The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-08-11
nS0MEbODY Lied"
SAYS HODGES,
MAKES UGLY CHARGES AGAINST
EILERBE SUPPORTED BY DOC
UaIENTARY EVIDENCE.


additional interest was injected into
the heated Congressional campaign
in this district by sensational charges
made against Hon J E Ellerbe by
MIR P A Hodges relative to clrcu-
lar letter sert out two years ago on
the eve of the election accusing
Hodges of having unpaid judgments
On record against him and defraud-
ing his creditors. At the time Hodges
charged Ellerbe with being respon-
sinle for this letter and according to
Hodges. Ellerbe not only disclaimed
responsibility for it, but denied most
emphatically any knowledge of such
a letter prior to its being circulated.
Mr. Hodges now presents the evl-
dence tending to show that Mr. FL
lerbe handed him the double
cross"
The account of this feature of the
Dillon meeting, as taken from The
State of Wednesday, Jnly 27, fol-
lows:
The candidates for Congress are
continuing to make it lively in this
district and the unexpected and on
ly sensational feature of today's
meeting was the presentation by r
A Hodges of certificates to prove
his claim that Congressman Elerbe
had in the campaign two years ago
resorted to an eleventh hour at
tack on Mr. Hodges character. MIR
Ellerbe is alleged to have declared
at that time that he was guiltless of
any such work. but Mr. Hodges to-
day confronted Mr. Ellerbe with
signed statements, which place the
Congressman in a very unenviable
light. to say the least.
Congressman J E Ellerbe has been
reported to have the Sixth district
in sling" in this campaign for re-
election, but the opposing candidates
are going after him with a sharp
stick.
P A Hodges, former mayor of
Bennettsville, who ran against Eller-
be two years ago, declared that it
tad been a matter of great pride to
him that Mr. EIlerbe on nearly every
stump had thanked him for the cour-
teous manner in which he had con-
Quoted his campaign. And yet that
at the last minute when he had no
chance to defend himself, there was
issued surreptitiously an attack upon
his integrity and he received rumors
that such an attack emanated from
Ellerbe and his friends. Mr. Hodges
read his circular letter, which he
presented at Hartsville the Satur-
day before the primary, that being
his only opportunity of defense.
He read from this letter of 1908:
1t is piece of political trickery as
old as 1t is contemplate to circulate
campaign lies on the eve of the cleo
ton when there is no time to an
swer them or prove their falsity.'
Mr. Hodges declared that the
charges against him were false and
malicious. He was describing how,
at Hartsville two years ago, Ellerbe
had raised his right hand to heaven
and hoped that God might strike him
dumb if he had had anything to do
with circulating these charges
against Hodges. when Congressman
Ellerbe arose and interrupted. say
ing that at Hartsville he had admit
ted having seen the letters defaming
Mr. Hodges, but he disclaimed any
any connection with the matter.
Mr. Hodges then presented three
certificates from persons who attend
ed the Hartsville meeting, H Lide
Law, G w Mcleod and J W Good
son. each of whom declared that /
heard him deny emphatically any
knowledge Of a certain circular let
ter that was being distributed
againsC P A Hodges Mr. Law added
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