Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-02-21
5flistellameuns &eadiug.
SHARING OUT THE SPOILS.
The True Inwardness Of the State Bond
Ring.

The evidence of ex-Treasurer Parker, be
fore the Bond Commission, exposes the char
acter of the arrangements among the Repub
lican State officers for dividing the public
spoils 1t is more shocking than anything o
the same kind heretofore made known.
Ex TREASURER PARKER's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Parker testified that the acts providing
for State loans were, in most instances, if nc
all, "shown to him before they were present
ed to the General Assembly," He under
stood they were drawn by Mr.. Chamberlain
then attorney general. In some instances
Kimpton brought rough drafts from New
York, but always to Mr.. Chamberlain. HI
said do not know the amount of the pro
ceeds of the sale of bonds made by Kimpton
The reports made by Kimpton to the comp
troller- general were not made for the purpose
of giving information upon that matter. They
were made 80 as to show each year an in
crease of the debt az little as possible. This
was by concurrence and arrangement with the
financial board here never examined
Kimpton's books. I often endeavored to SEE
them, but never could. Finally, gave uE
trying to see them, because l learned he had
prepared new set to meet the exigencies Of
the case I always knew Kimpton's reports
were not correct, and the board always knew
they we're not.
Governor Scott wanted Kimpton removed
in 1871 from the financial agency. 1 con
Cured with the Governor at first, but We
found it impossible to find any one who
would take his place and advance the money
which he claimed to be due to him, without
making an expose of the financial condition
of the State, which we did not desire to do
and the idea was then abandoned.
Mr.. Chamberlain never wanted Kimpton
removed. 1t was through his influence that
Kimpton was appointed financial agent Of the
State Governor Scott proposed Mr.. Gamer
on, of Charleston but not being Oh personal
terms with Cameron, and having no choice
| supported Chamberlain in the choice OF
Kimpton.
Mr.. Chamberlain informed me before
Kimpton's appointment, that Kimpton, if ap
po;o+ad7 -eu.,sla aaaala;as;oaaha hatwasu
US tbree-Mr. Kimpton, Chamberlain and
myself,-an Mr.. Kimpton made arrange
ments to that effect with US two-Mr. Cham
berlainand myself--before his appointment
We had him appointed on the strength of that
agreemen'.
Mr.. Kimpton carried out this agreement
only partially. Mr.. Chamberlain admitted
to me that he had received some money from
Kim pton on this account, but never owned to
having received as much as did, which was
about $52,00O Our shares would have been
about Sl50,000 each the total amount of
commissions allowed Mr.. Kimpton being
about S550,0OO, being nearly IL per cent. on
the amount he reported he had sold all the
bonds for in addition 10 the commissions paid
by him to other brokers and the per cent
interest on loans.
There were no terms made as to what
Kimpton's commissions should be at the time
of his appointment, nor until II or IT,
Kimpton repeatedly wrote to Mr.. Chamber
lain and myself about fixing his commissions,
and they were finally fixed by the financial
board addressing letters to parties whom
Kimpton designated in New York as to the
commissions which would be fair to be allowed
to Mr.. Kimpton for selling such bonds, and
making such loans as he (Kimpton) had effec
ted, and on the answers made by these par:
ties to these letters the financial board fixed
the commissions to be allowed him. The
drafts of the letters l addressed to these par.
ties were prepared by Kimpton and sent tc
the financial board from New York and pre-
sented to me by Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr.. Kimp
ton having, as he stated to me, had previous
interviews with these parties in New York.
At the time the settlement was made with
the financial board aud Kimpton, he (Kimp'
ton) received due bill for about Sl39, ,OOC
from the financial board as the balance OF
commissions due him. This, according to our
agreement, would be divided equally between
Chamberlain, Kimpton and myself, and just
before Chamberlain addressed his communi
cation to the public in the summer of 1874
concerning the charges made against him
with reference to the public debt and other
matters connected with Governor SCOTS ad
minstration, he promised me, by the side OF
his sick bed, in his own house, that if
pared, to go before the public without con-
would permit that letter? which he had pre-
tradiction, and he should be nominated and
elected as Governor, should be paid my
share of the $4,000, as expressed in said
due bill, and that, too, at an early day.
The financial board made the settlement
with the financial agent by virtue of the au
thority conferred upon it by the act of Gen
eral Assembly, passed in February, 1872
known as the Financial Settlement Act.
The financial agent and the financial board
all desired that an act might be passed giving
the financial board the power to make the
settlement 80 as to cover up the transactions
which had taken place between them. There
was some difficulty in getting the bill passed
These difficulties were overcome by the use Of
money among the members of the Genera
Assembly. The money was received by drafts
drawn on me by Kimpton and accepted by
me, and the money was furnished tor the
drafts by the banks in this city. Kimptor
put up Blue Ridge Railroad scrip as collat
eral security. There we're three drafts: One
for $4,000, one for $685. 900 and one for $l2,
900. They were to be paid at maturity BY
Kimpton, but when they became due he fail
ed to pay them, and | had to pay two O
them personally-the two for $4,000 ano
s25 900 respectively, and also for $4,000 or
the $l2,5O0 draft. Governor Scott paid tht
remainder of this latter draft, he being ar
endorser on it. | obtained the collateral a.
the bank, for the two large drafts, and Scot
garnished the collateral of the other. de
INJURED at first to accepting these drafts, bu
finally accepted them on Kimptons assurance
that Cham berlain, who was then absent, woule
endorse them on his return. Chamberlain
endorsed only the small one. I parted with
the scrip referred to to reimburse me as ia
as it would 20. 1t did not pay me all. Th'
money raised on these drafts was disbursec
by Kimpton, mainly amongst the member