Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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riiyyM WORST SINCE MOSES BRiCE'S ESTIMATE OF GOVERNOR COLE L. BLEASE. SIDED WITH GRAFTERS Tli? Governor is Ilittcrly Arraigned by the Members of the Windingl'p Commission and Attorney Gen?ral For Making Charges and Hefusing to E'aee Men He Accused. The charges and insinuations made by Governor Rlcase in one of his messages sent to the General Assembly last year with reference to the acts of the old state dispensary commission were denounced as false by J. Eraser Lyon and John Gary Evans, former governor, appearing before the legislative investigating committee, which convened in Columbia on last Thursday. The committee, which is composed of Senators Sullivan, Clifton and Carlisle and Representatives Daniel, Carey and Evans, was appointed by the General Assem bly. During the session of the 1011 Ceneral Assembly the governor sent the message in, charging a number of .acts of misconduct on the part of the members of the old commission, the attorney general and others. " VVlie. was the agreement between John Gary Evans, H. H. Evans, Attorney General Lyon and Felder in Atlanta?" This was the first question of the special message that was taken up at the session Thursday, and the first witness called was' John Gary Evans. "There is 110 foundation in fact or circumstance to warrant the conclusion drawn In the message," said Mr. Evans. "There was no agreement, or conference, with any of the gentlemen mentioned by the governor. With reference to the insinuations of the governor as to a "frame-up In Atlanta," Mr. Evans said that he had never held a conference with Attorney General Lyon, H. H. Evans or T. B. Felder, with reference to the Btato dispensary. "1 do not understand the meaning of the statement by the governor," said Mr. Evans. "Following the election of Attorney General Lyon," said Mr. Evans, "I met T. B. Folder in a Pullman car on my way from New York. Our conversation drifted to political af. fairs in South Carolina, and we discussed the issues raised by Mr. Lyon as to the graft in the state dispensary. Mr. Felder stated to me that he had enough evidence in his possession to convict several for grafting in South Carolina in connection with the state dispensary. I told him I thought he should confer with Attorney General Lyon and communicate such evidence as he might have in his uossession. "I later met Attorney General Ly011 in Wright's hotel in Columbia and told him of my conversation with T. 13. Folder 011 the train and suggested that ho communicate with Folder with reference to the statements of graft in South Carolina. I merely told General Lyon what Folder had told me. Knowing of the fight that Attorney General Lyon was making J believed that Mr. Folder should tell him all of his information. Mr. Voider did not state specifically what knowledge of graft he had in South Carolina." False Says Lyon. "The statement contained in the governor's message,' said Attorney General Lyon, "that I was at the meeting is false. There was no conference. 1 have never met Gov. Evens outside of the state of South Carolina. I met him in Wright's hotel, and he told mo of the statement by T. 15. Felder. I did not know Folder at that time. 1 later wrote Mr. Felder with a view to employing him. Later a conference was held in Augusta when T. 15. Felder, Dr. W. J. Murray and myself were present. The contract was later signed." Reiterating his statement, he said there was 110 agreement of any nature whatsoever with T. 15. Felder, John G. Evans or II. II. Evans, in Atlanta. "There is absolutely no * * J ? it. ? a 11 ^ r r.w.f coior 01 iruui or luuuuiuiuu ui mui 1 1 r< the Btatemont by the governor," t>ald the attorney general, "and I have no idea what 'ho governor la driving at. 1 imagine it is a fabric of * his own imagination. The statement in the message that any information was given by John Gary Evans 01 H. II. Evans Is without color ol truth." Attorney General Lyon stated tit at 110 immunity had over hem promised H. Tl. Evans hut tliat Ik had information to the effect tha Evai)3 had received $r?0 as graf While in the city of Columbia. Attorney General Lyon said T. B Feldor had told him he bolleved II H. Evans "would confess all." Thli statement was made several yeari ago. Mr. Lyon said tho went to At lanta several years ago and T. B Felder told him that Evans was li town and had been talking of tlx graft work In South Carolina. Feldoi was of the opinion that Evans wai prepared to tell something. "Whei I met Evans In Folder's office," sale i tho attorney general, "he refused t< repeat his conversation with Felde H & is to rafting in this state." "The committee questioned Attorney General Lyon as to whether lie had received any money other than his salary in connection with the affairs of the old state dispensary. "I have not received a cent in connecion with the affairs of tho dispensary weept my salary and tho amounts :'or expenses as the vouchers will -how," said Attorney General Lyon. l'his question was asked by the committee in taking up the following juestion in the message of the gov rnor: "Has Attorney General Ly)ii received any money, and if so, >y whom paid and for what service?" "The governor has 110 evidence," mid Attorney General Lyon in reply to the question, "nor can he produce a witness who has a color of reputation that would justify him in asking a question of that kind." Concerning the services of the governor as a member of the original legislative li^nn,icoi>v i II low! i II !l I l'l III I'll 111 111 i f f i < f ... . . ... \ttoniey (irncral Lyon said that <\>lo L. BIoAse had never rendered my assistance in exposing the grafters. "What were Folder's fees, and why xvas he not prosecuted, when it was known he was favored with purchases and rebates?" This was auditor question asked by the governor. "If it was known that Mr. Feller was paid rebates," said Attorney General Lyon in reply to the governor's question. I would he delighted for Mr. Hlease to give the information." lie said that he had never known or discovered that Folder was paid rebates by a whiskey house. He invited the governor to bring forward bis evidence, stating that the matter would be placed immediately in the hands of tlie grand jury. Sided With Grafters. Mr. J. S. Brice, of the Ansel windup commission, did not mince his words. He said that prior to a meeting of the Ansel board, he had stated: "I consider Hlease the worst man who has been in the governor's chair since Franklin J. Moses sat there. He was not in sympathy with the work of the commission, his sympathies being altogether with the liquor houses and the men who had gotten graft out of the State dispensary." Governor Hlease in his mes1 1 1. ~ .1 ~ 1. ,1 4 U ? 4 sage I as l year nau cuurguu lh.il mc Ansel board feared him. When he had told of Mr. Blease's alleged sympathy with the grafters, Mr. Brice said: "If you call that fearing him, that's the truth as I said it at the meetings of the board." Mr. Brice continued: "As to his chargo of incompetency, I did feel that I was incompetent, hut I did the best I could. The winding-up was a tedious job. The commission tried to end the work and get through, but it was impossible to close up the entire affair unless it abandoned the work of the collecting dispensary indebtedness. "As to the charge of dishonesty," continued Mr. Brice, "the man making the charges should substantiate them. The governor has asked an investigation and has turned around and tried to prevent It." Mr. Brice added that, personally, he was willing to be investigated by the Rlease commission. Mr. Brice was asked to give the source of his information that Governor Blease had been in sympathy with the liquor houses and the grafters. He said that he had heard Mr. Blease on the floor of the senate when they were both members of that body, state that regardless of what evidence could bo produced against the members of the board of control of the dispensary, he was their friend and would defend them even if they were sent to the penitentiary. 'Mr. Brice said he had heard Senator Blease say the State dispensary was not wrong and ho wanted it continued ana aia not warn any legislation that would alter its status. Mr. llrico said ho had read evidence taken by (he Lyon-Christensen investigation commission, of which Governor Mease, as senator, was a member, and that his "acts and conduct on this commission, some of which he had seen personally, his spoken and written words, caused me to believo that his sympathies were with tho other side entirely. After he was governor, and*following out his declarations on the Moor of tho senate, a man proven guilty beyond a shadow of doubt had been pardoned." On questions by Senator Sullivan, Mr. Ilrice explained that this man was the one whom the governor had said ho would go to the penitentiary with and wear stripes with if he were convicted. Mease Kef used to Attend. Adding as reasons for hiy belief that the governor was on the side of f the grafters, Mr. urice saiu; jh the senate when (he proposition was i mafic to appropriate $15,000 for the 3 prosecution of those men for stealt ins, he (Senator Blease) opposed it t vigorously; ho resisted it in every possible way." Asked about the . charges generally made by the gov. crnor against the Ansel board, Mr. 3 Brice said: "So far as I am concern3 ed, Governor Blouse's charges are - falso and outrageous." On question . by Senator Carlisle, Mr. Brice furi (her stated that as far as ho knew 3 the charges against the other momr hers of tho Ansel board wero also i false. i As to tho charges made by Govern1 or Blease, Mr. Brice said: "Since > the days of tho Roman Empire and r'cf Saint Paul, a man has had tho right to face his accusers, and the man who prefers charges should ho present and substantiate them." Senator Sullivan, of the investigating committee, said that efforts had been made to have Gov. Bleaso appear before the investigators but that he refused to come. Mr. Price denounced as "false and outrageous" all charges made by the governor against the members of the Ansel board. He said he believed no attorney in this would have entered Into such a contract as that signed by Attorney Bolder and he believed no South Carolina attorney could have handled the cases as did Folder, or that no South Carolina attorney could have obtained the results that Felder did, for he was, he thought, closely associated with the liquor houses. Says Blease Threatened Him. Mr. Avery Patton of Greenville, member of the old dispensary commission, known as the "Ansel" commission, said that Attorney Thomas B. Felder of Atlanta had received an anonymous letter from Newberry, threatening to kill Felder and Patton if thev nersisted in their efforts to prosecute dispensary grafters. 'Mr. Pat ton said that neither he nor Felder knew of the origin of the letter, but it was inferred that the governor, who was then senator, had written it. On being further questioned, lie stated that the governor he referred to was Mr. Please. Mr. Pat ton was asked if he knew of any service the Please winding-up commission had performed in the winding-up of the dispensary's affairs. "Nothing," replied Mr. Patton, "except the summoning of the Ansel board and demanding of its vouchers." He said that the Ansel commission would not give up their vouchers nor consent to an investigation at the hands of the Please commission. lie said his board had consented for the Please board to see its vouchers and even to have a copy of them, but the commissioners would not let the papers get out of their hands. Mr. Patton said that he had been told by Mr. P. W. Parker, of Greenville, that Sam Lanahan had told him that Gov. Please had been attorney in the employ of the Lanahan Liquor company in Paltimore. Mr. Patton was asked why Governor Please had removed the Ansel com mission. Ho replied that he did not know unless it was because it had performed its duty. lie said t lie present governor had charged it with incompetency, but that the supreme courts of this State and of the United States had upheld the work of the commission and he did not think it* reports would show incompetency. Charges Against 1)1 ease. Attorney General Lyon was recalled by the committee. He was questioned as to the work of Lyon-Christensen investigating committee, the first to be appointed to delve into the affairs of the State dispensary, lie named the members and told of the charges brought against Colo L Mease, State senator from Newborn and member of the committee, to the effect that he had been accused at the Spartanburg meeting of representing an Atlanta brewery. The attorney general read a statement issued by Blease at the Spartanburg hearing in which ho denied that he represented a brewery. It was shown by the testimony read that be did act as an attorney for the brewery in the statement of a difference with a Spartanburg beer dispenser. The attorney general was asked to give a history of the investigations by the committee and how the testimony was obtained. lie was asked if the governor ol the State had ever given any assistance in the straightening out of the affairs of tho dispensary. Mr. Lvor said that C. L. Blease had never given any assistance or cooperation sc far as he knew and to the contrarj had used every means to block the investigations, even though ho was z member of tho commission. Attor new General Lyon said that when th< committee was appointed, that I soon became evident that Blease wai in a whitewashing mode. Its whole attitude appeared to be hostile tf the work in showing up the work o tho grafters. "If the governor of South Caro Una has any information why did In not come before this committee anc testify?" This question was askec by Attorney General Lyon, testify in j Friday before the committee at tin afternoon session. The attorney gen oral outlined bis work in socurinj iformation against the dispensar; grafters and told of the employmon of T. B. Folder. He told of the re suits that had been obtained by Fel dor In collecting information to b used in the collection of the claim an the prosecution of those lmpliea ted in the steal from tho State. Not Fit to Brush Shoes. Dr. W. J. Murray, of Columbia chairman of tho Ansel winding-u commission, told or tno orgnnizaum of tho commission and the beginnin of tho auditing of tho dispensary' accounts. He told of tho disposition by tho board of tho Immense over stock on hand In the dispensary, II went into details of the work of hi board in winding up tho affairs, an of tho money thus saved the Stat< Ho said that every gallon of th stock had boon disposed of, boin sold to tho Goer Drug Company, o Spartanburg, Bruce & Poster o Greenville, tho Murray Drug com pany of Columbia, and tho count 1 dispensaries. It appeared from Dr. Murray's testimony that the alcohol stock had been disposed of in a business-like way. lie said that in this transaction of a million dollars there was no error, and he invited the investigators to Inspect his accounts. Governor Blease, in a message last year, had asked the investigators to find . out what had been done with this alcohol. Dr. Murray said that he j had paid out large sums in the winding-up business out of his own funds. As to the governor's charge that money had been received by the commission and of Sunday work by them, Dr. Murray explained that a slight mistake had been made of one day in one of his vouchers and that Governor Blease had taken this day to be a Sunday. Mo offered an adidavit from Mr. Thrope, book-keeper for the dispensary, showing that the money for that extra day had been returned. The error had been made by calculating the month as having 31 days when that month had only 3 0. The error was fully ^^rected. 1 No charge had been made for Sun- j day work. Dr. Murray spoke of the dispensary j as a "miserable affair" and said the man who makes the insinuation that 1 jiiv limmlmrs r?f thr? nnnnni??lnii h:iil acted wrongly in managing the af- | fairs of the dispensary "is not lit | to brush our shoes." When read that j portion of the message of the governor as to a meeting of the Ansel board I at which, the governor charged, he , (Blease) had been discussed, Dr.! Murray said that he knew of no j such meeting and "in the first place j lie ( P.lease) was not worthy to be discussed and the board had not reason ; to discuss him. Governor Blease had 1 said in his message that if the com- j mission had done no wrong he saw j no reason why it should fear him and ; he said their discussion of him and "fear"of him intimated that they had ! done wrong. State I/<>st Big Money. The second witness of the afternoon session was John McSween, a : merchant and banker of Timmons- | ville and secretary of the winding-up commission, said at the last meet- . ing of the commission, just before I the dismissal, we decidod to throw up the claim of the Richland Distlling company, which amounted to $500,000. Before the governor was elected the owners of the company 1 or their representatives agreed to pay $100,000 to settle the claim. The 1 deal was about closed. When the present governor was elected trie owners of the distilling company 5 never approached the subject again. 5 The money was never collected. "Do you mean to say that as a result of the election of the governor the owners withdrew their offer to settle for $100,000?" ho was asked. "The subject was never again dis[ cussed," he replied. [ "And I will say further," he con[ tinued, "that we would have secured the $100,000 if conditions had re'r mained the same as under the administration of the Ansel commis' sion." .Mr. McSween said that the governor had never offered any assistance or co-operation in the settlement of the affairs of the dispensary. , lie gave this information upon request of the committee. "What do you think of a man who makes such grave charges and then refuses to appear and substantiate \ them?" "I will have to withhold my opinion as to a man who would make such charges without proving them," | answered Mr. McSween in a dignified manner. , The committee adjourned Friday e. . i I ^ * T* V, i , v. o anernoon 10 inuiii, (t^cuu hcm i nui oday. While no official statement has been made by the members, it is gen1 erally believed that T. B. Felder, the Atlanta attorney, will bo summoned r to appear at the meeting next Thursday. It is very probable that James S. Farnum of Charleston will also bo summoned to appear and give testimony. The affairs of the old State ' dispensary aro being thoroughly aired and it is the purpose of the committee to bring out every detail. Some grave charges were made in . the message of the governor and these will bo proved true or false. A report is to bo made by the committeo within the next several weeks j to the secretary of state, as provided j by the resolution of the general asr esmbly. MILKS KILLK1) BY WIBR. K * y A Farmer Lost Two Animals and Was Shocked Himself. \V. B. Keenan, a Cherokee farmer, 0 who lives in tho Midway section of 8 the county, suffered the misfortune " to lose two mules Monday morning, ? ?. I n 1 n linlri nr !/ 11 1 rwl 1>V n limlffin I III' till 1 ILld ID living nilivu "J IV >/. W..W.. cdectric wire. Mr. Koenan was en i, route to fieffney, bringing a load of p wood. lie had alighted from the n wagon and was walking behind, g When a.bout threo miles from C.affs ncy, at the point where the main n power lines of the Dravo Power company cross the ])ublic road, ho saw o one of the mules rear lip as though s frightened and fall heavily to the d ground. Tho other mulo acted In >. the same manner. Mr. Koenan ran o to them and attempted to get one g of them up, but when he touched the f animal ho was almost knocked ofT >f his feet. It was then that ho disi covered tho fallen wire. It is prolyl able that tho powor company will reimburse him for tho muloe. K W (Prickly Asl Ljjni Prompt I IS W mm Its beneficial cf D H WP^ forts arc usually H fej ^ mm fell very quickly P. Makes rich, red, pure H system ? clears the brain ? stre H A positive specific for Blooi I Drives out Rheumatism and ? is a wonderful tonic and body-t; F. V. LIPPMAN, ?@??03?0?00?@ S CRAWFO ? ^ 50o KLiIN ? ? ? Augusta, : o ? Cash buyers of Dry ? Hides, Green Hie Beeswax. &c. Olte ? Coon Skins, O'Possi ^ per, Scrap Brass. ? g WE BUY and SI 0 ? WRITE FC & ? ^ffiC?eccG?o?@o !High Grade Fial Mixson's Seeds Grbw They are LONG AXI) MIOItT STAI'I The best varieties. Write us foi CX>KX, KOKGHUM, MILL Our corn is High-Fred South C ^ Catalogue of ai? Vegetable 1 W. H MIXSON i CHAUIi shield BH" Every pair of Shoes carrying the i be the best value that brains an Fit Best : : MANUFA( M. C. KISER AT LAN ????w i i i i ' "in FOR SALE No. 55-A. Mississippi Valley Farrr. 100 acres richest best land in thfworld, with 120 in cultivation, 11 deadened ready to put in, 2 5 in good timber; four miles railroad, 1-2 mile navigable stream; improvements, fj tenants houses, etc. Price, $25 an acre, terms easy. No. 1G-C. 700 acres best, rlcb land in the world with 050 acres in cultivation; located In 1-2 mile corporate limitH Indianola, the county Kite of tlii? Sunflower County. Improvements, good dwelling, barn, 28 tenant houses, cotton houses, fences ditches, etc. Rented for 1 9 12 for $2,0 00. Price: HO an acre. This is a great bargain. See It before buying. 4 No. 7-A. 12 2 7 acres of that high dry, well drained sandy loam and buck shot, land for which Sunflower County is noted, with 0 00 In cultivation; 120 deadened ready to put in; 200 acres virgin timber balance cut over woodland, situated on Sunflower.Hiver, a navigable stream, also In | 1 1-2 miles of Y. and M. V. ft. R. station. This is great bargain, for full particulars about the above propositions write w T PIXTS The IjiiikI Mail Indianola, Miss. Ship Your Kggs, Poultry, Putter, etc. to Market Produce Co., CHARLESTON, 8. O. Wo guarantee y?u top market prices. Handle any quantity you care to ship and mail you check same day woods aro received. Make a start by marking your next shipment Market Produce Co. The Columbia State says that Colonel Roosevelt's ambition makes Julius Caesar's look like a hookworm. i, Poke Root and Potassium) H t Powerful Permanent I Stubborn cases Good results are yield to P. P. P. lasting?it cures when other modi- you to stay cured ciucs are useless P. P. I ' ? blood ? cleanses the entire H ngthens digestion and nerves. 1 Poison and skin diseases. Bj ?tops the Pain; ends Malaria; B| milder. Thousands endorse it. H V V#' Vif W X*' W vur w -w -w ?' RD & CO. I , ? | OLDS ST.. ?' a' ;! -: Georgia. & 9 Hides, Creen Salted ^ a les, Wool, Tallow, ? y j r Skins, Mink Skins, \ jm, &c Scrap Cop- ? 1 O X e 5LL COW PEAS J # )R PRICES. ? a o ooc?ece@o???? *?+++>? 4 44>4< <?. * T ?e*\ ^ #J S-4* n er> >-%"% ^ 1^ ri/J 2 LI axu k CXI A .11 tJULU I grovn in rho South for the South ^ liK t I'li.W DCOTTOV, ;; r price? and Information. KT. VKIA HT mO.WS. I/IO. <> ^ Carolina Corn. Get our Illustrated <> } nil'1 Pnrni Seeds SEED COMPANY:; kston. s. c. o AND SHOES | 'v Shield Grand label Is guaranteed to d money can produce. Wear Longest Tl'KKl) liV : COMPANY * TA, GA. ??MP??? mmmmmmmmmnmmmmmmrsmak m *???>? ? 1 What is More Terrible to Mothers than the evcry-day accidents?cuts, bruises, scratches, etc.?that hap* pen to their children ? Noah's Liniment stops the blood, deadens the pain, takes away the * danger of blood poisoning and heals the wound. It is antiseptic. Noah's Liniment is the best single preparation any * family can have in their home. It is a pain remedy for internal use as BSMZSSI i!ji| well as a liniment for 99 external application. M Noah's Liniment fjiTTIQ 'ill is excellent for colds, UljLlIp] ||9 coughs, sore throat IIIlIIwU!!! 11 unci toothache. "w'wm pi | Made in Richmond, $9 Va. by Noah Remedy Z\'Z^ZZ. |i ' Co., and sold by all ffl dealers in medicine. > Scalded in Caustic Soda. Samuel Sydenham, an Englishman, ,t who only Friday bogan work at the Southern railway shops at Spencer, N. C., Saturday night fell into a vat of seething caustic soda fluid In a big tank used for boiling greaso for locomotives, and was scalded. With the skin and portions of his flesh dropping frop his body as ho was removed to tho hospital, physicians say he will Uie. .