Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-09-20
PARKER VERSUS CHAMBERLAIN.

oppCoiCu w tho Nv P'@AAS So"
->~<
PARKER VERSUS CHAMBERLAIN.
On the first page of this issue, will be
found lengthy statement made by ex.State
Treasurer Parker, in which he processes to
disclose his connection with, and expose the
action of others in, the various swindles which
characterize Republican rule in South Caro-
lima. The revelations of Parker, to which we
have alluded, were published in the New
York World of the 10th, and on the next day
supplemented with the following:
Ex.State Treasurer Miles G. Parker, Of
South Carolina, was found at his Office, No.
400 Canal street, yesterday afternoon. "When
you first called upon me to obtain informa-
lion in regard to the South Carolina ring
troubles" he said to the reporter, 81 had no
intention of making any statement, and, con-
sequently, was not prepared to give sys-
tematic and minutely accurate account.
What appears in the World this morning as
coming from me is 80 correctly stated, howev-
er, that I am perfectly willing to let it stand
without modification.
"The transaction for which Chamberlain
received the $4,000 was not the one, though,
to which Elliott alluded when he threatened
Chamberlain in the last nominating c0nven-
ton. The $4,000 we're given to Chamberlain
by myself, in return for bis connection with a
transaction which / do not care yet to make
public I may testify to it in full at another
time; but for several reasons I do not wish
to speak further in regard to it at present.
There is No doubt, however, that Chamber.
lain took this money. handed it to him in
the presence of my wife, and be took it with.
out saying anything, put it into his pocket
and rode of, for our meeting took place on
the street. ..... .-.... ....
"The papers which Elliott shook in the
face of the convention we're three papers
which my attorney, Edward j. Maxwell, sold
to Comptroller General Dunn for 81, 900. One
of these was the letter written to me by Cham
berlain, Dear Parker, how do the commits
sions foot up?' The other TWO were papers
containing allusions to the papers which
Dunn thought would damage Chamberlain if
published. You remember that Dunn, e.
liott, Judge Carpenter and their faction were
bitterly hostile to Chamberlain at the open
ing Of the convention. Chamberlain was at.
tempting to secure the nomination of ticket
leaving out the names of Dunn and Elliott
Both we're determined that Chamberlain
should not leave them out in the cold, and re-
solved that they would make Chamberlain
back down and put them on the ticket Dunn
accordingly, in order to get some hold upon
Chamberlain, bought the papers mentioned
from my attorney. He thought they were
valuable to him and damaging to Chamber.
lain, or he would never have paid so high a
price for them. Dunn is no speaker, so that
the papers were entrusted to his associate,
Elliott, in order that he might make the best
use he could of them in the convention. Dunn
and Elliott would have liked to made tick.
ct in opposition to Chamberlain's, but he was
too strong and threatened to make the elec-
ton of any Republican ticket impossible un-
less his name was at the head of it. The
Republican managers could not afford to
estrange Chamberlain entirely, 30 they reluc-
tantly compromised with him. On his orig
inal ticket Earle and Stone were to be the
Comptroller and Attorney Generals, but when
the compromise was made Dunn and Elliott
were taken on in their places. Elliott was
obliged to read passages from the three pa
pers in the convention on the next day, but
he omitted offensive passages and in general
toned down the originals.
"Another point is, perhaps, worth explain
ing. told you yesterday that 81 100000 in
bonds we're issued to redeem the notes of the
State Bank. That is true. They were issued,
and issued regularly, to redeem the bank notes
bearing date prior to 1861. 1t is probable
that all such notes outstanding were presented
at the treasury and exchanged for bonds. 1t
is not these notes which are now floating about.
During the war the Bank of South Carolina
issued notes which we're practically valueless
at the conclusion Of the rebellion. The State
government would not receive them, and they
could be bought for mere song in the market.
l bought number of them, l remember, for
FIVE cents on dollar. Some time during the
Chamberlain administration an act was passed
making them receivable for taxes, and know
that they were taken at the treasury. When
was in the North my house was advertised
for sale on account of non-payment of taxes,
and sent 81 40 in these notes to my attorney
in order to settle the demand. He appropri-
ated the notes, but did not devote them to the
payment of taxes, and consequently my house
and other property were sold by order of the
court.
81 would assert again positively that the
statement which I have made is true to the
best of my knowledge and belief, although the
full truth in regard to several of the transac.
tions mentioned has not yet been given.
prefer at present to withhold certain details
which have come within my knowledge,
though l may be able to furnish them hereaf'
ter for publication at more fitting time. l
am content, then, to let the matter rest as it is
for the present"
After the publication of Parker's state
ments, Chamberlain was interviewed by re.
porter at his office in New York, and was
asked if he had any statement to make in re-
ply to the charges made against him by Par
ker. To the inquiry, he said that he had care
fully read Parker's statement and socalled
confession, and emphatically denied all the
charges therein contained. He was ready and
willing at all times to answer to the proper
authorities for his acts while in South Carroll
ma. He then made the following statement,
which he said was all he was willing to say at
present:
Niles G. Parker, during my term of Office
as Governor, was sued by the State of South
Carolina to recover large amount of coupons
which he was charged with stealing and after.
wards converted into State bonds. In this
suit he was arrested and held to bail, which
he was unable to give.
The case was tried in June, 1875, and
verdict rendered against Parker for $4,000.
He was finally released from Jail on habeas
no.rata and inst ntlv fed from the Slate and