The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-22
GRACE ON STAND.
RESUME DISPENsARY HEARING;
IN CHARLESTON TO-DAY.
Mayor Grace Tells OF Conditions in
Home City and OF Break with
bleass-Fcldcr to Testify July 8.

Charleston. June 1s.-John p.
: Grace. mayor of Charleston. appear
ed before the legislative investigating
committee yesterday and gave some
testimony TO prove his charge that
graft money had been traced prac-
ticaily up to the governors Office. He
was on the witness stand for more
than one hour and gave a detailed ac-
count of his relations with Governor
Blease.
AZ the conclusion OF his testimony
he read an affidavit by ]. j. Miller Of
Charleston In which II was charged
that graft had been collected from
, the whiskey dealers In Charleston and
turned over to r. II. Stothart. chief
constable.
The following charge was contained
In the affidavit: THE next day OF two
this friend. Capt. John Black. came to
7 me along with Jim Crocker and said.
Miller tor John) as friends of yours.
1 feel ~ Is my duty to advise you or
at least put you on your guard. did
not want to tell you last night. but 1
have been thinking over the thing and
L feel that you ought to know II. Ben
= Stothart said on the train last night
talthough drunk; you know some.
times drunk men speak the TRUTH
that he had been promised pardon
by the governor IL ne would put you
and another fellow out Of the way
The reading of this affidavit was the
main testimony presented by Mayor
Grace. He charged wholesale graft
in Charleston and requested that the
committee go to Charleston and take
testimony from witnesses that he said
he would produce.
Adjourn and come to Charleston
and 1 will furnish the evidence in the
' interest OF truth. have a power down
there which will not require them but
prompt them to give the testimony"
took the invitation under considera-
ton and decided to meet today in
Charleston when the taking of testi-
Nmony will be resumed. Mayor Grace
will be asked to- continue his testi-
mony and to produce witnesses to
substantiate the charge contained In
Common Sense to the effect that graft
has been traced to Columbia.
One of mo most important features
, 10 the session yesterday was nc an
: nouucer'ent hy II. x. Carlisle. chair
man OF the committee. that T. q. Eel
der was 20 appear rcfore m com
mittee On July $. IA "a letter ~ the
committee Mr.. Fielder suggested At
:. lanta as the place to take the testi-
mony.
During the morning the following
telegram was addressed 10 Mr.. Fielder
by the committee: Committee pre-
fers Augusta. July s. morning at 10
o'clock. Wire answer Columbia"
The following reply was received
} from Mr.. Fielder: Prefer Atlanta
but will meet committee In Augusta,
July s." The holding Of the hearing
In Augusta will permit any member
of the state campaign party to attend.
The sum total of the testimony
!, given by Mayor Grace yesterday was
. ho
ise by appointing the whiskey con-
stables In Charleston and that con-
ditions were bad In general terms
he charged Wholesale graft. He said
that ne would not give the names OF
the witnesses who would substantiate
|. his statements but that ne would pro-
duce the witnesses In Charleston.
The question Of the right of the
committee To investigate the situation
brought by the editorial in Common
Sense was brought up before the COM
inittee by II. VI. Welch OF Columbia.
attorney representing II. III. Stothart
, The committee held an executive ses.
sion and announced that the commit
tee had the right To- hear the testi-
mony of Mayor Grace hut would con-
slider only so much as was relevant
To the Investigations az provided D.,
the act of the general assembly.
At the hearing yesterday Mayor
Grace requested the committee to
summon u. ". Stothart. IIc said that
he would like Stothart to he present
when he brought his charges. The
committee ruled that the testimony
Dof Mayor Grace should be given first
; and that Stothart would later lie