The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-02-14
LYON SHOWS FACTS
Replies to Blease's Statement OF
Pard0ns

Columbia, Feb. 1O.-Attorney Cen
eral J. Fraser Lyon has sent to the
general assembly his reply tt
Blease's statement to the senate
transmitted to that body Thursday
night, in defense of Blease's pardon.
ing of John Black, who was convct-
ed Of conspiracy to defraud the state
in connection with old dispensary af.
fairs. .....
| Blease's statement was published
in the press some time ago, but the
attorney, general who was In fact out
/ Of the city, took no notice of 1t al
the time, as 1t was not official. :,
| Soon after the house convened Sat-
urday, DR.. Olin Sawyer, a represen-
tative from, Georgetown, moved to
reconsider the vote whereby the house
last night had ordered printed in the
permanent journal he message from
Attorney General Lyon in regard to
the pardoning of Major John Black.
] DR.. Sawyer said he saw no use for
printing in the permanent journal
communications Of this kind; that be-
fore long every one who had had a
difference of opinion with, the COVER
nor, including the magistrates and
magistrates constables would be
writing to the general assembly and
asking that they be printed IN the
| permanent journal and he thought
it was time to draw the line some
| where.
Mr.. Dobson moved to table this
motion and the motion to table was
carried by a heavy majority, no divi-
sion vote being asked by the minority
who supported Mr.. sawyer's motion.
Mr.. Lyons Statement
Mr.. Lyons statement is quite teng-
thy and emphatic. The opening and
closing paragraphs are as follows:
|. Inasmuch as the governor, In at
|:tempting justification for exercising
executive clemency to John Black, con-
victed by jury Of Chester county,
for conspiring to drefraud the state,
undertakes to reflect upon me as an
officer, as well as personally, I deem
lit proper to submit this, an addition
al report in order that your records
may carry a correction Of these state
ments and insinuations Of the COVER
nor, which have no foundation In
fact. In one sentence Of the COVER
|:nor's report he says: ...
Quotes iBlease
"After reading carefully the testi-
mony given In this case and the
charge delivered by the attorney pre-
siding as special Judge, in my opin-
lon John Black should have been
acquitted" and in another, III the
jury had convicted all would not
have interferred." 4
If both of these statements are true
the governor would have allowed
three to be unjustly punished. Still
he was not willing to see only one
unjustly punished. Directing your at
tention to these statements, which are
manifestly irreconcilable, with JUS
tice, may be considered sufficient to
show the real character Of all the
reasons assigned But think it well
to further inform your honorable
body upon this subject; after stating
the fact that the evidence against
Black was decidedly stronger than
,gainst the . other two defendants
with whom he was tried, because the
checks which he received in consum-
nation of the conspercy to defraud
the state, one of which was for. $6.-
900, with his signature thereon, were
evidence of the briberies and conclusive
as the bank notes, which showed the
actual receipt of the graft money.
Reasons for Immunity
Persons outside of the state were
given immunity because they gave
evidence OF the briberies and con-
spiracies because they could not sell
their liquors without paying the Off
GERS of the state rebates or bribe
money, which was demanded of them,
and because they were not officers OF
the state, who had taken oath to
keep trust reposed in them. The
officers of the State ss far as posi-
BILE were prosecuted, because they
had betrayed the trust reposed In
them by defrauding the people OF the
state, whose interests they were spe-
cially commissioned to protect. =;
I do not deem it necessary to re-
fer to all of the misleading state
ments of the governor with reference
to this case. Still, I think your hon
oarble body should have the iuforma-
| tion, in order that you may not be
misled by the governors state
ment.
1