The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-06-24


moths AS stated By Mr. Rhind 10
his testimony. the amount of my fee
has cot been agreed upon When l
was elected governor | retired frorl the
management of the case and turned it
over to Maj Vepable and Mr. Baet-
ger aud they have examined me as
witness, as we'll as Governor Tillman
aud others. My testimony as we'll as
Governor Ti!lmau's is matter of rec
ord in the court AID have the record
here for for your inspection.
have aever concealed anything as
to my conn ection with this matter and
shall DOT attempt to do So |, ss gov
ernor of South Caroliua. cannot afford
70 uotice every anonymous sTib5ler 10 a
newspaper. por every cowardly cur that
barks at me, but as candidate fo7 the
senate, however, l deem it just to you
as we'll as to myself, to give to you the
facts of this matter. The attempt has
been made to create the impression that
Governor Tillman and Treasurer Bates,
who conducted the sale of said bonds.
and I, who assisted them as far as |
could. have been paid consideration
by Mr. Rhiud, or by the syndicate Who
took the bonds. for allowing them to
pay for the bonds we were SO anxious
to get rid of. This came, am inform
ed, fror, the peu Of one A. B Will
liaus. whose letters we're published ia
the New York Times, but DOT over his
own signature. Mr.. Williams is we'll
known to you as the late editor of the
Greeuyille News, and any reference to
bin is unnecessary. The substance Of
bis iosin ua,ions, which have been pub
lished in full in the State papers. is to
the effect that the Richmond broker
told them (the syndicate) he under
stood, presumably from Mr.. Rhlnd,
that the bull of the SUN was to De dl-
vided amoug parties in South Carolina
ubo had political influence.
The New York broker, who vas io
close association With Mr. Rbind aud
whose opportunities fer knowledge
we're best Of all. replied "that they
would better not investigate that; that it
wasssto 60 the people who would better
DOT be known" This statement is
based substantially upon the testimony
SC hor nF 10
syndicate which purchased lhe bonds
aud the mao who is trying to keep FROM
paying Mr.. Rhind's cousmissioa. The
Richmond broker referred to is Major
John Shelton Williams. On page 206
of his sworn testimony in said case be
says: That Golden Rbind never in
formed him as to who bis associates
were aud that be could not have inform
ed any person as to who they were. as
he did not know himself" The New
York broker referred to is R A. Lao
caster, who, on page 227 Of his sworn
testimony, referring to Mr.. Rhiud,
said substantially "that he did not know
who the parties in South Carolina we're
to whom Mr.. Rhind expected tc make
the payment; that he had never given
him the names Of either the lawyers or
any one else employed by him as to who
was to have the amount be was to re-
ceive."
R. G. Davidson, president Of the
Trust company aud manager of the syn
dicate, says substantially iu bis testi.
mouy, page 259: cat one of the
meetings, cannot remember the date,
T. E. Hambleton asked Mr.. Lancaster
in my presence for information as to
whom the l IL per cent. commission
was to be paid, aDd whether any Of the
money vas for political purposes or in-
haence Mr Lancaster's reply was
that the whole / l.2 per cent. conmis-
sion was to be paid to Mr.. Rhird aud
that if any portion Of it did not 60 to
him {Mr. RhiOd) be did cot know
where it went
Mr.. Hambleton evidently knew
Governor Tillman and believed that it
would not be safe for him to intimate
that any ooe could influence him or
that he could be bought. Here is
what he swears:
20 Tillmau states that you CON-
planned of having made so little because
of Mr.. Rhiud's commission?
GA. never mentioned RhInd or
Rbind's commission from the fact that
I had been put on my guard by Lam
caster and Williams in referring to this
thing that certain amount of money,
this money on this $2,000.000 of bonds
was to be paid to Mr.. Rhind and would
not do for me to investigate it; that |
knew enough about politics to uuderl
stand that certain people had a pull
and intimated to me that that was 60.
ing to parties, the powers to be, and
for that reason was particularly eau
tious not to mention such thing to
Tillmau, less it might cause him to
f1u nm