The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-18

ISOul SACSO SOSAoS3 opASAo "NNA ~ r
up as witnesses. The testimony was
sworn to by Detective Henry N.
Porter"
The Interurban Deal.
The dictagraph testimony further
showed how Sam J. Nichols secured a
charter for the Piedmont Northern
railway. According to the testimony
he had a row with Governor Blease
and threatened to desert him unless
he signed the bill. The testimony
shows that Nichols said that the sign
ing of the bill meant $4,000 a year
to him. According to the testimony,
Nichols told Blease that his hatred
for Lewis W. Parker and "Smyth" or
the money paid by the Southern Rail-
way was keeping him from signing
the bill. Governor Blease signed the
bill and the dictagraph relates a
stormy scene. This conversation, set
ting out the statements, was between
Sam ]. Nichols and Henry N. Por-
ter" the detective.
Fielder on Stand.
Fielder occupied the witness stand
for several hours this afternoon and
read excerpts from the dictagraph
testimony relative to the conversa-
tion between Nichols and Detective
Porter. The conversation of Porter"
bristled with fine humor and sarcasm
when it was read.
Reed Takes Stand.
Taking the stand this afternoon, E.
S. Reed, who was known as Henry
Porter the Chicago attorney, said
that he had been engaged in the de-
tective business for 20 years. He
said that when w. ]. Burns under
took the graft investigation in South
Carolina that he was assigned to Co.
lumbia and the western section of the
State and that "Bailie," the other
Burns man, known as 'Ethe fascin-
ating Mr.. Wilson," had been detailed
to work in Charleston. Porter hand
ed the committee one of his cards
used in making the investigation.
This gave the information that he
was "a Chicago lawyer" In answer
to questions by Fielder, Porter said
that he had used the dictagraph to
gather the testimony in connection
with the sale of pardons.
Selected Worst Criminal.
1--WE selected" said Porter, "the
worst criminal in the South Carolina
penitentiary for our investigation.
This man was known as Gus Deford,
alias James Johnson, alias Edward
Murphy, alias Edward Hollaway, alias
G. w. Deford, alias G. M. Deford and
other aliases. This man was a yegg-
man and safe blower. He had just
served a sentence of five years in the
federal prison in Atlanta when he
was convicted in South Carolina. DE
ford was convicted in Spartanburg
county"
Telegrams in Evidence.
Porter read several kilograms that
he exchanged with Nichols. The tele-
grams wer introduced in evidence.
Porter declared that after he had
talked over the matter of securing a
pardon for Deford he paid Sam j.
Nichols check for $500. This check
he said was deposited in the Bank of
Commerce of Spartanburg to the
credit of Sam ]. Nichols and that the
check would be later placed in evil
dence. Another check was drawn for
$500, subject to the order of Nichols,
said the witness. This money was
turned loose to aid Nichols in secur-
ing the pardon. Here Porter told Of
the injection of the dictagraph in the
investigation. The dictagraph. was
used in the Finch hotel in Spartan
burg and in the New Willard hotel
in Washington.
First Meeting June %.
The first meeting between Nichols
and Porter occurred on June %. Por-
ter said that he, after arriving in
Spartanburg and installing himself in
room 4S of the Finch hotel, he sent
note to Sam j. Nichols, asking that
he call and talk over the securing of
pardon for Deford. Nichols sent
back a note saying that he was going
out of town and that it would be i'm
possible to talk over the matter. A
second note was sent to Nichols by
Porter. A second reply was received.
The reply of Nichols will be submit
ted to the committee by Porter. The
witness said that an expert stenogra-
rker by the name of S. Teitlebaum
was located in the room next to num-
Der 48.
Dictagraph in Finch Hotel.