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.STA?TUN? TESTIMONY BY DE TECTIVES IN THE EMPLOY OF TIKIS. B. FELDER. (Continued From Page Three.) in front of the dictagraph transmitter, at a distance of about six feet. I took a chair opposite him and his friend, Whom he introduced aa the county re corder, a Mr. Pagsy, sat on the bed. I did not care to discuss our deal?that between Mr. Nichols and myself?In the presence of Mr. Pagsy, and, ac cordingly the conversation that took place for about five mlntes was only general. "Aa near as I can recall, the con versation was in reference to Mr. Nichols leaving Spartauburg on Satur day night. He stated that he left Spartanburg Saturday night and came direct to Washington, and that he was pretty well Intoxicated when he ar rived here at Washington, and did not want to meet any of his friends. He said ho registered at the Continen tal Hotel near the depot. Ho stayed around* Washington for ? couple of dayB, and then went to the Altamount Hotel In Baltimore, and had Just ar rived there and registered and was as signed to his room when I called for him. He said he was in the bar room at the time I left my card at the desk of the hotel, and that he called them down for not looking him up. I then remarked that I was wondering If he caught that train on Saturday evening at Spartanburg, as he had only four teen minutes after I left him. I ex plained that he ran his machine at great speed from the Merchants* Club to the depot, and that while we were en route we hit a buggy; that I stop ped him and after being questioned as to who I was I left the vicinity very Bhortly after, leaving him and his ne gro chauffeur, to proceed alone to the train, and that I walked back up town with his father. Mr. Nichols remarked that Mr. Pagsy was also a Justice of the peace, or a court Justice, and that he himself was city attorney, conse quently we could not have gotten Jn trouble for a violation of the speed laws. I told him that all I was afraid of was that we would kill somebody. "I then began to discuss our matter in a general way, saying to Mr. Nichols 'in regard to that deal of ours, I have been thinking the matter over, and my opinion Is that we stiould perhaps re duce the amount agreed on, $30,000, to a smaller amount.' Mr. Nichols i'eplled that he had been thinking the matter over, too, and thought that he ought to make possibly some deduction, or at least agree on a different amount. Mr. Pa^gsy had very little to say, and, at this juncture, Mr. Nichols suggested that perhaps as long as he and myself had a personal matter to discuss that we would meet Mr. Pagsy a little later. Mr. Pagsy excused himself and left the room, Frying that he would see us down in the lobby. I remarked as he went out the door that we would not be long, and that we would soon be down for lunch. I closed the door, and Mr. Nichols and I took the same seats as we had occuplod before and started in on our conversation, which, no doubt, was recorded by the dicta graph. The confusion of the three of us talking for about five minutes would no doubt prevent the stenographer from being able to distinguish the voices and record accurately the con versation. No one was present In my room until the conclusion of our Inter view, except Samuel J. Nichols and mysel f. "When we left the room, the stenog rapher, Mr. Relk. according to my in structions, was in the hall .?ad saw Mr. Nichols and myself leave Room 441; saw me lock my door, and also saw Mr. Nichols and myself proceed to the elevator and we proceeded down together. Mr. Nichols and his friend and myself proceeded to the bar, where were served drinks, and later went into the dining room, where we were served dinner. After dinner was served Mr. Nichols insisted that I accompany him to Baltimore; that he wanted me to meet Senntor Tlllmnn. of South Caro lina, and also Senator Smith and a few of hit* friends. I consented to do so, and securing a taxlcab, we were driven to the railroad station and boarded a train for Baltimore at 3 o'clock." The Alleged Dictagraph Record. it was stated In the testimony that the conversation below, between Mr. Nichols and Mr. Porter, was made In the presence of a friend of Mr. Nich ols, named Pagsy, county recorder from Spartanburg, S. C; ( Mr. Porter: I will never forget that automobile trip as long as I live. Mr. Nichols: I don't even remember leaving you. When did I leave you, anyhow? I took that automobile ride with you. Mr. Porter: When we hit that bug gy; do you remember that? Mr. Nichols: No, I don't remember Mr. Porter: These poople wanted to know what my name was. I toid mem / was only a spectator. There was no damage done anything. So I didn't go down to tho train with you. J % ? tt ' ? * Mr. Nichols: Where did hit the buggy? Mr. Porter: After we turned on the main square and passed the monu ment, we met a street car as we turned down a side street. There were bug gies on each side and how we managed to get through without striking any one I don't know. We made it all right, however, and passed between one of the buggies and the street car. Mr. Nichols: That was the wildest ride. Where did we hit the buggy? . Mr. Porter: Right down on the lit tle street as you turn from the square to go to the station, about the second block down: anyway, that was the place. 5 After we struck the buggy, I shut off your power and you slowed down. I left the machine, as a crowd was gathering and one of the citizens asked me my name. About this time, your father appeared and spoke to you. He asked you what you were doing there; that you had told him thai y,ou were going to Greor. I stepped.to one side and allowed your father to talk to you, and a few moments,later I heard you tell him that you were going to Baltimore on the > o'clock train, When I got out of the machine your father was standing on the curb,'and your driver, Toney, persuaded you to let him drive the car. You had but a few min utes loft, and I wasn't certain whether or not you would be able to make your train. Do you know how much money you gave to me that night? Mr. Nichols: How much? Mr. Porter: Fifteen dollars. (Laugh-i ter.) .... Mr. Nichols: Whero did you go to? Mr. Porter: I went to New York the next day. I wrote a letter to Mr. Sims, and ' gave him the Information he wanted, and told him I would either go on East or go through Chicoga; so I got busy1 and went to Chicago. I called up Baltimore several times yes terday to get you. Mr. Nichols: You left the hotel yes terday and hadn't been gone five min utes before I got your call. You Just had gotten away and gone when I got the call. Mr. Porter: I took that next train back to Washington. Mr. Nichols: Some of the boys brought the card then; I was down in the hall when you came In there. Then I went out and din't get your tele gram?well, I didn't know until this morning when I rang you up. Mr. Porter: Did you have a good time last night? Mr. Nichols:. Yes, the whole bunch of us; quite a crowd. Mr. Porter: I called you up last night several times. Mr. Nichols: Yes, the clerk told me you did. Mr. Porter: I was a little anxious to get back, but I wanted to have a word with you and to see you first. I had some business in New York city, and was also anxious to return to Chicago as soon as possible, and decided to stop off at Baltimore and hunt you up. Mr. Nichols: Do yu think it would be necessary for me to go there? Mr. Porter: I hardly think so. Mr. Nichols: Well, we will have to sec. Mr. Porter: I suppose we can talk matters over here, can't we, all rlgt? You know we have made some sort of an agreement? Mr. Nichols: Yes, I remember that. Mr. Porter: I had a talk with this party, my client. I tried to detain him here to see you, but he decided that he could not wait any longer and left last night for Chicago. Now, you ask mo, If you remember, about what I thought their limit would be. Do you remember, Mr. Nichols? Mr. Nichols: Yes. Mr. Porter: And I told you $10,000 Mr. Nichols: Yes. Mr. Porter: Now, Mr. Sims Is a man I didn't figure on. I didn't want to have anyone associated with us In the matter, and I wanted you to benefit entirely by any dealings we might have, though I believe it would be only fair to treat Mr. Sims as you think best and deal with him yourself as to any favors he could do In the matter, but I think you and I ought to agree, perhaps, on a little different basis. M. Nichols: I rather thought so my self. Mr. Porter: Now, here Is what the prisoner told me In regard to his be ing defended. He Insisted that he had had no lawyer, nor had he paid any money during his trial, for attorney's fees. He told me that he didn't re member of Attorney Sims, or anybody else, defending him. He said, "I think, from the fact that I got ten years, is sufficient to say that nobody defended me." (Laughter.) "They might as weil have given me life, as I cannot live for ten years here. I have had one or two major operations, and am stfll In Very had shape physically." '*Mr. "Nichols: Sims represents that class r>f criminate. I know he 'did rep resent a bunch of those yeggmen there, and it occured to me that he was the man Mr. Portor: I know what Sling* was, for Instance, and for that reason did not want to talce the jhAtter up with him. I know there wouldn't be enough for all of us. I can't explain to my cllont some of the reasons why this i ? ? I ^..?V ? ~? .... ...IM t._-j_.t .. > - ?-- I ?*?***.*. *^V?..NV M ? ?? MV MVWVtVU, UUU X Will have to doal with my people in my own day. They have a general idea of what fooa would bo oxpected in this case. I think I can do fairly well with them. I didn't make *he proposition to the repreaentativo wno was here. He wasn't the main man; but I thought wo had better have a little talk first, and If we can agree, then all right. Mr. Nichols:Mr. Pagsy, if you don't ml ml, Mr. Porter and I have a little private matter to discuss, and couldn't you wait for us down in the lobby? (Mr. Pagsy replied that he would1 be glad to wait a little while for us, and left the room. Mr. Porter remarked that we would soon be. down foi lunch. Mr. Pagsy remarked, as he stepped out of the door, "I will be In the lobby, down-stairs, waiting for you." All subsequent conversation was between Mr. Porter and Mr. Nichols.) Mr. Nichols: You said you had a wild and woolly ride? Mr. Porter: ,Mr. Nichols, I have had a good many rides, but I never took as wild a trip as that in my life. The reason I got in with you, i didn't want you to get hurt. You opened her tip wide; I bad one leg out; this chauffeur was hanging on behind. " Mr. Nichols: Was he with us? Mr. Porter: Yes.. I wanted him to drive when we. left the club, but you insisted on running the car, and ho jumped on behind. You handled the car so nicely last night that I thought possibly we would get along all right. Mr. Nichols: We didn't break up anything, did we? Mr. Porter: No, we didn't. Do you know what we did? Drunk nearly a quart of Scotch whiskey. Mr. Nichols: I know we did. a' r. Porter: You were all right \.nen v/e left my room in the Hotel Finch, but after we had been at the club for a while and you got to drinking beer, you seemed to go all to pieces. You were quite entertaining to the crowd who were there, and I rather think the boys rather blamed your condition on me. I was sorry that the old gent, your father, showed up when he did, I don't know .how he happened to be there. You said: "Never mind those people, we just grazed them." Mr. Nichols: Now, I will tell you about this man, Sims. Sims of course, talked to me about it, and he evident ly thinks he ought to be associated with me In this matter, and, of course, we could use him all right; there is no doubt about that, but, whatever we do, I think you and myself ought to get together on It by ourselves. You let me take care of Sims. Mr. Porter: I prefer not to have any dealings with him and not to know what you do with him. What you and I do personally will be all right, and your influence, of course, with the governor will pave the way for us, al though T do not think there will be much trouble. Mr. Nichols: There will not be much trouble, I tell you now, as I told you before; but still I want to get my peti tions up. We have to justify the gov ernor's actions; we have to Justify our selves. I can get up a petition of two thousand names among the voters here who are friends of Governor Blease, and this will help to justify any ac tion the governor might take. The governor will also want some Influen tial people to request him to grant this pardon, and I will take down with me, Mr. Landrum .who is on the governor's stnff, the mayor of tho town, Johnson, and Mr. Lloyd. Of course, I will see the governor first, and when they see him he will agree with them to some thing that he has already agreed with me before. Mr. Porter: It is something, of courne, that Is done every day. and by using these methods we would prob ably not be suspected. Mr. Nichols: It is a question of our icing paid, and not the govednor. or course That Is all there is to it. Mr. Porter: I shoul ' want to see him get something; I do not care how he gets it. Mr. Nichols: Of course, whatever I get he will get his part of it: but that i Just between you and me. I mean he won't insist. The only thing I can see, of course, is that some of the money I get out of this will be for running his campaign up there. Mr. Porter: Of course, he will under stand It. I didn't expect you to hand it to him. But when I am making an agreement with you, Mr. Nichols, I wanted to put In the amount sufficient for two instead of one. You do what ever you think best. It is not my first experience, nor yours, and I wanted to see everybody treated nicely, except we want to do It in a nice, clean way. When I spoke of $10,000 I didn't hesi tate to say that because I feel that amount can bo paid, and I think you could figure on at least $5,000 yourself, and it you. wanted to use the balance for campaign purposes for the gov ernor it would be all right, but that is a pretty fair fee for a proposition like that, Is it not? Mr. Nlcholsr That Is a pretty fair 'fee unless the amount Involved Would warrant more. The question is", I? it enough compared' to the amount in volved? Mr. Porter: It doesn't entirely de pend' upon the freedom of this con" vidi, an to the 'sacis*'"Uiory settlement of this estate, but 'X is desirable, nev ertheless. Mr. Nichols: It you^f statement Is correct, that this fellow can't get this money unless he is liberated, your cli ents would afford to pay a great deal more. Of course, 1 don't want you to I charge them any fee that you can't jusuiy. 1 j Mr. Porter: I simply wanted to state a minimum figure,'with you, and If I ean go over that, so much the hotter, but I don't want to put up a proposi tion to my people that would make It look bad for me. My own reputation Is at stake. I can handle these things protty nicely, but it will make some difference as to how matters are han dled. I don't care to impose upon my client, bo wo had better fix the amount at, say $10,000, anyway, and then, if we can get prompt action. I will offer a bonus, that is the governor. You say that you will have to split your fee with Mr. Sims;'and- if so he would have to alsO.have $6,000, if you wer? to receive that amount. Mr. Nichols: Here is the only trouble about that; I am in such a position that T would have to give him some thing. He thinks he is as much in it as I am. Mr. Portor: The governor? Mr. Nichols: Yes,. Now, it is unfor tunate that the situation Is this way with 8!ms.' I have handled a good many oases, and I go ahead'and he air/ays took me-in a case with him, aa a rulo, because' ho nas no' influenco there; that is the whole Upshot of it. He Is smart, but he doesn't stand with them as ho ought to stand; but he is an awfully energetic fellow and a hard worker, and always whatever I get I split with him. Mr. Porter:1 That 1S no more than right. Mr. Nichols: That Is just the way 1 feel about it. I feel if I take hold of the matter at all it Bhould be that way. Mr. Porter: That is what governed my 'particular actions; i - wanted to treat you right. Mr. Nichols: You never could have retten him out. that is all there is to it. without me. Mr. Porter: I presume If I had gone to Sims with this kind of a proposi tion It would have been all right. Well, ? you will have no trouble, I presume, In explaining to Mr. Sims that we have made a compromise,'that we have de ckled on the amount, that is the min imum.' Of course, y?? can1 take care of him yourself. Mr. Nichols: YeB; I can take care of him, In other words, If I say $10,000. suppose we use $9.000 of it and I tell him we wo?ld agree to do that andj split the'balance of it; he will accept without a word; because he knows it is true. He Wouldn't question anything I do In the matter, because he knows I will give him a square deal about it. But I will tell you; I think this about It; I think If we can get your man out, I think we ought to agree on a mini mum fee of say $15,000; $5,000 to go to ie $5.000 to- Mr. Sims and 5.000 to the goverudr.' * Mr. Porter: To the governor? Mr. Nichols: To other places that we might use it for. Mr. Porter: I think we had better figure it that way. I don't want you to receive , less than $5,000, because you have been worth It. Mr. Nichols: I wouldn't take it for less. Mr. Porter: I wouldn't ask you to. Mr. Nichols. Mr. Nichols: I don't think you would either: I realize that those people you ropresent would not realize what will ^ave to be done* that Is the reason I Want to see this other man of yours, because I can possibly explain It to him better than you could. Mr. Portor: Yes, and I want you to. Mr. Nichols: I possibly could do so. Mr. Porter: Tf you could possibly ar range to come to Chicago, I think that he would understand fully the situa tion. You know how they feel to wards an attorney. For Instance, I might represent certain things and thev will say this fellow over there Is looking for a good fe<> and you could explain to them though, as you did to me. that It is the only way. Mr. Nichols: In other words, 1 figure It this way: when I explain to them If I had as much at stake as that fellow has got, I wouldn't kick on their fee; that Is the way I feel about It, and I think I would convince them of that fact. Of course, we want to know this; we want to know If this thing went through there wouldn't be any question about getting thlB fee. Mr. Porter: No. indeed; you leave that to me. There will not be a move made until the money Is ready. Mr. Nichols: Until the money Is put up where we can get It. Mr. Porter: Yes. Do you remember my giving you a check for $i>00? Mr. Nichols: No; did you give me a check for that amount? Mr. Porter: Yes, I gave you a check for $500. Mr. Nichols: What did I do with it? Mr. Porter: It was on account of ex penses. It Is on deposit to your ac count In the Bank of Commerce. Mr, Nichols: Did I get that check? Mr. Porter; Yes, and endorsed It: called up the cashier, Hendrloksj lie came ?p and said It was all right. Mr. Nichols: It was the Bank of Commerce? Mr. Porter: Yes. Mr. Nichols: It Is on deposit there now? Mr. Porter: Lea. (Laughter.) I was not sure If you remembered It or not. Mr. Nichols: That Is the first tlmo I ever thought of It. Mr. Porter: You don't remember be ing very much Intoxicated? Mr. Nichols: I am this way. I get drunk and I know pretty much what I am doing the wholo tlmo I am unoer the influence of that liquor, but after I get sobor I do not know a thing about it. I don't romomber getting on the train at all. Mr. Porter: You could call on me in Chicago and then go down and present the situation? Mr. Nichols i It is JuBt as I say; the only hook-Up In the thing I am afraid of I? that Please might not want to take nnr notion before the election., Mr. Portdr: .Before* the election? Mr> NlchoU: Yes1, I know Just how he feera towards me and I know Just what I catr d??at leset I? think I do*-the only thing is that he might think he doesn't want to take anjr action be fore the election! but J know he will take action after'the election, because he needs the money for the election. Mr. Porter: Surely $5;000 might elect blm. 1 Mr. Nichols: Yes; Bleaso hasn't got It. He has to get It somewhere else. Mr. Porter: That Is what I thought, Mr. Nichols. I don't want to take ad vantage or the governor. I want to treat him right. Mr. Nichols: I don't, either, but 1 know the situation. The other crowd that is running against him have all the hioney thoy want. He haB'nt got anything. As I told you, in running that last campaign tho expenses in my county I met myself, and 1 would do it again if necessary, but still If he could get this money It would help him wonderfully in his campaign. I will tell him this, "If this thing is done and done now, you needn't worry and I needn't worry." I will say, "I am not going to give you a cent of this, but will make you a promise that so much will be 'used. So much will be mine and so much will be yours." ' Mr POrtef: Ordinarily, a man might hesitate, but at this same time we are looking after our own case. I want prompt action, because 1 have to leavo tonight. And I might possibly be-able to stick od a little more if he felt in clined to do'business quickly; and I don't care whether It Is Governor Blease or anybody else, tho more moiiey they have to spend, the better their chances are. He has a light on hin hands. Mr. Nichols: He has a hell of a fight on his bands. Mr. Potter: And $5,000 or $10.000 will go a long ways down there in that co? n try. Mr. Nichols: No doubt of it. Mr. Porter: Or anywhere else. Now, up In' my country, In Montana, they have to Spend money like water, and I And that'In most oases of this kind it is'Customary to ubo money. I iwll tell you. In a transaction of this kind I prefer to haVe it right between yeu and I. Mr. Nichols: I do too. Mr. Porter: Now, th.1'* is a delicate matter, .and my suggestion would be, In presenting the situation to the gov ernor, that you should say that this convict has no money to spend; that his health is very bad,' that he is serv ing a sentence now for which he has already served a portion of It; that public sentiment Is with the prisoner, and always has been; I do not believe that under these circumstances the governor would hesitate at all in tak ing, prompt action. The prisoner told me that he has had two major opera tions there, for append it Is; that his five-year sentence in a Federal prison started him off wrong, as far as his health Is concerned. The prisoner need not know that any money is being used in his behalf. Mr. Nichols: No, I wouldn't let him know that at all. Mr. Porter: It means a whole lot to you If the governor Is elected with the standing that you have with him. Mr. Nichols: Of course It does. Mr. Porter: It is very fortunate that we should have met. What do you find law practice down there. Is It lucrative? Mr. Nichols: Well. It Is pretty lu crative. Mr. Porter. They have em ployes there In the court. I don't doubt they go over $10,000 a year. Last year, and Just betwen us, we collected $21. 000! of course, we have two other fel lows working for us there; that In cludes them. Mr. Porter: Now. I think we can leave it that way and wo will make the minimum price of $15,000, and out of that you can get $5,000, and Sims can get $5.000 and the rest of It can go to tho governor. Mr. Nichols: That is right. Mr. Porter: \nd then on top of that I will try and ft/ a bonus; so it means $2.500 more, and possibly $5,000, If you will take action right away. Mr. Nichols: I tell you what you do. You go straight to Chicago and talk It over with the people there that you represent, and If they think It Is neces sary for me to come and If you wire me to come, I will come! If you don't think it Is necessary?I don't want to come unless I have to. If you could get thorn to go on that sort of a proposi tion, that they put up $15,000, and in case the trick can be turned right away $20.000?a bonus of $5,000 for prompt aotion?there Is no question we can get It through after election. The only hitch I feel at all Is getting him to act before election. If he knows what it means to him, we can talk him out of it. I will put it spnaro up to him when I ?et bnck. Mr. Porter: You tell him It mnkes a difference cT $5,000 to* him; yoa tell him that. Mr. Nichols: I will put that straight up to him. Mr. Porter: $5.000 would do him more good vow than at any other time. My word Is r.cori; I will take care of that end of It, but it I get away from her?j T would not wany anybody else to handle 'ins btu myself. Mr. Nichols: There is one thing T want to know absolutely. I want to know that this feo will bo paid the minute that the goods are delivered. Mr. Porter: The money will be put in the bank, there, in any shape or form you want It. Mr. Nichols: In the bank where? Mr, Porter: Anywhere you say; in Chicago, If necessary; any bank.you say. Mr. Nichols: In other words, T want to have everything arranged so that tho minute we get him out the money is paid. * Mr. Porter: The very minute the man Is out the cash Is right there. If you want an agreement we could have an agreement. I would be willing to do that. If you could draw up something that would sort of fit to fix the circum stances, not too broad, it would be all right. Mr. Nichols: J don't care anything In the world about that. The only thing, I don't want anything in writing. Mr. Portor: I don't either. Our word Is good. Mr. Nichols: All I want to know Is that that money will be deposited in bank ?ubject to my check, provided the money is there. >-vMr^Porter: You catL have It Just tthat Way, Mr. Nichols. ?Mr. Nichols: 1 will wire you in Chi cago that everything Is O. K? or I wHl wire you that we cannot do It.' in other words, If we do fall, but we will not fall, however. If you 'got a wire that everything Is O. K. come to Spar tanburg, you get on the* train and eomo. I Mr. Porter: Everything Is O. K. come to Spartanburg at once. Mr. Nichols: That means that when you get there the pardon will bo there Mr Porter: That will also mean that I will have the cash with mo. Mr Nichols: Cash or check, either one " I don't care. Do you know I Son t remember ever getting a check fl Mr Sorter: You can find that on account. 1 didn't want to offend you ami 1 was afraid you thought per haps I didn't have the change or some th^ Mchois: No. It was not that at^ all*. I don't know what occurred. Mr Porter: You sald"Here. If you want me to come to Chicago, you have To show me: that Is all. I want my expenses: my time Is valuable. We discussed the proposition whether you would come to Chicago or 1 should come to New York. Isald "I will give y?o?ea check.? I said. ''What do you want?"?and yo? said "$600. You called the cashier, a Mr. Hendriks, and handed him the check. Mr. Nichols: Do you mean the cash ier of the club? Mr. Porter: No, the caanier ?l ibj_ b&W.\ Nichols: No; what bank did yoW give It on? Mr. Porter: The Bank of Commerce. Mr. Nichols: In Spartanburg? Mr. Porter: Yes. Mr. Nichols: You didn't give a check on the Bank of Commerce. Mr. Porter: I did and he called mo up aftorwards and I said. "I will givo you a draft In the morning." He dtdn t know me from Adam, so I went d6wn and gave him a draft. ? Mr. Nichols: On the Chicago Bank? Mr. Porter: Yet?; but that Is all right; we will say nothing about that. Mr. Nichols: I Just wanted to get the thing straightened put. Mr. Porter: I can withdraw that I check of yours of the Bank of Com imerce, at Spartanburg. if you want me to. It wouldn't be well for them to know that any money passed be I tween you and I. I didn't want 4hem to know anything about this deal. Mr. Nichols: That doesn't make any difference. You can Just leave that there on deposit to be applied on this proposition. It doesn't make any dif ference. Mr. Porter: I don't want them to know that any money passed between you and I. Mr. Nichols: I don't either. Mr. Porter: You might say this $500 on deposit. You can withdraw it and say nothing, or you can Just leave that and I will atten dto It. You see they might get next to something. Mr. Nichols: Are you positive it was the Bank of Commerce? Mr. Porter: Yes. Mr. Nichols: And I called the cashier up from the club? Mr. Porter: Yes, Just let that rest. Mr. Nichols: We will leave that like It Is. Mr. Porter: When I come down there we will fix that. Don't go near them. Mr. Nichols: Wo will leave that like It is until you come down there. That Is the best way to do. Mr. Porter: Is the convention In ses sion this afternoon? Mr. Nichols: Yes, I lent one of the boys my ticket over there. Mr. Porter: Are you not In a great] rush to get back then? Mr. Nichols: No, I don't care partic ularly. Mr. Porter: You haven't had lunch, have you? Mr. Nichols: No, I had a late break fast before 1 came over. Let's go down to the bar and get a drink. Mr. Porter: All right. (Thereupon, at 1:36 P. M., Mr. Porter and Mr. Nichols left the room and pro | ceeded down the elevator. W. K. Caldwell. BLEASE DEMES CHARGES. Says He can Show the People that the Charges of the Detective are^at Trap. (?? A Columbia. S. C, July 15? The Bleas leadors met In the governor's ofl'ce today for a conference and la sal** recent exposure was discussed. / way following the conference the *, I nor Issued a statement In which he bitterly attacked the members of tho legislative committee and W. J. Burns, the famous detective. Fred 11. Domi j nick, the campaign manager of gov jernor Blense was present at the con ference. Blease said today that ho had >t granted the pardon to Gus DeFord. I the man for whose pardon the Burns detective schemed In order to c.nu \\ Blease in the act of receiving monev for It, and he further stated that Sam J. Nichols, the Spartanburg attorney whom the dictagraph saya acted f< DeKord In getting near lileaBe, hl I never mentioned to him the grantin of the DeKord pardon. Nichols speji' I Sunday with Blease but left In the afternoon for his home. The following was issued from tho governor's office by Governor Blea^ this afternoon following thtj confer ence: "I will show the people of tho stat." I at the proper time with the proofs. I have rocelved numbers of 'tdegraros, letters and telephone messages from my friends throughout tho state at) I from parties who havo heretofore never been my friends In which they , denounce the commltteo for tho action It has taken and assuring nu? of th< ir 1 undivided support, 1 am satisfied tW y have done mo no Injury but have n a terlally strengthened mo with l iy friends and all other South Oa o Unlans who love their stato and w io will resent the manner in which this cowardly character thief has attempt ed to . injure the chief magistrate bf his state with the assistance ot'thl* commltte." Referring to W. J. Burns, the. d? |tectlve, the governor said: "In my opinion Burns proved hbn self unworthy of belief and a hireling as he has in other .transactions." A HEARING THURSDAY. I The South Carolina Legislative. l| vestlgatlng Committee Is going to m again, In Columbia this time, meeting to be held Thursday for purpose of hearing tho testimony Sam J. Nlohols of Spartanburg,. lawyer who was employed to engln the Cus DeFord pardon for Det Reed.