Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-16

attorney general brought forth fresl
applause.
Early in his testimony Fielder dispos
ed of the famous "T. b." letter by sub
hitting an affidavit that the chic
clerk in his law office, F. H. Krauss
was a confessed forger; that he went t.
Newberry and forged the "T. B." let
ter, which was we'll known to Bleast
when the governor gave the letter tt
the press. Substantiating this testi.
mony, Fielder submitted the following
affidavit as testimony:
Georgia, Fulton county:
Personally appeared before the un'
/ dersigned, an officer authorized by Law
to administer oaths, Daniel w. Roun-
tree, who first being duly and legally
sworn, deposeth and saith:
THAT during the years 1904 and
1905, F. H. Krauss was employed by
his law firm, Fielder & Rountree and
afterwards Fielder, Rountree & Wilson
as chief clerk and stenographer. In
this capacity, he kept the books Of the
firm, wrote checks, receipts, deposited
moneys, and. in short discharged all
duties devolving upon him in the ca
pacity of chief clerk, stenographer,
bookkeeper and cashier for said firm.
During the year 1905 deponent and his
associates discovered that the said F.
H. Krauss was short in his accounts
with said firm and deponent. Upon
investigation of the matter, 1t was dis
covered that said shortage aggregated
several thousand dollars. Upon being
confronted Herewith, the said F. H.
Krauss made to deponent and his as
sociates full and complete confession,
describing minutely and particularly
the method employed by him In con-
cealing his peculations. 1t developed
that the said F. H. Krauss had forged
checks, drafts, receipts and other doc
uments, signing thereto deponent's
name and the name Of deponent's firm.
The forgery was so we'll executed that
1t was hardly possible, even with the
use of a magnifying glass. to distin-
guish the genuine handwriting Of de-
ponent and his associates from the
spurious.
"Deponent further says that this
practice of the said Krauss extended
through the period Of about two years.
from his knowledge Of the extent to
which the said F. H. Krauss practiced
this art or forgery deponent says that
in his judgment he Is a master Of the
art of initiating handwriting.
"Deponent further says that in re-
ferring to Mr.. Fielder or in speaking of
him to deponent, he would usually, II
not always, refer to him as T. B.
Daniel w. Rountree."
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
this 11th day of July, 1912, Chas. S.
Bowen, Fulton county, Ga"
The bulk of the documentary evil
dence submitted by Mr.. Fielder up to
the time Of evening adjournment was
that gathered in personal conversation
and by use Of the dictagraph by "Mr.
Wilson of Charleston" who in reality
is Detective Bailey of the Burns force.
Those documents which got In through
being read by Mr.. Fielder before turn
ing over to the committee, as sworn
evidence, are as follows:
First Document.
ben Stothart, chief constable, ap-
pointed by Blease. stated at the time
of his appointment to the position, 1t
was understood between him and the
governor that protection should be
given to the blind tigers operating In
the city Of Charleston, provided they
would pay a stipulated sum per month
to him, that this sum amounted In the
aggregate to between $500 and
5000 per month; that as soon as
the collections were made he deduct
ed his commissions for making the
same and would personally take the
balance to Columbia. S. c., and pay
it over to the governor.
He stated further that protests
had been made to the governor
against these collections by interested
parties; but that the governor would
pay no attention to them; that de-
mand had been made upon the gov
ernor for his dismissal, but that he
felt perfectly secure in his job. for
the governor was a man Of independ-
ence and had the power to do as he
pleased with 1t.
"Also that the governor had Is
sued a pardon to Rudolph Rabons.
a blind tiger man of the city of Char
lesion { believe this is the name),
receiving therefor the sum of $4,000
in cash. The said Stothart stated that
he had conducted the negotiations
which resulted in the pardon Of this
man.
This conversation occurred In the
Argyle hotel in the city of Charleston
after the said Stothart and party
had had several drinks together
in the blind tigers Of the city OF
Charleston"
Second Document.
During the time that Cole. L.
Blease represented Newberry county
in the state senate. gentleman by
the name of F. Charlton Wright, who
came from Savannah, Ca, whose
brother was division superintendent OF
one Of the railroads, perhaps the Sea-
board Air Line, with headquarters ir
Columbia, and who came to Columbia
as private secretary to p. I. Wells
superintendent of the Southern. was
transferred from that position to the
position as private secretary of the
general counsel of the Southern rail-
| road.
"Mr. w. Charlton Wright was inter
viewed at length in the city of Co.
lumbia. and discussed conditions OBJ
tanning there during his incumbency
as private secretary of the genera
counsel of the Southern railroad. He
discussed at length the dishonesty Of
Senator Cole l.. Blease. The mos
| pertinent statement made by him
which is quoted literally, is as fol