Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-11-08
ARREST OF J. D. GIIREATH
Governor Slease Gives Full Explana.
tion of His Connectiop.

out copy Of an interesting letter that
| ne wrote to Mr.. ]. D. Gilreath, of
Greenville, recently. The full text of
the letter is as follows:
| November 6, 1912.
| Mr.. j. D. Gilreath, Greenville, s. c..
Dear Sir: On November 1, 1912, re-
ceived the following telegram from
you:
"Greenville, s. c., November 1. 1912.
| Governor Blease, Columbia, s. c.:
Did you order my arrest? Kindly
wire at my expense.
"(Signed.) ]. D. Gilreath.
TO which replied as follows:
Columbia, s. c.. November /, 1912.
| j. d. Gilreath, Greenville, s. c.:
| Your wire. Primary obligations, in
my opinion, bind all parties. The vio-
lation Of the oath in one instance re-
lieves all others therefrom. II my wire
Is to be used against Democratic
nominee, l. shall remain silent.
| (Signed.l Cole L. Blease."
At that time was reliably informed
that: Mr.. Rector was the Democratic
nominee for sheriff of Greenville coun-
ty and that one, virden, was a candi-
date on the independent ticket. NV
first duty, as a Democrat, was to the
nominee Of the Democratic party and
to use every effort to secure his cleo
ton, and most assuredly to do nothing
which would cause his defeat; hence,
my reply to you at that time.
Since the majority Of the people Of
Greenville county have stood to their
colors and shown to the world that
they are not perjurers, but that they,
like true men, have abided by the oath
which they took when they swore to
support the nominees Of the Demo-
cratic party, I now take pleasure in
answering the question in your tele-
gram specifically.
Mr.. Hendrix Rector called me over
the long-distance telephone and stated
that Vaughan had made a confession,
In which he had said that ex-Sheriff
Gilreath, Jailer Phillips and another
person, whose name now do not re-
member, were the ones who had re-
leased him from the county Jail; and
that he (Rector) had other testimony,
which went to show the truthfulness
Of Vaughan's statement. I advised Mr..
Rector to go to Solicitor Bonham and
lay the facts before him, and II he (ths
solicitor) thought them sufficient, to
Immediately issue warrants for the ar
rest Of all the parties. The next in
formation I received over the phone
was from q gentleman whose name I
understood to be Morris; he stated that
Rector had had warrants sworn out
| for these three parties and that he had
gone into the country to arrest one
Of them and that as soon as he re-
turned he was going to arrest Gilreath,
and requested, on behalf of Rector, not
| to allow any person or persons to have
any communication whatever with
Vaughan, as they felt some Of the par
ties or their friends would come and
induce Vaughan to change his state
ment. The next information received
he had arrested the three parties and
that they were In the county jail.
Mr.. Jack Power than took the phone
and stated to me that Rector had sue
ceeded in arresting the parties, and
| that there was a great deal Of feeling,
and jokingly remarked that IL they put
Rector In Jail that must stick to him.
I replied to him that would. This is.
in substance, the entire conversations
had over the phone and did not d.
rect the arrest of any of these parties,
but advised Mr.. Rector to consult with
the solicitor and If he thought the tes-
timony sufficient, to make the arrest;
and when was 'phoned that the ar
rests had been made, I presumed they
had been made after consultation with
the solicitor.
Sheriff Poole came to the Mansion on
Sunday, October 81, and told me that
| Vaughan had made confession and
told who had done the work In releas-
ing him from jail, duplicating the three
parties whom / am informed have
been arrested. He asked me what to
do. did not intimate to him what
Rector had said to me over the phone,
because Rector had requested me not
to say anything about the conversa-
tion. told Sheriff Poole that II he had
sufficient testimony to proceed to have
the parties arrested and referred him
to Chief State Constable P. H. Corley,
who had been in Greenville working on
the case for some time, for such fur
ther assistance as he might be able to
give. After some further conversation
the sheriff asked me to write certain
communication, which he thought
would assist him materially In the
matter. told him that would do this,
which did not do later because Rec
tor, having had the arrests made, the
communication would have been OF no
value.
AS the sheriff was leaving, he said
that it would take Monday and possi-
bly, Tuesday to get the matter In prop
er shape. I told him to go by Coriey's
home and take him to Greenville with
him, and to proceed In the entire mat
ter at once.
Thus, you will see, that only or
dered your arrest upon condition, which
condition was that Mr.. Rector was to
consult with the solicitor, and II he
(the solicitor) thought the evidence
sufficient, to convict, that the arrests
then be made. II Mr.. Rector consulted
Solicitor Bonham and Solicitor Bon
ham told him to proceed, then pre-
sumo 1t could be truthfully stated that
I ordered the arrests.
I will further state, for your infor-
nation, that was informed, first, that
Mr.. Vaughan boarded at your fathers
home while he was attending school
at Furman University, and that he and
you were good friends; second, that at
the time Of Mr.. Vaughan's escape you
owed him $4,000; third, that you were
candidate for sheriff, and that
Vaughan's escape would cause, and
did cause, Sheriff Poole's defeat; that
these were the motives which prompt
ed you. In addition to this, the confess
sion of Mr.. Vaughan, as I have stated
above to you, coming from Rector ana
Poole and affidavit from one Alexan-
der, who was in the jail at the time,
swearing that he saw you there assist
ing Vaughan and knew 1t to De you.
/ do not state that any Of these
facts are true. 1t is simply the infor-
nation which came to me, and there
are men in the penitentiary today on
much less evidence than these facts,
and for this reason Mr.. Rector was di.
rected to see Solicitor Bonham, and
Solicitor Bonham, I presume, knowing
all of the parties and knowing what
credence to give their testimony, would
be in a position to advise. was not In
a position to advise direct and DID not
do so. L.
I have been somewhat lengthy In
this reply to you, but have set the facts
out fully, in order that you might thor
oughly understand my position in the
matter as we'll as your own. very re-
spectfully. Cole L. blease.