The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-02

was shipped and stands IN the orig
inal express package in my office dust
coated. think a recital of the above
will show what 1 thought of his staff
appointment.
CAS- to his statement that T. have
never been in the mansion but one
time that also is lie and he knows
it. I do not myself know exactly how
many times was there, but several
times at any rate, and particularly
when he begged me to come to the
governors reception which I did.
The Game Rooster.
"The incident of the game rooster
T remember we'll. He says 1 came to
get a fine game cock which he gave
me and also to request him to ap-
point my brother to a position in case
war came on with Mexico.
"In the first place he never knew he
had a game cock until I got on one
occasion to the mansion. 1t may have
been the time when I did go with my
brother who is a graduate of West
Point, and who has ever since been
a lieutenant and is now a first lieu
tenant in the army stationed in the
Philippines. 1t was a perfectly nat
ural request for me to make of one
under such deep obligations to me
and for one to whom am most ten
derly attached, but it was not to get
a position in the army.
"Of my own belief that Blease would
give any preference to him when it
was the easiest thing in the world for
Blease to do it, 1 asked Blease if he
would not designate him under some
act which permitted him to designate
to the federal government the officers
in charge of the South Carolina regi-
ments.
eff it was on this occasion, and I am
almost sure that it was not, but upon
whatever occasion it was, recall that
when 1 was about to go Blease asked
me if I liked game chickens. I told
him that I did very much. He said:
We'll, I have a game cock that was
sent to me a few days ago by man
who said that he was sending the best
cock in South Carolina and I don't
want it and 1 will give it to you
ct took it and have it yet. But in
connection with this visit, if it was the
visit when my brother was there with
me distinctly remember this incident
and, it seems to me it throws flood
of light on whether or not he trust
ed me.
"About this time there was a great
deal being said about the dispensary
and Blease's corrupt connections with
it-particularly the charge made by
Fielder.
The "T. B." Letter.
'sHe said to me: I have something
in my pocket that I want to show you,
and I want to get your judgment
upon it, He went down in his coat
pocket and pulled out letter and
handing it to me, said: Read that 1t
was none other than the now famous
letter signed TT. B. alleged to have
been written by Fielder to Hub Evans
in which it was proposed that Hub
Evans and Fielder organize some gi-
gantic scheme in connection with the
old State dispensary.
Gas I read this letter I recalled a
scene at Wright's hotel the night be
fore his Inauguration. 1t was the first
real insight had ever had into Blease
and the atmosphere in which he NOV
ed, and I think I can say that without
exception it is about the natiest rec
objection in my life.
'It was a grand carouse and I re-
member that Hub Evans said to me:
John, I am going to call on you some
day, because he said, you're just the
man I want He then went at length
into his approval of the way in which
T had won the Mordecai-O'Neill will
case, which was at that time stirring
through the newspapers.
"He said: 4 am going to want you
to take charge of all this dispensary
mess, and in that connection 1 just
want to tell you one thing: I've got
one letter that's going to put Fielder
1u+ of business