davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
Picked Worst Criminal.

I'VE selected said Porter" :"
the worst criminal in the South
Carolina penitentiary for our in
vestigation. This man was
known as Gus DeFord, alias
James Johnson, alias Edward
Murphy, alias Edward Hollo-
way, alias G. w. Deford, alias
G.. NJ. Deford and other aliases.
This man was a yeggman and
a safe blower. He had just
served a sentence of five years
In the federal prison in Atlanta
when he was convicted in South
Carolina.
''DeFord was convicted in
Spartanburg county several
years ago on the charge of blow
ing the safe of the Enoree Man
ufactoring company. Over $S,-
600 was secured by the work
and the Spartanburg county
court, after a long and serious
trial sent Deford to the State
nenitentiary for 10 years.
Porter said that Sam j.
Nichols gave him letter of in
PRODUCTION to Capt. Sondley of
the State penitentiary. Fielder
said that this letter would be
later introduced in evidence.
Porter said that he went to the
penitentiary and presented the
letter of introduction to Capt.
Sondley and was we'll received.
Il asked to see several Of the
prisoners. said Porter, and was
given admission to the prison.
I called for Deford. I talked
with him and told him that I
was interested in his case. l
gave him to understand that I
would act as his attorney
Porter said that after the con-
ference at the penitentiary with
DeFord he went to Spartanburg
and met Sam S. Nichols. He
said that he gave Nichols to
understand that he was looking
for a certain convict and was
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
Dictagraph Records.

Over $4,000 words in testi
mony from the dictagraph wa:
placed in evidence with refer
ence to the pardon deal. with
the conversations between San
j. Nichols and Henry N. Por
ter" the detective. were given
This testimony was taken by
expert stenographers, T n {
principal statement taken in a
Washington hotel was taken by
the private secretary of Post
master General, Hitchcock.
Should the case ever be brought
to court these stenographers
will be put up as witnesses.
The testimony was sworn in by
Detective. Henry N. Porter"
The dictagraph testimony fur
ther touched how Sam j. Mich
OILS secured a charter for the
Piedmont and Northern railway
According to the testimony, he
had a row with Gov. Blease and
threatened to desert him unless
he signed the bill. The testi-
mony was that Nichols said
that the signing of the bill
meant $4,000 a year to him.
According to the testimony,
Nichols told Bl -ase that his hat
red for Lewis Parker or Symth
OF the money paid by the Sou
thern railway was keeping him
from signing the bill.
Gov. Blease signed the bill
and the dietagraph relates a
stormy scene. This conversation
setting out those statements
was between Sam ]. Nichols
and Henry j. Porter, % the
detective.
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
First Document.

Ben Stothart, chief constable
appointed by Blease, stated at
the time of his appointment tc
the position. it was understood
between him and the governor
that protection should be given
to the blind tigers operating in
the city of Charleston, provided
they would pay a stipulated
sum per month to him, that
this sum amounted in the ag-
@regate to between 50, 500 and
$1,000 per month; that as soon
as the collections We're made he
deducted his commission for
making the same and would
personally take the balance to
Columbia. S. c., and pay it
over to the governor.
He stated further that pro-
tests had been made to the
governor against these collec-
tons by interested parties: but
that the governor would pay no
attention to them: that demand
had been made upon the govern
OF for his dismissal. but that he
felt perfectly secure in his job,
for the governor was a man of
independence and had the power
to DO as he pleased with it.
Also that the governor had
issued a pardon to Rudolp
Rabens. a blind tiger man of
the City of Charleston q believe
this is the name). receiving
therefor a sum of $1,000 in cash.
The said Stothart stated that
he had conducted the negota-
tons which resulted in the par
don OF this man.
This conversation occurred
in ,hc Argyle hotel in the city
.of Charleston, after the said
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
DETECTIVES HOT ON TRAIL
OF GRAFTERS. LEGISLA-
TON BLOCKED. GRAFT
MONEY PLENTY.

er of the dictagraph is conceal
ed in a room, very probably be,
hind a calendar, 4 picture or un
der the table. The wires are
concealed and led to the adjoin-
ing room. The detective enters
with his man. At the other
end of the Wire and in the other
room is located the expert stem
ographer who sits at a table
with a note book and plenty Of
ink. The stenographer takes
down the conversation going on
in the other room just as a court
stenographer would take down
the testimony of a witness on
the stand. These notes are Ia
ter transcribed. Every word.
even, whispering, is heard dis
tinctly in the adjoining room.
galley 2
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
Third Document.

Henry Hasselmeyer. Whose
place of business is near the
market in the city OF Charles
ton, upon being asked how tie
blind tigers in the city Of Char
lesion were getting on, his re
ply was: We elected Cole
Blease governor and we now
have full protection.
! Asked as to the method by
which protection was obtained,
he stated that shortly the goy-
ernor's Inauguration the chief
of the constabulary force was
called to Columbia for confer
ence with the governor. In
this conference with the gov
ernor it was agreed as to the
amount that each blind tiger in
the city of Charleston should
pay monthly for protection.
''On the return of the chief
constable to Charleston he call
ed upon the president of the
local brewery and told him that
be wished to see him in confer
ence, that he had a proposition
to make to him which was au-
thorized by the governor, ask
ling him when it would be salts
factory to see him.
The president of the brewery
told him that he could see him
at anv time and in sny place
that suited. The chief of the
constabulary force said that he
would come to his home at once.
The president Of the brewery
suggested that this would be an
unwise move from the fact that
some one might see him. To
this the reply VAS made: We
don't care who sees us. He
then proceeded TO the home of
the president Of the brewery,
where he delivered the message
from the governor to the effect
that, on the consideration of
SO each per month, they would
extend protection from arrest to
the blind tigers of Charleston.
He also stated that there were
in the neighborhood of $50 blind
tigers in Charleston and that
these were to pay $40 each-allr-
ing the first week .ch
month. The presiden, u the
brewery asked what disposition
would be made of this collection,
whereupon the chief constable
told him that under his agree
meut with the governor he was
to be allowed a commission for
collecting and the balance was
to be paid over monthly to the
governor.
In said conversation the
said Hasse'meyer stated that he
personally visited the governor
at Columbia and entered his
protest against this arrange
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25

months ago he and y. Burns
| had a conference at Augusta
with two leading South Caro-
llinians, at which time they
spent over a day in conference,
going thoroughly over many re-
cords, and that at its close Mr..
Burns said that in his 30 years
Of experience he had never be-
fore seen as much graft as there
was in the South Carolina situa-
ton. The San Francisco graft.
he declared. was infnitestimal
in comparison with the boldness
and character of the grafters in
South Carolina.
Nh. Fielder stated that Burns
said he usually did not take
charge Of such cases, but on ac-
count Of the condition of affairs
he would personally take charge
of the situation.
cal ,
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
Sale of Pardons.

Augusta, Ca, July 13.-Flve
thousand for Cole l.. Blease,
governor of South Carolina.
Five thousand dollars for Sam
]. Nichols attorney Of Spartan
burg and friend of governor
Blease. Five thousand for C..
P. Sims. attorney of Spartan
burg. E. S. Reed. chief lieuten-
ant of William J. Burns, the
famous detective, swore that
these amounts were to be paid
to the three persons named for
the pardon of Gus DeFord, one
Of the most notorious prisoners
in the South Carolina peniten-
tiary, who was convicted In
Spartanburg county in 1902 on
the charge OF blowing the safe
of the Enoree Manufacturing
company, when over $4,000 was
secured, and sentenced to serve
a term of ten years. Detective
Reed was on the stand before
the legislative conlmitte for sew
eral hours this afternoon and he
gave his testimony, supporting
it with thousands of words of
dictagraph records. The final
act of the alleged gigantic par
don deal was to have been
reached today with the 20. K. !"
telegram from Sam ]. Nichols
to the effect that the pardon
had been granted. The tele-
gram was not received.
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
C-.arges Startling Conditions.

Piece by piece in his testimony
Fielder charged alarming and
startling conditions Of official
corruption in South Carolina.
For five hours or more he was
on the witness stand and in q
connected story made t h &
charge of unlimited graft, legis-
legislative "syndicates' control
ed By Blease rs senator, Of mon
ey demanded by the syndicate
to block legislation, of pardons
alleged to have been purchased
from the governor, one in Char
lesion having cost 2,000;of cor
ruption money collected from
railroads for engineering out Of
the legislature bills the rail
roads didn't want, of q frame
up made in Atlanta by Blease
and Hub H. Evans with Blu
thenthaI and Bickert. whole
sale whiskey house. for adding
rebates to the cost Of whiSkev
sold the State dispensay so the
rebates could be turned over to
the board of control BY the
wholesalers; Of $1,000 in one
lump sum paid into the hands
of Cole L. Blease ard Ha, II.
Evans by Monroe BicEert, when
the deal was first framed on the
occasion of a visit to the liquor
house in Atlanta; of the scheCi-
ale of protection tax levie& on
the Charleston blind tigers by
Blease, and Of his share with
Chief Constable Stothart in that
monthly tax,
Mr.. Fielder said that several
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
Put Men To Work.

Nr. Fielder said that following
the Augusta conference Burns
put two men to work in South
Carolina; that one of them oper-
atad in and around Charleston
for several months, posing as a
big gambler and blind tie el
named Wilson, and seeking a
location there. He said that
Wilson'S real name was Bailey
and he was received with open
arms by the Charleston tigers.
He said that Wilson represent
ed that he wanted to get a TO-
cation in Charleston and that
James S. Farnum and others
We're very attentive to him, and
the result was that he learned
ali aGOut the charleston Sltua~
lion; that Gov. Rlease's second
primary campaign was financed
by the tigers. all about the
graft situation, the protection
money" collected by the con-
st :bles, etc. He presented doc
umcntS gathered by Wilson
while in Charleston. He said
that Wilson was not present
today, being away on another
case, bat he was at the disposal
of the committee whenever they
wanted him. In this Mr.. Burns
assented.
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
Do .nent in Evidence.

T. B. Fielder placed in evi-
dence his draft for $1,000 drawn
on the Fourth National hank,
Atlanta, to be deposited in the
Bank of Commerce of Spartan
burg for financing the deal
whereby evidence was to be
secured that Gov. Blease had
been guilty of selling pardons.
E. S. Reed, one Of the best
detectives in the United States
and head of the Burns forces,
was selected to carry out the
work under the name of Hen
ry N. Porter, attorney, Of
Chicago, Ill. .
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
Senatorial Campaign

The following is the itinerary
or the senatorial campaign:
Hampton, Thursday, July 25
Barnwell, Friday, July o.
Newberry, Monday. July %.
Laurens. Tuesday, July 80.
Greenwood Wednesday July 81
Abbeville, Thursday, Aug. l.
Anderson, Friday, August 2.
Walhalla, Saturday, Aug. 8.
Pickens. Monday, August S
Greenviile, Tuesday. Aug. 6.
Spartarburg. Wed, Aug. z
Union, Thursday, Aug. 8.
Gaffney, Friday. Aug. 9.
Yorkville. Tuesday, Aug. 10.
Lancaster, Wed, August IA.
Camden, Thursday, Aug. Is.
Chester, Friday, Aug. l6.
Winnsboro. Saturday. Aug II
Lexington, Tuesday, Aug. 20
Saluda, Wednesday, Aug. 81.
Edgefleld, Thursday. Aug. %
Aiken. Friday, Aug. %.
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
B}l.;AIStE'

the witness declared that from
experience it has been shown
that it was impossible to fake
testimony from the dictagraph.
He said that the stenographer,s
notes would show whether it
was genuine or not.
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
The County Campaign

~
The dates of the county cam
paign meetings as adopted at the
of the county execu-
tive committee, are as follows:
Easley, Saturday. July 81.
Liberty, Saturday. August 8.
Central. Saturday, August 10.
Antioch, Thursday, Augasl5:
Mile Creek. Friday, Aug. Is.
Cateechee, Saturday. Aug. II
Dacusville, Thursday. Aug %
Pumpkintown. Friday, Aug %
Pickens. Saturday, Aug. "a.
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25

The bulk of the documentary
evidence submitted by Mr..
Fielder up to the time of even
ing adjournment was that
gathered in personal conversa=
ton and by use of the Gicta-
graph by Mr.. Wilson of Char
Ieston,' who in reality is De-
tectiye Bailey of the Burns
force. Those documents which
cot III through beng read by
Mr.. Fielder before turning over
to the committee, as sworn
evidence, are as follows:
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25

ment, stating to the governor
that this graft should not be
collected; but the governor
waved him aside with the state
ment that he was running that
end of the matter"
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
State Campaign Dates.

The following is the itinerary
for the State campaign:
Edgefeld, Thursday, July 25.
Aiken, Friday. July 26.
ONE WEEK OFF
Camden, Monday. August S.
Lancaster, Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Yorkville, Wednesday, Aug z
Gafney, Thursday, August 8
Spartanburg, Friday, aug. 9.
Union, Satul lay. August 10.
Newberry, Tuesday, Aug. l3.
Laurens, Wednesday, Aug IA
Greenwood, Thursday. Augl5
Abbeville, Friday, August Is.
Anderson, Saturday, Ass: AeI7 II.
Walhalla, Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Pickens, Wednesday, Aug. 21
Greenville. Thursday. Aug %
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
PICKENS, S. c., JULY Is, 1912

Stothart and party had had
several drinks together in the
blind tigers of the city of Char
lesion.
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
A Dictagraph.

The dictagraph is a very sim
Pile instrument and might be in
stalled in any room in the State.
1t is constructed along the same
line S and principles as the tele-
phone. \ Wire is necessary to
carry the sound of the voice
from one room to another,
The dictagraph proper is q
very small instrument abouttht
shape of a completed horseshoe
It is a very delicate instrument
with a sensitive disc and is
placed on one end Of the Wire.
This is the sending" end. At
the other end Of the wire, the
receiving end-there are two eal
pieces. These are placed over
head Of the expert stenographer
The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-25
HOW IT Is DONE

For instance a detective takes
up a case. He makes the fol
lowing arrangements. Two
rooms are secured. The receiv-
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
FATALLY BURNED SAVING CHILD
Wichita Mother Rescued Nine-Months-
Old Daughter From Fire
in Home.

Wichita, Kansas.-Mrs. Leila John.
son was fatally burned when she
rescued her nine-months-old daugh-
ter, Juanita, from room on the third
floor of her home, which had been
set afire. A three-year-old son, Ar
chic, who had crawled under a bed
when the fire started, was fatally
burned and died in the arms of a
fireman as he was being carried out
of the house. The infant daughters
eyesight may be destroyed.
Mrs. Johnson, who is a widow, had
left her children in the third floor
room, where small stove was burn
ing, to go downstairs. The children's
cries brought her back and she found
the room full of smoke. She was un-
able to find the boy. 1t is believed
the boy began playing with the stove
and overturned it.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
NOVEL READER BECOMES ROBBeR
Boy of 19 Holds Up Merchant After
Finishing Detective Story
Pleads Guilty.

Liberty, Mo.-As James Ward,
merchant and the postmaster at Bir-
mingham, left his store at night, a
boy who, it was afterwards learned,
was Walter Caps, 10 years old, stop
ped the merchant and ordered him
to hold up his hands. To enforce his
words the youth held the barrel Of
a revolver close to Wards face.
Ward, in throwing up his hand,
struck the weapon to one side just
as the boy fired. Several men, at
tracted by the shot, came running
up, but Caps escaped to the bluffs
north of the town.
Caps was found at the home of J..
A. White, near Randolph, and pleaded
guilty. His bond is placed at $1,000.
James S. Simrall, county prosecutor,
says that the boy had been reading
novels and had on the day previous
to the attempted holdup finished one
of Nick Carriers detective stories.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
DETERMINED TO MAKE HIM TELL
Topeka News Writer May Be Taken
to Several Counties for Examina.
ton in Each,

Topeka. The papers are ready for
the second inquisition Of J. d. House,
who wrote story about seeing beer
sold openly over bar in club in
a small country town. John Dawson,
attorney general, completed the draw
ing of all the necessary legal docu-
ments to hold the inquisition before
justice of the peace or before the
city court of Topeka. All that is
needed is to write in the name of
the justice who will hear the pro-
ceedings.
1t was indicated at the attorney
generals office that the proceedings
against House will not become farce,
even if it does become expensive.
The jurisdiction of a Shawnee JUS
tice is questioned, as House says the
beer was not sold here, and If the
Shawnee justice does not have puris-
diction it is proposed to take House
to every county in Kansas that he
was known to have visited last spring
and have an examination in each one.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
BLACK HAND LETTER FOR KANSAN
Larned Banker Ordered to Keep ST..
600 on Hand to Be Called
For BY Writer.

Larned, Kas.-F. D. Lowrey, presi-
dent of the First State Bank of Lar
ned, and for years large land
holder in this section of the state, has
received a "Blackhand" letter. The
letter was mailed here. 1t is written
in an illiterate style, but Is sufficient
ly lucid to make its meaning clear.
Mr.. Lowrey Is ordered to take 3d..
900 in gold to his residence and
keep it there until called for by the
writer of the letter In case the mon
ey is not forthcoming when the writ
er calls, the letter states that the
bankers fine residence will be blown
up with nitroglycerin and that some
member of the family will suffer bod
lily harm and perhaps death. The
matter has been placed with the au-
thorities for investigation.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
FARMERS ARE TO Be ASSISTED
AN AGRICULTURAL EXPERT IN
EACH COUNTY PLANNED.
the Soil Introduced in
House.

Washington.-A bill of great i'm
port has been introduced in the house
of representatives by Representative
Lever of South Carolina, and in the
senate jointly by Senators Hoke Smith
and Page. The bill provides for lue
further endowment and support of
agricultural colleges to enable them
to assist in getting into practice the
best methods of agriculture.
This measure is the joint work OF
the National Soil Fertility league, the
executive committee of the colleges
above named. 1t is in line with the
presidents recommendation in his adj
dress at the National Conservation
congress at Kansas City, September
%, 1911, it has the support of the
house leaders of both parties, and it
may be regarded as an omni-partisan
measure. In plain terms it will as
rapidly as possible, place trained,
practical man, selected and directed
by the respective state agricultural
COllC6Co, pei III CoSA o6AhSoh
tural county of the United States, and
enables the farmer to become master
of his calling aided by the best SER
vices the country can furnish, and
supported by federal and state funds.
According to the provisions of the
bill there will be an appropriation be-
ginning at the rate of less than one
cent per capita and that will approx
innate three cents per capita by the
time the annual appropriation shall
have increased from 100000 per year,
the starting point, to little over
three million dollars, when it reaches
the maximum. Each state receiving
its share of the fund must appropri'
ate an equal amount for this purpose.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
ELECTRIC CAR BEHeADEO CHILD
Kansas city-Western Runs Down Six
Year-Old Girl at Leavenworth,
Kansas.

Leavenworth, Kan.-Ruth Buchanan
six years old, was killed here by a
southbound Kansas City-Western cleo
trio car. The girls head was severed
from her body. She was the daughter
of J. d. Buchanan, an employe of the
Helmers Manufacturing company.
Apparently, she did not see the car
approaching. The motorman, Fred
Royal, did not have time to more
than put on the emergency brake be-
fore the car had struck her.
Royal is a brother of Granville
Royal. the train dispatcher who was
killed in the Kansas City-Western
wreck near Wolcott recently.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
SURPRISED DOCTOR.
illustrating the Effect of Food.

The remarkable adaptability OF
Grape-Nuts food to stomachs so dis
ordered that they will reject every
thing else, is illustrated by the case
of woman in Racine, Wis.
1.-TWO years ago." she says, Il was
attacked by stomach trouble so Sc
rious that for long time could not
take much Of any sort Of food. Even
the various kinds prescribed by the
doctor produced most acute pain.
1--WE then got some Grape-Nuts food,
and you can imagine my surprise and
delight when found that could eat
it with relish and without the slight
est distress.
when the doctor heard of 1t he told
me to take several small portions each
day, because he feared l would grow
tired of 1t as had of all other food.
"But to his surprise, land that Of
everybody else), l did not tire of
Grape-Nuts, and became better day by
day, till, after some weeks, my stom-
ach entirely recovered and was able
to eat anything my appetite craved
my nerves, which had become SO
weakened that feared / would be-
come insane, were also restored by
the Grape Nuts food in connection
with Postum which has become our
table beverage. l appreciate most
gratefully and thankfully the good that
your food preparations have done me.
and shall be glad TO answer any letters
inquiring as to my experience" Name
given by Postum Co., Battle Creek.
Mich.
Read the little book, THE Road to
Wellville," in pkgs. There's rea-
son."
Ever re6d the above Ietterf new
one appears from time to time. They
are genuine, true, and full of human
interest
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
PHONE COMPANY ENJOlNS CITY
Gets Temporary Restraining Order
Against Lowering of Rates at
st. Joseph.

st. Joseph, Mo.-The Missouri and
Kansas Telephone company filed a
petition in the federal court, asking
temporary order restraining the
city from enforcing a reduced scale
of telephone rentals promulgated by
the city public utilities commission
several weeks ago, effective Febru-
airy l.
Mayor Clayton, the chief of police,
city counsellor and members of the
utilities commission are made defend
ants in the suit. A date for hearing
has not been set by Judge Van Walk
enburgh.
A reduction of 25 per cent in tele-
phone rentals had been ordered by
the utilities board.