The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-02

ANY other man for services rendered
any individual or corporation as
members of the general assembly. The
same issue of the paper in which this
charge of Fielder appeared, the Co.
lumbia State of July 13, 1912, carries
q denial from Mr.. Wright, in these
words:
"Denies bribery Charge.
ar. Charlton Virgin, Of Columbia,
who is quoted in the documentary eVl-
dence submitted by T. B. Fslder to
the dispensary investigating commit
tee as saying that he gave $500 20 Cole
L. Blease, for blocking Some railroad
LEGISLATION in the senate, denied last
might that he had ever given Blease
this or any other slim or that he had
ever told any one that ne had done
so."
Mr.. Wright, on account Of an urgent
call to New York, left the city that
day; however, I presume the commit
tee will not care to have any further
statement from Mr.. Wright since he is
so prominently connected with the Co.
lumbia Record, one of the newspaper
combination opposing me, and as his
denial appeared so consciously in
that sheet which the committee is so
fond of reading.
The s25,OOO Slush Fund.
The insinuation contained in a pur-
ported copy of letter of one Pickett
to Fielder, which it is stated that Eel
der produced before the committee,
that certain liquor dealers were to
raise the sum of $4,000 to be turned
over to me as a member of the State
senate, and that syndicate, to be
composed of myself and Mr.. Block
and others, was to be formed to con-
troll the entire liquor business OF the
State dispensary, is an entire fabrica-
ton. Those who have read this letter
should note the fact that the alleged
original has not been placed before
the committee and that even IN the
alleged copy Pickett does not make
these statements of his own knoWl-
edge, but states that they were made to
him by another party, and no affidavit
has been taken from that other party.
I submit herewith the affidavit OF MI.
Block, denying that there is any truth
i'm the statements credited by Pickett
to Wilson.
Georgia, Bibb County:
Before me, an officer duly authorlz-
ed to administer .oatas, personally
came N. N. Block, who being first
duly sworn on oath, says that he has
read In the State, paper published
in Columbia, S. c., under date of July
18th, 1912, the report Of what pur-
ports to be a letter to T. B. Fielder,
Atlanta, Georgia, and signed by Smith
D. Pickett, in which the statement is
made "Wilson further stated that the
plan formulated by Blease to com
pass a. defeat Of pending legislation
miscarried for the reason that Nick
Block, of Macon, who was one OF the
syndicate, stated that the amount pro-
posed to be raised was, out of all rea-
SON and that the same results could
be accomplished upon the expenditure
of the sum of $25,O00."
Deponent says that the remarks at
tributed to him are entirely without
anv foundation in fact. That he never
used such language nor language o!
that import, nor any language that
could be so construed, and further that
he never hads any conversation with
Wilson on the subject and that he has
never either directly or indirectly been
advised or had any knowledge OF the
effort or the attempted effort to raise
$4,000 or any other amount for the
purposes stated in said letter from
Smith D. Pickett to T. 3. Fefder. De-
ponent is entirely ignorant of all the
allegations set out in said letter.
n. M. Block.
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
this 18th day of July, 1912.
(seaI W. H. c. Johnson, N. P.
My Campaign Fund in 1910.
The suggestion that the blind tigers
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