The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-28
COLUMBIA. 8. c.. Feb.


TO New York, in defiance Of law and de.
cency, and employed, at the instance of
Chamberlain and Kimpton, and in the
presence OF q omcwhatTotcrious woman
of the stage, for tho purpose of making
fraudulent issue Of conversion bonds.
The story Of this transaction has long
been whispered in this State. G. G.
Bowen, of Charleston, oiSs referred to il
openly in speech in the Legislature
when that body was considering the pro-
posed impeachment Of Gov Scott. BY
!. the few who knew the inside history OF
tne bond swlndies, the name of Miss
Pauline Markham has now and then
been mentioned in connection with South
Carolina finances. The character of the
services which she rendered to the ring
was brought out by the testimony Of sew
) eral witnesses before the investigating
committee. The whole story is now, for
the first time, made public.
Robert X. Scott, the first Republican
Governor of South Carolinn, was au
Ohio man, rough in his manners, but
popular with the voters of his party, not
and ability, and by no means utterly
corrupt at heart. Even his political op.
ponents credited him with having en-
tered ofiics with honest Intentions. he
+ was, however, of SO plant n nature, and
40 cred 'iions and weak, that the keen
witted Chamberlain and his accoLplices
easily made him their tool. Scott was
::o::0Ti:oiii5'y susceptible TO feminine in.
anenCes. How the ring robbers availed
themselves of this failing to extend their
swindling operations, and increase their
loot has been told before the committee.
It ahouid be added that while the name
Of Miss Markham was freely used in
son,e Of the testimony, it forms no part
Of The official record which will cons,i.
tute their official report to the Legisla-
ture. If that report 10 ever allowed to be
made. From motives of personal com.
passion the inyestigators are disposed TO
cover up part of Scots shnme-so far,
at least, as to suppress tho. lame of the
woman with whom he was bought.
During the fuRh days Of Bcott's admins.
tration, before the citizens and tax pay
era had been reduced TO such desperate
poverty that there was nothing left to
stea!, there would come South every nov
and then some new financier with new
napces. OF course the final result OF
each visit was an increase OF the dsbt.
But for time money would be moro
plenty, the Commissions" OF Mr.. Cham
berlain and his confederates would foot
up moro rapidly, and poor Scott would
fancy that his government was fairly on
the read to financial reform.
On one occasion. during q Temporary
inII ir tho prcgrees or spolinflon, there
arrived from New York o stranger Of
pleasing address, who gave his name as
Z Ripley. He brought o fattoring letter
Of introduction from one e. K. Willard,
6 Wall street epeculator and brother OF
JuGge Willard, now Chief Justice of the
State. Chamberlain Immediately took
Ripley under his special protection, and
introduced him TO oil the leading State
officers. Ripley represented himself as
prominent anu Influential New York
banker He easily imposed upon the
oredulous Governor, and persuaded him
that if he would go North and personally
mates, there would be no difficulty in ae-
curing loans sufficient to redeem from
typ=.l.ssss==..s::55Ess 81 the ftsie hualk then
ia pledge, and, in brief, to straighten
out che Involved condition Of the treas
ury. Ripley promised TO Introduce Scott
20 several wealthy capitalists with whom
he claimed to have influence enough to
arrange a loan on favorable terms. Rip.
i 1isy's persuasive ways were seconded by
Chamberiain's plausible arguments. It
had been the custom In South Carolina
for the Governor to reftise TO leave the
State during his term of Office; but Scott
at Inst yielded, and set out for New York
accompanied by Ripley, Chamberlain
and Niles G. Parker, the latter being
\ then State Treasurer.
Up to this time Scott had been accus-
TONED To pny mis- own hotel bills. and
J i:s.- sss;:=4= hisu travelling. This
trip he made % the honored guest of
4 various financial friends. Kimptot met
him OF the depot in jersey City, and in
sisted on carrying him of 20 his own
4 hotel, the Saint Clond, where he esssab.
( iished the Governor in suits of hanh.
I: some apartmenss. Scott was 20 ba Kinnp-s
ton q visitor. Everything Scott vented
liiz iig iiiu residence in New YcsE was to
be furnished at Rimpton's personal ex-
& peilSe, The Governor accepted this
generous hospitality One ID led to won.
/ der whether he ,'was really ignorant of
. til..a fact that it was che money of South
3 Carolina, and not of III, I H. Kimpton,
that paid for his lavish entertainment.
+. However this may nave been, he quickly
made hiASslf at home at the Saint Cloud.
and prep arad 10 receive "a. s,e:..es- sks skl.s
wealthy capitalists whom the solublo
Ripley had promised 10 Introduce. The
duped Governor waited In vein for his
expected callers. Ripley8 capitalista
never arrived. On the other hand, Rip.
q Icy hitnsHIgS with Willard, Kinpton aud
Uhambsriain, overwhelmed the Cover
nor with The. most assidu1us marks nel
4 attention. lie was cont tinuhlly srrroun.
ded by these gentlemen, and their uf-
banitys aflt aeS ici itptio for his entertain
men lot to lba desired, |, They
y took BIN IN etiinGS et; ;horsss, and
nad6 en- 81 of tho faces or anuse-
meEt, showed. him the city aud KEPT his
not strong head Ia snch. a continual
whirl of exSite mens tnAt he hlmost for
got the exist5nre Of d SXTfhif atraak: :ssi
In the midst of The pleasures wish
which shess gent tleTnanly confidence
nlea piied GnveTncr Scott, hes was alb.
sgiptlg informed By Kimptor that the
end 6f Rsbab blicsn government ia South
qaFolfsla was terribly iaeaf at haEd. BE
Il iSinnpton could not bope Co conceal
much louis Tor the flnancial hoIloHnebs of
Ecest' ndminislr tiop. Every device
for co coachglfnefls In been exhausted,
ptfslIre iStfiif ut. The banks
which lssid pot iiSo tsd b616s, ysonld
sss;sss IS forced ~ throw thezs cHss on sshs
7IIISY - syn WIS Ea0 money To redeem
i . ss..t Of tll0nEatda OF bonds that |
had basl pleagf;J fnr lvarS. Uhiess !
a1lae lg VI done, and done as once,
u hive I'll q sands nI itionas security, /
~, x saf.r,.A III AZ ~ hsti ", ,sv,.,tsst