The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-20

sites therefrom. I knew nothing, there
fore, to inculpate him.
I had no doubt that number o.
charges brought against the treasury were
improperly passed by the Legislature
In particular there were number OF tive
thousand dollar claims presented which
thought were outrageous, certificates
issued by those who purchased senators
and representatives. The certificates were
properly authorized, however, and [ had
to pay them. Suppose I had refused to
honor them, what would have been the
result2 Why I should have been kicked
out for not doing my duty as treasurer
There was too much influence brought to
bear against me. If I had stood out
alone it would not have made any differ
ence. Why, have been to Frank
Moses,
WITH TEARS IN MY EYES,
and said to him: "You will have no
money at all in the treasury if you 60 on
in this way" Frank Moses would only
look up and laugh. "Talk about these
Republican Reformers," he would say,
''you never heard me say anything about
reform" No said I, I never did.
went out of Office on October 81, 1872.
Scott went out at the same time, and
Moses came in as Governor. Samuel
Melton succeeded Chamberlain as attor-
ney general, but when Chamberlain went
out of Office he became Melton's law
partner, and 30 got right behind the
throne again. One of the first acts of the
Legislature after Frank Moses becsme
Governor was an act directing the attor-
ney general of the State to prosecute the
late sinking fund commissioners of the
State for corruption. These commission
ers were Scott, Neagle, Chamberlain, the
chairman of the finance committee ofthe
Senate and the chairman of the ways
and means committee of the House. Did
Melton do it now9 What did he do ?
Waited until April 1874, and then COM
menced prosecution against me. The
complaint was made by Daniel 81. Cham
berlsin, then Governor and ex-officio
president of the sinking fund commission.
The attorney general broug ght a suit for
the recovery Of S25,000, alleged to have
been fraudulently misapplied. [ was ar
rested and held on bail. A night or two
before my arrest Chamberlain had been
talking to me as pleasantly as ever in the
theatre, where Anna Dickinson was lee.
turing. We had a loving parting, but
he sneaked off and caused me to be ar
rested on the next day, or within a few
days at any rate. When I succeeded,
however, in pressing the thing to suit
it was mol pressed by the attorney general.
On whose shoulders does the blame for
the borrowing of the $25,00O lie? The
sinking fund commissioners ought to
have been prosecuted for their part in
the matter as we'll as for other crimes
which they committed. The treasury
needed the money, and it was none of
my business who lent the amount. 1t
was not my funeral at all. I consulted
with Chamberlain, asking him if it was
any crime on my part to borrow this
money. "No," he said, cit is no crime
of yours" Chamberlain will say now
that he was in a minority on the sinking
fund commission, and that the commits
sion lent the money to the treasury with
out his consent. At any rate the sink
ing fund commissioners are responsible
in this matter and not myself, the treas
urer.
THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD sWINDLE.
In regard to the Blue Ridge Railroad
swindle, by which the State. was said to
have been defrauded out of 81 800 900,
can say at least that I had nothing to do
with the road, except when called upon,
in my capacity as State treasurer, to pay
over to the officers of the road the scrip
voted by the Legislature. When Harri-
son was President of the road, $4,000, 900
was voted by the Legislature, in State
scrip, TO defray the expenses of its con-
struction. Harrison applied to Scott,
who was then Governor, for money, and
Scott requested Kimpton to furnish
100000 to Harrison for the road in re-
turn for $500, 900 of the bonded stock of
the road owned by the State. Kimpton,
I believe, still has that $600,00 of stock.
Cameron succeeded Harrison as president
of the road, and Patterson succeeded
Cameron. So Patterson came to have
control of the four millions of stock, less
the $500, 900 which Kimpton had gobbled.
1t is this $3,600,000 that he has got now
to account for. know that he borrowed
$325, 900 from gentleman in this city,
E. B. Wesley, giving 100000 of the
Blue Ridge Road stock as security. l
cannot tell what disposition he made of
any portion except of this amount.
never owned dollars worth of stock in
the road myself. Scott owned stock in
it and holds it to-day. As to the letter
of Patterson to me as State treasurer,
published few days ago, authorizing me
to deliver to II. Il. Kimpton revenue
land scrip amounting to S114,250, am
ready To admit that it is genuine. Ifyou
ask me whether I paid this order, I an
swer that I paid every order for this scrip
made upon the treasury by Senator Pat.
terson az president of the road. I did
not see that I had any authority to with
hold the scrip, 30 long as it was drawn in
accordance with legal provisions. If the
scrip was afterwards misapplied, l had
nothing to do with this subsequent
handling of it.
As financial agent of the State, Kimp-
ton had in his possession all bonds of the
State that were ever issued for raising
money. He was not obliged by law to
exhibit his accounts to the State treasu.
rer, to the financial board nor to render
any vouchers thereof, and never did SO
until his final settlement. When his
financial settlement was made in accord.
ance with special act, he received from
the financial board due bill of about
$780, 900, and settled with the board upon
what is stated to be fraudulent set Of
books. Chamberlain was member oi
the board, and took an active part in all
that pertains to the issue, management
and settlement of its finances. Judge
Willard told me that Kimpton had man.
ufactured fraudulent set of books, but
1 cannot assert it of my own knowledge
I suppose this statement will show my
haud to him, but I do not care much
Chamberlain signed the settlement anc
IL RI 1r