Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-15
CONVICT HEIR In
DEAL FOR PARDON
Records of Telephone Device I'm
plicate Governor Blease of
South Carolina.
NICHOLS MAKES NEGOTIATIONS
= Detective Gains Confidence of
Smooth Go-Between.
NICHOLS MAKES NEGOTIATIONS
MONEY PLACED ON DEPOSIT
State Executive to Get Five Thou.
sand Dollars.
LEGISLATORS HEAR EVIDENCE
Conversations Between Detective
and Nichols Increase Weight Of
Charges Against integrity
of Blease.

AUGUSTA, Ga, July 14-More sensa.
tionai testimony charging Governor Cole
L. Blease of South Carolina with Off
cial corruption was introduced before the
dispensary investigating committee of
that states legislature at yesterdays hear
ing. A. S. Reed, a Burns detective, and
Thomas B. Fielder, an Atlanta attorney,
were the principal witnesses. Chairman
r. B.. Carlisle Of the committee. asserted
that the newly adduced charges would
be thoroughly investigated.
Detective Reeds testimony included
records said to have been taken with a
telephone device relative to negotiations
for the alleged purchase Of convict s
pardon from the South Carolina peniten-
tiary. The records, Reed testified, were
of conversations between the detective
and Samuel ]. Nichols, Spartansburg
attorney, reputed to be go-between for
Governor Blease.
Convict Heir to Estate.
Reed testified that James johnson, a
coachman with several aliases, serving a
ten-year sentence in the penitentiary for
robbing safe of 5000, was the convict
about whom the negotiations were con-
Quoted. After making arrangements with
Johnson, according to the detectives tes-
timony. he called upon Nichols and in
formed the latter that the convict was
heir to a large estate but only would be-
come beneficiary by gaining his par
don. The detective testified that Nichols
was interested and the former agreed to
pay the attorney good fee. AS an evil
dence of good faith, the detective states,
he gave Nichols check for $500.
Reed then read records said to have
been taken by the telephone device Of
conversations he had with Nichols at the
Willard hotel in Washington on June 16
1872. According to the records, Nichols
told of his influence with Governor
Blease and named the terms upon which
he would obtain the release of the con-
: vict The amount was tentatively fixed
at $4,000 or $1,000.
Large Sum for Governor.
The record. as read, showed that
Nichols repeatedly referred to the amount
Of the proceeds which would go to Gov
ernor Blease for signing the pardon. On
two occasions this sum was stated at
5000. According to the record, Nichols
was to receive 5000 and his law partner,
C. r. Sims, 5000. A number Of kilograms
were introduced insevidence from Nichols
to Reed, one Of which was to the effect
that Nichols had left Spartansburg to
confer with Blease about the pardon.
When Reed had concluded Thomas B.
Fielder testified that a certain, amount of.
money had been put on deposit with the
understanding that it was to be released
to Nichols order as soon as Reed re-
ceived a cipher telegram from Nichols
stating that the convict had been par
doned. ,=l''.t '.'..t
I'VE know" testified Fielder, that
Nichols left Spartanburg to confer with
Blease, that he saw Blease and was
closeted with the governor at Blackville
Friday night. We have been unable to
locate Nichols today. however"
Mystery attendant upon the adjourn
ment of the hearing from this morning
until this afternoon was cleared up by
Mr.. Fielder on the witness stand. He said
he had expected Governor B!ease to sign
Johnson's pardon during that time and
for that reason the postponement was
taken.
At the conclusion of Thomas B. Felder's
testimony the hearing of the commit
tee was indefinitely adjourned.