The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-19
acconnt for to Chamberlain. Well, the Jury

one, affected all. These statements WILL ne
denied; Of course, but have endeavored 70
state the plain facts as accurately as could:
which I took in this ring corruption.
/ frankly udmit these acts OF mine In SCUM
Carolina, which / now bitterly regret ana
which l would give much to be able to biot
out. can only say l went to South Carolina
an honest man, and succumbcd like others to
the great temptations In my path. We were
surrounded by enemies and were Obliged TO
power which we could get Into our hands.
with the power and opportunity presented to
us, surrounded as we were by an array OF un,
usual temptations such rs few men ever had
presented to them before, 1t ia not strange,
perhaps, that rings were formed and corrup-
ton rcigned as 1t did In New York city under
the Tweed ring. So far, however, as my OIL
cinl action, as State Treasurer is concerned, 1
deny that there are irregularities In my &C
counts, There was no plundering in the State
Treasury except that authorized by the Leg,
and presented In accordance. with law, but
but the books were carefully kept and no IT.
REGULAR payments made to any person. The
suit brought against me was for funding cou,
pons after I left the office Of Treasurer, and
The accounts which / delivered over to my
successor nave never been impeached.
After the election Of 1872 l remained In Co
lumbia on private business. began the
practice of law In Major Melton's Office, and
continued az q student there until I went to
Europe In 1874. In the fall Of 1874 I came
North and settled In Jersey city, engaging In
business in New York. For the past two
christian life and to help the temperance
cause and other good measures as for
as lay in my power. do not wish to con-
desire also thai the life which 1 have been
leading for the past two years should be con-
sidcred when my case as passed upon In judg-
mcnt.
THE RING PICTURED IN DETAIL.
Ihave no respect for the men with whom I
was connected for six years. chamberlain
impresses me as q cold. reserved, calculating
and INSCRIPTIONS man In his ambition for
power, place und reputation. In his Conduct
towards me he has been hypocritical RS we'll
as base.
Cardozo I believe to be an oily, plausible,
Intriguing, unprinciplcd fellow, and 1t seems
likely that he will be shown up. In the pres
ent In vestigatiOn, In his true light.
Frank MoseS Is q g0od.natured, easy-gOing
man with no principles In particular and:lit-
tie pretentions to any. SO long as his father
was alive, he had no fear Of the issue Of any
Of the Others In his underhand dealings.
Kimpton Is a fit oily for Chamberlain, exact.
ly the man to have been his most intimate
friend In college, and has worked in close ac-
because each was too selfish to care much
about anybody except himself.
Patterson was an active member Of the
T He m nna s is asePii n sap assp ns the any ln Ss saHm:
ton so fnr MS he is concerned, backed by the
influence which he can control, but the sup.
preston of evidence is the only thing that
can save him from Indictment.
AS to the present condition OF South Carroll
ma, / certainly think that 1t is better than
when in the hands Of the ring. Wade Hamp-
ton I believe to be an honest mar and one
who will try to do his duty by all classes OF
the citizens. / have no doubt that many
c0lorcd votes were cast for him Mt the last
election. Many OF the blacks had become
and the wholesale plundering that was going
on under the ring, and which Chamberlain
at least, did not Interfere to prevent. I am
convinced that the determined struggle which
Chamberlain made to retain his post as Gov
ernor was due largely to his rooted dislike OF
having the new administrator overhaul the
record Of the past eight years. II immunity
from suspicion or direct charges could have
Il been assured him he would not have held out
go long. The control OF the State Is now so
entirely in Democratic hands that the Repub.
llcans have practically no chance OF political
s srssted f %itG Se ths re Teie ns'n Of go o%a r""as a %"1
mIsused its trust. All people have lost con-
fidence in the integrity Of the Republican
leaders, and the party. as o political organiza.
tion, has fallen to pieces.
CHAMBERLAIN'S DENIAL.
Ready to Meet His Accusers--Let
the Investigating Committee Send
for the Great Usurper.
Ex-Governor Chamberlain has been inter-
viewed by IL reporter at his office In New
York, and was asked If he had any statement
to make In reply to the charges made against
him by Niles G. Parker. AZ TO his completely
In the robbery of this State.
Mr.. Chamberlain said that he had carefully
read Parkcr's statement and so-called confess
sion, and emphatically denied all the charges
1 therein contained. He was ready and willing
at oil times to answer to the proper authOri-
ties for his nets while in Columbia. He then
made the following statement, which he said
was oil he was willing to say atprcscnt:
Niles G. Parker during my term OF Office MS
Governor was sued by the State OF South Car
olina to recover a large amount OF coupons
which he was charged with stealing and af-
suit he was arrested and held to ball, which
he was unable to give.
The case was tried In June, 1915, and n YER
diet rendered against Parker for $4,000. He
was finally released from jail on habeas cor
pus, and instantly fled from the State, and has
never returned. Since that time he has dill
gently sought to implicate me, In order TO OBJ
tain money and immunity for himself. His
agents and attorneys have visited Columbia
repeatedly on this GRAND, and through them
Parker now actually confcsseA that he gold
certain papers to be used against INC political
ly for Si,UO. know also that his wares were
hostile to me for my course Us Governor.
They were likewise offered to the Democratic
committee last fall, and l am glad to say they
found no mark ct there. / have also the best
reasons for stating TINT he has over md over
offered his testimony against me to the OH
GERS of the present administration In South
found it as unworthy as did others.
Having failed to realize further upon his
stock OF scandal, and being himself now un-
der new indictments ut Columbia, he comes
forward in a fresh effort to palm of his budget
upon the general public. Now, I, for one. do
not feel called upon to notice Parker or his
statements further than TO give the foregoing
facts, and to pronounce his charges against
IN fact, new, except the charge that he bribed
me with 81, 900 to do something which was SO
base that even he could not name It,:
With this exception, they have oil been re-
peatedly published In South Carolina for po-
fitical effect in the last four years. II any
body demands Of me that / should do more
such ami ma mas as Parker confes;ses himself to be,
he will not be gratificd by me. am amena-
BILE to the laws Of South Carolina ct all times
for my acts, and whenever the officers OF the
faw in that State wish to call me to an ac-
count, 1 shall respond and meet my accusers.
In the meantime / shall trust to the evidence
i have given to the country that have beer O
friend Of good government and the zoe o. dis
honest men Of oil prrties in South Carolina
evidences which, less than one year ago, men
of ull classes and parties in that State accept
cd as conclusive to protect my character with
those whose good opinion is valuable.
banning Evidence of His Guilt.
From the Charleston Ncws and Courier.]
It Is many q day since q South Carolina
newspaper has given to it's readers o piece OF
news so full Of interest as Is the confession Of
ex-Treasurer Niles g. Parker, which appear
ed in the New York World, OF Monday last,
and which we today lay before the readers Of
tho News and Courier. The statement bears
ON it's facc the marks Of its genuineness, and
may be accepted as u pretty correct version
cd from Parkcr's standpoint. The eX-Trcas-
urer makcsa clean breast of 1t, and recoupts
his past rascalities with q seeming zcst that
contrasts grotcsquely with his present pious
prctensions.
The most important feature Of his rcvcla-
tions IL that III which he directly connects
Chamberlain, us u principal, with the system
attic robbery Of the people, which rendered the
Reconstruction Government Of South caro-
lima infamous throughout the land. If Park
er's account Is true, Chamberlain was the
very worst, ns we'll MS the most adroit, Of the
whole thieving crew. Taken In connection
with what Parker now says, the letter OF