Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-06
Miseellansou5 Reaaias.
FIELDER WRITES LETTER.
Denounces Commission and Implies q
Conspiracy.
T,,oo.,,t,,a N,o.... c,..,.a.

Denounces Commission and Implies q
Conspiracy.
Greenville News, Saturday.
Charging political conspiracy as the
motive for the warrant sworn out
against him, on the charge of bribing
Hub H. Evans, Thomas B. Fielder OF
Atlanta, has addressed to the Green
vile News, a vigorous letter, regard
ing his refusal to turn over to the new
dispensary winding-up commission,
evidence which he claims to have In
his possession, duplicating Governor
Blease In certain alleged frauds In
connection with the old state dispen-
sary.
In effect. Mr.. Fielder looks upon the
warrant and subsequent requisition. as
an effort to get him inside the borders
Of South Carolina, in order that he
may be held in contempt for not pro-
ducing the evidence which he claims to
have. The new commission, according
to Mr.. Fielder, Is anxious to get hold
Of this alleged evidence, in order to
effectually suppress 1t. In part, Mr..
Fielder says in this communication af-
ter alluding to the bribery charge:
Mr.. Editor:
"Since the alleged crime was COM
mitted have spent months in the
state Of South Carolina in discharging
my duties as special counsel of the
winding-up commission, in unearthing
and uncovering the most gigantic and
stupendous frauds of the age, commit
ted in connection with the administra-
ton Of the affairs of the defunct state
dispensary by the agents and employ
ees Of the state, their associates and
confederates and allies; I" .. AS q
result of the efforts Of my associates
and myself, several hundred thousand
dollars have been restored to the
states treasury and many of the plum
derers indicted and one convicted, but
before judgment on appeal was rem
dered he received at the hands Of
Cole L. Blease, full pardon, reliev-
ing the convict of serving the SEN
tence Of five years In the state peni-
tentiary and Of the payment Of the
fine of $4,000.
In Possession of Evidence.
l am in possession Of conclusive
evidence Of the connection Of this
:" governor with these gigantic
frauds, and he knows 1t. This fact ac-
counts for the successive, II not sue
cessful, moves made by him to sup
press the truth. A description Of these
acts follows:
l. After his inauguration as gov
ernor, he transmitted to the general
assembly message charging the
winding-up commission, the attorney
general and myself with corruption,
and demanding the creation of joint
committee from the house and senate
to investigate his charges. We con-
CURED in the demand, but requested
that the act be made broad enough to
include an investigation of his con-
duct as senator, of his relations to the
late state dispensary, and of the title of
officers OF governor The act
passed with practical unanimity, but,
being too broad to suit his excellency
CD who desired to avoid investiga-
tion he vetoed the act, after the ad-
journment Of the legislature.
2. Thereafter he summarily dis
missed from Office, without excuse or
reason, every member of this nom
partisan board, appointed by gover-
nor whose administration was made
notable by the high standard OBJ
served by him In the selection of his
appointees to office. E.
3. He filled the places thus made
vacant by appointing thereto his polit-
ical hirelings and henchmen, one of
the five being his late law partner. To
quote him: Il have appointed my
personal friends and political support
ers." The lexicon contains no ad-
jectives or expletives that would serve
to so completely I" them as the Ian
guage used by the governor above
quoted.
4. These personal friends and po-
liticaI supporters" met and resolved
that l be required to appear before
them and produce all evidence In my
possession duplicating Blease in these
frauds, knowing that their production
meant their seizure and destruction.
/ declined to respond to this resolu-
tion. These documents shall neither be
destroyed nor suppressed, but will be
preserved by me for future use.
5. A warrant was issued for my ar
rest on the charge that l had nearly
seven years ago, attempted to bribe one
Hub H. Evans, a close political and
personal friend of the governor. a
resident Of the same town and law
partner of the governors brother.
Had there been the slightest basis
for such a charge, or any purpose to
prosecute, these would not have
allowed 1t to rest for nearly seven
years, during the latter three Of which
I was engaged in unearthing the in
fanny Of this Hub H. Evans and his
allies. among them the governor, and
when for months past criminal in
dictment, based on the evidence OBJ
tained by me, has been pending against
Evans.
No. there Is no purpose on the part
of these conspirators in securing this
warrant to vindicate the criminal laws
of the state, for they know that none
have been violated, but their deliberate
purpose Isl to get me in the state, serve
me with an attachment for contempt,
and force the production, for destruc-
ton, of these documents.
In conclusion, when this miserable
mscreant is scourged by the lash of
an infuriated and outraged people from
the high place he disgraces and dis
honors, either by impeachment or de-
feat at the polls, this evidence will be
lodged with the proper official Of the
state Of South Carolina, to be used to-
ward placing him in stripes and be-
hind the bars, situation more befit-
ting his talents and instincts than the
position he now dishonors.
Thos. B. Fielder.