Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-08
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.

member or the PARDON DOarQ 10 sue
ceed w. A. Clark. Capt. Iredell Jones
of Rock Hill has been appointed to
succeed himself on the board Of re-
gents of the state hospital.
Union, March 6: The Union Times
building and plant was practically de-
stroyed by fire here this morning at
o'clock. The fire started in the second
story of the splendid new building,
which has only been completed for the
past two years. This morning when
Editor Rice was seen by a newspaper
man, he stated that he did not know
the origin of the fire, but had his pri-
vate opinion which he did not care to
express. The building and plant were
insured for half value.
II Under instructions from the presi-
dent, says a Washington dispatch, At
torney General Wickersham has insti-
tuted an investigation of the case Of
M. A. Carlisle, convicted at Newberry,
s. c., of violating the national laws
and misappropriating $470, to deter
mine whether the man Is deserving Of
executive clemency. Senator Tillman
and Representatives Johnson, Finley
and Ellerbe of South Carolina, have
told the president that Carlisle's sem
tence of five years was excessive. BY
direction Of the attorney general, Dis
trict Attorney Cochran Of Charleston,
has had the courts mandate held up
and will report to Washington upor
the justification Of a communication OF
sentence or pardon.
- Columbia Record, Thursday: The
general assembly's committee to in
vestigate the affairs of the late state
|dispensary, convened in the state IL
l. IN
nesses were sworn, former Governor
John Gary Evans and Attorney Cen
eral Lyon. The principal testimony Of
general interest was to the effect that
Governor Blease's charge that an
agreement had been made between
John Gary Evans, H. H. Evans, Thos.
B. Fielder and Attorney General Lyon
was false. 1t was branded by both
witnesses as absolutely without truth.
Present at the hearing on Thursday
morning were Senators H. B. Carlisle,
]. H. Clifton and G. w. Sullivan and
Representatives w. l. Daniel and j.
]. Evans, members of the commission.
Mr.. F. M. Cary was absent. Messrs.
Brice Of the "Ansel" winding-up COM
mission were also present. Mr.. r. H.
Kennedy, marshal Of the committee,
was also present. On opening the
investigation, Chairman Carlisle stated
that Governor Blease had heen
notified by the marshal that Hhe
committee would sit at noon Thurs
day and that it would be glad to hear
anything that he would care to tell
concerning the late dispensary af-
fairs Governor Blease sent back the
answer that he had made all commu-
nications that he desired to make to
the committee in his message last
lyear and that he did not care to be
bothered any more about the matter.
The committee was appointed accord
ing to an act of the legislature Of 1911.
which act was vetoed by the gover-
nor, but passed this year over his
veto. 1t is understood that Attorney
Fielder of Atlanta, will be asked to ap-
pear before the committee. Mr.. John
Gary Evans of Spartanburg, former
governor of the state, was the first
witness before the investigating COM
mittee. He was asked by Senator
Clifton IL he knew anything Of any
agreement made in Atlanta between j.
lG. Evans, H. H. Evans, Attorney Cen
eral Lyon and Thos. B. Fielder Mr..
Evans replied that there was no foun-
dation in fact for the statement that
an agreement of such a nature had
such statement. Governor Blease had
said that such an agreement had been
made. Mr. Evans said he had never
seen any of these gentlemen outside
of the state and that none Of these
gentlemen had ever talked with him
as to their connection with the former
state dispensary. He had never had
any conference with Fielder and he did
not know what Governor Blease's in
tention was in making statement Of
such a nature as that concerning the
alleged agreement. Mr.. Evans stated
that he had had a conversation with
Fielder on a passenger train and that
Fielder had said he could give Attor-
ney General Lyon evidence that would
lead to the conviction of whisky men
and others who had grated on the
state dispensary. Mr.. Evans said that
statements and that Mr.. Lyon had
said he would communicate with Mr..
Fielder. Such communication later
was made Attorney General Lyon
was the next witness. He also denied
Governor Blease's accusation in re-
gard to the alleged J. G. Evans-H. H.
Evans -Felder-Jyon agreement. He
said: There is no color of truth or
Foundation in fact for the governors
statement that such an agreement had
been made" He further said he did
not know what the governors inten-
ftion was in making such statement.
He supposed 1t was a fabric Of his
own imagination" Referring to the
Indictment against H. H. Evans Of
Newberry, Mr.. Lyon said that he had
evidence that would lead to the con-
viction Of Mr.. Evans for graft In con-
ha Mr
Lyon stated that he had been in At
lanta about two and a half years ago
and that Fielder had said that H. H.
Evans had told him that he could give
evidence that would lead to the con-
viction Of persons in connection with
the dispensary. Fielder had then told
Mr.. Lyon that he believed H. H. Evans
would confess that he had grated on
the dispensary. Mr.. Lyon said that he
saw H. H. Evans in Mr.. Felder's office,
but Mr.. Evans would not talk Of his
connection with the dispensary. He
said, however, that he could give the
attorney general tip that would lead
to graft prosecutions. Attorney Cen
eral Lyon told the committee that II
H. H. Evans would go on the stand and
tell all he knew of the graft cases he
would he willing to give him full i'm
munity. Mr.. Lyon stated that he had
received no money from any firm or
individual in connection with any
graft prosecution, and for all money
he had received there were vouchers in
the hands of the Murray" winding
up commission. He said that Cover
nor Blease had no evidence that would
lead to his statement as to his receiv-
ing any money in such connection. AS
to the Fleischmann compromise, Mr.
Lyon said no F'leischmann had ever
been indicted in this state and he did
not know to what Fleischmann Cover
nor Blease referred when he had ask
ed questions in this connection. He
said that there was no truth in the
statement that Morton Goodman, the
liquor drummer. had paid money to have
the Indictment against him mol pross-
ed. Mr.. Lyon said that If Governor
Blease had any evidence against any
member of any dispensary board and
would produce it, he would take steps
towards the prosecution of that per-
son. He said that If 1t was generally
rumOred about the state. such having
been intimated, that Fielder had paid
rebates on dispensary sales, he knew
nothing of it and he would be glad to
know it.