The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-04-06
WILL SUBPOENA BLELSE.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO DE
MAND THAT GOVERNOR GIVE
TESTIMONY.
sharp Issue of Veracity Raised Be-
tween Senator w. j. johnson and
II. ID. Rantin-.Attorney General
Lyon Gives Record to Refute James
v. Wallace.

Columbia, April 4.-Members of the
Legislative committee said yesterday
that every legal method will be used
to force the governor Of South Caro-
lima to appear in person before the
committee and make good his charges
and insinuations preferred in special
message No. which was sent to the
general assembly. The governor
charged in the message wrong doing
on the part of Attorney General Lyon
and members Of the Ansel commits
sion. More than score OF witnesses
have been called by the committee
and not one charge has been substan-
tiated. The governor has been re-
quested to appear on three occasions.
The committee has met with a fiat
refusal each time. Members of the
committee also stated that the court
would very probably be asked for an
order to force the governor to give
up the letters alleged to have been
written by T. B. Fielder to II. H.
Evans.
A sharp issue of veracity was raised
yesterday between Senator w. J.
Johnson Of Fairfield county and H. d.
Rantin, former editor of the Fairfield
News. a weekly paper published at
, Ridgeway when Mr.. Rantin took the
stand before the legislative commit
tee and declared that Senator John
son had given him the information
that $50, 900 had been paid by James
S. Farnum for immunity. During
last year there appeared in the Fair
field News an editorial to the effect
that Farnum had paid $4,000 and
that seven indictments We're wiped
out against him. The statement was
made directly. Mr.. Rantin was the
editor Of the paper at that time. He
declared yesterday that the informa-
ton had been giyea, him by. Senator
commission Senator johnson denied
that he knew Of any additional money
being paid by Farnum to Attorney
General Lyon or any other State Of
fetal. Members of the investigating
committee said yesterday that Sena-
tor Johnson will be recalled to testify.
1t was brought out that Senator John
son was stockholder in the Fairfield
News when the editorial appeared.
| The witnesses appearing yesterday
! expressed high opinions as to the
| ability Of the members of the AnseI
commission. The governor dismissed
the commission on the grounds Of in
capacity.
A letter was received by the COM
mission from Il. Frank Kelly of Bish-
opville, former secretary of the Blease
commission, who resigned. Mr.. Kelly
stated that on account of court 'usi-
ness that he was unable 70 attend
the sessions yesterday but that he
would be glad to attend at any future
date to be assigned by the commits
sion.
| James Y. Wallace, member of ;he
Blease commission appearing before
the committee yesterday, insinuated
! that Attorney General Lyon and Z. b.
Fielder had deposited some money in
bank in Cincinnati which they hid
collected from Dennis Weiskopf who
had overcharged the state of South
Carolina for labels and intimated that
it was the intention Of Lyon and Eel
der 10 cover up the money as it had
not been reported to the Blease COM
! mission. Mr.. Wallace stated that the
/ first time the Blease commission knew
that this money was on deposit in
! Cincinnati was when =. II. Nelson
! brought out the fact on cross-exami-
nation of one of Mr.. Lyons witnesses
in the trial of the famous label
case"
At this point Attorney General
Lyon called the committees attention
to the fact that Mr.. Wallace was "giv-
ing his opinion as evidence and that
the opinions wee false" Mr. Lyon
also said that he had in his posses
sion a copy Of the written contract
| entered into by Mr.. Fielder with
WeiSkopf by which il was agreed to
pay to the state $500 when Weis-
kopf was relieved from further prose
cution in this state and that the
money was on deposit in a Cincinnati
bank to the credit Of T. r. Fielder
| Howard Ferris and J. s. Graydon rs
trustees to be paid to the state dis