Ocean City and Fenwick Island on
Sunday.