The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-03-12


IneH nothing about it; that he hao
never seem Attorney General Lyon
outside of the State, and that he had
never seen H. H. Evans outside of
South Carolina, and IN fact didn't re-
es31 having seen Club" Evans for
four years, until the inauguration OF
GoFernor Blease. None Of the gentle
mon referred to had spoken to him
in an advisory manner as to conduct
ps themselves relative to the dispen-
sary affairs. He said again that there
was no foundation for such charge
as to the alleged Atlanta conference.
Mr.. Evans stated that he had never
had any conference with Fielder, but
mat just after the election Of Ar. Ly-
On as attorney general he met Fielder
an a train coming from New York;
nat in conversation between them
about South Carolina affairs they dis
eussed the dispensary situation and
%he individuals who were charged with
4ssafting from the dispensary; that
Teidgr said he believed he could fur
nish the evidence which would prove
nat certain liquor houses were graft
dsf on the dispensary, and OF connec-
&ot OF individuals with it. Mr.. Evans
$50 he told Fielder Of Mr.. Lyons haV-
angjust been elected and Of his efforts
TO convict persons who were suspected
IF having been gilty Of receiving graft
and, In other werds, Of Mr.. Lyons ef-
fort to uncover the old dispensaTy
Rguds and to convict persons guilty
Of them. He said that Fielder didn't
Miow Attorney General Lyon.
No Kin to "Hub."
Mr.. Evans stated that some time af-
ter this he was in Columbia, met Mr..
Lyon at hotel and told him of his
oo1versation with Fielder and what he
had said. He said that was all he knew
about the matter, and had no knoWl-
edge concerning any other matters
Mr.. Evans offered in evidence an ath-
davit, which, he said, he had obtain
cd from Fielder at the time this mat
ter first came up.
Governor Evans stated that he had
no connection with "Hub'' Evans, eth
or in business, by blood relation or
marriage, and that he had never been
asked to represent him. He said that
he could not understand the motives
of Governor BIease in trying to con-
Rect his name with Hub Evans or to
create the impression that he had ever
had any dealings with him. He said
Rlease had been Evans's personal
counsel, and he could have found out
Nhe truth by asking Hub" himself. In
plainer terms, Governor Evans meant
that Governor Blease knew he (John
Gary Evans) had never been connect
cd with H. H. Evans, and knew it when
he made the charge.
Attorney General Lyon next took
the stand and he, too, stated that the
charge of a conference with John Gary
Evans, H. H. Evans and Fielder, in
Atlanta, was false. He corroborated
Nr. Evans's testimony relative to the
statement concerning the conversation
between John Gary Evans and Fielder
on the train coming from New York
and which Governor Evans told Mr..
Lyon at Wright's hotel. Mr.. Lyon said
he had never heard of Fielder until
Rovernor Evans told him Of this con-
versation, that he took the name down
and wrote to Fielder; that later there
was a conference among himself, Eel
der and Chairman Murray, in Augusta,
at which time written agreement be-
tween Fielder and the dispensary COM
mission was drawn up and Fielder
went to work on the matter of recov-
oring the overcharges from liquor
houses and of unearthing the frauds
in the dispensary.
Lyon Says He Welcomes Investigation.
Mr.. Lyon here stated that all the
correspondence and records not only
in his Office, but in his apartments,
and that all his private transactions
with banks and business concerns
were open to oathe inspection of the
committee and he would give them
written permission to this effect. He
asked that the probe be made complete