The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-20

ANA, now, with reference 10 the diff
fculties of the average Iavmap -
dlgslng out the salient points of the
estimony against Blease: II only
needs to be said, that there is. ner-
maps, no governor of any State. any,
lwhere-and has never been since re-
construction days-against whom so
much damaging evidence could he
brought even b. his enemies: car-
talnly not one whose friends and as
|sociates hold him so low in their esti-
nation as:
% To admit that he attempted
to raise and use a $4,000 corruption
fund in-the State senate while. him.
self, member Of that body;
CD To admit that he not onlv
authorized but demanded tribute"
OF about $4,000 per month, less the
cost Of collection, from the "blind
tigers Of city within his State;
tS) To admit that he would ac-
cept $4,000 as his part Of a $4,000
bribe for granting a pardon to "tbe
worst criminal in the penitentiary" of
his State.
Mind you, The Chronicle is not nm
dertaking to say all Of these tbines
are so, but that this is the estimate
Placed upon the present governor of
South Carolina by his own friends and
present or former associates
Ihen, as to the pont--which is.
perhaps, we'll taken-that, so far. a
court house case" has not been made
)ut against Blease: 1t should be
borne in mind that tn s was not. nee
essarily, the purpose Of the investiga-
tion; the real purpose merely TO bring
out all available evidence; and also.
that strict procedure" could not be
mad In an inquiry Of this nature. Nee
essarily, the investigation; the real
purpose being to bring this, also.
must be borne in mind: Cd That Mr..
Briggs Wilson's charges against
Blease are fully vouched for by the
afhdavit of Smith d. Pickett. a per-
iectly reputable witness and we'll
known citizen of Georgia, and that
Mr.. Wilson, himself, will not denv the
charges If put upon the stand: (2)
That Stothart's statements as to
graft collected in Charleston will be
testified to by the men in whose nres-
ence he made them, by the president
OF the Charleston brewery and by
numerous Charleston blind tiger
Keepers who We're compelled to pay
graft to somebody for protection;
notably HaSselmeyer, who related the
whole matter to one of Burns de.
tectVes: and it may, even vet. be.
dragged OUT of Sottille, the Char
lesion blind tiger king" who here
tofore. however. has taken refuge be-
hind the plea that, by testifying. he
would incriminate himself Cd
That the testimony of Sam Nichols,
Wnlle merely 'cOrrObOratiye"-be
cause the 20. k. letter that they long
ed FOR never came-it is thought be-
cause too much publicity had flush
ed the covey'-is admissible under
the laws OF South Carolina. and is
competent' because il was taken by
the "dictagraph," with reputable stem
ographcrs At the other end of it
one of them 4 former chief clerk to
Postmaster General Hitchcock-and
the courts have already ruled and
passed faNorably upon the admissible
lty Of 'dictagraph" testimony. The
purport of Nichols "dictagraph''
testimony being To show that he
knew his governor" knew what would
move him and knew that. for $4,000.
he would have no trouble in securing
pardon for the worst criminal in
the South Carolina penitentiary"-
after the election"
Look al II as YOU please. therefore,
the record is an astounding one. il is
startling one; and il reveals con-
Niction which can but be humiliating
To the proud people of our sister
State.