The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-11-24
MIR, BYRNES MAKES STATEMENT.
Efforts Made to Trace Author of
Scurrilous Letter.

Editor Bamberg Herald:-My at
tention has been called to several
editorial articles which have recently
appeared in your valued journal ask
ing for information from Aiken" as
to the result of the investigation made
by Detective Kilman to discover the
author of the circular letter issued
the day preceding the first primary
election. At the time this circular
was issued, each of the three candi-
dates offered a reward of $500 for
the arrest and conviction of the
guilty party. The Hon. ]. o. Pat
terson stated he would endeavor to
have the postoffice authorities to in
vestigate it and l employed Pink
erton detective in addition to the re-
ward offered. Inasmuch as the edi-
torial comments have been directed
solely to the 'silence of Aiken" it
has been suggested to me that their
purpose was to have me make state
ment in the hope of having me en-
gage in a newspaper controversy with
you.
However, from my personal ac-
quaintance with you, though we diff
fer politically at times, | credit you
with an honest desire to acquire in
formation for your readers and will
state that when this outrageous
letter was issued criticizing Mr.. Pat
terson and in most severe language
criticizing Mr.. Garris it was source
of great qualification to me that Mr..
Garris Immediately both privately
and publicly, declared his firm belief
in my innocence of any connection
with it.
AS was then engaged in the cam
paign 1 requested Mr.. Garris to di-
rect the operations of the detective |
had employed, which he did until the
day after the second primary at
which time Mr.. Garris and l Jointly
employed the detective, agreeing to
divide the expense, and he was con-
tinued upon the investigation Of this
matter until the first part of October,
when his services were discontinued,
not because either Mr. Garris or my
self were satisfied to let this investi-
cation cease, but because further
prosecution of the particular line of
investigation then being pursued did
not seem to us justified, considering
the expense of So per day and all ex-
penses. In discontinuing the servi-
ces of the detective however We did
not discontinue our efforts to secure
evidence in this matter through
other sources. Other efforts have
been made and though my means are
limited, and Mr.. Garris informs me
that his means are likewise limited,
We some time ago agreed that should
either of us learn anything in connec-
ton with this matter that warrants
the employment of detective that
we stand ready and anxious to again
employ one and continue him in our
employ as long as results justify it
regardless of expense, and we shall
gladly welcome such information.
AS to the result Of the investiga-
ton. l am at this time forced to re-
peat what l stated in the Augusta
Chronicle a day or two before the
second primary, that We have been
unable to secure such evidence of the
identity of the author as would be
deemed sufficient under the rules of
evidence in a court of justice where
guilt must be proved beyond a
reasonable doubt, and In the alb
sence of such evidence I cannot state
that 1 suspect any person of this
crime because to do so would not
only make me Liable to criminal
prosecution for libel and suit for
damages, but would moreover be un-
fair to that person. Mr.. Garris and
1 have agreed that should the re-
wards we have offered or our pri-
vate efforts bring to us in the future
such evidence as would be sufficient
to convict in court of justice, to
make known the result Of such inves-
tigation, not through newspaper
statements, but through an arrest
warrant and we believe every fair
minded and reasonable man will
agree with us as to the wisdom of our
course.
From the above it will be seen that
this investigation did not cease i'm
mediately after the second primary
but continued for some weeks at con-
siderable expense to Mr.. Garris and
myself, and while neither he or ]
deem it wise to declare even where