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RASCAL TRAPPED The State Unearthed Mysterious i Scheme. GEO. A. BRISTOW'S Questionable Met boils to Cot "Show" (?iris.-I*o?toAlco Inspector Gregory S woo rs Out Indictment Charging the Yoting Mun With Fruudulent Vue of the Mails.-He Was Very Neatly Trapped. In The State of Sut in day morning March 14. appeared the following ap parently very innocent advertisement in the "Want" columns: "Wanted Three girls lo learn the show business; experience unneces sary; ex [tenses paid while learning: state agc; enclose stamped envelope for reply. Address Predio, care Tho State." A subscriber of The Slate at. King? tree bad bis suspicions aroused by reading tho advertisement and to sat isfy his curiosity he caused a fake answer to the advertisement to I)" written, singing tin- name "Miss An nie Dow." His answer to the add was written on .March IT and was as follows: Kingstroe, S. C., March IT. 1908. Dear Sir: 1 see your advertisement in The Stale for three girls to learn the show business. I would bo glad to engage with you as I have always had an inclination for thai line of work and think I have some (abut if developed. Am IT years of age and neat in appearance. Please write me full particulars about tho work you would expect of me and how long it would be until I would receive some compensation. Hoping lo bear from von soon. Respectfully, ( Miss) Annie How, Kingstroe, S. C. Caro of Hox 1 TM. Four days later he received Q reply to his letter, dated Columbia. March J f>. and written on Columbia Inn stationery The letter was signed "Wallace Vmusomenl Co," and "Miss Dow" was instructed to address this "company" care of general delivery, Columbia. The letter std lo-lh that lo work but one hour each night, "and we pay from $1G lo $200 per week nud expenses." lt was also stated that they tratoled in a private ?'ar and stopped at the hist class ho tels only. Tho "requiromeni" was then sol forth in very suggestive lan guage and it was plainly slated that only girls with good figures were wanted. "If yon care lo join UH," continued the letter, "you will have to come to Columbia Thursday, March L't>, and pul up at tho Columbia Inn, then our alago manager will meet you there Thursday night, March 26 and see. you and if satisfactory will em ploy you and you will be in a position to become a successful actress with an income that will give you a mark tu your home town." H waa explicit ly stated that "we must bear from you before Thursday" and alie was in structed td drop them a postal card with these words on it. "Meet ino at appointed place and hour." She was informed in tho letter that it' she were employed her railroad fare would be refunded, but il rejected she would hnvo to pay her own ex pensen. Rut this very significant lan guage followed. "Hut If you will talk to our agent, and treat him as you .tumid, we have no doubt but what you will 'moko good.' " The lefter consumed four pages of ordinary stationery and Wu? wiicfen in jame il. On the top of Inc first pago wa? written in ink the follow ing: "Charles Van Rurean, Manager Wallace Amusement Co., is tim man you aro to meet in Columbia, S. C. Don't forget." On the letter hoad also appeared in ink the following number: "6335." On the bottom of Hie last page of tho letter was the following in ink: "Register at the hotel as you wrote to us, that is Miss Annie Dow, so our agent will know yon. InvestigatloiH Start;'(1. On the day following the receipt of this letter it was mailed to the edil rr of The Slate, enclosed in a lotter from Hie subscriber in Kiagstrce giving the fads concerning its receipt by him. The letter ?o?d enclosure was leech ed hy the editor (d' The Slate TtlOS*dn> morning ai tun o'clock. Hoing anx ious io protect the advertising col umns of riie state ami bein.; annoy ed by Hie thought that they had been used roi fathering not only ;< fraud ulent scheine but one that appeared to he vile and vicious. The State Im mediately decided to investigate ino matter without Sparing expense. Thc number, "6635," on tho letter signed "Wallace Amusement Co., in dicated that, possibly the writer was an agent of tho "white slave" traille and waa promoted hy no other pur pose than to bring about the down fall ot Innocent girls. Tho number ing mudo lt appear that tho whole hing was a eytomatlc ?cheme and was being worked in a wholesale fashion. Tho State after hard work got Post ofllco Inspector Qregory to Columbia and sont ono of its representatives to Klngstroe to find a girl to como to Columbia Thursday and impersonate the supposed Miss Dow, Ho succeed ed and on Thursday at 12:20 tho girl reached Columbia, coming iu on the Atlantic Coast Llrte train from Flor ence, tho train which a person from Kingstree would take in coming to Columbia. Following instructions, she registered as "Miss Annie Dow, S. C.," as the Columbia inn. Follow ing Instructions further, she managed to have the proprietor assign her to room 1(5. This room was to the right of the first stairway below the office entrance. Room 1 r> adjoined this room, immediately in tho rear, with a door connecting the two rooms. The Trap Set, Inspector Gregory, who had arriv ed in Columbia in the meantime on request of the editor of Tho State, ar ranged with Mr. Monckon, proprietor ol' tho Columbia inn. to place bim in room 16 without putting his name on the register. Inspector Gregory gav?; "Miss Dow" further instructions as to how to act when tho agent ol' the Wallace Amusement Co., put in his appear ance. Ile outlined the plan ol' work o Mr Monkton. who readily promised to assist in every way possible. Mr. Gregory, not. knowing at what hour "Mr. Van bureau" or the "agent" of tho alleged show company would likely put in an ap poa rance, entorod the hotel at :< o'clock through a rear eui rance and secreted himself in loom 15, putting down the r net a his and darkening the room as much as possible. "Miss Dow" did not go down to the dining room for her meals but bad them sent to her room, it heilig desired hat the should not Como into contact with the man who was to meet her except in the room where all avrancetnenis had been made for trapping him. At live o'clock inspector Gregory was "tipped off" by Mr. Monck lon that George A. Bristow, who worked at the lunch counter at the union tatton, was in all probability the maa who was conducting this scheme Bristow had been stopping at the ho tel every night almost for two weeks and had spoken to the night clerk. Mr. McIntosh, about a woman whom he was expecting, giving bet name to him as Mrs. Dow and toll ing him that sh?; was a wealthy young widow and that she bad offered him a position to travel willi and look after an invalid son. Mr. Monckion had also noticed actions of Bristow's which mlcfhl indlcnfn ?'<..' '.'..'<. . .. ....... ... XV. WI .1 11(1 Bete, a poller who knows a thing ol' two, whispered to Mr. Gregory a mes sage from Mr. Monkton to he effect sage "that man" had como in the hotel and asked about "Miss how" in room 1 t?. In just a lew minute the door to Hie stairway below ( leak ed and then closed and sonic one t aine tripping up tho stairs, whistling a gay air. ! Ile wtis heard to pause ab.mt mid way ot the flighl of stairs and lo Call oui, in an apparently careless soil of way, loud enough to he bea id in Un? room ocupied by the >oung lady: "Come on, Van Bureau! ' The man ?.ame on up stairs and went in room 14. After about ten minutes ho went back downstairs. Bristow lion sent tho young lady the following noto: Columbia, S. C., March LMJ, 1908. Misa Dow. If yon are the young! lady who wishes to seo the advance agent bf tho Wa I taco Amusement Co., I have been instructed to see you. and as not. to attract attention, will you be ready in a few minutes to fake ii car ride around the belt and 1 shall bo pleased to explain the busi ness to von. If I have made a mis take idease pardon ino. Mr. Van "Bureau har. gone to Atlanta to join the show and 1 have lull Instructions to tut. Please Iel me know by the porter. "Respect fully j "Geo. A. Bri low." She informed the porter io tell Mr. Bristow Hutt she could not go oui with bim, but il he Wished to see bet ho would have to noun' lo her room. The porter went back and delivered the message. Bristow (hen asked per mission of Mr. Mom k ton lo ( ail up on the young lady in her room. Mr. Monck ton explained to him thal he did not allow gentlemen to call upon ladies in their rooms at hi ho tel, hut (hy agreement with Mr. Gregory) ho told Bristow that he ..ished to see her slrickly on business, as he stated, he would allow him to go up, but advised him liol lo ; m> too long. (iocs to Hie Boom. Bristow then weal up stairs and knocked ai tho young lady's room door. The door was then opened ami then cann : "ls this Miss how?" An affinintive answer caine from titi young' lady and I lien Mr. Bristow started on' hv lolling her how sor rily he was that "Mr. Van Burean" had lo go out of Hie eily, etc. He again made the proposition to go ont for a car ride, saying that lt would be hard to place (ho proposi tion Clearly before her as Mr. Monck ton objected lo any one calling on la dles in their rooms and he could take her for a car ride and then they could go to some place whore they would riot tm observed, etc. Bho again docllued to go, aid rath er against his wishes Bristow started in with his taner and fascinating story about tho ?how bunine.;.i auj the advantages to bo gained by girls who enter the profession. Tho story was roseate and almost poetical. Bristow explained that tho "Wal lace Amusement Co." wore playing at tho Hijou theatre, Atlanta, at that vory hour, putting on that fascina ting drama, "I Don't Caro!" Of course "Miss Dow" had never heard of this play and Bristow proceeded to j explain what, a gorgons and absorb ing theme lt was. There wore only IGO people In ll, und only 40 of those ! wore chorus girls. j Then taine tho first "advances" I when he hogan lo t<'ll her, in an ex ceedingly apologetic tone of voice, that tho chorus girls wear short ?dresses. A little alter be caine lo the "tights," prefacing bis remarks by. ".Now, Miss Dow. I hope you won't be offended," etc. ".vow, that is just the greatest i rouille we have in securing girls," ho said, adding that ibero ?s no rea son ?by ?my lady should obied to j wearing tights il* she expected to learn tin? show business, tie further explained Hutt lie and his wife had been in tho show business for years, that his wife was as fine a lady as ever lived and she appeared on the stage ovorj night In tights, otc. laked Mer Looks. Bristow said he liked her Appear ance and thought everything would he all right, hut he would, of course, have to call up "Mr. Nan Bureau" in .Atlanta and see what he had to say j about it. lb' explained t'aat he had pul in a call for his pa.M ne;' earlier in . the evening bul Mr. Vail Bureau was not at Hie I'd iou theatre al that tillie ?and central informed him Hutt At lanta instructed that he would have io ? all later ii ne wished to talk The lime came for him lo go down lo telephone to his partner in Atlanta .and be would come back and let "Miss Dow" know what he had to say about it. But he dhiri l go down and hi' has done no phoning yet. .lust as he was preparing lb leave tho room he was confronted hy Inspec tor Gregory and "als assinlunt, the former appearing at tho door 1 -ailing from room M? to the hallway and ?the latter through the connecting ?door that leads from room !5 to 16. (To say (hut Bristow was (alien by ; surprised and was completely non plussed expresses il hut mildly. lt were as If the earth had opened up land these men had appeared out of j its cent re. He admitted his connection with the scheme and turned over to in spector Gregory letters, etc., in his I nov..HVIOM i?>.t <...'. ?>....??..I . ne met Vau Buren" and how he was led into ibis scheme and how ihev had worked ii togeth er. He said the letter to 'Miss Dow" Wtu written by himself tail Hint "Vari Bureau" dictated most of il and told !iim in a general way what lo say to Int I.aler he answered other re plies Ilia! were received as a result of the advertisement, without the as sistance of his alleged friend. Oilier (?ivis Had Answered. Ile told (d' receiving replies from girls in tho city and from others than "Miss Dow" outside ol' the city. H was arranged for two of the girls to meei Ibo "agOllt" al (he Concili?e ho tel and on Sunday night, Man h ?'?, he wont lhere and stayed all night. Ile said thal "Vail Bureau" was lo lill vd niel the girls expected at the Conga roe and went there himself and registered hit! lalor Vail Bureau" (obj him that he. had io go to Sum ter on the nexl atrlu and asked him (BistOW) lo go lo tho hotel i and meet the girls. Ile said that I he gills bad failed to come and he loft word with Hie proprietor thal if they called alter thal night lhat he was suddenly (ailed out of the city and would he blick in a day or two. He talked willi the proprietor ol' the Congaree, ho said, about being in the show business and lo prove io him I hal he w as no "lake" showed them some of the letters that he had f.-'eived ;dd-e :ed i.6 Walboo Amusement Co. ami len them willi him He had not been ha<k since lo thai hotel ;uid did not know whether any of the girls ever wen! then- to meet "Vail Bureau' after Sunda} nigh I "Villi Bureau"-Where'.' Bristow insisted thal "Miss Dow" Wits Hie orilj one of the girls whom he had mei. mu Van Bureau'' had mel several, mentioning one In Brook ka nd and one on B'ar.ding Street) etc.. He gave the nata''- of lour or five gins' living in the factory district whom they had planned to gel Into (he com pany bul he had hil il lo "Van But eau" so sro them and make the ar rangements, Ho denied that ho placed tile ad in The Slate and said thal he had never gone to tho postolllcc and called for I he mail. l)n being show n ?ni order sent in ihe postmaster directing thai lin- mail for he Wallace AlUUSCmolll Co.. he delivered lo "hoy," he ad milted thal he wrote il. The order was signed "Char.'es Van Burean" and was written on a piece of yellow paper. Hr also admitted Hitit he hud sent tho same boy to the office on several occasions for tho mail. V. hen Bristow waa taken In charge bj In spector Gregory he had Just $1.20 on his person and that is the amount with which he had planned to take "Miss Dow" out and give her a good time. Ho said that this was "Van NEW RULE CONOHKNING HUItAL VUKK DH UV RH Y CAKKINltt*. It IN Held Improper to Ti'uiiNinit Un .stomped Lot torn From Ono Polut ?O A not her. The Washington correspondent of Tho State; says it is not proper in tho opinion of the fourth assistant postmaster geno ral; Mr. DoGraw, who has charge in general of tho rural free delivery routes, that li, V. I), car riers should carry unstamped letters from one point on their route? to another. Representative Sloydon of Texas recently made inquiry of the department as to this, from which fact it appears that in Texas at least, whence Mr, Slaydon hulls, it has hoon customary for some of the ru ral carriers lo carry from one point lo another letters or parcels which aro not stamped. It is doubtless hue in all parts of flu; country that rina' carriers, who get to know their patrons wei!, do small favors O? this kind for mein Tho fourth assistant postmaster gen eral, though, in answering Mr. Clay don in effect la's down a policy which will put a slop to al! this. Mr. hoGrnw's answer to rho Texas representative is made after consult ing the depart mon I of justice at torneys general advising him as to tho legal ((ll est io ll involver'.. Said Mr DoGraw. "All natrons of rural free delivery tontes are required to pro vide themselves villi approved boxes, and their contents are recognized in law as mail Poxes and protected fron, wilful damage or depredation." lie further staten that these hexes, while provided at the OXpOUSO ol the citizens Oil the route, are erected ex clusively for the I"nlted States mail Hence the matter In them ls to bo considered United Stales mall. All mallabie matter placed in ru ral mail boxes.'' says Air. IMJvaw, "is subject io Ibo rules and regula tions governing the mails, including the payment of postage. While jt is not in violation of law to place un stamped mallabie matter in rural boxes, it is not proper thal it should bo ?lone. Kural carriers rinding such mattel' in boxes on their routes are required to bring it into the (.flieo to bo held for poslago. "it will, therefore, he apparent io you that in the use of rural mall o ?unes uriggH ol Georgia has a mn now ponding to allow ? cent postage on li. F. h. toutes from one point oe, a route lo another, just as in the case of a 'drop letter" in a postoflico. Bureau's" money and thal $l.f>0 was Hiv.MI lo him hy tho latter just as he (.Yan Burean) was fixing lo leave Columbia for Atlanta Monda? He also had a now lape line in his pocket ami the money was to be used in paying for telephone message, His attention was directed to the tact thal if $1.60 was given to him for that purpose Ii?? had already spool 20 cents of ii foi something else and was planning to spend moro of il in tllkng 'Miss Dow" otu lot a good time about the eily Well, he could tlx that, ho sad. Bristow in Arrest. Inspector Gregory had Bristow lix ked np at the pOliCO station af t.ilO o'clock Krida) morling for safe-keep lug and al noon Friday he swore om ibo warrain before Commissioner Vernor. Inspector Gregory spent the ontlro day Krida> following np the investigation and every step brough! more convincing and moro damaging tetlmony against Bristow, Several Columbia girls who had answered the ad wore Interviewed and turned over to Mr. Gregory Hie letters wh'-h they had received from this fake ..muse ment" company. (nie yoting woman stated that she would liol ill;?' to haw- 'n t u.om u\ pear in connection with Hie case but thai if it were necessary in order io insure Bristow being given the severe penalty which she fell he dosel ved : he would gladly appear as a witness. Many places thal Bristow stated he had visited in company with "Van Burean were visited by Mr. Gregory ?o?d at ach place it was learned that Bristow had bien then- alone each time He gavo the names of several houses of ill tame which he had vis ited with Van Bureau, hut the in mate!) of these places knew no ene hm Bristow of (he alleged pair. He had come ami gone alone. Kvery whore the evidence only added to (he theory that Bristow and "Van Bur eau" and the "Wallace Amusement Co." were one and the same and operated the ?chemo ail hy himself, Inspector Gregory left yesterday evening fol' Allanta bul before golhg he had collected a Kit al quantity of munging evidence ngainsl Bristow. Bristow said last night I hat he knew h was "up again si il" and want ed to know something about Hie pen alty that would he I in po ed if he should he convicted. He said he did not. know whether he could gel out on bond or not. but asked that his brothor be notified. Bristow will be given a prelimi nary on April 10. There are already more than ft acore of wllnesaes who win bo Hubpoonod to appear in Char leston against him.-The fltato. BT AK VING IN NBW YORK. Tried to Steal Money With Which to Get Hiv;?). A gray-haired sick looking man walked into ?he booking ofHc? of C. H. Richard A: Co., 83 Braodway, Now York, Friday and asked for monoy to got, food. He was ordered, out, and, Utter walking to the street, stood looking for a moment at the firm's window, where a quantity of foreign money was exhibited. Then his glance foll on a pleco of concreto lying In the gutter, nnd, has tily picking it up, he throw it agalast the plato glass. The window broke In a dozen pieces, and the old man then grabbed a 110 franc and a 50 fane note and ran. Two of tho linns clerk's caught him Indore he had got fifteen feet away. ?In the station house tho prisoner de scribed himself as Thomas Kennedy. 70 years old. a sall maker, with no home. Ho said ho had ?'aten nothing for 48 hours, and his appearance in dicated it. The police sympathized with him, but charged him with burg lary. ? ROM li THROWFR II FUT. Ami His Friend Killed by M Prema ture Kxplosion. At Now York one mun was killed, another fatally injured and four po licemen slightly hurt ns the result of an attempt to assassinate a squad of police Saturday, which dispersed ten thousand unemployed persons which attempted to gather In Union Square. After the police disperse] tho Crowd they began to form a proces sion and began swiging "The Mar seilles." A squad of police started across tho park and two men, one with a bomb in his hand, came up be hind them. When within a few pates of the policeman the man lu front raised his hand to throw the bomb, which exploded in his hand with the above result. The would-be assassin made a statement at Hie hospital saying his name was Selig Silverstein. * I < 1W A FOR BRYAN. The Democratic Convention Kndorses tho Groat Commoner. A dispatch from from Cedar Rap ids. Iowa, says William .1. Bryan's friends today controlled the Iowa Democratic State Convention. Tho oin I form ndooted was a recast of the by tho Democrats of iowa. There was some sentiment In favor of adopt ing the Nebraska platform in toto, hut Anally it was rewritten as lo words. ? SF.N. TILLMAN GOING ABROAD. His Physicians Advise a Change and Absolute Resl. A dispatch from Trentou says wliile alarm is felt lhere ts consider able anxiety over ibo continued ill ness of Senator lt. lt. Tillman, and announcement ls made (hat his phy sicians, Dis. Babcock and Hunter, have decided that Hie Senator needs a complote chango. If develops that Senator Tillman's condition demands absolute rest and quiet, hence any Idea he may have entertained of making another lecture tour after tho close ol' Congres?? or hiter in the year has been pul aside. Tue Sena tor and Mrs. Tillman art: making ar rangeaient* to go abroad during tho late spring or early in the summer, and will be away several months. * Kfl.l.F.D BY M VB) WIRB. Caught Hold Of lt White I? Bath Room, lld gar K Miller, aged "? years, of Newton. Ind., a freshman at Depau 1'nlverslfy, los? his life by coming In contact with a live wire in tho bath room of Mrs. Jordan's house late last Thursday night. A cry was heard and his room mate rushed to the bathroom to Und Mil ler lying on the floor dead. A hole In his tight hand and a deep burn in the young man's foot told the story. His body had fallen directly beneath an electric llghl ami was stretched aci uss a register. SFRKHS CIIAHGH. ri.e Chronicle says Patrolman I. I, Caw-lev and Bicycle Officer W. M. Martin, of the Augusta Police De partment, ure locked up at Police liendqnnr'.ers, charged with robbery. Leo Vam and .lohn Ling. Chinamen, charge that the oflicers entered Ling's store Sund i;, morning and held Ihetn (lp and robbed them of some money and a diamond ring valued at about $300; Trains Collide. Ono man was Instantly killed, anothm probably fatally injured and five others badly hurt In a rear-end collision betwi on a work (rain loaded with lahorers and ft freight train on tho Illinois Central Railroad early Tuesday. The accident occurred at Now South M om phis and was caused by a dcnBO fog. THEY MUST STOP ItKPUIlblCANS GUTTING TlltKf? OF FAKK (JONTKSTS. Disposition ou Tort of Committee to Refus? to Pay Contestants for Seats in Congress. Tho Washington correspondent of The State Hays the contests for seats in congross by A. p. Prloleau, A. D. Punt ?I er and Isaac Myers will contin ue Just so long as Congress allows to those Interesting citizens the sum of ' $2,000 for thc expense of their con tests. Hut from present indications this is not. going to he much longer. As Representative Mann of Illinois, chairman of the election committee which has sat patiently through the alisurd "arguments" Tor three times, said to the negro lawyer. Jacob Mool er, who appeared for Duntzler and Myers, it is a fraud on the govern ment, and as already stated in my dispatch, the chairman indicated that he was in favor of not approv ing the expense account. Thi> law allows the actual expenses incurred hy the contestants, "not ex ceeding $2,000." This account must, he Itetnlxed, and tiles? negro states men me ?it least sharp enough to itemize it up to the two thousand. Chairman Mann questioned Jacob Moorer, the attorney, very closely about the expense account and gav* the whole crowd ot' them a little im promptu lecture on thc subject, of coming hore year alter year with these bogue contests. "You had sonic sort of a ease six years ago." said Mi. Munn, in sub stance, to Moorer. "Two years ago JK you cam?' with a weaker case and i J now you come with practically none ai all. It is cl lille ul t to undersUnd here what your kick is about. Ac cording to your own statements there are 1,400 registered Republican voters in the one county ol* Beaufort and GOO Democratic voters, and yet. you poll only 226 votes in the who'e district. In the face of that showinc; with 1,400 voters who are registered, you come here and claim that you are deprived of your right to regis ter." Taking nj) the expense matter then and tho fact that the casi.s are so flagrantly absurd, Mr. Mann asked Moorer if he thought it. right and just, to come here every year anc ask con gress to give them $2,000. Tne sub t.aiuec . f M"? Y reply ""?rufi fhrr hr . ? iii' ' mem la" of Hu . onnuH tee, Ali iVuitihei, H Republican who soumed hhxloufl ?.j ?lo itv sumir? ? case, closely (juestioucd Moorer about tin; allegations that the negroes In South Carolina were denied the ? right lo register. lt is realty a pity rf that these contestants and their law- * * vers could not go before all tho mem bers of congress so that other Nor thern members, who have false im pressions about the methods of dis franehismont of tho negro in the South could learn something as Mr. Mauser and the few other members of (he committee did. Moorer wu? wholly unable to cite any convincing facts as to negroes being denied reg istration, though he asserted that Ifc Was dono. Mr. Moss, representing Mr. Lever, stated thal he had made an Investi gation in nearly every county it? South Carolina where there had ticen allegations of denial of registra:toil to negroes and that not onco in hi* district had any negro taken an ap peal from the registration supervis or to the courts, although, he de clared, tho law distinctly provided for Huch an appeal to thc circuit Judge at chambers. The only appeal he found ever made, ho said, were in the Se cond district, in Beaufort county, sonio years ago when Senator .1. H* Kaile was a judge, when in a nitm-'J ber of easel) the appeals wbVe granted and the supervisor ordered to Issue the certificates. "Why is this?" Mr. Mauser asked-. "! don't know." answered Mr. Moss. A little later, in answer to another question by the Ohio man, Mr. Moss gave the wholo thing away. Mr. Mos? admitted that there were a large number of negroes in the Seventh dis- g^ (rici who were registered and he ad mitted that if they hud voted th0>A / would have voted Republican ticket. Mr. Mauser wanted to know why ?hey had not voted. Mr. Mosa said there was a reason, but that lt was not in his record in the case and that, it would be wholly apart from any thing he had intended to bring up in connection willi it. bul that it" tho gentleman from Oulo really wanted to know he would tell him. Mr. Mauser wanted to know. "Well, tho negroes in the district, take He- contestants' candidacy as a joke," sahl Mr. Moss. "I woild not say anything against the contestant, either as to his character or his ability, bul this Is tho simple truth." Pantzlcr got 133 votes in th? dis trict. Tho claim upon which all these contests have been based for many years, as estimated above, is tho claim for the $2,000. Hut the argu- - mont, so-called, is an to the validity k nf the Souh Carolina constitution of 1 SOT The claim in brief is that tho constitution of 1895 as to its suffrage provlnlons u: in violation of tho act af congress readmitting South Caro lina into tho Union in 18G8. .