The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-20
NICHOLS WILL EXPLAIN.
SAYS HE WILL FULLY JUSTIFY
HIS COURSE As TO DE FORD.
Lawyer says He Will Confront De-
tcctiNc With Telegram To Prove III
Ntracity-BOth Before Committee.

Spartanburg, July l6.-Sanuel ].
Nichols tonight broke the silence
which he has maintained in regard
| to the charge that he. as AGENT of
Gov. Blease, planned to secure a par
don for James Johnson, the safe
bower, in exchange for $4,000
| prlbe. OF which the governor, it is al
legged, was TO receive $1,000. Mr..
Nichols issued statement denying
report in an Atlanta paper and a
local paper in which Thomas g. Eel
der and Detective T.. 5. Reed were
quoted as saying that Mr.. Nichols
last Friday night sent a telegram
after conference with the governor.
telling Reed, who was posing as Henry
y. Porter, an attorney Of Chicago. to
come South and wind up the pardon
transaction. Messrs. Fielder and Reed
were quoted as saying that the tele-
cepted the bride.
Mr.. Nichols said tonight that the
telegram to which they alluded read
as follows: Things do not look good.
Come to Spartanburg at once"
Mr.. Nichols referred to Col. Eel
der's reported statement as To the
telegram as ''one of the dirtiest lies
that has been published in connection
with this outrageous reflection on t,,s
governor and myself He said that
Senator Howard +. Carlisle h. d re-
quested Detective Reed to appear at
the legislative investigating commit
tees hearing at Columbia Thursday.
Further, Mr.. Nichols said he would
take the stand and fully justly my
whole connection with this matter"
Mr.. Nichols asked a reporter t.
come to his office and dictated the
following statement:
| had not expected TO make any
statement in regard to the matter of
johnson, alias DeFord's pardon. pre-
ferring, as | stated, to go before the
committee and testify as to the exact
facts in the case. / realize that the
people are anXiOusly awaiting my
statement But l notice in a local
paper this afternoon that Mr.. Reed
says he has a telegram which shows
mat Gov. Blease accepted the $4,000
be which they say was offered.
They say further that the telegram
tells Reed, alias Porter, to hurry on
South and wind up the deal and pay
his money and get his pardon.
| L wish to say that this is one OF
the dlrtiest lies that has been pub
lshed in Connection with this out
rageous reflection on the governor ana
myself. and cannot allow it To go
unnoticcd even until the commission
meets again.
Mr.. Reed has been summoned by
Senator Carlisle at my request to
appear before the commission when
appear, and il is either up to him
To produce such II telegram from mo
or To admit he mas lied in this rs Well
AZ IN other parts of the transaction
Il went to the lower part of the
state with the intention OF asking
GOV. Blease II he intended to CON
slider any pardons before the election
ana upon finding out how busy he
was | did not mention the pardon
matter to him at all, as he has stated.
Il have in my possession the only
telegram which Porter received from
me after left Spartanburg. which
telegram will be introduced by me
lat the hearing before The commission
and which telegram, sent as above
stated, after | had decided not TO
mention the matter to the governor.
reads IS follows: Things do not look
good Come t. SpaItanburg at once.
AS ! have stated. this is all that
care To give out before | appear
before the commission. and ut that
time can fully justify my whole
connection with this matter"
Mr.. Nichols sent the telegram re-
ferred to from Blackville, S. c., ana
1T was addressed to Henry y. Porter
In Chicago. Mr.. Nichols obtained a
copy OF the telegram yesterday from
j. w. Eubanks. telegraph operator.
at Blackville.
The commission viii meet in CO.
Umbia Thursday.
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