The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-08-31
Bnuetsss s.. T. 4ss9577T 757T
SENSATION OVER IN sEcoNI
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
A Slandercus Circular Sent Out Mon
day Attacking Garris With Byrnes
Name Forged to it.

What is perhaps one Of the big
gest political sensations South Caro-
lima has seen in years, developed
in the Second Congressional dis
trict Monday, when circular let
ter, purporting to have been written
by James F. Byrnes, of Aiken, was
circulated among the voters and
which Mr.. Byrnes brands as one
Of the most malicious forgeries ever
perpetrated upon the people any
where.
In the Second district there were
three candidates in the race for con-
gress: Mr.. C.. W.. Garris, Of Den
mark; MIR. James F. Byrnes, of All
ken, and Mr.. Patterson of Barn: ell.
The ''elerenth-hour circular" which
has been termed by both Mr.. Byrnes
and Mr.. Garris, who has been in
communication with Mr.. Byrnes, as
a "scurrilous, malicious and con-
temptible forgery, attacks the char
acter and public record Of Mr.. Garris,
and has Mr.. Byrnes name-a fac
smile cut printed at the bottom.
The friends in Aiken of Mr.. Byrnes
Monday offered rewoard of $500
for the apprehension and conviction
of the writer and circulator of the
letter. The circular severely criti-
cises the characete of G. w. Gar
-ris, and in 'milder manner also
criticises Mr.. Patterson, the incum-
bent. Mr.. Byrnes has public
ly. disclaimed any connection with
the circular, and states he never
heard of it until 8 copy was shown
him by a gentleman who secured if
through the mail.
When the circular first made its
appearance the friends of Mr. Garris
were extremely indignant, and a
committee of his supporters at Den
mark issued the following telegraph.
ic statement bearing on the situa
ton:
Circulars attacking the private
character and public career of C. w
Garris were scattered over this con.
gressional district this morning
The circulars are signed with fac
simile signature Of. ]. F. Byrnes, his
opponent. The signature Is similar
:33-to=ths, signature. OF :3Ars Byrnes, af6x.
ed to circulars sent out by him dur.
ling tie campaign months. Thee cir
cular maliciously slanders Mr.. Gar
ris.
At a mass meeting of the citizens
Monday afternoon held at the Citi.
zens Exchange bank, the slanderous
attack on Mr.. Garris at the eleventh
hour was strongly condemned AMI
denounced. Mr.. Garris asserts that
the attack on his private character
and public career is absolutely false
! Information is to the effect thai
the parties at interest intend tc
push the investigation, until every
effort has been exhausted to discover
the perpetrator Of the forgery; ever
after the campaign, or until they sue
ceed in the meanwhile. In the event
Of success, it is said to be the inteu
ton to enter criminal prosecution.
In a message to the Augusta
Chronicle Mr.. Byrnes said he had Of
fered a reward of $500 for the ap
prehension of the party guilty of the
forgery. and that Mr.. Garris. with
whom he has conferred, joins him il
offering a similar reward, and tha
Mr.. Garris asserted to Mr.. Byrne:
his belief that the document is &
forgery
The matter has been reported Il
the postal authorities, and detec
tives have been placed on the trai
Of the circulars. for using the mails
Mr. Byrnes has had thousands o.
circulars printed and distributed de-
nouncing the circular and has posted