Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-09-06


is cheap compared with what it will cost the
State of Pennsylvania-$S,O 900, 1000. '''''"E.
P. Stanton, son of the late Secretary Of War,
whose detention at Washington Lunatic
ASYLUM we noticed last week, died on Satur.
day. ......".Alvin Adams, the founder of Ad.
ans Express Company, died in Watertown,
Mass, last Saturday night. Sergeant
Bates of flag carrying notoriety, attempted
to commit suicide the other day. His family
are living at Saybrook, Illinois, in perfect
destitution-th objects of public charity.
"RACKET' OWENS HEARD FROM.
One ofthe "Innocents Abroad"-His Opinion
of Former Associates and the Investigating
Committee.
A reporter of the New York World recent
ly interviewed Y. J. P. Owens, commonly
known as "Racket" Owens. and obtained the
following bit of personal history, to which is
added his opinion of carpet-baggers and other
people:
Senator Young John Patterson Owens is
native of South Carolina and q Republican.
He was connected with the Patterson wing of
the Republican party in South Carolina since
the year 1865, and knows all of the ins and
outs and crooked ways of the men with whom
he has been associated. In appearance Sena-
tor Owens is as yet a young man, on the shady
side of 35, tall in stature, rather delicately
built, and yet possessing an air of physical
6rmness seldom found in one of his build and
appearance. He wears small side-whisker
and most prodigious moustache. His eyes
are of blush tint, and his hair of q dark
brown. Perhaps this slight sketch may now
have its uses. The reporter asked the Sena-
tor whether or not it was true that ex.Gover-
nor Moses, ut present witness for the State,
baying turned States evidence, had his name
upon bis list as one of the plunderers ofSouth
Carolina.
mo, sir" responded Senator Owens. II
never in my life received bribe from Gov.
ernor Moses or any one else. Whatever mon
ey 1 made. made it outside of the Legisla.
ture. You see, sir" he continued, II have
been State Senator from Laurens county ever
since emancipation. formerly served in the
first South Carolina Cavalry. They say l
deserted. Well, I don't deny it; l did desert.
When went home to Laurens, after the war,
was called scalawag because l joined the
Republican party and shared in all of its vic
tories in the State of South Carolina until the
day of its dsbandment, Immediately subse-
quent to the inauguration of Gov. Hampton.
l drove my fast horses and I may have spent
considerable money on my friends, but Gov.
Moses never paid me one cent directly or in.
directly. You betI They are working Frank
Moses pretty lively just now" continued SEN
ator Owens, "but let them work him. If he
had never transgressed le would not be obliged
to protect himself A big theft Why, of
course he was. We all knew it, but what
could you do3 He controlled everything,
and held full sway. There is no doubt that
he and his accompiices robbed the State of
millions"
"Senator," interrogated the World reporter,
"who do you really consider the greatest
thieves among those who have been accused of
stealing in South Carolina"
"Well sir, if you desire me to name the
men whom believe benefited most by Re-
publican legislation, believe them to be
Scott, Moses Cardozo, Chamberlain, Parker,
Nash and that notorious rascal, Tim Hurley"
"What do you think of Chamberlain, Sena.
torw
"Well, like all the other Northern men, he
deserted the Southern Republicans in their
hour of trial and danger. Whttemore,
Chamberlain and all of that class of Northern
or army Republicans, left the State as soon as
they could. Chamberlain was smart enough
to sell his house, however. You bet You
see, he was formerly captain in the Tenth
Massachusetts Cavalry, and as soon as the
war ended he started raising cotton on one of
the sea islands, but finding it Improbable he
turned his attention to politics, became At
torney. General and afterwards Governor.
Did he have anything when he started in +?
Why, of course not! Who said so? White
more was chaplain of Massachusetts regi-
ment. Well, he's gone, too. Gleaves, the
former Lieutenant Governor of the State?
Yes, he's cleared, and he's smart enough to
keep away, too. Yocom, the Treasurer of
Chester county? Yes, he's gone to Canada.
Woodruff and Jones, the State printers7
They made money, of course they did. But
how are you going to prove it By implica.
ting Democrats Oh! no. The Democrats
are too smart for that, and you rest assured
that when the time comes the committee of
investigation won't press them too hard.
"What do you think of the personnel and
character of the investigating committee
lately appointed by the Senate?"
"Wel,p replied Senator Owens, II don't
think that they intend to do much. You see,
they made Senator John R. Cochran, Re-
publican, the chairman of the committee,
and the longer they sit in session the weaker
will become their verdict The depreciation
of South Carolina bonds just now, so that
they can be purchased for song, and sold
two years hence at par or near par-I think
this is the object of the men who obtained the
appointment of that committee. The State
just now is in competent hands, and is doing
we'll. believe Governor Hampton, to be
good, honest man, but I think that he has
bad advisers. You see, Gen. Mart Gary is
kicking already against Butler, of Edgefeld.
Hampton is surrounded by too many fire.
brands. That's the trouble, sir; you bet"
Senator why do they call you Marrow
Gauge Owensr"
"Well, sir, they call me Narrow Gauge
Owens because l kicked against any bill that
I saw job in"
"But, then, Senator, they also state that
you were finally persuaded to vote for these
very same bills"
"Well, supposing I did?" replied Senator
Owens; 'supposing did: Who said that
| got any money? Eh? No, sir; did not.
I have money. Of course have. So has
Senator Patterson so has Governor Cham.
berlain. By the way, I think Patterson is an
elegant fellow. They are after him, too but
he's too smart, he is He amt going back
to South Carolina, my young friend. You
ought to have been in Laurens Court House
last election daY. and heard the citizena.