The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-08-16
To the Public.

The communication published last week
by Mr.. G. N. G. Boleman, embodying GER
ti6cates from the School Trustees of Fork
Township, while calculated to do me
injury without further explanation, in
reality only amounts to an admission OF
Che correctness of all that I have said in
regard to Mr. Boleman.
I have never charged him with fraud,
nor have I at any time reflected on the
character or conduct of the good men who
are the Trustees in Fork Township. 1t is
a fact, though, that in the conscientious
discharge of my official duty, (returning to
Mr.. Boleman papers that had been irreg-
ularly made out,) incurred his ill will,
and while he acknowledged, in writing,
that my explanation was satisfactory, his
subsequent conduct proved that be
was not satisfied, and it was simply by
way of explaining his active opposition to
me in the campaign that ] stated to a few
intimate friends the facts that originally
elected his displeasure. In the certificates
published last week, the Trustees admit the
irregular signing of papers, one signing
another's name, which was clearly illegal
to my mind, not according to the law laid
down, and so was also advised by recog-
nized legal ability. This was all that was
wrong, and is what wanted corrected, but
it seems that Mr.. Boleman did not wish to
do business in regular legal way. and he
became greatly offended at me, and has
never ceased to disparage my official con-
Duct
Mr.. Boleman's animus can be under
stood, when it is known that the facts in
this matter transpired about FIVE years ago,
while he re-opens it just upon the eve Of an
election in such way that could not
defend myself before the ballots were cast.
have never. while serving as School
Commissioner, knowingly approved a
school claim not drawn by majority of
the Board Of Trustees. each signing his
OWN name, and was not aware of the prac-
tice in Fork School District until the facts
were brought out by the discovery at the
Bank, that the signature of Capt. Vandivcr,
in the case in questio n, was not his own,
and this discovery would probably have
been made sooner, but for the similarity in
the handwriting of Capt. Yandiver and
Mr.. FAINT, as those who are familiar with
both can attest.
The practice of one Trustee'signing for
another was, to some extent, prevalent
when took charge of the Office ten years
ago, and one of the first reforms Instituted
was that of requiring genuine signatures
to all school orders presented before giving
them my official approval.
Some weeks ago received letter from
Fork Township stating that Mr.. Boleman
was circulating slanderous reports concern
ing myself, to the effect that voted for
bar-rooms, and that was unfit for School
Commissioner. 1T was to defend myself
by showing the spirit of this attack, that /
gave to few intimate friends statement
of the facts in regard to Mr.. Boleman's
SCuNOl dllQ OPpOo1'
ton to me. Mr.. Boleman cannot deny
making the statements to which the letter
referred that relates to him, for reliable
men have heard him make the same state
ment. I could not have been misunder-
stood in what I told my friends, and Mr..
Boleman has never given any authority
for what his first card charged me with
doing. There is no proof that any report
damaging Mr.. Boleman was In circulation,
and there is grave doubt whether any
damaging report was current. But sup
pose it was, Mr.. Boleman was not can
didate. His reputation did not have to be
saved before August 10th. He could have
saved that by o personal letter to me. l
would gladly have given him privately, to
be used UhcncUcr needed, any statement like
my published card. But that was not
what he wanted. My honest beliefis, and
think Ihaye showed it, that Mr.. Bole-
mans charge, that l gave currency to
reports so damaging" is a campaign false
hood manu- factured for purpose.