The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-24

Columbia, July Ex-senator Car
isle, the chairman Of the investigat-
ing committee, did not arrive here
from Spartanburg until noon and the
proceedings began at that hour.
Samuel j. Nichols, the Spartanburg
attorney. went on the stand then and
told of his side of the alleged deal,
which Detective Reed claimed to
have made with him to buy the par
don OF James Johnson, the notorious
yeggman. Nichols, with an array of
prominent attorneys. was here to go
on the stand. Several people from
different parts of the State are pres
ent.
The library at the State house was
we'll filed with spectators when the
dispensary investigating committee
assembled today at noon to hear the
testimony Of Sam ]. Nichols. who was
charged in Detective Reeds testi-
mony with having been employed by
him In the alleged scheme to buy a
pardon for James Johnson. alias
cracker.
Gus DeFOrd, the notorious safe
Mr. Nichols was present with his
attorneys. his father. Judge Geo. w.
Nichols and Ralph X. Carson, c. p.
Sanders. w. Nj. Jones c. P. Sims.
Robert T. CAN'T of Spartanburg. ].
G. Hughes of Union. w. S. Nelson of
Columbia and C. c. Wyche of Spar
tanburg.
All of the investigating commit
tee were present except, w. l.. Daniel
of Saluia.
Prior to opening the public ses-
sion. the investigating committee
held a short executive session. They
filed in the library at 1920 and took
their seats.
Carlisle called the meeting to order
at 1925 and announced that it was
called chiefly to hear the testimony
Of S. j. Nichols. Mr.. Nichols gave the
names of G. p. Sanders and w. Nj.
Jones as counsel, who would appear
for him today.
Chairman Carlisle read into the
record rhe statement that he had at
the request of Mr.. Nichols requested
Fielder to have f. :. Reed. the detec-
tive. present at the hearing today. He
also read into the record Felder's
reply that Reed had left Atlanta for
Chicago but that if he were there ne
would not come into South Carolina
to testify.
w. NJ Jones, Of counsel for Nichols.
asked questions of Nichols to show
that Reed. the detective had come TO
Spartanburg posing as a Chicago law
yer. who wanted to represent the man
tentiary.
Reed, Nichols said. had been sent
TO him by Spartanburg hackman.
Mr.. Porter" was referred to c. +.
Sims of Spartanburg. Nichols went
into the details of certain arrange
mCnts as made between Porter.
Sims and himself as To representing
ID, Ford. and accounts OF which have
already peen published.
Nichols related certain things about
his conversation with Porter in
the Hotel Finch. Nicho's corrobor-
ated certain testimony that had been
taEen by the dictagraph. He OK
planned that he went into the Inter
urban" ease and said he had tuli
Reed it had been reported that he
had been paid 100000 for the sign
log of the Incorporating act. He said
hr had told Reed this was a damn
lie" He said he had told the GOV
crnor his refusal To sign The ILL
would hurt the Piedmont section.
but he had paid the governor moth
Ing, and he had not even received Il
fee from the Southern Power COM
pany. which he represented for his
wcrk in connection with the intcrur-
Ian franchise.
Nichols Currohoratcd the testimony
talcn hy the dictagraph that he saIi
II WAS lie that Hlease had received
"sraft."
Nichols said he had borne much
Of the governors campaign expenses
in 1910, ana he proposed To- do ;his
aE,ain Nichols said when he went
into Reeds room at the Hotel Finch
there were two quarts "f scotch Whis-
KY Oh the dresser; that he got drums
and that now he can't say what took