The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-07-23
GOVERNOR BLEASE REPLIES
TO AUGUSTA "TESTIMON1"
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 81.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3.
tablished the fact that had not know
ledge that any application Tor the
pardon of Gus DeFord would be pre-
sented and that was not even aware
that this convict was in the pen1ten-
tiary. The matter of pardon OF tnls
convict was never mentioned to me,
and Caut. Nichols so states unoer
oath. This testimony was published
IN the Columbia State, in its issue OF
July 19.
The Bentley Parole.
IT. is stated in the State that two
letters purporting to bear On the par
don record of Gov. Blease were read
nv Fielder before the committee and
that the case referred to in those two
letters was being investigated by the
Burns detective agency.
The first letter, it is stated, is on
the letter paper of Lyon & Lyon, at
torneys at law, of Dubuque, Iowa. 1t
does not appear to whom this letter
Is addressed, but it is signed Geo. T.
Lyon" and refers to letter written
to Miss Bentley" and speaks of the
fact that a draft "sent payable to the
governor has never been cashed."
The second letter, addressed to
"Dear Frank" is signed by "Nettie,"
and states that "when the governor
asked to have the money sent to him,
YOU would think he had made up his
mind as to what he wanted to do. We
have heard nothing from him."
These letters pertain to the parole
granted to Frank w. Bentley, young
white man sent to the penitentiary
from Richland county for the crime of
forgery. The petition for pardon was
presented to me by Barrett Jones,
ESQ, of Batesburg, S. C. I refused
to pardon Bentley, but on the show
ing made, on May IA, 1912, I paroled
him on the condition that he leave the
State. Bentley's crime was the forg-
ing of two checks by which he OBJ
tained SO from Mr. Ben David of Co.
lumbia and S25 from Mr.. J. Flanni-
gan, formerly of Columbia. Both Mr..
Flanagan and Mr.. David, as we'll as
Solicitor Zimmerman, the prosecuting
attorney, requested executive clem-
ency. Mr.. John Neill, a member of
the company whose signature was
forged, also requested me to release
him.
Bentley was formerly of Dubuque,
Iowa, where his mother and sister,
Nettie, now live. The sister had At
torney George T. Lyon interested in
the matter of securing young Bentley's
release, and Mr. Lyon stated in letter
to me that he was getting no compen-
sation for his services, but was inter-
ested in the matter because of his
friendship for the Bentley family;
that the Bentleys were good people
and that Bentley had borne an excel
lent reputation at his old home.
Mr. Lyon sent me draft for SIS
for the purpose of furnishing trans
portation for Bentley from Columbia
to Dubuque, and to carry olt the COLI
ditions of the parole. have in my
Office receipt from Bentley 70" the
amount of the draft, and Mr.. ". F..
Blackburn, the stenographer in my Of
fee, went to the depot, purchased a
ticket from Columbia to Dubuque, at
cost of s2455 and gave the ticket
and the remaining 45 cents to Bent
ley, and showed him the train to take
for his home, which he boarded.
Ali the correspondence in regard to
this matter is On file in the governors
Office, open to the inspection of any
one who wishes to see it. I submit
two letters received from Attorney
Lyon and the affidavit of Mr.. Black
burn.
(Copy.)