New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-24
DIX RIVALS BLEASE IN BREAKING
RECORD FOR PARDONlNG CONVlCTS
South Carolina Governor Liberates 430 in a
Single Term and Will Grant Clemency to
as Many More-Remembefs Friends.

which marked the regime Of the great
moral institution" fathered by United
States Senator b. 4. Tillman.
He was tried once in Richland Coun-
~, in which Columbia is located,
on a charge Of conspiracy TO defraud
the state by accepting rebates from
liquor dealers on purchases Of liquor
for he use OF the old dispensary. A
newspaper was found in the Jury room
during the trial and the presiding Judge
ordered mistrial. Subsequently Black
was tried IN Chester County on an
other indictment alleging the same Of
fence. He was convicted and was SEN
fenced 10 pay a heavy fine and TO
serve two years in the penitentiary.
BIease's Idea Of Justice.
Blease, announcing that he saw no
Justice in Blacks conviction. inasmuch
as the liquor dealers who gave the re-
bates had not been punished, first re-
mitted the fine and then granted Black
a full pardon.
Another case indicating that the
Governor makes good his campaign
boast that he stands by his friends was
the pardon OF G.. Wash Hunter. The
prisoner. a planter, had killed cripple
named Copeland at Clinton. The case
went through the state courts. the Su-
preme Court OF South Carolina finally
affirming the conviction of Hunter on
a charge of manslaughter. The United
States Supreme Court refused to inter
fere
Throughout the long fight Blease had
,erved as attorney for Hunter. When
the prison yawned before tho convicted
man the Governor granted him a par
don.
A pardon peculiar in its terms was
that OF h. 4. Richcy, a prominent
planter Of Abbevllle County. Richey,
Il was charged. had wronged a young
girl who was an inmate of his home.
The child being under fourteen at the
time Of the crime. the charge was
statutory rape Richey was convicted,
and after a long fight in the courts was
sent TO the penitentiary. His sentence
was ten years. and he began serving It
about a year ago.
This month Blease issued a parole TO
Rlchoy upon the following conditions:
That he appear before the Governor
November %. 1918, to then do and re-
ceiye what the Governor shall direct"
The terms Of the parole further pro-
vidcd that If the Supreme Court. to
which Richey had appealed on the
ground Of after discovered evidence.
granted a new trial the parole was TO
become imperative. Richey was re-
quired to furnish a bond of $4,000 TO
conform 10 these conditions. W. K.
Richey. brother OF the convicted man,
was known in South Carolina as a
strong friend Of the Governor.
In December, 1903. George Hasty shot
and killed Milan Bennett, musical d.
rector. and Abbott Dawson, leading
man, or the NOlulHb pul hOHcS thS-
atrlcal company. in the Palmetto Hotel,
AT Gaffney, S. c. Hasty was tried at
the February term OF the court, in
1n06. and was convicted of murder with
recommendation to the mercy OF the
court lie was sentenced 10 life I'M
urisonment. His appeal failed, and in
1907 he entered the penitentary. In
1912 Governor Blease pardoned him.
Rudolph Rabens, notorious fence,
was serving a long term in the peni-
Tertiary when Bloase came into office.
Soon he. too, was liberated by the Gov
ernor Rabens was known all over
South Carolina as a receiver of stolen
goods for the gang Of ''yeggmen" which
cracked safe after safe in this state
from 1902 to 1905. Among the men who
had dealings with Rudy" Rabens were
the notorious Tennessee Dutch
"slick' Williams. Jimmy" Nolan and
GINS" De Ford. Some of Rabens's for
MGR customers are still serving terms.
In March, 1911. Pope B. Havird. OF
Saluda. was sentenced TO five years for
abusing a young school teacher. Ha-
,,ird who had some wealth. took ex-
ception to the young woman's course
in applying corporal punishment TO one
Of his children. Meeting the young
woman i'm the road one day, 1t was
testified at the trial, Havird attempted
70 drive his mule over her and heaped