The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-14

the CONSERVATION of all of them, Leslie
Indignantly refused to do any suca thing.
His answer, rs contained in the testimo-
ny given before the committee, Is as
nearly as possible in the following
words:
Gentlemen, 1 positively refuse to re.
sign. My acts as Land Commissioner ]
am willing to have them investigated.
AS you all know, have never bought
for the Stale one acre of land except on
the written approval of majority OF
yourselves, who compose the Advisory
Board; and, so far as any investigation
into the affairs of the Financial Board is
concerned, 1 have nothing. to. fear from
that. If you have committed fraud, you
must protect yourselves, and not ask me
to resign my Office to protect you."
The conspirators were all completely
astounded at this unexpected reply, and
for time silence prevailed. Finally DR..
Neagle, knowing the character of the
man with whom he had to deal, looked
up and asked:
"Leslie, how much money will you
take to resign?"
"Ahl that is another matter" replied
Leslie. Doctor, you understand the
business, and am willing to listen to
you on that line, for I am Id anxious
to get rid of all association with such
men as you are--afraid of your own
shadows. l own one share in your
Greenville and Columbia Railroad cor
poration, estimated value $4,000. If
you will take that off my hands at that
price, in cash, pay me besides, in cash,
$25, 900, and also pay to Kimpton $1,000,
borrowed money which owe him, ! will
make anY arrangement in reference to
my resignation which you may suggest.
Or 1 will do this. If you accept my
terms | will write out my resignation,
place it in the hands of Chamberlain,
who is the only one Of your number
whom l trust as my friend, to be kept by
him until the money or its equivalent is
paid me, and then be may present it to
the Advisory Board, and DeLarge may
be appointed"
This proposition Of. Leslie's was ac-
ceded to, and Scott, Chamberlain and
Parker agreed to pay him the $4,000 he
demanded. -, = ~. ...
AS this money had to come out of the
Treasury of the State, it was necessary
to decide how it could be raised and to
what fund it should be charged. After
long consultation, Leslie agreed to sign
as Land Commissioner such a number as
they might desire of the blanks used in
the purchase of land, and it WAS deter
mined that on these blanks valueless
lands should be bought at very low
price and charged to the State at very
high price, so that the margin between
the two prices should cover the S4S,O0C
they were to pay Leslie. These blank:
were afterward dated back, and used in
the purchase of the famous Hell-Hole
Swamp tract of land, where the State
paid over 100000 for land that is moi
worth $4,000.
This scheme having been.arranged, the
parties then separated, and met again al
Chamberlain's house the next morning
where their number was increased by the
presence of Kinpton, the Financial
Agent. There drafts for $4S,000 were
drawn by Kimpton, as Financial Agent
on Parker as State Treasurer, payable tt
Kimpton's. order. These drafts were
three, payable at intervals of ten days
at the Carolina National Bank in Colum
bia, and were deposited in said bank ir
person by Chamberlain, who in person
drew the money as the drafts became due
and turned it over to Leslie. The latter.
resignation was promulgated, DeLargt
was appointed in his stead, the Genera
Assembly adjourned without ordering ar
investigation, and the members Of the
Financial BoarG obtained new lease o
opportunity to defraud the State.
Chambcrlain's deposit and collection
of these drafts at the Carolina Nationa
Bank were fully proved before the com
mittee from the books and records of th'
bank. All that is wanting now to con
vict him of the crime is a requisitior
from Gov. Hampton and his trial in ou
courts.