The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-07-24
GOVERNOR BLEAsE
ANSWERS CHARGES.
Submits Afffdavits-Statement
Covers 6O'Typewritten Pages.
is WILLING TO MEET ANY ISSUE.
H. I'll. Evans, L. w. BOykin, Jo-
die Rawlinson, John Black,
John Bell ToWiIl and
Others Make
Affiuavfts.

Columbia, July 2O.-Gov. Cole L. Blease
today issued his promised statement re-
futing the charges brought against him
by Thos. B. Fielder, Of Georgia and w.
Burns, the detective. Including copies OF
ahdavits. the statement makes about 60
pages Of typewriter manuscript. Each
and every charge or rumor Is taken up
separately and answered by the governor.
Blease says Fielder erred when he says
ne went to Charleston between the two
primaries in 1910 to get money from the
"tigers" for his (Blease's) campaign ex-
penses.
He says the statement that he is getting
graft from the Charleston blind tigers
originated with Mayor Grace, Of that city
owing to the governors refusal to allow
Grace to control the constabulary there. :
The governor denies that he received
any money for bis signature to, the inter-
urban railway act or that he knew OF any
plans to buy pardon for Gus DeFord or
any one else and says that not: one word
about it had been said to him by Nichols.
PARDoNs AND PETITIONS.
AS to the pardon for F. W. Bentley the
governor denies that he received pay for
its issuance. He says check for S25 was
sent him sfor the payment Of Bentley's
railroad fare to his home In Iowa, but that
no other money figured in the transaction.
The governor mentions persons from
whom petitions were received requesting
pardons, one Of whom was the Rev. DIR.
W. A. c. Mueller a Lutheran pastor Of
Charleston. He says the accusation made
by Fielder that $4,000 had been paid by.
Rabens for his freedom was a wilfnI false
hood and he submits afidavits from Rs-
bens and Dr.. Mueller purporting to deny
this charge. = q az
He presents an affidavit from b. II.
Evans to the effect that he has never had
any transaction with Blease as to dispen-
sary affairs or that he and Blease we're
never in Atlanta together nor has he ever
had money paid to him by any party for
Governor Blease.
Gov Blease also presented safidavits
from dozen persons that he was not con-
cerned in any liquor or other corrupt
transactions.
AS to the famous "T. B." letters, OF
which Fielder has denied authorship, the
governor said that he had submitted the
letters to several gentlemen Of Columbia
who are fami liar with the handwriting OF
Fielder, and that these gentlemen are viii
ing to go on the stand and swear that the
letters were written by T. B. Fielder. Per-
sons in the State OF Georgia, who are also
familiar with the handwriting Of Fielder,
had made the same assertions. II have
also two letters written by Felder-one
from England and one from a point In tho
United States-to a. woman, and the writ
ing Of these letters compared with those
Of the "T. B" letters, shows that the let
ters hold were written by Fielder"
In conclusion the governor says that he
he has endeavored to answer every charge
made against him, but If any honest man
in South Carolina desires any information
regarding anything, however small, re-
garding any alleged dishonorable act, ne
is willing to answer the accusation.