The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-07

AS to his charge that there was
carousing at Wright's hotel the night
before my inauguration. | herewith
submit statements which l think will
,rove To the public conclusively that
q is deliberate and designing falsi-
fer and that the proof OF this is ad-
ditional evidence of his lies in the
other instances
state of South Carolina-County of
Richland.
PERSONALLY came Robert Courtney
Wright. who. being duly sworn. says
that for ten years he was chief clerk
and manager Of Wright's hotel i'm the
city of Columbia; that he rememb bers
very well indeed the night before the
Inauguration Of Governor Cole l..
Blease; that the said Blease arrived
ut the hotel about IL o'clock at night
accompanied by his physician. DR.. w
G.. Houseal, and members of his fam
lily; that the said Blease was a des-
perately Ill man and was taken imme-
diately to his room in the hotel and
put in bed, and that only very few
of his most intimate friends were al
lowed to enter his room; that every
thing was kept quiet and Dr. Houseal,
being very apprehensive of said
Blease's condition. remained in the
room with him during the entire
night; that he has noticed in this
mornings State the following state
ment made by John p. Grace"
" i recall a scene at Wrights hotel
the night before his Inauguration. 1t
was the first real insight i had ever
had into Blease and the atmosphere
In which he moved, and think can
say that without exception it is about
the nastiest recollection of my life 1t
was a grand carouse."
THE above statement is absolutely
and UNANIMOUSLY false. ON the con-
trary, the room where the said Blease
was. was guarded in order that no
noise might be made. for we all feared
that the result of his trip from his
home i'm Newberry would prove fatal
There was no carouse i'm the hotel
during that night: if there was it was
not known to this deponent, and most
assuredly there was none in Blease's
room, or in any i'm which he took part
oh
further says that Governor Blease, as
private citizen, stopped many times
with him; that he boarded at the hotel
during the four sessions of the legis-
lature that he was state senator, and
that he always behaved himself in n
clean gentlemanly manner: that there
was never any carousing or general
drinking in his room at any time. and
that he and the other members of the
hotel family looked upon the governor
as an esteemed guest.
"(Signed) Il. G. Wright.
Sworn to before me this 31st day
Of July, y. ID. 1912.
"(Signed) Fred II Dominick o.. s.
Notary Public for South Carolina.
| "State of South Carolina--County Of
Newberry.
Personally came Dr. w. G.. IIous-
cal. who being duly sworn. says that
during the fall of 1910 he attended
Cole l.. Blease for three or four weeks
the said Blease being very i'll with
cholecystitis and jaundice; that in the
latter part Of December. 1910. the
said Blease had a relapse and was
desperately i'll and tha: this deponent
was very uneasy about him: that
Elease was no; allowed 10 leave his
room. but was confined to his bed;
that on the night before his inaugu-
alton as governor. thi, depo nent, as
sisted Ivy some others. carried the said
Blease from his bed room To the de-
po., on y cot at Ncwherry--a tele-
gram having been sent in advance -
the Pullman conductor To have Il
berth made down and ready when he
reached Newberry; that the said
B!ease was Immediately put to he'd in
said car; that We arrived in the city
of Columbgia about II O'Clock; that
lleaSc was taken from the car and
carried To WIight's hotel where he
was Immediately put in led and only
very few Of the members of his
ftmily and his closest friends allow
td To enter his room: that this de
condition that ne persuaded Mrs.
Bl,ase To occupy an adjoining room
with some "f the other lady members