Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-10
THE RELToN INCIDENT AGAIN.
Governor Blease Has Explanatory Let
ter From Miss Roaers.

ter From Miss Rogers.
In substantiation of Governor
Blease's denial of the charge Of Archie
Willis, editor of the Belton Times, that
the governor was insulting to Miss
Mary ]. Rogers, ticket agent at Bel
ton, when she asked him to wait un-
til she attended to other assengers be-
fore she exchanged mileage for tick
ct for him, says the Spartanburg Her.
aid of Saturday, Governor Blease last
night gave out letter from Miss Rog-
ers to H. A. Williams, superintendent
of the Southern railway, in which Miss
Rogers says she was not insulted.
Governor Blease also showed an af-
fidavit of w. F. Harper, agent Of the
Southern railway at Belton, in which
Mr.. Harper swears that he was sitting
within ten or twelve feet Of the ticket
window where the conversation be-
tween Governor Blease and Miss Rog-
ers took place, and that he heard nc
loud talking or anything unusual.
The governor explained that he OBJ
tanned the affidavit from Mr.. Harper
because Mr.. Willis had stated that II
Mr.. Harper had been at hand the in
cident might have had a different turn
Governor Blease read this affidavit
and letter in an address he made at
Pickens. He explained that he had
withheld them up to the present time
because he wanted to disclose them
for the first time at Pickens. 1t was
from Pickens that he went to Belton
on the day Of the incident.
Governor Blease gave copies of the
papers to newspapers in Greenville
yesterday, and it so happened that at
the very time Mr.. Willis was In one
of the newspaper offices. Mr.. Willis
declared that his charges had been
true, Notwithstanding Miss Rogers
letter. He said he had an affidavit
from her that the article which he
published concerning the incident, was
true. The letter is as follows:
"Mr. H. A. williams, Superintendent,
Columbia, S. G.
Dear Sir:
"In connection with the newspaper
accounts Of the incident between Gov
ernor Blease and myself on or about
July 20, 1911, in which 1t was stated
that I had been insulted by the gov
ernor. I wish to say that Governor
Blease's manner was not In the least
insulting In my opinion and did not
then, nor do / now feel that ! had
al fhn o.
tween ourselves, and the wrong I'M
preston has been created concerning
the incident which was a very ordi-
nary occurrence of which I thought
nothing at all and would have entire
ly passed from my mind In a few
minutes but for the newspaper reports
on it.
am anxious that this wrong i'm
preston be corrected and would thank
you to assist me In any manner that
you can to that end. Yours truly,
(Signed) Mary ]. Rogers,
Ticket Seller.
Here is Mr.. Harper's affidavit:
State Of South Carolina, County of
Richland:
Personally appeared before me, w,
F. Harper who, after being duly sworn
says that he Is agent Of the Southern
Railway company at Bolton, S. c., and
that he was in his office at Bolton. S.
c., on Saturday. July 20, 1911, at the
time Governor Blease called for a
ticket from Bolton, S. c., to Columbia,
S. c.; that at the time Of the transac-
ton ne was sitting ten or twelve feet
from the ticket window and heard no
loud talking or anything unusual oc-
curing at the ticket window and that
the above is true.
(Signed) w. F. Harper.
Sworn to before me this 18th day
Of August, 1911, A. D.
(Signed) ]. P. Darby (SeaD
Notary Public.