Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-08-22


From tho News and Oourier.1
A Drama OF Fraud In Three Acts
--DramAtis PersOMH: .IktmptoM,
Chamberlain and Patterson.
The means by which Patterson was elected
to tho United States Senate, and his exploits
as promoter of tho Blue Ridge Railroad and
q. as manipulator of tho Greenylle aud Colun,-
bia Railroad, have beon fully described in
these columns. In every instance, the Com
mittec on Frauds havo given the testimony
With their conclusions, so as to satisfy the
peoplo that the end thoy have in Wow is tho
punishment of guilty officials, not tho perse-
cution Of obnoxious politicians. A host of
witnesses have been examined by tho Com
mittec; but only they who planned, or carried
out, tho schemes Of plunder have been tried,
or will be brought into Court rs defendants.
Tho small fry, tho weak and willing throng
who took bribes and divided the 7'.Sunday
School fund, (as tho pious Woodruff dubbed
his qualification monoy,) 60 free, upon tho
single condition that they retire from public
lifo and steal no moro. To truth, tho original
responsibility for tho public swindling in
South Carolina rests upon small number of
persons. Wherever tho Committee on Frauds
turn, right or loft, high or low, they find
traces of Scott, Chamberlain, Parker, Neaglo,
Kimpton, Patterson, Moses, Cardozo, and a
low others. 10 tho ring so composed was an
iunor ring, consisting OF Chamberlain, Par.
kor, Patterson and Kimpton. The paucity of
leaders. it is noted in passing, accounts for
tho scattering of Radicals after their campaign
of 1876 They had not the habit of depond-
ing on each other man by man, but relied on
halca dozen auducious chicftaina. When
those had taken to flight, tho political army
resolved itself into chequered mob. For
the reasons we have givon, when Patterson
it is eafe to assume that Kimbtou and Cham,
berlain are near by. When, us in the present
instance. we seok to expose the guilt of Kimp
ton tho veil is drawn aside that hides the
features of Patterson and Parker. This OK
plains why it is TINT tho report We publish to
day, with tho view of exposing the character
of particular charges against Kimpton. dis
closes likewise similar charges against Kimp.
toms partners and associates.
Before tho General Assembly in 1872 camo:
l. "a bill to rolievo tho State of South Caro-.
lima of all liability for its guaranty of tho
bonds Of the Blue Ridge Railroad by provi-
ding for the securing and destruction of the
samo." This was scheme to get hold of
and divide 81 100000 Of Blue Ridge scrip, on
the plea of getting rid of the liability of tho
State as gunrantor of $4,000000 of bonds,
@ "a bill relating to the bonds o! South
Carolina" better known as tho Validating act.
This was intended to validate the illegal issue
and use of noarly $6.000,0OO of conversion
bonds. 8. IA bill rotating to tho Financial
Agent ct the State" commonly called the
tho Financial Board (Scott, Parker and Cham
bcrlaip) to settle with Kimpton, so ms to cover
up the fraudulent use of tho proceeds of State
bonds sold for account of tho State In tho
third bill Kimpton was chiefly Interested. and
it was agreed that tho balance duo him, as
shown by the settlement, being $4,000,
should be divided equally between himself,
Chamberlain and Parker. This is Parker's
testimony, and Chamberlain's famous letter
to Parker, already published, is an admission
that Chamberlain was to divide profits with
kimpton. GLOW do the commissions foot up,
ch?" In tho Validating bill, also, Kimpton
was heavily interested. Patterson's pot project
was the Blue Ridge bill. Tho trio, and their
agents, pulled together for their common
benefit.
ExSTrcasurer Parker swcars that tho Thrco
Bills we have described wero passed "by the
usc of money among tho members of the
Legislatures" that Kimpton was to secure
the passage Of the Bills" in tho Senate and
Patterson in tho House. Establish these
facts. and the charge of conspiracy and bril-
bory is made out.
Woodruff, Clerk Of tho Senate swoars that
Kimpton deposited in tho Central National
Bank, in his name, certificate of deposit for
$4,000, whiok money was to DO drawn as
soon as the Validating Act was approved, md
was to be divided between Senators Leslie.
Ovens, Nash, Whittemore, II. q. IIayne and
Swails; that ho drew the money and handed
1T to Leslie, in the Railroad Committee room;
that $20,0 900 additional was deposited, $40, 1000
OF which was in his (WoodruiPs) namo, which
$4,000, by direction Of Leslie, he paid to
Owens. How was the money procured2
Parker swcars that ho obtained $72,5OO on
Kimpton's drafts, secured by the Blue Ridge
scrip; that $4,000 Of tho money was s'used
to purchase Senators, tho balance was to 60
tho House through Patterson" Woodruff.
we ha7o seen, tells whero full $4,000 went
TO- Confirming this testimony of Parker and
Woodroif is that Of J. II. Sawyer, Cashier of
the Central National Bank, who swears that
Klmpton drew check for $4,000. which
amount was placed to the credit Of Woodruff,
and was drawn out by him. c.. j. Iredell,
Cashier of tho Central National Bank, finda
$4,000 deposited.to to Woodrun's credit, which
amount was drawn out by Woodruff, and a
i,ke amount on~the same day, deposited to
the credit Of Owens. Maxwell, colored Sena
tor from Marlboro, swoars that Patterson
paid him S3 900 to $4,000 for supporting the
Three Bills. Jcrvey, colored Senator from
charleston, swears that Patterson paid him
$4,000. W.B. Nash, black Senator from
Richland, swears that the $4,000 taken bJ
Woodruff to tho Railroad Committee room was
distributed among tho Senators, he receiving
30 900; that prior to the passage of the Three
Bills ho had talks with Patterson, Kimptor
and Leslie; that Patterson said he had ar.
ranged with Leslie to tako care of his friends
that Leslie said they should bc we'll taker
caro- Of and that Kimpton told him 'it wa
was right" and he would "guarantee tha