Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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- 9if # y # 7 .4 v m The Abbeville -2?m / - w ' \ tJY W. W. & W. R. BRADLEY. ABBEVILLE, S. O.. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1912. ESTABLISHED 1844 BLIND TIGEI FOR The committee investigating the af fairs of the old dispensary held a meeting in Columbia Thursday. J. P. B. O'Neill, of Charleston appeared and testified that he paid "graft" to Chief Constable Stothart. The follow ing is a condensed statement of his evidence. Columbia, July 19.? The sensation . of the hearing Thursday afternoon be- j fore the special investigating commit- j tee o ftlie South Carolina legislature was the testimony of J. P. B. O'Neill, a j I'umesseu uimu u^ciuwi, .mui testified that he had collected "pro-1 tection" money in Charleston, S. C? and paid it to Chief Constable B. H. i Stothart. O'Neill's testimony was made before I the special session of the committee j investigating the alleged dispensary graft and charges of corruption ! against tsate officials. O'Neill proved to be an unwilling | witness and after evading questions of the committeemen for more than an hour he was induced to testify by a threat of imprisonment. (?ive Money to Stothart The witness testified that for about seventeen months he had been col lecting "protection" money amounting to about $60 per month from blind tigers in Charleston and turning the money over to i;niei uonsiauie aiuu hart. Eighteen months ago, he testified, Stothart was appointed Chief consta ble by Gov. Blease and a few days lat er he came to O'Neill's place of busi ness. "Stothart told me that the boys would be coming around to see me" testified O'Neill. The witness then testified that he collected the "protection" money from the retail whiskey dealers and about a month later placed it under Stothart's door in an envelope. The envelope, he testified, contained the names of the dealers who had "contri buted." O'Neill testified that the "pro tection desired" was given. The testimony of O'Neill was the most sensational that has ever been given before the legislative commit tee. In his testimony O'Neill declared that the collection of the "protection fund" had commenced about 18 months ago,or just arter me appunu-1 ment of Stothart by the governor of South Carolina. At a recent meet ing of the dispensary committee in Charleston several confessed "blind tigers" charged that they had been paying a protection fund to J. P. B. O'Neill, who was said to be a member of the Marion Stock company, alleged to be a wholesale whiskey company operating in the city of Charleston. The principal testimony on the "pro tection fund" given at the Charleston hearing was by John J. Miller. O'Neill admitted before the commit tee that Miller had been employed as his agent and that he collected the "fund" from the retailers. Graee*s Charges Several weeks ago Mayor Grace of Charleston, made the charge that graft had been traced practically up to the governor's office. The legis lative committee held a meeting in Charleston when a score of witnesses appeared. Practically every witness gave testimony that they had been paying a "protection fund" to the wholesale whiskey dealers.. The whole sale dealers charged with receiving the fund were subpoenaed to appear before the committee. The committee met here last week and only one al leged wholesaler appeared. He was Albert Sottile. Cfttllla Whs Dumb He refused to testify on the ground that it might incriminate him. the committee at that time let him off. Later a case was found giving the committee the right to force to tes tify and not to use the testimony in criminal prosecution. O'Neill is the first witness to be called and he has directly charged the chief constable of the governor of South Carolina with grafting. All of the other whole- | salers will be called and they will be i forced to tell what they did with the fund collected. I The committee held an executive j session when several matters were j discussed. Xo announcement had been made as to when the next meeting of the committee will be held. "What was the business of the Ma rion Stock Company?" was the ques tion asked O'Xeill by Chairman Car AKMV WO lttl IS NOW IN ANDERSON Special to Greenville News. Anderson .July 20.?The farmers of the districts infected with army worms this afternoon issued an appeal for help in the wav of labor and money with which to buy Paris green and arsenic of lead to i?e used in stamping out the pest. The dreaded worm was llrst discovered early in the week in the ltoberts section of the county. Since then the pest has spread to other sections. And the worms are abso lutely destroying all vegetation. The worms have confined themselves princi pally to the bottoms, but they are now go ing into cocoons and in five days wil| hatch into moths and butterllies, which the experts say will be scattered by the winds in all directions. Several Clemson experts aw on the scene and are urging: Immediate action, which is being given freely by the people of all si^tions of the county. Two or more entomologists are expected from Clemson tomorrow morn ing and by noon it is expected that a sys tematic plan to exterminate the worm will be devised. The worm is stripping corn of its foliage, and literally devastating all green things that comes in its way. Un less the ravages of the worm are checked it is feared that the crops of the county will be destroyed and from this county the pest will spread to other counties. Up to tonight the worms have played but little havoc in the cotton fields, principally b?cause they have been fought back by the farmers who have gathered in large numbers 111 the infected districts. The Anderson Chamber of Commerce tonigf.t announced that it would help in a finan cial way a& well as in any other way that fi PAYS PROTECTION lisle, which the witness did not wish to answer on the ground that it might incriminate him,but which the com mittee announced they would insist pti, as this is not a criminal case. O'Neill departed to secure the ser vices of an attorney. He said that he had been in the grocery business and the paini and ice business, but declined lo answer as to whether ur not he had been in the liquor business oil the ground that it might iiwrimiiu-te him. lie too, vas given ysr.n:a;ium to reure and consult his attorney, who was al io Mr. W. S. Nelson. Mr. Nelson, after consultation with his clients, announced that he had great confidence in his position that the committee was outisde it sscope in taking this testimony, and that the witnesses did not want to testify un less they had to. His second ground was that witness should not beforced to answer on ground thatit might in criminate him. He asked that they be given time toi test the matter of the authority of the commission . In order to get the matter right up to the point, Chairman Carlisle asked Mr. O'Neill the question "if he had at any time collected any money in i Charleston t?nd paid any constables | graft for Immunity," and the witness declining to answer on the ground mai 1116 l]Ut?SllUll UllgUl llitlliuuiaic him. the committee reserved its de cision. Declines to Answer Witness said he knew J. J. Miller, that he worke with him in the Mat ion Stock company, and Miller had been in business for himself. Said he had endorsed a note for Miller and 1 said lie had never paid him any mon ey for "protection" for himself, but de - clined to answer if Miller had paid him "protection" for anyone else, as he was of the opinion that puestion might incriminate him. Never saw anybody else pay any money for "pro i nu??n* tr% nnawpr l~CUUlly ClllU UlUil i niyi. ?w m..? j the question if he had hcarl anybody say they had paid "orotociiou" as he ' thought it might iuec'.mina'.a him. < Said he had heard others say they had 1 paid paid "protection;" but didn't < want to answer on ground that it ] mightincriminate some "one else. < "You are not here to represent the < constitutional guarantees of the en < tire city of Charleston," said the J chairman, and told him to answer Said he had seen others pay "protec- * tion;" but didn't want to answer as 1 "it was incriminating to somebody." 1 Said Mr. Strickland said he paid Mr. < T. J. Miller money for "protection" , from the State constables of which B. , H. Stothart was chief. Said Mr. Strickland said he gave $5 for protec tion. Said Mr. Strickland was run- : ning a grocery and was in the liquor 1 business. Said he did not hear much 1 nhnnt monev being paid to constables i for "protection" until about 18 i months ago. , "Is that incriminating to me?" The witness would ask the chairman every time a question was asked and before he would answer. Said a Mr. Wind ham told him he paid $5 a month to the constables for "protection." "Did you ever hear Stothart say anything about this payment for pro tection?" was asked O'Neill, and with visible reluctance and delay the wit ness said, "I am trying to remember what the words were. I don't remem ber them exactly." Finally O'Neill declined to answer on the ground that it might iccriminate him. He said he never recollected lending money to Stothart, and never -heard him say that he had received any. Whnt Protection Meant Witness was asked to define what he meant by "protection," and he said he understood that'when Mr. Strick land had paid "protection," before the constables would raid they would no * ! i^j fov Tharl honrrl tuy mm. ju i ?uum oaj >u?u them say they had paid money for "protection" wouldn't it incriminate me, for how do you know they didn't pay it to me?" asked O'Neill amid laughter when pressed for informa tion a sto having hearl anybody else say they paid money, witness said, "We are here looking out for our selves and didn't discuss this question at the table, for it was too unpleas | ant," said O'Neill, denying that he had talked over this matter with Has selmyer. pi eat* n to itself to give the farmers relief. A united effort anion#? all the people or the county to confine the worms to the dis tricts already infected is being made. The plants arc being sprayed with Paris green and arsonic of lead with (rood result*. The supply of arscnie load is limited, but a largo shipment is expected to arrive by Monday when the efforts will be more thun doubled. JOHN ASHLEY KILLED BY LIGHTNING BOLT Anderson, S. 0., July 21.?.John M, Ashley, a w?lI-to-do farmer, and distant cousin of "Citizen" Josh Ashley, wag killed by lightning last night 16 miles from I Anderson. | He was riding his mule through a swamp I in search of his son, who had been out in the storm. Tte bolt hit Mr. Ashley on the top of his tniwi him anil thi? inula instant ly Tho body of Mr. Ashley was found later by his son. Mr, Ashley was about 50 years of age. The Widening oi' >Vardla>v St The city street force is now actively en gaged in making extensive improvements on Wardlaw street. From Its intersection with Main to the property of Mrs. Klugh the street is being widened several feet and regraded. Permission was given by property owners to place the drain for the i sidewalk within their property line. The , improvement wts much needed, as tho street was too narrow for two vehicles to ; pass. News Snapshots 01 (he Week ~ pay. Members of the board are: 1, E man; 7, Frederick N. Judson. The b boars of duty at pay they consider in ENDOWMENTS FOR THREE COLLEGES. Presbyterians Held Banquet Thursday Evening. EMINENT MEN ADDRESS ASSEMBLY. Propose to Raise Endowment tor Cliicora, College for Wo men and .Seminar}'. On Thursday night, July 18th, there as sembled ; in Abbeville seventy officers, a1/1oW3 an/I /UdOAna Af Snilfh f Carolina Presbytery to inaugurate a cam paign for raising $20,000 of a $200,000 en-1 iowrnent fund for the thr > Presbyterian i Educational Institutions 01 the State, viz., Columbia Theological Seminary, Chicora College, and the Presbyterian College of: 5outh Carolina. To these gentlemen a | mnquet was given by the Joint Committee m the Endowment Fund, which was hand somely provided by the ladles of the Ab beville Presbyterian Church. The tables were beautifully set, and the banquet was criven by the Joint Committee on the En dowment Fund, i which was handsomely provided by the ladies of the Abbeville Presbyterian Church. The tables were , beautifully set, and the banquet was pro fuse and delicious, and the service by the attractive young ladies of Abbeville con tributed its share to the enjoyment of the occasion. After enjoying the good things to eat for more than an hour, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. John R. Blake, after a few appropriate remarks, introduced Dr. Thornton Whaling, the first speaker. Dr. Whaling spoke of the campaign in general and of Columbia Theological Semi nary in particular. The great history and work of the Seminary was detailed, most of which is familar to South Carolina Presbyterians. He emphasized two great needs of the Seminary, one that of schol arships for needy students and the other a Ore proof building for its almost invalua ble library, the finest in one respect in America. Dr. Byrd of Chicora, at Greenville, was the next speaker. He told of the need at Chieorajfor additional dormitory space, the college having had to turn away sixty applicants last year for lack of accommo dation. There is also Ja bonded debt on this college which the present campaign is intended to lift. Dr. Douglass was then introduced and presented the needs and condition of the Presbyterian College of South Carolina at Clinton. His ideal is'to make this college the best college in or out of the State. Ho did not want the biggest college, but he wanted the best. If the Synod gives *100, 000 for its endowment, which I he present campaign is expected to raise, it will be a long step in this direction. The last speaker was Rev. A. C. Bridg man, the financial agent of the campaign. He showed that it was a campaign for $200,000, not a single pledge being binding till the whole lack),000 was pledged. Ho gave the good news that three and one half Presbyteries had promised to date $120,000. There are three Presbyteries yet to be canvassed in whole and one in part. On next Sunday, July 21, every pul pit in South Carolina Presbytery would have a speaker to present the cause. An eight day canvass would then be inaugu rated, and South Carolina Presbytery would be asked for $20,000. All the speak ers spoke of the line work of the Baptist*, Methodists and Lutherans for their de nominational colleges. According to the plans, all the churches of the Presbytery were filled by visiting speakers last Sunday and the cause pre sented. In the country churches the cam paign started at once, and in the town churches the every-member canvass be gins Monday July 22 and will be hurried through to completion as soon as possible. It is the hope of the coraraitteejin charge that South Carolina Presbytery will make the canvass in record time and secure the whole amount within a week. I'lOiiiu in niiuriiu. There will be a picnic at Sharon school house, Friday, Aug. 8nd, to which the pub lic is cordially invited. There will bo several speeches by the candidates and a good time and a fine dinner is assured all who come. The Ladles Working Society of Sharon church will soil ice cream and barbecued hash during the day. * The place to get what you want?Speed's drug store. Jeshlp New Hampshire went into dryd eeded Charles D. Hilles as secretary to Id which thirteen were killed. Lieutej il, the gambler who was assassinated, toniel Willard; 2, O. M. Eidllta; 3, Dr. A oard is meeting at Manhattan Beach, N adequate oonsideriny the risk and ?espo CAMPAIGN iV A' The campaign meeting was held in Columbia Friday. Nothing of a sensa- j tional nature developed. Governor I Blease spoke to a crowd from the steps of the Capitol at night but did not refer to the recent charges made by Felder-Burns, and others in either speech. In his speech at night he stated he would pardon any man that would kill J. N. King and 0. M. Wat son if they came to their house in the condition in which they visited the mansion and used the language they did there. Sixteen hnndred person sgathered in the Columbia theatre yesterday to hear what reasons for election the sev pral candidates for State offices had to present. Industrial workers largely predominated in the audience. Busi ness and professional men were sparsely represented. The mass of th? crowd was orderly,but disturbing ele ments made their presence felt early and the noise became unendurable to those who wished to hear, when Ira B. Jones, candidate for governor launched into a severe arraingement of the Blease administration. ' Ko "Refutation" Disappointment was generally ex pressed in the 'audience over the failure of the governor to read an expected statement in refutation of charges brought against him by im plication at the Burns-Felder hearing in Augusta. The governor did ' not; undertake to discuss the Augusta, j Charleston or Columbia hearings of j the legisaltive investigating commit- | tee. 111 OU laigc an auuica^c, under circumstances so likely to ex cite partisan feeling, there was much noisy expression of sentiment. The j supporters of Judge Jones made their preference evident by the clapping1 of hands, chiefly, while Blease back- i ers had recourse to hooting and yell- j ing. This difference is almost every- | where noticeable in the modes of ex- i prcssion empolyed by Jones forces and Blease forces. Blease men out numbered Jones men in the audience, if volume of cheers be accepted as the criterion. Jones-Itcmbert Clash There were two interruptions in the course of Judge Jones' speech, aside from the periodical outbursts of catcalling, hooting, hissing and cheer ing for Blease. * Geo. R. Rembert of the Columbia bar, who had been floor leader of the Blease forces in the house of representatives during the past two sessions of the general as sembly, advanced to the front of the stage, from his seat at the rear, on hearing his name mentioned by Judge Jones, ana asKea mat tue siaiciucm about him be repeated. Judge Jones read: "He (Blease) pardoned Glenn, who killed Rhoden in Batesburg. Glenn | says he- paid Mr. Rerabert. $500. Rem bert is Blease's floor elader in the house. Did that $500 pay Mr. Rem bert to explain how Glenn was in nocent, or did it pay for Mr. Rem bert's influence on Gov. Blease to liberate a criminal?" "Any who says Glenn gave me $500," said Mr. Rembert, "is a liar." "I have not said so," rejoined Judge Jones. "Glenn said so, and upon de mand I will produce proof that he said it." , Mr. Rembert said no more, but re tired to his seat in a group com nrisine' .Toshua W. Ashley of Honea Path, formerly a representative from Anderson county; Fred H. Dominick of Newberry, formerly law partner of Cole L. Blease and W. P. Beard of Abbeville, editor of the News-Scimi tar of Greenwood. "Hissing Snakes" At another time during Judge Jones' speech, the hooting and hissing and the cheering for Blease from sup porters of the governor attained such volume that the chairman, H. N. Ed munds, after seeking in vain to re store order, announced that if the disturbance were continued he would adjourn the meeting at once. Gov, Blease sprang from his seat and came " * ?Hi. I 1. I to me rroni wnu uuui.i iavvhhoj, gesturing for silence. Ther<> were hisses and cries of "put him out," and the confusion increased. Ladies sear ed in the parquet dep.irleJ in haste. Gov. Blease. when lie could ?ommand attention, said: "Fellow citizens, I just want to ask my friends in this audience to give Judge Jones a re spectful hearing, and when Judge Jones finlshes.let these hissing snakes leave." "Things have come to a pretty pass ock in New York for repairs after being the president Illinois authorities inve uant Becker of the New York police wa Arbitration board began hearings on < Libert Shaw; 4, P. EL Morrissej* 5, Q. I ew York. Many 'engineers haw been ca nalbilkj. IEETINQ 1 COLUMBIA in South Carolina," Judge Jones re marked, as he resumed his speech, "when a candidate for .governor is howled down, and the governor of the State refers to those against him as hissing snakes." Ira B. Jones' address was in part as follows: "South Carolina, the State you call yours,- the State for which your fath lers have fought in four wars, is on I trial. You are to decide her fate.What I say may help you to decide right. Think it over. \ > "We are to elect a governor?a gov ernor to represent you and your chil dren, to make laws and to enforce them. Do you want a friend of the people, an enemy of the criminal and grafter, or one who has pardoned more criminals than any other gover nor South Carolina has ever had? A man who has acted in defiance of law and order? Whose message to fVia laoiolohira Tiro a art vllo anrl Vlll an r HIC IC^IOlUlUt U nuo ou tkv mmu * v4*qm* that that body, by an overwhelming vote, struck it from the record?some thing that has never been don? be fore in the history of the State? A man who poses as a friend of the poor man and an enemy to lawless corporations, but whose votes and whose acts show he carets nothing for the poor man and has only protected the criminal and the grafter? Blease and the Grafters "Blease voted not to investigate the dispensary. (Senate Journal' 1907, | pages 68 and 69.) "He voted not to take up and con sider the bill supplying money to prosecute the grafters. "Then he voted to kill the bill sup plying money to prosecute the. grafters. (Senate Journal 1908, page 573.)' "He voted against the bill to help the State in the federal court in her desperate fight with the grafters (Senate Journal 1908, page 253.) The State finally won and recovered back many thousands of dollars stolen by the grafters. If the other legislators had voted with Blease, would the State ever gotten their money? The echo answers, when and how? "Finally, when he became gover i nor, he asked for a committee to in vestigate the Ansel board. The legis ! lature passed the bill but gave th?; , committee power to investigate ; charges against any one. That. was : just what Blease did not want, so he ! vetoed the bill. The legislature pass ; ed it over his head: and that is fhe same committee that has been ' 1 : f ti OVi o oofnn o V\nn t : iiearnig uuaigcs m uumi^?i.vu ???.. 1 blind tigers paying $3,000 a month to : the chief constable of the governor, and the governor still stands by the i chief constable. Do yon wonder that I he vetoed the bill? Only one grafter i John Black, has been convicted, "and Blease pardoned him before he' ever j got in sight of the penitentiary.. Oh, i yes, he stands by his friends?hasn't he stood by the grafters? "A Friend of the Poor Man.* "Governor Blease voted not to- tax i the income of the rich (senate jour nal 1907, page 452.) , . "He voted to shut the school house door in the face of the child of the man who is too poor to pay his poll tax. (Senate Journal 1906, page 493.) "He voted against the bill providing for federal help in road i building, which would have made the r6ad tax lighter on the poor man. (Senate Journal 1907, page 337.) "He Is in favor of abolishing the office of bank examiner, thU3 leaving it easy for an unscrupulous and dis honest banker to rob the small de ! positor. ' "He vetoed the appropriation of $4,133.64 to pay for the medicine furnished for the poor man's child i in cases of diptherla and smallpox. "He favored putting a burden of $900,000 on the taxpayers to im prove the State house, which every 1 3" ia r\-nn r\ 9 lUJU.V IWMJWB 10 wilt v?? ....v.. houses in the country. "Is he the poor man's friend? He will tell yon so, hut does his record : show It? "Opposed to Corporations.' "In 1892 he voted for free passes, i and for free express and free tele graph franks to legisaltors. (House Juornal 1892, page 257.) "In 1907 he voted to let the rail roads keep it secret who were carry ing free passes. (Senate Journal, page i 811.) "In 1907 he voted against the hill requiring the railroads to reduce pas senger rates, as they were.doing in other states. > "He told President Finley of the Southern Railway that he would have a friend in the mansion when he Blease become governor. When he Continued on last page. rammed by steamboat Carinl Thomp stlgated Chicago .and Alton wreck near is accused of being partner of Herman lemand of railroad engineers for more i. Van Jflsfe; 6, Oscar S. Strans, chair Bed fes witnesses %nd "have tcfld* of tong LIAR IS APPLIED TO GOVERNOR BLEASE Jndg-e Jonep Uses Shorter and Uglier Word. . "I'M -TOO SLY A FOX" SAID COLEY Governor Told Opponent Go in Hack Lot and Wait forHini. Winnsboro, July 22.?Before 500 people, the candidates for governor spoke here today and there was considerable 'enthusi asm. governor Bleases admirers were the most evpressive of their feelings and the chief executive was. loudly applauded. Judge Jones was howled considerably and early in his speech the chairman, J. E McDonald, had to caH to order only with the threat, "If there's any more howling there won't be any more speaking." - "I thought Governor Blease had an op ponent," was one retort hurled at Judge Jones. In his landation of the newspapers, Judge Jones said: . . ' "Show mo a town that has not a live na per and I'll show you a dead town." "Winnsbqre," came a voice from a crowd, and i then there was laughter. When Judge Jones charged that Governor Blease had said that President Finley of the Southern railway had a friend in the mansion, Governor Blease from the rear of the platform said: "Yes, he has a good one, aud he's going to stay there." ' . Judge Jones referred to B. L. ?bney's eating at the governor's table and a voice from-the crowd, rejdined, "Mighty good eating." In such ways Judge Jones was frequent ly interrupted, though, on the whole he was heard attentively. . Judge Jones referred to the recent in vestigations and commended the mfembers of the committee.' He referred* to the tes timony against Stoth&rt and said the gov ernor wa3 honor bound to remove or sus pend the Charleston constable. . "Do you believe that. Governor Blease hae gotten graft?" asked a spectator. . "I have no-positive evidence of graft on the part of Governor Blease, and I hope for the good name of South 'Carolina that such will never be proved," replied Judge * ? li-J Ji-U .Jpnes. no was preseuueu wim uunoio when he took his- seat. He mentioned an article, by U. R. Brooks, which he said was being circulated over the state against him,. and he said he now warns Brooks to stay out of this light or he will take sides in the race for treasurer and cause some body "the loss of 'some mighty heavy votes." ' He called on the newspapers to publish this warning. * blease's speech. Governor Blease answered Judge Jones, demanding that Chief Constable Stothart be removed. He said that Stothart had never been given a chance to defend him self and he challenged Judge Jones to select two menjsrhom Goodwin Ehett, for mer mayor of Charleston, -would say in af fidavits are honest men, and if they would swear that they believe that Stothart ever took a dollar dishonestly he would turn Stothart off. Governor Blease was making his charge that the railroad represented by B. L. Ab ney had employed Charlie- Jones, son of the former chief, justice, in order to get near the chief executive and Judge Jones, from the rear of the stage, retorted: "That's a lie,,governor." The charge was repeated and Judge Jones repeated Ms retort. ' ; "That's all right, old man, I don't want .to hurt you, for that would make, you governor, just what you wait," and there were loud cheers. ... The gyvdmtfr .then swid if Judge Jones wanted to hastf ur difficulty' wtth"hlin? he should'ipeet him in.a .rear Jot. : -the goyer. nor added that, he-could "spank" Judge Jones as easily as ho would a baby;1- ' : "No;- you can't catch this, fox in your trap,", was a "remark. by Uie . governor which brought much laughter. vProtriicte?l The' pi'ofcfaoted iireetWg ill" progrOsfe at the JBuptfet chui'fth ss a I'D using a groat deal of internet. Dr. Jpnes of Charleston, who is a^sistin# the. pastor, the Rev. Louis Bristow, is a preacher of. po\yer and his .message is being received witti deep inter est by the largj: congregations presont'at both lu'ornfcg and'eVcninfr serviced. ' For nice.cigars and chewing tolwiero go to Speed's Drug Store. GOVERNOR BLEASE ANSWERS CHARGES. Submits Affidavits?Statement Covers AO. Typewritten Pages. IS WILLING TO MEET MY ISSUE. H. H. Evans, L. W. Boykin, Jo . die Itawlinsoo, John Black, John Bell Towill and - Others Make . , A lii<l a v its. Columbia, July 20.?Gov. Cole L. Blease today issued his promised statement re futing the charges brought c??ain8t him by Tho6. B. Felder, of Georgia" and W. J. Bums, the detective. Including copies of affidavits, the statement makes about 60 pages of typewritten manuscript. Each and every charge or rumor is taken up separately and answered by the governor. Blease says Felder erred when he says he went to Charleston between the two primaries in 1910 to get money from the "tigers" for his (Blease's) campaign ex penses. ' -t He says the statement that be is getting graft from the Charleston blind tigers originated with Mayor Grace, of that city owing to the governor's frefusal to allow Grace to control the constabulary there. The governor denies tha.t he received any money for his signature to. the inter* urban railway act or that he knew of any plans to buy a pardon for Gus DeFord or any one else and says that not one word about it had been said to him by Nichols. PARDONS AND PETITIONS. As to the pardon for F. tV. Bentley the governor denies that he received pay for , ' W? ~ TT? -1 ?- M ilo laouauw. xitJ a uueuit iur ?iO was sent him |for the payment of Bentley's railroad fare to his home In Iovra, but that no other money figured In the transaction. The governor mentions persons from whom petitions were received requesting pardons, one of whom was the Bev. Dr. W." A. C. Mueller a .Lutheran pastor of Charleston. He says the accusation made byFelderthat $2,000 ^had been paid by Rabens for his freedom was a wilful false hood and h f submits affidavits from Ba bens and Dr. Mueller purporting to deny this charge. ; ' He presents an affidavit from H. H. Evans to the effect that he has never had any transaction with Biease as to dispen sary affairs or that he and Biease were never in Atlanta together nor has he ever had money paid to him by any party for Governor Biease. Gov. Biease also presented [affidavits from a dozen persons that he was not con cerned in any liquor or other corrupt transactions. As .to the famous "T. B." letters, of which Felder has denied authorship, the governor said that he had submitted the letters to several gentlemen of Columbia who/ere familiar with the handwriting of Ffelder, and that these gentlemen are wil ing to go on the stand and swear that the letters were written by T. B. Felder. Per sons in the State of Georgia, who are also familiar with the handwriting of Felder, had made the same assertions^ "I have also two letters written by Felder?one from England and one from a point in the United States?to a.woman, and the writ ing of these letters compared with those of the "T. B." letters, shows that the let ters I hold were written by Felder." In conclusion the governor says that he he has endeavored to answer every charge made against him, but if any honest man in South Carolina desires any information regarding anything, however'small, re garding any alleged dishonorable act, he is willing to answer the accusation. FELDEB REPLIES. . Atlanta, Ga., July 20.?Thomas B. Fel der, the Atlanta attorney who made sen sational charges of fflcial corruption against Gov. Cole L. Blease of South Coro lintf, before the special investigating com mittee of the legislature of that State, to night made tfye following reply to a state ment made by Gov. Blease today. "He (Blease) substantiates his statement by the affidavits of men who have been convicted of felonies and pardoned by him and by men who are under indictment for grafting in South Carolina. Further than that the reply that will be made to him will be as soon as he is relieved of his gubernatorial i robes., "It is just as certain that he will be landed in the penitentiary as it is that the Ohio grafters, the Atlantic City grafters, " "VT A rMtnAia. cne Jucxxauiurtiei, AIM XVUCl U1 OOU nwiuir co and the land robbers of Oregon were placed behind the bars. . v "We have better and more conclusive proof against Blease and his associates than Detective William J. Burns had against any of those people who are now serving terms hi Various penitentiaries at the United States,'' ? i . I SIDEWALK COMPLETED FOR FORT PICKENS Alderman. Syfan Uas Pushed to Completion Needed Work The new sidewalk to Fort Pickens, the movement for which was fathered by Alder man Syfan, has about reached completion and appears to be a ve^y creditable piece of work on the part of thie street force. The improvement was much needed, as pedea tralns were compelfe'd to use the railroad track when coming'to town. This will no longfer be necessary. The sidewalk was constructed on the right of way of the railroad, the company having granted permission, on the request of Mr. Syfan. No Compulsion. .(From Satire.) .Chief Cierk (to office boy:) Why on earth dtm't you laugh when the boss tella'a joke? Ofllcepoy: Idon'thave to; I quit oa Saturday.