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? tion for pardon for one alleged to be Gus DeFord, which petition has played such a prominent part in the die- j tagraph proceedings had between J Capt. Sam J. Nichols and one Porter, i alias Reed, alias somebody else?I don't know what his name is,?I will state, in the first place, this great de- | tective, with a great flourish of trum- ; pets, stated that lie haa gone imu uic | South Carolina penitentiary and had picked out not only the ;nost notorious criminal in that prison, but the most notorious criminal in the United States of America, in order to plant a scheme to trap me and my friend, Capt Nichols. Gus DeFord is not in hnL on the other LUC ^ , , hand is a fugitive from justice. It is hardly necessary for me to refer to this matter, in view of the testimony that was submitted by their own witnesses and their famous dictagraph, in which, it was 6hown that there was no truth whatsoever in the alleged statement of Felder and his hireling detective that I was to receive any portion of the amounts that were to be paid to the attorney who had been employed to represent this alleged Gus DeFord. On the cotrary, this very ^irt^sranh itself stated that the gover nor of South Carolina could not be bought and that it was useless to attempt to get the pardon from the governor of South Carolina by the use of money. In addition to this, you have the sworn testimony of Capt. Nichols, a young man well known throughout South Carolina as a man of the highest honor and integrity, who not only voluntarily came to Columbia to testify, but insisted that -a meeting of j the committee should oe had at which | hp could testify and at which meeting ! lie demanded the presence of Porter, j alias Reed, alias what's his name, butj the "alias" failed to appear. Capt. j Nichols' testimony was published prac-' tically in full and conclusively established the fact that I had not know-1 ledge that any application for the j pardon of Gus DeFord would be presented and that I was not even aware i that this convict was In the peniten- j +;n-~rr rp-ha -ma.ttpr nf nardon of this C.ICULJ. A. "V w convict "was never mentioned to me, and Caut Nichols so states under oath. This testimony "was published in the Columbia State, >n its issus of July 19. The Bentley Parole. It ^5 stated in the State, that two letters purporting to bear on the pardon record of Gov. Blease "were read by Felder before the committee and 1 that the case referred to in those two j letters was being investigated by the . Burns' detective agency. The first letter, it is stated, is on the letter paper of Lyan &' Lyon, attorneys at law, of Dubuque, Iowa. It j does not appear to whom this letter is addressed, but it is signed "Geo. T. i Lyon," and refers to a letter written ' to "Miss Bentley" and speaks of the j fact that a draft "sent payable to the governor has never been cashed." The second letter, addressed to "Dear Frant," is signed by "Nettie," j and states*that "when the governor; esked'to have the money sent to him, j ou would think he had made up his mind as to what he wanted to do. We have heard nothing from him." These letters pertain to the parole granted to Frank W. Bentley, a young -white man sent to the penitentiary I from Richland county for the crime of forgery. The petition for pardon was presented to me by Barrett Jones, Esq., of Batesburg, S. C. I refused to pardon Bentley, but on the showing made, on May 14, 1912, I paroled M-m nn thp condition that he leave the State. Bentley's crime was the forg- j ing of two checks by which he obtained $10 from Mr. Ben David of Columbia and $25 from Mr. J. Flannigan, formerly of Columbia. Both Mr. Flannigan and Mr. David, as well as Solicitor Timmerman, the prosecuting attorney, requested executive clemency. Mr. John Neill, a member of the company whose signature was forged, also requested me to release: him. Bentlev was formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, where his mother and sister, Nettie, now live. The sister had Attorney George T. Lyon interested in the matter of securing young Bentley's ; release, and Mr Lyon stated in a letter i to me that he was getting no compensation for his services, but was interested in the matter because of his friendship for the Bentlev family; that the Bentlevs were erood ueonle and that Bentley had borne an excellent reputation at his old home. Mr. Lyon sent me a draft for %2o for the purpose of furnishing transportation for Bentley from Columbia to Dubuque, and to carry o it the conditions of the parole. I Irive m my office a receipt from Bentley fo- the amount of the draft, and Mr. TV. F. j jtnacKourn, me sienograpner in my or- j fice, went to the depot, purchased a ticket from Columbia to Dubuque, at a cost of $24.55 and gave the ticket, and the remaining 45 cents to Bent ley, and showed him the train to take for his home, which he boarded. All the correspondence in regard to this matter is on file in the governor's office, open to the inspection "of any one who wishes to see it. I submit two letters received from Attorney Lyon and the affidavit of Mr. Blackburn. (Copy.) Lyon & Lyon. D. E. Lyon Geo. T. Lyon, City Attorney. Attorneys at Law. Suite 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, First National Bank Building. Dubuque, Iowa, August 14, 1911. Alex. Rowland. Columbia, S. C. Dear Sir: Your favor*of August 11 at hand and I note with pleasure the proposed action of the governor and sincerely hope- he finds merit in the .ci.;_ w young man s peuuon mis umc. I am inclosing herewith a New York draft for $25 to cover railroad fare, this I believe will cover fare from y Columbia to Dubuque, but should you require more so advise me. I will guarantee to use my best endeavors to keep Bentley from returning to your State, that of course, is the best I can do. I feel safe in saying, however, that he will be satisfied to stay around home hereafter. Miss Bentley is at present on her vacation; she left feeling very Baa over contents of your last letter to me. If it is possible I would greatly appreciate favorable action during her absence as it would do wonders for her. Her absence explains this writing - - * -L - -L - 4-V. as I <30 not care xo dictate 10 puuuxci. Call upon me for anything further you may desire and please advise me early of the governor's action.' * Yours very truly, (Signed) Geo. T. Lyon. (Copy). Lyon & Lyon. D. E. Lyon. - Geo. T. Lyon, City Attorney. Suite. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 First National Bank Building. Dubuque, Iowa, May 9, 1912. Hon. Ooleman L. Blease, Columbia, S. C. Dear Sir: I wish to again call your attention to the petition ior paraon 01 Frank W. Bentley, which has been pending before you for- a long time and "which you have _iot finally disposed of as far as I know, and also rail vAnr attention to the fact that I sent you in August last, at your request, draft for $25 to cover his expenses from Columbia to his home here, which you still have in your possession. This boy has now served about four years for the commission of, as we believe, a slight offense which was committed under extenuating circumstances, and it seems to me has been more than punished for the act. The man wnose name was iurgeu uas uu ill feeling towards him and would like to see liim released. I hope you can find justification in granting him a j pardon in the very near future. Hoping to hear from you at an early date with a favorable reply, I am, Yours very truly, (Signed) Geo. T. Lyom GTLrB. State of South Carolina?County of Richland. Personally appeared W. p. Blackburn, who, being duly sworn, says that " he is employed as stenographer in the governor's office, South Carolina, by Got. Cole. L. Blease, and has been so employed since the 25th day of January, 1911; that a petition for the pardon or parole of one Frank W Bentley was filed in the governor's office in March, 1911, by Barrett Jones; that pardon was refused by Gov. Biease on March 31, 1911; that subsequently, to wit, on May 25th, 1911, Mr Geo. T. Lyon, attorney at law of the city of Dubuque, Iowa, communicated with Gov. Biease in regard to a -pardon or parole of said Bentley; that on Au gust litn, iyii, .Air. l^yon ?as auviscu that the governor had taken up for reconsideration the petition of said Bentley and wished to be advised, in the event favorable action be taken in the case, if he (Lyon) would pay Bentley's way to his home in Iowa; that on August 14th, 1911, Mr. Lyon forwarded to the governor a New York draft ?or $25 to be used for the purpose of paying BentJey's railroad fare from Columbia, S. C., to Dubuque, Iowa?all of said letters and information being upon file in the governor's office to my nersonal knowledge. This matter was held under consideration and investigation until May 14th, 1912, when the governor paroled said Frank W. Bentley, upon the condition that he leave the State of South Carolina within 24 hours and never return. The above mentioned draft being made payable to Gov. Blease was indorsed by him; turned over to me and Bentley met me I at the Columbia union station, in the city of Columbia; I purchased a ticket from Columbia, S. C., to Dubuque, Iowa, for the sum of ?24.55. giving in payment therefor the above mentioned !check; the ticket agent gave me the ticket and 45 cents in change. I turned over the said ticket and the said 45 cents to Bentley, went down on the -1-/-viit trw him rha trniQ I picttiuiJ_Ll, JL/Wili Ltu V/UV W | he should take and he boarded it and left the city of Columbia. I also prepared and Bentley signed the following receipt: "Columbia, S. C., May 14, 1912. "Received of Hon. Cole. L Blease, governor of South Carolina, check No. 406452 from the First National bank of Dubuque, Iowa, on the Nationsfl Park bank, New York, for twenty-five -3-11 A 11+h 1Q11 tumors, uaicu au^ubv (Signed) "F. W. Bentley." Tli? original receipt is on file in the governor's office. (Signed) W. F. Blackburn. Sworn to before me this 19th day of July, A. D. 1912. (Signed) G. C. Dismukes (L. S.), Notary Public for South Carolina. Pardon of Kudolpli Babens. The accusation is made that some. body told somebody else that as governor, in consideration of the sum of $2,000 paid to me, I granted a pardon to one H. Rudolph Rabens, of Charleston. My reasons for granting this pardon are set forth on page 46 of the Statement of Pardons, Paroles and Commutations, 1911-1912, as follows: "Rabens, Rudolph (white): Convicted at tlie February, 1907, term of court for Oconee county of receiving ' * - - -a J. J A- AT 'Stolen gooas, ana sentencea to turee years on the county chain gang. ' "Petition is signed by eight of the jurors who tried the case, by the clerk ; of court, county treasurer, county auditor, judge of probate and other ! officials of Oconee* county, and by ' many of the leading citizens, including ; ex-Senator E. L Herndon, Wm J. StribI TT7 A TTTUi + /\ Toe* * CJftQ _ Oilllg, >V. W. t?UKC, uiaoici , uao. uw born, Boon B. Morse, R. T. Jaynes, M. ;C. Long, F. R. Lucas, Mayor George L. Wilson, and many, many others. | "And a petition from +he county of ! Charleston, signed by the Rev. Dr. Wm. A- C. Mueller, A. W. "Winters, A J. W. Goss, Otto Tiederman. P. W. Wagener & Co., Wm. M. Byrd, and a hundred or more of the most prominent citizens of the city of Charleston, and personal letter from Dr. Mueller, begging that | the boy might be allowed to come home i in order that he might see his old mother, -who was believed to be upon | her death bed. "Upon this, pardon was granted j March 2, 1911." This pardon was especially asked Ifor by Rev. Dr. Wm. A. C. Mueller, Inastor of the St. Matthew's German | Lutheran church, of the city of Charleston. At the time the pardon was i granted, Rabens had served all but , about 30 days of a three year sentence. I released fcim that he might I go home and see his old mother who j was believed to be upon her death bed. The accusation that Rabens gave $2,000 to save himself from imprisonmen for 30 days, when he had already served nearly three years, is not/only a wilful falsehood, but unreasonable. I submit herewith affidavits from Rabens, and from Dr. Mueller denying this charge of Felder's. I leave it to the people of South Carolina, if they pre| fer to believe Thomas B. Felder. a fu ?:x* ? ~ a a ? + C + of a nf , tgilive II Will LilC JUOUV/C "I luv UIAIC V/J. ! South Carolina, a man filled with | venom and spite, a corruptionist and ! coward, in preference to Dr. Mueller, | a Christian minister, whose whole life j has been one of devoted service, to the ! Prince of Peace and Mercy, who has i hp An ATi/i now doing: so much for the faith of the great Lutheran denominations of this State. Charleston, S. C., July 17, 1912. No. 96 Radcliff street. Whom it may concern:?In order that instirp. mav be done. I was re quested by many friends to make the following statement, which I cheerfully do, relative to the H. Rudolph Rabens pardon: During Gov. Martin F. Ansel's administration I wrote a personal letter in behalf of the case, to I which I received no reply, and also 'signed the petition which was a large 'one and signed by men of prominence i like F. W. Wagener & Co., and many others. Subsequently, when Cole. L. 'Blease became governor of South | Carolina, I wrote him a personal letIter, March 1, 1911, which appeared | shortly afterwards in the News and ; Courier, on March 4, 1911, I received | a letter from Gov. Blease. which I quote verDaum: "The governor is in receipt of your I letter of the 1st instant, and has given iit very careful consideration. In re1 ply, he directs me to state that he has | complied with your request. "Yours very truly, "Alex Rowland, Secretary." H. F.udolph Rabens had only 28 days | to serVe when pardoned. Last Mem I f day, July 15, his parents stated to me i 'as their pastor that neither they, their j son, or any of their friends paid or offered to pay one cent of money. I believe their and his statement. He only had 28 more days to serve, and I consider it foolish to think that he paid $2,000 or any amount to keep from serving his sentence, out. Wm. A. Mueller. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of July, 1912. (Seal) J. D. Holling, Notary Public for S. C. The State of South Carolina?County of Charleston. Personally appeared before me H. Rudolph Rabens, who, being duly sworn says: That in the News and Courier of July 13, 1912, there appeared a state ?* *! - J/i+Artfiirno ftf W _T i rnent 01 one 01 Ul vo v/i * * w? | Burns that two thousand ($2,000) dollars had been paid to Gov. Cole. L. Blease for his pardon. That, in justice to Gov. Blease and himself, he desires to state that he had only twenty-eight (28) days to serve before the expiration of the term jofhis sentence. [ He further states that neither he jnar his friends or relatives paid anything in any shape or form for the 'pardon extended him. . H. Rudolph Kaoens. j Sworn to before me this 18th day j j of July, A. D. 1912. T. G. Disher, (Seal) Notary Public for S. C. The ?T. B.? Felder claims that the letters held by me, known now as the "T. B." let jters, were forged, during the years 11904 and 1905, by F. H. Krauss, at | the time employed by Felder's law j firm as a clerk. These are the letters ; | that I spoke of early in this statei ment?the documents that are keeping !Felder away from South Carolina, j The letters I hold have been subjmitted to several gentlemen of Columbia, and to some who live in the State of Georgia, who are familiar with Felder's handwriting, and they have stated that they would go on the fetand and swear that the letters were written by T. B. Felder. I have.j also two letters written by Felder?j one from England and one from a point ih the United States?to a wo- i man, and the writing of these letters, j compared with those of the "T. B." j letters, shows that the letters I hold | were written by Felder. Furthermore, [I have testimony that the company :referred to in the "T. B." letters, j which was to control the liquor situai+ir\n in Smith flnrnliTift thrnueh H. H. Evans, was actually chartered in the State of Alabama. j "Why should Krauss write about a j matter which he would naturally know !nothing about and have no interest in? {Besides, the subject of these letters i was the same subject-matter about ! which he wrote L. W. Boykin, John i j BeJl Towill and H. H. Evans, who have 'made sworn testimony before this same committee, which committee did not ' even think it necessary to make Felder say why he was over here in New berry, Columbia and Augusta talking about the formation of this conspiracy | company. I do not know Krauss and never heard of him until a *ew days ago. If he did, in 1904, and 1905, forge these letters, he was a man of great prophetic power to foresee that six years afterwards I wouid need letters- to show the rascality of Thomas B. Felder. Felder insists that these letters are forgeries, and that they were written by Krauss, notwithstanding the fact +ho+ o/?nr?r/1iivtr tn ovxrn claims, he UVW* g vv -vj v * M -w? . . . j ? has never seen said letters. I shall be glad to convince him of their genuineness and shall do so without doubt if he will face a South Carolina Jury. Is There Anything Else? I have endeavored to covery every insinuation and slander mentioned in ithe State. I am sure that you will 'recognize the fact that in all that mass 1 - - ?9? ? - j-i f* JL XI J. I of words, ana owing to uie iacL mat jl have been very busy, it may be possible that some little piece of dirt, i buried beneath an advertisement, or hidden in a corner, has escaped my attention. If it has, I wish to say, and this statement covers as well those things to which I have already referred, that my hands are clean and I have at no time as a citizen or an official committed a dishonorable act. However, if there be on? thing, however small, that I have overlooked and j any honest man in South Carolina de- j sires information regarding it, I shall j [cheerfully give it. The Proof Positive. Thus I have set forth what the lawyers call my "brief"?my denials of the attempted charges against nle, the insults to the high ofSce I hold, and the assaults on the chivalry and integrity of my people. You have the positive proof supporting those denials, and you should rejoice with me J that once more honor and virtue have b~en able *o withstand the blackhand assaults of infamy and shame. The Burns Gang. That you may have further information, however, that the newspapers of your State have knowingly withheld from you, I am going to tell you something of William J. Burns and his cohorts. This newspaper combination has attempted to make you believe that Burns, and those who work for him, are high-toned gentlemen, although they had information to the contrary. The reputations of these hirelings may perhaps be unknown to you, but they are known to me, and it is my duty to tell you what kind of cattle they are. Since it became known that the Burns' crowd was ho.unding me down, letters and telegrams have come to me from various sections of the continent giving me information of the dirty methods of this detective agency. Without consuming much time about the records and reputations of this gang, I wish to call to your attention the fact that they have been denounced by two of the most prominent men in the United States?President William H. Toft flnd TT/vn fl W WioV^rsham attorney general of the United States. This denunciation of Burns and his coworkers was due to the fact that it was proved to the department of the attorney general of the United States that one Willard N. Jones had been unjustly convicted of crime by false testimony presented to a court by Burns and his men, and that the jury returning the verdict of conviction had 1 1 J t -Li i_iJ Deen pacKea dj uiese mutinous bcuuu* drels. President Taft pardoned Jones on the showing made to him. Mr. Wickersham, in recommending that the president grant the pardon, stated that he had been unable to get Burns and his assistants to come before him to explain, deny or justity their conduct In concluding his report, the attorney general wrote as follows: "The course of the executive, however, seems to me to be clear, and that is, he can not countenance the methods employed in the prosecution of these cases by requiring an enforcement of the sentence imposed in the Jones case." If you care to read the whole i report of tHe attorney general on ine Jones case, I suppose you can get a copy of it from his office, in the city of Washington. The whole matter is set out in the American Federationist, a magazine published by the American Federation -of Labor, in the/issue of the present month, at page 537, in an article from the pen of Samuel Goma/iitnr nf that magrazine. who is V%**wv* V* ^9 W president of the American Federation of Labor?and Mr. Gompers is the brave man who, fighting the battles for I laboring men of America, has stood j firm and true, even going to the point I of being sentenced to jail for a con! torn n't r?f an ausnist. court. In comment ling on the conduct of Burns in the | Jones case, Mr. Gompers said: "Thus j is fully established the fact, in Burns' lown handwriting, that he has proved himself to stand as the worst type of private detectives which he so illuminatingly describes." A copy of that magazine can likely be obtained by addressing the magazine company at 801 G street, N. W., Washington, D. C., and enclosing 10 cents?unless all the copies have been exhausted by the general demand all over the country to read of the wickedness of a reprobate. Other Fntnre Charges and Proof. | Since the Augusta meetings have S ended, and the Felder committee failed so miserably in their efforts to connect me with wrongdoing, statements from welder, ana insinuations irom other sources almost equally as bad, have from time to time appeared in the newspapers that other disclosures and charges would be laid against me later. These slanderers evidently did not stop to consider before making these announcements, for this is a frank confession from them that so far they have shown absolutely nothing. I But regardless of what they think of j their failures of the past, let them [proceed with their malicious work. ; Knowing the men engaged in this unclean alliance, having knowledge of the little regard for honesty, truth or character they possess, having ample proof of their ability to get finances for their corrupt work, I shall not be ; surprised, as you must not be surpris ed, if they go into some avenue of pollution and bring forth some poor, miserable being in the shape of a human being, who is willing,-for the sake ol a few paltry dollars* to further steep his or her soul in infamy. And they I may, in their desperate efforts to get j rid of me, assail and attack those kindred and friends dear to me. Such other foul falsehood as they shall send ! forth, shall be answered by me, if answer be deemed necessary, whenever i+v.otr ore mndp Ofconrse. vou know | UJULV/J CA.+ ^ ? w as I know, what is the reason for the ; continuous making of those announce| ments, and for the reason of the Felder committee to continue its sessions. They desire to keep my friends defending me, to keep me defending myI self, while the issues of this campaign are being clouded. Those issues are the records of the life md labors of Ira B. Jones as a legislator ana a judga ?and the fight I am making for the interests of the people against extravagance in their government, against the rule of the self-serving corporations, and against tne rignt of the newspaper trust to invade the sancity of your homes. I shall not be / swerved from ? my purpose, ai# Judge Jones, his campaign manager, Felder and the five ardent Jones men on the dispensary investigating committee, had just as well open their eyes to this fact. Watch the Newspapers. For about three days the daily newspapers carried the accounts given them by Felder and his committee. I can not say that they did aot receive compensation therefor, but I am confident that not one of them can show where the amount that came to it?if any did come?was entered on its books as cash for legitimate advertisi n 1- . _ ? ing. remaps you, iiac iu?y nn. <4jjaious to see the manner ia whic.'i they *. shall treat this statement of mine I demand of them?not for myself., but in the name of decent journalism, aiii for the good of the State?that they display this as prominently as they did the foul stuff of Felder. If they' refus|&, and I dare them to do so, once again their dirty practices shall be made clear to you! Likely they shall do, as they have so often done, only publish communications from me upon the payment of 10 cents per printed line. If they- charge a penny for this then I shall have the undoubted proof that they are coconspirators with, Felder and Burns to get from honest people their money. I tell you frankly' that I make these demands, so that if they do publish this, and publish it prominently and without charge, that I shall have accomplished one purpose at last?and that is to teach these editors one small Jesson in the ethics of [.journalism. * m conclusion. A number of my friends have told me that they do not see how I can endure, and for several years past have endured, the outrageous and unwarranted attacks that have been made 011 me, attacks which are always, and > have been always, unsupported by proof. Surely no man in recent years has been so unjustly assailed as I have hp**n. T nrirrrtt that if hua hoPn a ficht jwith myself - to undergo all this persecution with calmness and patience. But I have realized that "Whom the gods woul? destroy, they first make mad." And I have ever had withia me the consciousness that my heart-" v has been set on doing good for my . people, that my soul has been free, 'that the God of justice is with me and that my people are giving me their confidence. And, I am constantly reminded that those men who stand up for the rights of the people are always assailed on every hand. History?the history not only of our own State, but of the na+ i + V?1C5 TV?ATY1 OO TflhfP^f(2AT) * LIV/li i CV/V/l U'5 tiiiCi' a jl uvluoiO v vuv* wvMy the author of the Declaration of American Independence, Christian man that he was, was charged with being an infidel. Andrew Jackson, born in South. Carolina, a man of th^ common people, lhad (brought against him the foul charge of adultery. John C. Calhoun, another of your distinguished sons, had laid against him by his enemies the gross charge of immorality. When every effort to blacken the name of Abraham Lincoln had failed the political buzzards endeavored to cast re>flection upon the virtue of his mother. You white-haired men of '76 will recall how the scalawags anjl' carpetbaggers constantly spoke slander against the name of your beloved Hampton. It is fresh in your minds how Benjamin R. Tillman was charged by a few imprincipled men witlx being a tax-dodger and grafter. But " v.what has been the result in all the> instances referred to? The one man, T VioT7Q roforrpH tx)_ I10W living, WUIUU X sits in the highest councils of your na-. tion, while those who attempted to. besmirch his reputation are living al-. most in obscruity. Those great men,, now dead, whose names I have men-' . tioned, have their names written on. the brightest pages of their country's history; the names of their slanderers are forgotten! But in their lives, I have learned a lesson?and that is this, that with all their greatness and goodness, they could not escape the scorpion tongue of slander and the vile pen of calumny. And since they had to undergo, for the sake of their peonio and their neoDle's causes, these tests of manhood?how may I, so weak when compared to them in ability, even if as bold as they in the defense of the liberties of my people, es- * " " "? ~"1 if?f/vn mv capo: i can jiul ca^vu n? character and reputation?ah, my life, too, perhaps?stand in the way of the rule of the selfish interests! I must be sacrificed by these interests because I stand for your freedom and independence?and the desir is not only to rid South Carolina of my political influence, but, in getting rid of me, to send a warning to others, even some of your sons of tlje future, that they ! must bow to the wills and caprices of I ?1 nnnrtca 111 A tffisires Of that 111US)C VY UV Vjk/^/VW^ WMW www ? _ class of men who seek to oppress the people. ! But naught that can be said or done, j so long as I shall live, will prevent me from going on in the fight I have been making for your rights?and I believe that in this battle, I have the hopes, the assistance and tiie prayers of a great majority of the white men and women of South Carolina. I ' -i . ? j