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WHAT REPORT SAYS I SENSATIONAL CHARGES BY BURNS [ DETECTIVES. I ?. } AGAINST THE GOVERNOR i < JviiriLs, Noted Detective of McXnninra f Fame, Testifies That the Kocorcln ' ( Gotten by His Alon Show Graft oil j the Part of Governor IJloase in Various Ways. # 1 c Augusta, Ga., July 11?.?William J. | Durns, who has uncovered more graft schemes than any other living American, to-night took the stand before the South Carolina legislative inves- ] tigajing committee and told of his ( work in investigating the record of < Gov. Cole L. Hlease in connection j with the affairs of the old State dis- < ""ns.irv. Several hundred persons ] l,v'"?"" / crowded (he Richmond county court j room to suffocation, and there was ? upreme silence as I he great detective i told his story. I lie said that he had gone into die t affair, made a thorough investigation, < and that he did not propose to stop j until every matter had been thor- ; oughly aired. He recommended that i tho entire matter he placed in the i hands of a jury. He told of laying < before Senator Tillman the testimony he had collected. He promised the ! use of his men until the "graft situ a.- < tion" has been finally cleared up. "(live the committee, in narrative form, the history of your connection with this investigation," said Thomas i IJ. Felder. i "Some months ago I met Col. Fel- ! <ler at Washington, I). C.," said Mr. Hums, "and he told me of this .situation that lie wanted investigated. A year or two previous to that he had endeavored to secure my services in - - . ...... this matter, but I was maKing uie investigation of graft in San Francisco. The last lime, however, the colonel had endeavored to get me take it up personally, but I told him it would be i impossible as I had a great deal of work on hand. He then explained to i ine what the situation was, and when .1 found that men occupying high public positions were involved 1 felt that it was my duty to take it up, and told him 1 would. Laid His Plans. 1 "We arranged for a conversation at Augusta, and I came down here and met the colonel and a couple of gentlemen from South Carolina and another gentleman from Atlanta, (la. We went over the cases. These gentlemen made statements to rue which I confess shocked nie, notwithstanding the fact I am making investigations all the time involving men in i high places. I felt from the statement that had .been made that it was a! so!utley true because it is not difficult to determine from the details of a case whether they are well founded or not. I told Col. Felder I would take it up. I detailed Mr. Bailey. He is one of the men that made the investigation at Columbus, Ohio, that resulted in the conviction of a number of men in the legislature. I intructed ?.\1r. Bailey as to what he was to do down there, and I particularly cautioned Mr. Bailey that I wanted him to learn for my personal information whether or not many of the things Cot. Felder and the other gentlemen told mo about were true. 1 was unable to take up the matter in the first place for Col. Felder and he ay as unable to get the best. A private . detective sometimes falls down. All . over the country in my public utterances I am warning the public of private detectives, because so many of them cloak themselvos with this calling solely for the purpose of robbing and blackmailing and selling out their clients. 1 was interested in the matter, although not prejudiced against those J was investigating. From Another Angle. "Wo always approach those matters with an open mind and even ' vben we find our clients in the wrong "we state the case to them and drop it. Just as Col. Felder told ine 1 found that situation was there. 1 then decided to take it from another angle and selected Mr. Held. Mr. Hold had (lone fto-me or Iho cleverest worn in i the country, lie has just, finished at Atlantic City, where he caught a lot of those crooks up there. I placed him on the case to take up a certain part of it. I think wo will be able to lay before this committee evidence as to the character of the work that wo have covered fully in our investigations. There are facts, as I suggested to Col. Folder that ought to he withheld for the present. I think that all ought to ho shown up, because personally I feel that at this period in tlio history of the country we ought to show up those matters where men In high public positions are involved. Men representing the public should be made to do so in the interest of the people. That being true, I told Col. Felder I thought it was his duty to go to the bottom of this and prosecute. "I was not particularly interested whether he would ever send anybody to the penitentiary or to jail. I think It far more important that light should be turned on rather than send a thousand of them to the penitentiary. I think the day has come in his country when the people them- V nlves are becoming' enlightened as to I everything. I think they are taking * eiuendous interest in everything jublic. The people are interested hat .'list such an investigation as this jj ihould be carried to its conclusion. 1 hink it would be a splendid tiling to ;he country at large if all this is shown up, because if you can succeed i: doing that it isn't any question but . a hat many of those men become use* I ful citizens. It is when men are tempted, when they take advantage >f a situation of this sort. I think all hat. should be shown up and shown *' jp thoroughly. I do not think it well ind wise to go perhaps as far as you gentlemen insist on their going. My dea is it would be best for a grand jury to go into the matter. All the men I have detailed on this will be iccessible at any time. You can see j he men who made the investigation t jus?t as you can see Mr. Held. C c I'coplo .Ire awjikc. "1 think the people themselves ^ ?ave become convinced that there a here is suflicient proof. The day has ;one by when the personal feeling of !; jeople themselves will permit men to ,j .ro unpunished. It lias been said 1 nany, many times that a legislative n investigation has never amounted to s mything hut to whitewash. In the 1 ivay you are going at.this I am per- c rectly satisfied you are going to see * liat justice will he done to every man f md are not going to smirch anybody t lor spite. The evidence will lie there a uid if it does not convince we will L not participate in it. We are going i to continue in this matter until the * dose." *v Question by Mr. Felder: "Some t months ago our meeting in the city of Augusta, I met you in the city of ( Washington?" , "Yes, sir." 1 "1 called your attention to an in- ? lerview that was published in several * v. 0' the papers that purported to be by \ Senator Tillman?" 1 "Yes, sir." 3 "I suggested to you that we call { upon the senator and submit the in- i tc.rview to him?" 1 "Yes, sir." "The interview was to the effect, j that if the evidence adduced satis- ' fied the senator that the governor of 1 Sc uth Carolina had been engaging in j crooked practices, in that event he ( would take ground against the gov-ji ernor: "That is correct." "What did we do with relation to . that matter and the result?" J "We continued our investigation i after that, and it was after that we ; Look up other features of it. W? sent Mr. Iteid from Atlantic City." < "Didn't wo call upon Senator Till- ' man in his otRco at the capitol?" "Yes, sir." "And ask him if the interview was ' correct?" "Yes, sir." \ "1 then said: 'Senator, I have a ? very great admiration for you and j you owe it to the people of South Car- ( olina to live up to the utterances you have made and that I have Mr. Burns { here to substantiate it." "That's correct." Trapped Blind Tigers, ] "He said he was satisfied with it?" "I think his expression was just as i Cnl. Folder has said; that if we had ( the evidence to substantiate the ' cl arges we had heard then he cer- < tainly thought that (!ov. Blease was 1 not entitled to the confidence of the 1 people of South Carolina." "State to the committee the name 1 under which Mr. Bailey operated in the city of Charleston and the State ' of South Carolina." j "Wilson. My instruction to Mr. < Bailey was to go into the community \ am[ use the subterfuge of wanting to start a high class gambling place, ] where it would bring people from all < parts of the country in a crooked " gambling scheme. The people who , were to go there would never get away with their money. He was only to play with men with large money, and that he would have to be abso- 1 letely protected; he didn't want to invest his money unless he had absolute protection. He did that, all but open the gambling house. Many people do not agree with me in using those tactics. We are perfectly justified in using every subterfuge in order to determine whether or not they are the character men they are charged with being." "How long did Mr. Bailey, alias Wilson remain in Charleston?" "He was there a number of months; a long time, and as you say ho spent a lot of your money." Question by Mr. Gary: "'.Mr. Burns, enlarge on this interview with Senator Tillman. The evidence that you submitted to him, was it satisfactory to the senator in taking a decided position?" "No, we only gave him a verbal ac- j count of the situation and did not submit to him any written evidence. Col. Folder told him what we had and what we could show. Col. Folder asked me if that was right. I am sure the senator will tell you exact I v what ho said fo us. My recollection ii that he said if we could substantiate the charges we related to him then certainly the governor of South Carolina was not entitled to the confidence of the people." Question by Mr. Kvans: "Would this evidence connect in any way the present governor with the affairs of the St Ate dispensary?" "Yes, sir. What Col. Felder stated to him covered the whole situation." Question by Senator Clifton: "Mr. Burns, did your investigation, and % 'ARDON FOR DEFORD" ?.? i IETECTIVE IN IROLE OF LAWYER MADE BARGAIN TO i ? . 1AVE HIM TURNED LOOSE ! 1 i Dictograph, Coiiciutlcd in the IVm ference lloom, Records a Conver- J sat J on lietweeii Sam J. Nickols, a Spnrtanburg liuwyor, and l)etec- 1 tivo Heed, Who l'osed as Lawyer. A correspondent of the Atlanta " ournal says perhaps the most sensaioual evidence yet given the South Carolina disi>ensary investigation onunittee was that submitted at Au- ;usta Saturday afternoon by A. S. 1 teed, a Hums detective, who posing s IT. N. Porter, a Chicago attorney, rranged to buy a pardon from Covertor Please for a notorious yeggman, ] 'rederick O. Dentley, alias James ohnson, alias Edward Murphy, alias Cdward Howard, alias tins Deford, lias C. M. Deford. Detective Heed was put upon the < tand by Mr. Eelder, and in reply to ending questions stated that lie was onnected with \V. J. Hums National detective Agency, and had been as- \ igned to work in South Carolina rom Columbia west, and that Deective Hailey, who posed as the 'Dashing Mr. Wilson." a real sport, < md who had uncovered the blind ti;er graft alleged to have been leved by Governor IMease in Charleston md been given work form Columbia ast. Reed explained that when lie vas put on the job he was instructed i o select the "worst criminal In the loiHh r.i ml inn nen i tentiarv" and en leavor to purchase his pardon. After looking ihe situation over, . ic picked out. "James Johnson, alias 'hiward Murphy, alias Edward Howird, alias (his Deford, alias CJ. M. I)eord, etc., etc.," who was a professional yeggman, and who had served ive years in the Atlanta Federal )rison, and who was then under a 10 rear sentence in the South Carolina lenitentiary for having broken into he ollice of the Enrose Man u fact urng company at Spartanburg and robjed the safe of more than $8,000. Armed with letters of introduction 0 the warden of the penitentiary at Columbia, Reed secured an Interview with the yeggman, telling him that le was interested in his case and had jeen employed as attorney to obtain :iis freedom. He cautioned the prisoner to silence and secured from him 1 written statement in which he was authorized to represent him. Ilow Net Was Woven. Next Reed went to Spartanburg ind called upon Sam J. Nichols an attorney who was reputed to bo a go-between for Rlease. lie informed Nichols that ho was the attorney for ? lii'om ootnto in whirh th? rnnvlpt was a beneficiary, but under the peculiar terms of the will the man could not come into liis share of the property unless he was in the full enjoyment of citizenship. Nichols is alleged to have become very much interested a/id to have made many inquiries concerning the i amount of money involved in the estate. Heed says he told him the amount was quite large. Nichols then stated he would have no difficulty in obtaining a pardon if a fee was forthcoining. The detective testifed that he igreed to pay a handsome fee, and hat after his conversation with Nichols he went to Atlanta and had Mr. Folder to arrange with the Fourth National Bank of that city to ssue a letter of credit in his name, tor, rather, that of Henry X. Porter, bv which name he was known to Nichols) on the Bank of Commerce, Spartanburg, S. C., for $2,500. doing hack to Spartanburg Hoed says he renewed negotiations with Nichols and as evidence of good Faith gave him a check on the Bank Df Commerce for $4,500, which he indorsed and deposited in the same bank to his own credit. There being some questions raised by Nichols about the validity of the check, Heed says he called up Cashier Henry and had him personally to receive the check from Nichols. Later iccording to Heed he gave Nichols a New York draft for $500 on account. He says the draft was cashed by Nichols and returned to him (Heed) canceled and hearing Nlchol's indorsement. This draft was turned over to the committee as part of the [evidence. The sensational part of Detective Heed's testimony was that referring to two conversations he had with Nlchol's about the desired pardon,, rhich conversations were recorded hv the dictograph and copies of them were later read to the committee by Attorney Folder. Tells of Conversation. Ouo of these conversations occurred in Keed's appartments at the Finch hotel in Spartanburg, and at the time S. Tettlebauni, an expert court stenographer, of Atlanta, was in an adjoining room transcribing the conversation by means of the dictograph. This interview is said to have lasted five hours and in it Nicliol's told of his influence over (Jovernor Blease and named the terms upon which he would secure the pardon ot the convict. A second conversation, which was also recorded through the medium of the dictograph occurred in room 54 1 of the New Wlllard hotel in Washington on June 2(5, 1912, and on this occasion the transcribing work was done by (leorgo W. Hoik, who for several years was private secretary to Postmaster (leneral Hitchcock. Again the terms of the nardon purchase were discussed in detail and Nichols repeatedly referred to the portion of i h?> nroceeds which would ho paid the reports made to you l>y the invest {gators under your charge show wlietlier or not the present governor ?f South Carolina was guilty of grafting, either as governor or State senator, in connection with the old State dispensary?" "I would prefer that you wait until yon got the reports on that." "Keports made to you will show that?" "Yes, sir." "Will show the present governor has been guilty of grafting, either as governor or State senator, in connection with the liquor laws of South Carolina?" **Ye?, sir." Classified Column Yanterl?Traveling men; Balary and expenses. Box 307, Shelby. N. C. iiiliaii Jtunner Ducks?$ I each. Munnimaker Poultry Farm, Normandy, Ti.'iin. | rrj liafer'a JJome Made Mother's | Broad. Tho clean white place, Flor- . ence, S. 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Stovall. 4Windover"?New house, largo newly furnished rooms, modern conveniences. Rates reasonable. Address Mrs. J. H. Howell, Waynes villo, N. C. Glenn Springs?The "Garner House", nearest to spring. Write, phone, or wire us for rates and full particulars. Will meet guests at White . Stone. " Wanted?30 students Freshman class. ( A most practical course in Veterinary I Science. Send for illustrated cata- " logtie, terms, etc. Address Terre Haute Veterinary College, Terre Haute, Ind. Hoy and Girl Agents?Sell 2 4 pacdtages high-grade post cards for us at 10c each and receive a beautiful air rllle or dressed doll free. Write today. Jesse Richardson Co., Rutherford. Ala. \ For Sale?Men, why leave your wife and baby alone at night when I can sell you a bull dog so cheap. More protection than a shot gun. V. P. Drummond, Breeder of English Rull Terriers, Woodruff, S. C. Sensitive Paint?Thousands har* hoard of but have n&Ver seeh It You can do a profitable buslnelM with |1.00 package containing 1000 seeds of this wonderful bo tanical curiosity. Leave* fold up ? and branches drop down If touched Plant* sell on sight. Fred Herber 304 San Adres, Mal&te, PhJlllpln< Islands. Efforts are being made by some of the Republicans to get President Taft to stand and let another candidate be named In his place. This may be accomplished, but it wou't { Bave the grand old party. It is doom- n ed. Governor iilease for signing the pardon. Reed said Nichols invited him to go over to Baltimore with him and that he did so. lie said that while there Nichols introduced him to Senators B. R. Tillman and 10. I). Smith, of South Carolina, and also former Gov. John Gary Evans. At. this point in the proceedings Mr. Folder had the witness read a number of telegrams sent to him by Nichols. These telegrams related to the pardon affair and were sent to Heed at Chicago, where lie was supposed to be at that time. They were forwarded to Reed from that city. One of the messages was to the effect that Nichols had left Spartanburg to confer with Governor B.lease about the pardon. Mr. Felder drew from the witness a statement to the effect that experts claim 110 stenographer can fake dictagraph notes; that it is as easy to test their genuineness as it is to determine the peculiarties of a person's ha n d writing. Folder Heads Records. Mr. Felder then read the dictagraph records of the conversations between Detective Reed and Attorney Sam J. Nichols. When he came ttu? nnsaaees in which Reed had adroitly but with seemingly unsophistication led Nichols to make damaging and incriminating statements flie famous detective smiled and on one or two occasions he laughed audibly at some of the ridiculous utterances indulged in by both he and Nichols. After reading the dictagraph records 'Mr. Folder introduced several telegrams which passed between Reed and Nichols. He stated that he had expected that the pardon which Reed had sought would have been issued this morning and it was for this [ reason that no morning session of the investigating committee was held. "We know," said Mr. Folder, 'that Nichols left Spartanburg Thursday to confer with Governor Rlease: that he saw Rlease at Barnwell Friday and that he was again closeted with the Governor at Rlackville Friday night. We have been unable to locate Nichols today however." Here is the statement verbatim i,? ifnni'u v :Pnrtor on July 2 0, IliilllC iij iiv-ijij ........ MM 2, in the city of Washington, I). C. The statement covers a conversation hot ween Samuel J. Nichols ajud Jlenry N. Porter in room 44 1 at rne iplow W11 lard hotel, between the hours of 12:50 p. m. and 1:35 p. m., the conversation taking place between the aliove mentioned being recorded tiy stenographic notes by George W. Roik, he recording the conversation by the use of the dictagraph in the adjoining room No. 4 4 0: "At this time I was in room 4 11, when a rap came to the door, I steppod to the door, and looking out saw Samuel .1. Nichols of Spartanburg, S. (\, and a stranger knocking at the door of room 4 4 0. I called to Mr. Nichols and asked him and his friend to come in. They entered my room, NO. 4 4 1. "In the adjoining room was a stenographer named George W. Uelk, opperatlng .a dictagraph. The transmitter of this dictagraph was in room 44 1 and the wires ran into room 4 4 0. "Mr. Nichols had previously stated over the phone that he would arrive from Baltimore at 12 o'clock, ho arrived at about 12:50. I was still waiting in my room for bis appearance. 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