The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-07-23
GOVERNOR BLEASE REPLIES
TO AUGUSTA .TESTIMONY"
CONTINUED FROM PAGE y.

Lne cOnlnlCIee SLd1I "di' g IL oiNNt
that the people of the State may Judge
as to the motives and purposes of such
unlawful investigation which has been
undertaken.
Felder's Motives.
About Is months ago, Information
came to me that one T. B. Fielder, of
Atlanta, Georgia, had attempted to
bribe certain officials of this State, and
that he had endeavored to form con-
spiracy to defraud the State and her
people. Letters, written by this man,
were placed with me, showing conclu-
sively his guilt. AS your chief exc
cutive, it was my duty, if it were pos
sible for me to do so, to have Fielder
placed on trial in your courts. Seek
ing to carry out the law of the State,
I attempted to have Fielder arrested
Being man of some ability, possessed
of considerable wealth, connected with
certain Influences and interests in the
State of Georgia, supported by some
men in South Carolina who hated me
more than they loved their State, be-
ing unscrupulous in his methods,
knowing that he was guilty of the
charges that 1 had brought against
him and fearing to face ali honest
South Carolina jury, Fielder evaded
arrest and has continuously since re-
NAMED a fugitive from the justice of
this State.
Thinking to justify the criminal
course he has pursued and was pur-
suing, at the same time endeavoring
to prepare himself to meet the issue
if ever succeeded in placing him in
the dock, from his Office in Atlanta Eel
der began to issue vituperaticn against
me and the people of South Carolina
who had chosen me to the high Office
I hold His filthy ISLANDERS were dis
played with great glee by the news
paper combination that has been, and
Is yet, seeking to deprive me of the
place of leadership I occupy with the
citizens of this State.
Threats That Were Jokes.
Fielder knew, as the whole world
knew, that the majority Of the mem
bers of your general assembly were
opposed to me and my administrator,
this opposition mainly due to the fact
that l attempted to stay the hand of
that legislature which was continu-
Dusly taking from the pockets of the
taxpayers. of the State their money to
bestow it in an extravagant and waste
ful manner. This creature threatened
loudly to have me impeached and pro-
claimed that he would give to that
legislature book" revealing
what he termed to be ''the crimes of
Gov Blease.' The legislature met
and remained in session for 40 days.
sFelderts book became joke, and
those newspaper editors and my other
political enemies, who were
waiting with impatience for me to be
driven from the Office you entrusted to
my care, wore sore expressions on
their faces and had to confess that
their one-time hero was a liar and a
buffer, and that Gov. Blease was an
honest and upright official. But, the
eruptions from the impure
mind, foul mouth and slanderous pen
Of Tom Fielder continued-and he an
that he would appear before
she legislative committee in the State
of South Carolina and give the facts
and letters to show that 1 had had |
corrupt dealings with the old State |
dispensary. This appearance he put off
from time to time, his action being
sanctioned by the committee, and he
has. up to this time, so far as am in
formed, not even paid you: State a
visit.
Plenty Of Money and Scoun,irels.
In the meantime, having determined
TO make some kind of showing" and
having been urged on by my enemies,
and knowing that he had nothing, and !!
could get nothing, that would be to |
my discredit either as man or as an
official, Fielder hit upon the plan of
making a case" against me even if
be had to resort to brih ary and perjury.
He called to his assistance William j.
Burns and his associates, who are pri-
Eate detectives and are always on the
snokouf for the diShonOrable task of |