Harold Eugene Orr was an associate of Billy Sol Estes who owned the Superior Manufacturing Company. In 1958 Estes and Orr, among others figured they could buy cotton allotments from farmers who were either shutting down their operation or having land taken through eminent domain. Then they applied for subsidies based on these allotments.

Department of Agriculture Henry Marshall saw through these arrangements as he investigated the agreements and the supposed storage receipts for cotton grown. Estes got in touch with Lyndon Johnson, fellow Texan who tried to get Marshall to back off the search. Marshall was offered a major promotion that would have moved him to Washington. However, being an honest man, turned it down and kept the pressure on. Marshall's life was soon ended by a visit from Johnson's henchman, Mac Wallace.

Despite the efforts to cover the fraudulent activity Estes and Orr were eventually arrested. Orr received a ten year prison sentence, but was permitted to return to his home. There were rumors that he was going to become a witness against the others and this was his reward. On February 28, 1964 he was found in his garage, dead from carbon monoxide poison. The local Justice of the Peace ruled it was a suicide and nothing more was done.