The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-04
TOO STRANGE NOT no BE TRUE.
The Varied Uses of Chamberlain's Cor
respOndence.

will readily recall the report OF an inter
view had in New York, some days since
with Niles 6. Parker, and published II
the .Me,us and Cb,trser. In this interview
mention was made of a sale of certain
documents by Parker to ex-Comptrollel
Dunn, said to have been effected through
Mr.. Ed. j. Maxwell, whom Parker
claimed was his attorney. Mr.. Maxwell
who has been absent at the North, re-
turned to Columbia few days ago, and
thinking that some further particulars re-
specting the transaction referred to by
Parker might be of interest, l called upon
him to-day far the purpose of obtaining
if possible, a statement of the facts ano
circumstances of the case.
A RELUCTANT ATTORNEY.
Mr.. Maxwell expressed considerable
reluctance to make any statement in re
gard to his transactions with or for Par.
ker, upon the ground that there had been
professional relations existing between
them as counsel and client, and that, al.
though more than once provoked to reply
to some of Parker's assertions, ne had
deemed it the wiser course to maintain
silence under the circumstances. In
view, however, of the statement which
Parker had voluntarily and publicly
made respecting this particular affair, he
consented to give 20 your correspondent
the following facts for publication in the
News and Courier:
Mr.. Maxwell said at the outset that his
visit to South Carolina, which occurred
in January, 1875, was solely in the inter.
est of Mrs. Parker, whose property had
been seized by the sheriff upon the exc
cution against Parker issued on the judg-
ment obtained by the State in the coupon
case. He had been given letter to Gov
ernor Chamberlain, who, it was said,
would aid him in his efforts toward re-
leasing this property.
PARKER PROVIDES AMMUNITION.
Parker, himself, had also placed in his
possession a mass of documentary evil
dence which it was claimed would incul-
pate nearly every prominent State official.
The only use of those proofs ever made
by Mr.. Maxwell was in the one instance
hereinafter to be mentioned. He had
been urged repeatedly to use them against
Mr.. Chamberlain and others, in order to
compel them to accede to certain de-
mands, but he had deemed it no part OF
his professional duty so to do. MIR.
Chamberlain had been interviewed re-
peatedly in reference to Mrs. Parker's
matter, and always promised cooperation
He did procure bond to be given to re-
pleyin the property, but the bond was OBJ
iiected to and set aside. He was urged to
procure release of the property, and
throughout the following spring and sum-
mer kept promising, from day to day, to
do so, but always excused himself on
various pleas from performance. Mr..
Chamberlain" remarked Mr.. Maxwell,
'sspeaks of different attorneys offering to
sell him papers. No papers were offered
by me, nor was any threat ever made, or
any inducement held out to him by me-
It was considered that Mrs. Parkers
claim was just"
CHAMBERLAIN's TRICKERY.
Governor Chamberlain soon impressed
Mr.. Maxwell with the fact of his utter
insincerity and unreliability, aHd the lat
ter believed him to be anxious only to
keep Parker off until after the Republi-
can Convention. By this time Mr.. Max
we'll had become pretty we'll assured, by
personal acquaintance and familiarity
with their record, of the utterly corrupt
character of the men at the head of the
Administration in this State, and he as
serts, with well-grounded confidence, that
he could at any time have made money
out of the facts in his possession. He
was given to understand in various
ways, again and again, that he could
NAME HIS OWN PRICE
for the papers, and was charged with
neglect for not so doing. But by this
time Mr.. Maxwell had begun to take an
interest in the late important political con.
test which then had its beginning, and
soon came to the conclusion that he could
better serve the State, while at the same
time looking after the interests of his
client, by taking another course, and, it
may properly be remarked here, that in
this as in his other transactions respect
ing Parker, he acted with the knowledge
and advice of we'll known and prominent
citizens of Columbia. So advised, he
subsequently matured plan which he
believed would benefit his client, and at
the same time serve the interests of the
public.
The Democratic Convention had met
and nominated Hampton. The Repub-
lican Convention was soon to assemble
Chamberlain, acting the role of respecta-
bility, seemed, up to the latter event, to
have things pretty much his own way
IF he succeeded in controlling the con-
vention and debating its policy and NOM
inees, it was feared that he would carry
the election. 81 believed" said Mr..
Maxwell, "that no greater calamity than
this could happen to the State. l had
been given to understand that in the
event Of reelection he would first rectify
his former Reputation policy and secure
the payment of the due-bill held by
Kimpton for commissions, and then gel
himself into the Senate. Knowing the
man as I did, I thought that whatever
might be his professions of reform, they
were only made to continue himself and
his adherents in power. Twas convinced
that while he was unquestionably all hiE
friends claimed for him as a pol.
ished gentleman, and man of cul'
ture, a scholar and rhetorician, he
was nevertheless without principle.
thought then if T could aid in defeating
him I would indeed, as have already
said, be rendering the State good service
It was possible that if he Mr.. Chamber
lain) were defeated in the convention
worse, or equally Objectionable, maj
might be nominated. But it was sup
posed that Dunn, who was his principa
opponent, would prove himself far more
acceptable if elected, and, if defeated, th'
election of Hampton would make ample
amends for the disaster to the Republican
party" 1t was, therefore, determined te
use u what influence might be derived
through Parker in favor of Dunn. Far
ker had made an arrangement by which
Dunn was to have the benefit of certain
proofs in Mr.. Maxwelps possession, ant