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-. i I ' ? i *:-? - startling testimony by dr. tectiyes in THE EMPLOY of tk08. b. FELDER, (Continued From Page One.) ed Wilson, and seeking a location there. He sahi that Wilsno's real name was Bailey and he was receiv ed with open arras by the Charleston tigers. He said that. Wilson represent ' ed that he wanted Jo,got a location In Charleston and that James 8. Farnum and others were very attentive to him, and the result was that he learnod all about the Charleston situation; that Qox. Blease's ?cccnd primary campaign was financed by the tigers, all about the graft situation, tho "protection money" collected by the constables, etc. He .presented documents gather ed by Wilson while,In Charleston. He said that Wilson was not present today, being away on another case, but he was at the disposal of the committee whenever they wanted him. In this Mr, Burns assonted. . Felder gave a loj; of the dictagraph Information Wilson gathered on the Charleston situation. In With '?tigern ? Referring to Wilson's temporary residence In Charleston while he was posing as a gambler and blind tiger and gathering the leaders of the callr, Ing from all parts of the country, Mr. Felder said that Wilson was so well liked by the "tigers" that .he came near being elected a delegate to the State convention from Charleston. "He obtained a history of Charles ton from Beersheba, found out all about how to obtain protection and got the whole history of the seamy side of the city," said Felder, referring, to Wilson. "My firm represents the PoBtal Tel egraph and Cable company as general counsel of the Southern department. We represented it In 1900 and In a more restricted territory," Felder tes tified. "A bill was Introduced In the South Carolina legislature prescribing a penalty for the delay of non-deliv ery, of telegrams. "I went over to Columbia to make an argument in opposition to the pas sage of this act. While In the city of Columbia. I was Introduced to Mr. Evans and one or two other members of the legislature. The bill received a favorable recommendation. We were opposed to lt. I was informed In a rather confidential way that there was a legislative syndicate, nnd in order to compass the defeat of the pending measure It was necessary for me to reach the ear of the syndicate. I told the gentlemen that I would be very much pleased to reach the gentlemen who controlled the South Carolina leg islature. Blease "Modest." "I went down to the Jerome hotel, where Senator Coleman L. Blease was stopping. Ho said in a very modest way that ho controlled the legislature and that if my company was with him to Com3 across with the quid pro quo (meaning money.. I made It clear to Mm that I did not represent that part of the company's business." F\ "You may expect to have pretty ./rough sledding If you undertake this graft investigation miles* you employ such distinguished men at. ? W. J. Burns," said T. B. Felder this after noon. "There Is so much corruption and so much graft in connection with this case that I hardly know where to start." Folder said tnat he was not afraid to go to South Carolina, but that he had been advised by his friends to remain away, because If he crossed tho line his life \vas In danger. He said that he know that mercy had been promised to one of the governor's, henchmen to put him out of the way. He declared that he had received r?00 letters from South Carolina advising him to remain out of the State. Me said that, his life was Indanger In "such a ?t?te of anarchy In that un fortunate, graft-ridden State." He said that Blease had sent an emissary to Georgia to Influence certain persons to use their power with Gov. Brown to honor requisition papers. ?Gov. Brown refused. Concerning his relations with .1. H. Evans of Newberry, Felder said that Evans called on him every time he went to Columbia. "In one occasion," said Felder, "I was In Columbia at the Colonla hotel. The card of H. H. Evans was sent up. I knew his reputation as a gun-play artist. He came into tho room as mild.as a cephyr." " 'You don^ want to Bend me to the' penitentiary,' said Evans to me, and the team were trickling down his cheeks. I did not ask blm how many ?children he had." >Felder said that Evans wanted to ake a clean breast of connection with the dispensary affairs, but that he did not want to testify before a court.' ?' ' " ' "' ' Tribute to Mr. Lyon. In 'his testimony before the com mittee Felder paid a high tribute to the honesty of J. Fraaer Lyon, attor ney general of South Carolina. He said that Mr. Lyon acted straight ^throughout tho entire proceedings and that Mr. Lyon was a man not to be influenced by any one. The mention of the attorney general brought forth fresh applause. Early In his testimony Felder dis postd of the famous "T. B." letter by submitting an affidavit that the chief I clerk in his law office, F. H. Krauss, was a confessed forger; that he went to Newberry and forged the "T. B." letter, which was kell known to Blease when the governor gave the letter to the pre.88. Substantiating this testi mony, Felder submit*** **? following affidavit, as testimony: "Georgia, Fulton county: "Personally appeared before thei undersigned, an ofllcor authorized by law to, administer oaths,. Daniel W. Rountree, who first being duly and legally sworn, deposeth and salth: "That during the years 1904 and 1905, F. H. Krauss was .employed by. bis law firm; Felder Sc. Rountree, and afterwards Felder, Rountree & Wil son, as chief clerk and stenographer. Ju, this capacity, he kept the books of the firm, wrote cheeks, receipts, de posited Btt.oneys. and In short, dis charged all, duties devolving upon him In the capacity of chief clerk, stenog rapher, bookkeeper and cashier for said firm. During the year 1905 de ponent and his associates discovered that the said F. _H. Krauss was .short lu his accounts. with said firm and with deponent. Upon Investigation of the matter, it was discovered that said shortage aggregated several thou sand dollars. Upon being confronted therewith! the said F. H. Krauss made to deponent and his associates a full and complete confession, de scribing minutely and particularly the method employed by him in conceal ing, his peculations. It . developed that the' said F. H. Krauss had forged checks, drafts, receipts and other doc uments, signing thereto deponent's name and the name of deponent's firm. The forgery was so well exe cuted that It was hardly possible, even with the use of a magnifying glass, to distinguish the genuine handwrit ing of deponent and hi s associates from the spurious. "Deponent further says that this practice of the said Krauss extended through the period of about two years, from his knowledge of .the extent to which the said F. H. krauss prac ticed this art of forgery deponent says that in his judgment, he is a master of the art of Imitating hand writing. "Deponont further says that in re ferring to Mr. Felder or in speaking of him to deponent, he would usually, If not always, orfer to him as "T. B." "Daniel W. Rountree." "Sworn to and subscribed before me. this 11th day of July 1912, Chas. S. Bowen, Fulton county, Ga." The bulk of the documentary evi dence submitted by Mr. Felder up to tho time of evening adjournment was that gathered In personal conver sation and by use of the dictagraph by "Mr. Wilson of Charleston," who in reality Is Detective Bailey of the Burns force. Those documents which got In through being read by Mr. Felder before turning over to the committee, as sworn evidence, are as follows: First Document. "Ben Stothart, chief constable, ap pointed by Blease. stated at the time of his appointment to the position, It wan understood between him and the governor that protection ? should be given to tho blind tigers operating In the city of Charleston, provided they would pay a stipulated sum per month to him. that this sum amounted in the aggregate to between $3,500 and $5,000 per month; that as soon as the collections were made he deduct ed his commissions for making the same and would personally take the bnlnnce to Columbia, S. ('., and pay it over to the governor. "He stated further that protests had been made to the governor against these collections by Interested lmrtles; but that, the governor would pay no attention to them; thnt de mand had boon made upon the gov ernor 'for his disposal, but that he felt perfectly secure in his job, for tbe governor \vns a man of independ ence and had the power to do as he. plensed with it. ' "Also that the governor had Is sued a pardon to Ruldoph Rabons, a blind tiger man of the city of Char leston (I believe thla Is'the name), receiving then for the sum of $2,000 in cash. Tho said Stothart stated that be had conducted the negotiations which' resulted In the pardon of this man. "This conversation occurred in the Argyle hotel in the city of Charleston, after the ^sald Stothart and -party had had several drinks together in the blind tigers of the city of Char leston." Second Document. "During the time that Cole L. Bleaae represented Newberry county In the State1 senate, a gentleman by the name ?f F. Charlton" Wright, who camo from Savannah, Ga., whose brother was division superintendent of one of the railroads, perhaps tho -T7"??-????r-^"-1-" Seaboard Air Line, with headquarters in Columbia, and who oame to Colum bia as private secretary to P. I. Welles, superintendent of the Southern, was transferred from that position to tho position as ? private secretary of the general counsel of the Southern rail road. \ "Mr. W. Cbarlton Wright was inter viewed at length In the city of Co lumbia, and discussed conditions ob taining there during his incumbency as private secretary of the general counsel of the Southern railroad. He dtscussed at length the dishonesty of Senator Cole L. Blease. The most pertinent statement made by him, which 1b quoted literally, in as fol lows": '"Why, or course, I know he Is a crook. When I was working for Ab~ ney, I handed him a check In the ante-room of the senate chamber on one occasion," fqr $500 as compensation for his services In defeating a ponding bill affecting the interests of the ^all road.' ", Third Document. "Henry Hasselmcyor, whose place of business Is near the market |n the city of' Charleston, upou being asked how the blind tigers In the city of Charleston were getting on, his re ply was: 'Wc elected Colo please gor ernor and we' now have full protec tion.' "Asked as to the method by which protection was obtained, he stated that, shortly after the governor^ in auguration the chief of the constabu lary force was called to Columbia for conference with the governor. In this conference with the governor 1$ Was agreed as to the amount that each blind tiger In the city of Char-1 leston should pay monthly for pro tection. "On the return of the chief con-1 stable to Charleston, he called upon the president of the local brewery j and told him that he wished to see him on conference, that he had a proposition to make to him which was authorized by the governor, ask ing him when it would be satisfactory to see him. "The president of the brewery told him that he could see him at any; time and in any place that suited. The chief of the constabulary force said that he would come to his home at once. The president of the brewery. suggested that this would be an un wise move from the fact that some one might see him. To this the re ply was made: 'We don't care who sees us.' Ho then proceeded io the home of the president of the brewery, where he dllvered the messt ge from the governor to the effect that, on the consideration of $10 each per month, they would extend protection from arrest to the blind tigers of Charles ton. He also stated that there were In the neighborhood of 350 blind tigers in Charleston and that these were to pay $10 each during the first week of each month. The president of the brewery asked what disposi tion would be made of this collection whereupon the chief constable told him that under his agreement with the governor he was to be allowed a commission for collecting and the balance was to be paid over monthly to the governor. "In said conversation the said Ilas Bclmeyer stated that he personally visited the governor at Columbia and entered his protest against this ar rangement, stating to the governor that this graft should not be collect ed; but the governor waved his aside with the statement that he was run ning that end of the matter." Fourth Document. ' Mohn H. Morris and H. L. Toland of Spartanburg, s. C, have stated, and will undoubtedly swear if called before your committee that Cole L. Blease, then a senator from New berry, who was acting upon the in vestigating committee to investigate the affairs of the late dispensary, was employed by Jeff Dunwoody of At lanta, agent for the Atlanta Brewing and Ice company, to obstruct the pro ceedings of the said committee "They will also swear that the said Blease sought A private interview with them and did everything In his power to prevent them from testify ing bofore said committee. "Jeff Dunwoody, being a citizen of Georgia, can not be compelled to cor roborate this evidence; but the faot will be sufficiently established by those two witnesses. "In this connection I desire to state that when Cole L. Blease was senator from Newberry and a bill was Introduced to appropriate $15,000 to be used by the attorney general of tho State In conducting .the" prosecu tions against fahe grafters, that the liquor dealers employed1 the said Blease," then a senator, to oppose the .passage of said measure; and as a> matter of fact the said Blease did oppose by speech, vote and Influence the passage of said resolution, and that he received for his services the sum of $250 in cash, which was paid to him at Wright's hotel In the city of Columbia, State of South Carolina. "W. B. Roy of the chy of Louisville, Morton A. Goodman of the city of Cincinnati and James 8. Farnnm of the city of Charleston are said to have knowledge of this tran^^tlon. A New Avenue. "After calling the election for the new county of Heyward, and after the bill passed, Fred Domlnick, the law partner of the governor, was em ployed and paid a substantial fee to Influence executive action thereon. If called upon before this committee Fred Domlnick, if he will corroborate his verbal statements In connection with this transaction, he will ?t?te that he. was employed because of his influence with the governor; that the compensation received for bis service was substantial; that he obtained the desired results at the hands of the executive, and that he divided his fees with the governor of the State of South Carolina." Felder offered In evidence the fol lowing letter to substantiate his tes timony . that Blease tried to raise a slush fund ot $25,000 to control dis pensary legislation and failed: "Atlanta. Ca., March 20, 1912. "Mr. T. B. Felder,. Atlanta, Oa. "Dear Sir: "On Wednesday, the 13th inst., I visited .the city of Albany, and while there, met B. ,M.. Wilson and had a long talk with him In regard to dis pensary matters, in the State of South Carolina. "He stated to me that it came within his knowledge that Cole L. Blease, now governor of the State, had represented, while a State senator, Lanahan & Co., liquor dealers of the city of Baltimore, and had made large sales to the board of directors, con stituted H. H. Evans, L. W. Boykin and John Bell Towlll; that In conse ! quence of certain dissatisfaction arls | lng In the matter of paying rebates I to the board of directors it was de cided that instead of continuing to pay rebates through Blease to the board that the rebates as agreed to between Blease and the said board should be paid through the said B. M. Wilson, and this was accordingly done. "In further conversation with the 'said B. M. Wilson, Wilson stated to me that when the bill was Introduced In the South Carolina legislature to abolish the dispensary and for an in vestigation of the system, that the said Cole L. Blease, now governor of the State of South Carolina, devised a p)an to defeat all pending legislation affecting the dispensary, both as to Its abolition and investigation. The plun as outlined by Blease was as follows: "Certain liquor dealers were to raise the sum of $25,000 and pay the' same over to Blease. then a member' of the State senate. This money was to be used b> him with the members of the legislature to defeat all legis lation affecting the dispensary. It was further understood and agreed, that, after the defeat of the legislation as aforesaid was compassed, that a syn dicate composed of tbe said Please, Nick Block of Mac.on and others should. In considerntion of the con tribution that they made, control the entlro liquor and beer business with the State dispensary, dividing equally the profits thereof. Block Balked. "Wilson further stated that the plan formulated by Blease to compass a defeat of pending legislation mis carried for the reason that Nick Rlook of Macon, who was one of the syndicate, stated that the amount pro posed to be raised was out of all rea son, and that the same results could be accomplished upon the expedlture of the sum of $2.500. "Yours very truly, ' Smith I). PlCkett." ("Original mailed Hon. J. Frazer Lyon.") In addition to the Picket! letter Felder submitted the following evi dence gathered by "Mr. Wilson", showing the corruption election fund in Charleston county used to cari'y Hlease's election: "Col. T. B. Bolder. Atlanta. Oa. "Dear Sir: Your favor of the 21st to hand and contents noted. I am herewith inclosing list of blind tigers that contributed to Hlease's campaign fund. This Is not the original list, but a copy. I am not sending the original for the reasons that It contains a few names that ore not blind tigers, and I thought best to send the names of the blind tigers only. The Retail! Business league Is better known In Charleston as the 'Blind Tigers' asso ciation.' These names on the Inclosed list are correct and the amount op posite each is a correct amount that each one gave towards buying votes In Charleston for Blease: Retail Business league,' $277; Santo Sottlle, $200; Jim Farnum. $500; Clarenco Halsey. $50; E. P. Ostendorff. $25; V. Chlcco, $25; J. J. lenders, $23; (leo. Murphy^ $25; J. \v\ Hunt, $25; P. J. ICarraway. $23; O. H. Wertcra. $25; j James Scot tie. $50; Oos Stunter, $50; H. L. K?ster. $25; F. W. Mappus. $25." Two Good M-n on Job. i Reverting to his line of testimony ! with reference to engagement of Wll ,llam J. Burns, Col. Felder said two of the best trained men In the employ of the Burns agency had been as signed . to investigate the dispensary affairs in South' Carolina. . He said that one of the men was not present, as he was engaged in other work, but that he was available at any time in the future to appear before the com mittee. Ho said that the professional name of the absent detoctlvo was "Miller," but that his real name was Bailey. This detective from whom the prin cipal testimony of the day was glepv ed, whs assigned to work in Charles ton four months ago. "He went to Charleston four months ago," said Felder, "and Immediately set himself up among the citizens of that town as a professional gambler and promoter. As a matter of fact, he became known In the city by the sea as tho "dashing Mr. Wilson." "Ho basked in the favor of the Charleston people with whom he came in contact. He met Jarnos S. Farnum and Sottlle and other woll known Charlestoniana. He played the races and was a good sport. . He played cards with them and was a general all around good fellow. He made' it appear to the citizens that he was a high gambler and ( iat he was seeking a location for a big gambling house. These Charleston citizens were atten tive to Wilson." When Felder referred to the "dash ing Mr. Wilson, the gambler, schemer and promoter," Detective Burns laughed. A ripple ?f laughter Was sent through the court room. Informed of Bales.' "These Charleston citizens with whom Mr. WllBon became associated were very anxious to locate Wilson's big gambling place. Wilson was, of course, anxious as to securing protec tion from the law. The dictagraph ' testimony shows that he was given the rules as to securing protection." Here Felder gave a list of the al leged "blind tigers" who had contrib uted to the campaign fund of Cole L. Blease. "This man Wilson." said Felder, was a good spender. He was spending my money. He put up my money to find out how to secure protection. As a matter of fact, this "dashing Mr. Wilsori," became so popular that he was almost elected as a member of tho Charleston delegation to the State Democratic convention In Columbia. He was literally one of tho boys and he found out all from them as to the method of securing protection. The facts obtained by Wilson are contain ed In the dictagraph testimony pre sented. "At this point in the testimony and Just before the dictagraph testimony was presented. Detective Burns prom ised that Bailey or "Wilson" was to testify whenever needed. Burns said that Bailey was engaged in another case at present. Augusta, Ca.. July 13. Allegations that Cole L. Blease. the governor of South Carolina, was to get $f?.000, Sam J. Nichols, an attorney of Spar tanburg, Ifi.OOO, and Lawyer Sims, of Spartanburg, $r>,000; under an ar rangement he made with Sam Nichols to ger a pardon for Clus Deford. noto rious yeggman and the worst criminal in the South Carolina Penitentiary, were made by K. F. Beed, one of the detectives of Win. J. Burns, in his tes timony, featured by dictagraph, on the stand here this afternoon before the South Carolina dispensary investiga tion committee. ? Reed said that he represented to Nichols that he was a Chicago lawyer named "Henry N. Porter," and he wished to secure tho pardon of Deford in order that he might settle an estate in which the latter was the principal beneficiary, but it was necessary to have Deford pardoned before he could receive the legacy, it was within recent weeks, testified Reed, that the scheine was hatched and only two (lays ago Nichols left Spartanburg to carry out his part of the agreement and get the pardon of the notorious convict. As soon as the pardon was granted, Reed stated, Nichols was to wire "Por ter," at Chicoga, and the money would be immediately forthcoming. His "0. K." telegram, which was to have been sent to Chicago, was, of course, to be forwarded here to "Porter." whose real name Is Reed and who, said he "dic tagraphed" N'chols in South Carolina and In Washington while he was mak ing the trade with him. It was the expectation that the par don would bo granted today, but the "O. K." telegram hod not turned up when the hearing was adjourned. Charged with Holding l'p Charter. The charge that the governor of South Carolina held up the charter of the Piedmont and Northern Railway because of being paid to do so by the Southern Rallwwy, and only approved the charter after Nichols brought his influence to bear, was the other sen sational feature of Reed's testimony, which onslsted of the records of the dictagraph of tho alleged conferences held between "Porter" and Nichols, In Spartanburg and Washington, while perfecting the scheme. Several thousand of the won's of the dictagraph of such alleged conferences gathered by Reed during several weeks Investigation into the South Carolina situation, bearing on how to obtain pardons were read by Col Felder and kept the crowded court house keyed up to the highest pitch or excitement. The alleged conferences between "Porter" and Sam Nichols, Reod testi fied, were faithfully recorded by the dictagraph and read to tho public here today at the Investigation. "Mr. Porter" told of going to Atlanta and getting a letter of credit on the Bank of Commerce, in Spartanburg, from Col. Felder's bank in Atlanta, and said that he knew Mr. Hendrlcks, the assistant cashier of the Bank of Com merce, in Spartanburg. lie said that be gave Nichols a check of $500 on the Bank of Commerce, as expenses, and it was deposited to Ntcholl's credit there, being endorsed by Nlcholls. He said that! he. had sent him another check for $500 and a telegram received today advised him that tho check had been paid. "Porter" testified that he had a con ference with Nichols In Room 48 of the Hotel Finch, in Spartanburg, ou June 22, in which a dictagraph was In stalled and the adjoining room occu pied by a stenographer named S. Teile - baum, of Atlanta, with tho transmit ter of the dictagraph to his ear and the five-hour conversation between him and Nichols was duly Recorded by the dictagraph. I" ' Conversation Dktagraphed. , He said that In Washington, D. C, on June 26, at the New Willard Hotel, In Room 541, he again had a confer ence with Nichols, which was "dicta graphed," the adjoining room being oc cupied by George W. Relk, the stenog rapher who, with the transmitter of I tho dlctagrapher to his ear, duly re corded the whole conversation. Ho 'said that at this meeting Nichols was 'accompanied by tho county recorder I of Spartanburg, Mr. Pasly, but that the latter only remained In the room five i or ton minutes. ''Porter" said that Nichols, who was en route to the Baltimore Convention, wanted him to come on over there and meet Senators Tlllman and Smith, from South Carolina, and he 'went, meeting Senator Smith and the South Carolina delegation. Several telegrams, alleged to have passed between "Porter" and Nichols about this time, were offered In evi dence and concerned the progress of the effort which Nichols was alleged to be making to get a pardon for De ford. "Porter" testified that he got the original indictment of Deford from Sam Nichols in Spartanburg and they were offered In evidence. Thomas B. Felder then took the stand to read the "dictagraphed" conversations which. It Is alleged, had occurred between Nichols and "Por ter" in Spartanburg. Washington and Baltimore. Before beginning the reading Folder was questioned by the committee con cerning several of the charges which Governor Please had made against him and he denounced as "an unmiti gated lie" the statement of "Huh" Evans, that he (Felder) had once mot him in Newberry, or that he had ever attempted a "frame-up" with "Hub" Evans, Towill and Moykln. Felder said that the only time he had seen Towill was once when the latter came to him. In Washington, seeking employment as traveling salesman In South Carolina for Armour & Co. He denounced all of the charges which "Hub" Evans ami the governor of South Carolina have brought against him as "mi Melons and infamous lies." Col. Felder produced the draft of the $2,00(1 which he had turned over to Reed, and which the latter had depos ited in the Hank of Commerce, in Spar tanburg. Detect he's Story, in the course of Heed's testimony the. following was given as a statement made by "Henry N. Porter," on Juno 21!. 1012, In the city of Washington. I>. C. This statement purports to cover a conversation between Samuel .1. Nich ols and Henry N. Porter, in Room ill. at the New Willard Hole!, between the hours of 12.50 P, M. and 1.35 I*. Mi It Is stated thai ie conversation taking place between the hours above men tioned was recorded by stenographic notes by George W. Relk, he recording this conversation by the use of a dic tagraph In the adjoining room, No. ltd Following Is the statement: I "At this time I was in Room 441, 1 when a rap came to the door. I stepped I to the door and looking out saw Sam uel J. Nichols, of Spartanburg. S. C. and a stranger knocking at the door of Room 440. I called to Mr. Nichols and asked hlra and his friend to come In. They entered my room, No. 141. In the I adjoining room was a stenographer named Georgo W. Relk. operating a dictagraph. The transmitter of thla dictagraph was in Room 441. and tho wires ran to Room 440. "Mr. Nichols had previously stated over the phone that he would arrive from Baltimore at 12 o'clock. He ar rived at 12.50. I was still waiting In my room for his appearance. His being accompanied by a stranger was a sur prise to mo. I gave Mr. Nichols a seat (Continued on Page Ten.)