The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-05
HASKELL HITS BACK.
HE DENOUNcES GOVERNOR EVANS
AND MAKES STATEMENTS.

Says Governor Evans " as Made q Railroad
Director to Buy Him ogtTouchss on
Bond and Insurance Matters.
COLUMBIA, S. c., July 29.-The fol-
lowing communication was published
in last Sundays State:
To the Editor of The State:
l have today seen your paper of the
23d and oath; in the first there is a
report of the campaign meeting at
Cheraw, in which Mr.. John Gary Ev-
ans is reported as saying. John Has
kell says the Evans boys howled
Hampton down, but he knew it was q
lie." For several years have avoid
ed expressing in public my opinion of
the humiliating events that have oc.
CURED in our old State, eliminating
in the the deep disgrace which put this
vile little demagogue in the Govern
or's chair. He has gone out of his
way to make wanton attack on me
and seeks to make political capital out
of it. I don't believe that the people
OF our State if they knew him, would
support him for any position and ! be-
ieve that many who disagree with me
in politics, will not hesitate to believe
anything that say and this induces
me to take notice of what I would
otherwise treat with utter contempt
that I feel for this person.
First, as to his charge, when he pre-
tends TO quote me, he knows that he
wiIllully lies. General Hampton
went to Aiken, not as a candidate, bat
as an inYited guest. A few OF the au-
dience seated him with great rude
ness; no man. who kfcre.ael OF
of the facts. doubted that Evans en-
couraged them in this conduct He
has denied i1 then and doubtless, il
it serves bis purpose, will lie about it
again. I never spoke of the Evans
boys, for l did not suppose that he
had any followers, even among those
who insulted General Hampton.
And now word to his career.
was member OF the legislature when
he first came there and was counsel
for the Richmond and Danville road.
I heard of him as a lawyer of rather
low standing at the Aiken bar. From
conversations had with him I came
to the conclusion that he wanted to be
employed by the railroad. Soon after
my professional connection with clear
ing the titles of coal and iron property
in Virginia and North Carolina took
up so much of my time that I resigned
as counsel for the Richmond and Dan
Vile railroad, was consulted by the
officers as to who 10 retain, and among
others, advised them to employ in
some capacity Mr.. John Gary Evans,
as warned them he would give trou
BILE if not bought. Very soon he was
put on as director Of one Of the
branch roads in Carolina. Within q
few days of his appointment, his
brother from Edgefield and his uncle
from Georgia, appeared for the first
time in the general assembly as attor-
neys for the Danville railroad. They
did the same at the ensuing sessions
until Mr.. John Gary Evans was
dropped from the board.
Now challenge him to write to the
party who employed him and seeif he
will say that the appointment OF
brother and uncle was not made to
secure his influence against hostile
legislation. Don't let him just deny
it; of course he will be ready to lie out
of il. He knows who employed him;
let him. ask that man in writing.
As to the bond matter, Mr.. Rhind
stated to the syndicate that Of the
large commissions which he retained,
the bulk had to 60 to parties whose
influence was needed in the South
Carolina general assembly. II he
dares to do it, let him ask DR.. Bates to
answer the categorical question as to
who got the money. If he dares to
do it, let him have the checks for pay
ment produced and see who endorsed
them. Any man who will act dishon-
estly will lie to protect himself. Don't
let him stand on Tilman's letter until
Tillman has cleared his own skirts of
participation in the job.
He has never dared to deny that
since he became governor the State
and dispensary insurance has been
taken from reliable agents and given
to his brother Immediately after his
coming to Columbia as an insurance
agent. 1t won't do for him TO say that
this was done by his subordinates; no
sensible man will be deceived by such
q statement as that. for one instant.
No one will doubt why all bonds OF
keepers of dispensaries were suddenly
REQUIRED to be executed by surety COM
pauies, who were represented by the
same brother or why his blanks were
enclosed in official envelopes for exc
cution. I see it is said there was
81, 900 in it for the family. It is i'm
possible to legally conYict any party
when they have the records in their
own hands and will not let them be
seen but by partisan friends. But for
this feel confident in the whiskey
rebates, fees in the phosphate business
as we'll as the bonds and insurance
matters we would find very rotten
state of affairs, but unless South Caro-
linians are much lower than imag-
inc, they will never select as their
representative in the senate OF the
United States man, who to numer-
Gus charges of dishonesty and corrup.
ton, answers: 'Istand on the criminal
plea oil not guilty; you must prove it."
And now Mr.. Editor, l have done
with this dirty little puppy, with his
pockets filled with bribe's money. He
has gone out of his way to insult me
and I denounce him as dishonest
demagogue. With this I am done
with him unless he gets in my way,
when | will kick him out as l would
any other little cur that snaps at me.
John @. Haskell.