The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-18
CHARGES BLEASE GOT GRAFT.
Fielder Presents Dictagraph Evidence
Against Governor.

AuSuoIo, I'd, SoAJ AANe Wv
Charleston blind tigers contributed
to the campaign fund of Blease be-
fore the second primary two years
ago, that it was an arrangement be-
tween Blease and Stothart whereby
the illicit whiskey dealers were as
sessed $40 per month protection"
money, that Gov. Blease got the
egraft" and Stothart a commission
for collecting it,. were outstanding
features of the dictagraph testimony
of man who posed as a gambler by
the name of Wilson, but who in reali-
ty was Bailey, one of Burns's men.
who spent four months in Charleston
this year. These statements were
contained in the dictagraph testimony
cT Wilson as presented by Thos.
B. Fielder to the Investigating conn
mittee this afternoon. Wilson"
furnished Fielder with the names Of
the alleged contributors to the cleo
ton fund of the governor and also
gave startling statements relative to
the graft" which has stirred Char
lesion during the past few weeks.
Wilson Obtained the evidence by
means of a dictagraph and personal
conversation and communicated it to
Fielder, who presented it on the stand
to-day.
The letter from Wilson" to Fielder
relative to the campaign funds fol-
lows:
"Col. T. B. Fielder, Atlanta, Ca
Dear Sir: Your favor of the 21st to.
hand and contents noted. I am here
with enclosing list Of blind tigers that
contributed to Blease's campaign
fund. This is not the original list
but copy I am not sending the
original for the reason that it COM
tains a few names that are rot blind
tigers and thought best to send the
names of the blind tigers only. The
Retail Business League is better
known, in Charleston as the Blind
Tiger Association These names on
the enclosed list are correct and the
amount opposite each is Q correct
amount that each one gave towards
buying votes in Charleston for
Blease. Retail Business League.
$277; Santo Sottile, $500; Jim Far
mum, $500; Clarence Halsey, $780,
E. F. Ostendorff, s25; V. Chicca, SIS;
]. ]. Landers, s25; George Murphy.
s25; ]. w. Hunt, $25; P. J. Conway, !
$25; O. H. Wieters, s25; James Sot-
tile, $50, Gus stuhr, s25; H. L. Kos-
ter, s25; F. w: Msppus, $25."
,Dictagraph testimony of Wilson &
concerning Henry Hasselmeyer as
given by Fielder follows: |
How Protection was Secured.
Henry Hasselmeyer, whose place
of business is near the Market in the
city of Charleston, upon being asked
how the blind tigers in the city OF
Charleston were getting on, his reply
was: IS.
awe elected Cole Blease governor
and we now have full protection. /.
Asked as to the method by which pro-
lection was obtained, he stated that
shortly after the governors inaugu-
ration the chief of constabulary force
was called to Columbia for conference
with the governor. In this conference
with the governor it was agreed as to {
the amount that each blind tiger in
the city of Charleston should pay
for protection.
'On the return of the chief con-
stable to Charleston he called upon
the president of the local Brewery
and told him that he wished. to see
him in conference, that he had
proposition to make to him which
was authorized by the governor, ask
ing him when it would be satisfactory
to see him. The president OF the
brewery told him that he could see
him at any time and in any place
that suited. The chief of the con-
stabulary force said that he would
come to his home at once. ,The
president of the brewery suggest
ed that this would be an un-
wise move from the fact that some
one might see him. To this the reply
was made: I'VE don't care who sees
u.s.
'.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 $40 per month they
would extend protection from arrest
to blind tigers of Charleston. He also
stated that there were in the neigh
horhood of $50 blind tigers in Char =