The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-07-24
SAM j. NICHOLS PLEADS DRUNKENNESS
WHEN ANSWERING DICTOGRAPH TESTIMONY
Says that He Was Drunk that He did not Know
What he Was Talking About Might have said
all that the DiCtograph Quoted Him as
Saying, but does not Re-
member 1T

ne kne" ilttle OF the interview, be-
tween himself and e. s. Reed, the
detective, alias H. N. Porter, the Chi
cago attorney, that some of the state
ments made by him, as recorded by
the dictagraph, were ridiculous:
strong denials of certain testimony.
as recorded by the distagraph; denial
of any intentions OF Offering a bribe
to Governor Blease for the pardon of
Gus DeFord; denial that the wit
ness had done a big pardon busl-
ness" with the governor; denial
that he was delegate to the Balti-
more convention and instructed for
Harmon, but a statement that IL he
said this, 1t was while under the in
fluence of Scotch whiskey: charges
that the dictagraph testimony taken
from Mr.. Nichols in Spartanburg.
Baltimore and Washington hotels
had been contorted by it's transcrib-
ing stenographer; a denial that he
had wired Reed to come to Spartan
burg to close out the pardon deal
and the introduction of a telegram
received by Sam j. Nichols, purport-
ing to be from Reed, that he had
sent New York draft to Nichols
for 100000 for closing out this deal,
and the charge that this message was
raise were features of the testimony
produced by Sam j. Nichols of Spar
tanburg, before the dispensary inves-
tigation committee here this morn
ing.
Chairman Carlisle said he had re-
quested Reed, the detective, to ap-
pear here today but Reed was not
present. The committee was In ses-
sion for three hours and large
crowd rH hn
Called to Order.
Senator Carlisle, the chairman of
the Investigating committee, did not
arrive here from Spartanburg until
noon and the proceedings began at
that hour.
Samuel j. Nichols. the Spartan
burg attorney, went on the stand
then and told of his side of the all
legged deal, which Detective Reed
claimed to have made with him to
buy the pardon of James Johnson.
the notorious yeggman. Nichols,
WITH an array of prominent attorneys.
was here to go on the stand. Several
people from different parts of the
state are present.
Many Spectators.
The library at the state house was
we'll filled with spectators when the
dlspensary investigating committee
assembled today at noon to hear the
testimony of Sam j. Nichols, who
| was charged in Detective Reeds tes-
timony with having been employed
by him in the alleged scheme to buy
pardon for James Johnson, alias
Gus DeFord, the notorious safe crack
er.
The Attorneys.
VII. NlcholS was present with his
| W. Nichols and Ralph *. Carson. C.
p. Sanders, w. NJ. Jones. C. p. sims
Robert 7. CAN'T. of Spartanburg: j.
q. Hughes, of Union; w. S. Nelson of
Columbia and C. C. Wyche, of
| Spartanburg
All or the investigating committee
were present except w. L. Daniels.
OF Sauda.
Prior to opening the public session.
the investigating committee held a
snort executive session. They filed in
the library at 1890 and took their
seats
Carlisle called the meeting to order
at l2:25 and announced that it was
called chiefly to hear the TESTIMONY
of S. j. Nichols. Mr.. Nichols gave
the names of C. p Sanders and w, NJ
/ Jones as counsel who would an
| pear for him today.
Reed Won't Come.
chairman Carlisle read into the
record the statement that he had al
the request OF Mr.. Nichols requested
reIder to have f. s. Reed, the de.
tecllEe' present at the hearing today
lie also read into the record Felder's
rpnlN thar hn l,r.
chicago, but that if he were there he
would not come into South Caroline
TO testify
/ w NJ. Jones, of counsel for Mich
OILS, asked questions OF Nichols +,
show that Reed, the detective. haC
come to Spartanburg posing as a Chi
cago lawyer, who wanted to repre
sent the man Deford in the Soutl
Carolina penitentiary
keed, Nichols said. had been sen
to him by Spartanburg hackman.
Mr.. Porter" was referred to C.. p
Sims, Of Spartanburg. Nichols wen
into the details of certain arrange
ments as made between Porter,
Sims and himself. as to representa-,
DeFord, and accounts of which hav,
already been published.
InteFnrban Deal.
Nichols related certain thing
about the conversation with Porter,
In the Hotel Finch Nichols cor
rotated certain testimony that ha,
been taken by the dictagraph. HI
explained that he went into the "in
terurban" case and said he had toll,
Reed 1t had been reported that h.
had been paid $4,000 for the sign
ing of the Incorporating act. He sail
he had told Reed this was damn
lie" He said he had told the gov
ernor his refusal to sign the bill