The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-06-03
Fielder ACCUSED
New Dispeusar, Commission SWears
Ous Warrant For Him.
CORRUPTION CHARGED

Action Follows Resolution r ga
Session at Columbia-Requisition
Papers Filed and Hearing .
Held in June.
A warrant charging T. B. Fielder
of Atlanta with offering and at
tempting to bribe State officer and
with conspiracy to defraud the State
of South Carolina was sworn our
Wednesday at Newberry by B. F.
Kelly, secretary of the new dispen-
sary commission The warrant was
sworn out before j. C. Sample and
was placed in the hands of Sheriff
Buford of that county.
L. dispatch from Atlanta says sher-
if Buford Thursday afternoon con-
suited Governor Brown and filed
req uisition for T. B. Fielder. The
hearing will take place before the
governor. on June 20. Col. Fielder
remains apparently Indifferent to the
entire proceedings and only reiteratss
that the governor Of South Carolina
is trying to cover up his own sins
by directing a fight on him.
The warrant against Mr.. Fielder
was sworn out following the adoption
of the new dispensary commission:
"Whereas, certain information hav-
ing come into our possession, which
we are advised is sufficient upon
which to secure conviction.
"Be it resolved, that the secretary
of this commission Is hereby instruct
ed to Immediately swear out war
rant for the arrest of one Thomas B.
Fielder for offering and attempting to
bribe State officer of the State OF
South Carolina and for conspiracy
to defraud the said State"
The commission has given no off,
cial statement as to the State official
Mr. Fielder is charged with attempt
ing to bribe. The swearing out of
the warrant follows sensational
counter charges on the part Of Mr..
Fielder and the governor of South
Carolina. The governor recently
made public letter purporting to
lave been written to H. H. Evans,
former chairman of the State dispen-
sary board of control, by T. B. Fell
der, Offering to "frame-up" a deal
for $4,000. The letter in question
was signed "T. B." This letter w2s
secured from H. H. Evans by the gov
ernor. Just what kind of informa-
tion the commission has against Mr.
Fielder is. not known.
The commission met at Columbia
Wednesday. Several weeks ago an
order was issued requiring Mr.. Fell
der, a member of the firm of Ander-
son, Fielder, Wilson & Roundtree OF
Atlanta, to come to Columbia on May
% and tell what he knew of the acts
of the governor as private citizen,
State senator, and chief executive In
connection with the dispensary situ-
alton. Mr.. Fielder, did not come to
Columbia Wednesday. The commits
sion accordingly adopted the resolu-
tion directing that warrant be
sworn out against him. Mr.. Fielder
sent letter to the commission in
which he explained his position.
The letter OF Mr.. Fielder follows:
May726, 1911.
"Mr. James Stackhouse, Chairman,
and Mr.. B. Frank Kelly, Secretary
State Dispensary Commission of
South Carolina, Columbia, S. c.
"Gentlemen:
"Receipt of your valued favor OF
the 18th instant is hereby acknoWl-
edged. I have been absent from the
city for the past week or 10 days,
conducting some Investigations on my
own account anent the matter re-
ferred to in the second paragraph of
the series of resolutions adopted BY
your commission at a meeting heldsin
the city Of Columbia on the 18th in
slant, copy of which You caused to
be transmitted to me here.
After mature consideration,
have reached the deliberate conclu-
sion that if your governor could
with propriety create commission
who are all friends of mine and per-
sonal supporters to investigatefthe
members Of the old commission, the
attorney general of the State Of
South Carolina and the agents, at
torneys and employees of the old COM
mission, and to make "a rigid inves-
tigation of all of my (Bleas's) acts
as State sentor, private citizen; and
governor of the State. could with
equal proprietv resolve myself into
a committee Of one to make investi-
cations as to the said Blease, his
allies and affiliates. I think 1t will
be conceded that my jurisdiction is
equally as broad es yours; that have
the same authority to subpoena wit
nesses, compel their attendance, and
to give evidence touching the prem
ises, as you possess, and feel that l