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

the conformation of all of them, Leslie
indignantly refused 10 do any such thing
His answer, as contained 10 the testimo-
ny given before the conipi;tee, IS -
nearly ss possible In tie following
words: Il & -
4Gentlemen, positively fefuseto SO,
sign. BY acts as Land Commissioned I
am willing to have them Investigated.
As you all know, have never bought
for the State one acre of land except on
the written approval ~ majority of
yourselves, who compose the Advisory
Board and, 30 far as any investigation
into the affairs of the Financial Board is
concerned, / have nothing L. fesr. from
that. If you have committed fraud, you
must protect yourselves, and not ask me
70 resign my Office to protect yOu."
The conspirators we're all completely
astounded at this unexpected reply, AID
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?"
"Ah that is another matter" replied
Leslie. doctor, you understand tho
business. and am willing to listen to
| you on that line, for am id anxious
to get rid of all association with such
men as you are--afraid of your own
shadows 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 / will do this. If you accept my
terms l will write ou. my. resignation,
place It in the handE of Chamberlain,
who is the only ons of your number
whom .rust as my friend, to be kept by
him until the money OF its equivalent. is
paid me, and then he 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 $48, 900 he
demanded f,,, -.
AS this money had to come out of the
Treasury Of the State, it was necessary
to decide how it could be raised and tc
what fu'.d 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 il
the purchase of land. and it wax deter
mined that on these blanks vaiueles.
lands should be bought at very Low
price and charged to the State at very
high price, 80 that the margin between
the two prices shorid cover the $48,O0(
they were to pay Leslie. These blanks
were afterward dated back, and used ir
the purchase of the famous Hell-Ho
Swamp tract of land, where the State
paid over $4,000 for land that is no
worth $4,000. e..
This scheme having beenarranged, the
parties then separated, and met again a
Chamberlain's house the next morning
where their number was increased by tht
presence of KipPton, the Financia
Agent. There drafts for $4,000 were
drawn by Kimpton. as Financial Agent
on Parker as State Treasurer, PAYABLE tc
Kimpton's order. q These drafts were
three, payable at intervals of ten day.
at the Carolina National Bank in Colum
bia, and were deposited in said bank il
person by Chamberlain, who in person
drew the money Us the drafts became dut
and turned it over to Leslie. The latter,
resignation was promulgated, DeLarg,
was appointed in his stead, the Genera
Assembly adjourned without ordering al
investigation, and the members of tht
Financial BoarI obtained o 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 before the IL com
mitteo from the books and records of To,
bank. All that is wanting now to con
vict him of the crime is o requisitio1
from Gov. Hampton and his trial in ou
courts.