The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-06-07
FIELDER ACCUSED
New D;;2easayy Con a;;ssion Swears
Out Warrant F.! Him.
CORRUPTION CHARGED

S~AA4eSa a~SAS ~~@& S<S
Action Follows Resolution Passed in
Session at Columbia
Papers Filed and Hearing VIII be
Held in June.
A warrant charging T. B. Fielder
Of Atlanta with "oFe::!ig and at
tempting to bribe State officer and
with conspiracy to deir1ud the State
of South Carolina was sworn our
Wednesday at NewberTy by B. F.
Kelly, secretary Of the new dispen-
sarv commission. The warrant was
sworn out before J. C. Sample and
was placed in the hands OF Sheriff
Buford Of that county.
A dispatch from Atlanta says Sher-
if Bufcrd Thursday afternoon con-
suited Governor Brown and fled
requisition 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 reiterates
that the governor Of So~th Carolina
is trying to cover up his own sins
by directing fight on him.
The warrant against Mr. Fielder
was sworn out following the adoption
Of the new dispensary commissions:
"Whereas. certain information hav-
ing come into our possession, which
we are advised is sufficient upon
which to secure a 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 a State officer Of the State OF
South Carolina and for conspiracy
to defraud the said State"
The commission has given no cffl-
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 a letter purporting to
have been written to H. X. Evans.
former chairman of the State dispen-
sary board of control, by 7. B. Eel
der, offering to "frame-up' deal
for $4,000. The letter in question
was sisned ct. B." This letter was
secured from H. H. Evans by the gov
ernor. Just what kind of inforna-
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.. Fei-
der. 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.
connection with the dispensary stu
alton. Mr.. Fielder did net come to
Columbia Wednesday. The commis-
sion accordingly adopted the resolu-
ton 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:
May 26. 1911.
t'Mr. James Stackhouse. Chairman
and Mr.. B. Frank Kelly, Secretary
State Dispensary Commission o!
South Carolina. Columbia, S. c.
Gentlemen:
Receipt of your valued favor o:
the 18th instant is hereby acknowi-
edged. / 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 Dy
your commission at meeting held II
the city of Columbia on the 18th IN
slant. a copy of which you caused tc
be transmitted to me here.
after mature consideration.
have reached the deliberate conclu-
sion that If your governor coulo
with propr;ety create commission
who are all friends of mine anc per
sonal supporters to investigate Il
members Of the old commission. tht
attorney general Of he 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 (Ble2s's) acts
as State sentor, private citizen an'
governor OF the State I could viii
equal proprietv resolve myself into
committee of one TO make invest'
cations .2s to the said BleaSe. hls
allies and aH!iates. I think it viii
be conceded that my jurisdiction i
equally as brcaa 'as yours; that nave
the same authority TO subpoena Wit
nesses, compel their attendance. anc
to give evidence toucnlnS the Pi GIN
ises, as YOU possess, and I feel that }
may say. without undue arrogance
that nv findings OF both law ano
fact will be just IS binding and carry
with them the same degree Of weight
and respectab;lity as yours.
that my investigations have peer
quite extensive. thorough. exhaustive
and most satisfactory 10 me, ano
when made public will, in al! human
probability. disQual!fv Cor serFice
some Of those now seeking to pass
Official judgment upon the acts of
my associates and myself To some
OF you this statement may prove en-
I'm conclusion permit NE TO say