The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1912-07-17
Graft PrOberS Hear
Dictaqraph Record.


that Cole L. Blease, the Governor OF
South Carolina, was to get $4,000, Sam
J. Nichols, an attorney of Spartan
burg, $1,000, and Lawyer Sims, of
Spartanburg, s. 900, under an arrange
ment he made with Sam Nichols to
get pardon for Gus Deford, notorious
We, oman and the worst criminal IN
the South Carolina Penitentiary, were
made by E. F. Reed, one of the detec-
tives of VIM. J. Burns, in his stestimo-
ny, featured by dictagraph, on the
stand here this afternoon before the
South Carolina dispensary investiga-
ton committee.
Reed said that he represented to
Nichols that he was Chicago law
YER named "Henry N. Porter" and he
wished to secure the pardon Of Deford
in order that he might settle an estate
in which the latter was the principal
beneficiary, but it was necessary to
have Deford pardoned before he could
receive the legacy.
:. It was within recent weeks, testified
Reed, that the scheme was Matched
and only two days ago Nichols lett
Spartanburg to carry out his part of
the agreement and get the pardon of
the notorious convict.
AS soon as the pardon was granted,
Reed stated, Nichols was to wire
s'Porter," at Chicago, and the money
would De Immediately forthcoming.
His 20. K" telegram, which was to
have been to Chicago, was, of course,
to be. forwarded here to Porter, y
whose real name is Reed and who,
said he ''dicssgraphed'' Nichols in
s,uth Carolina and in Washington
while he was making the trade with
him.
The charge that the Governor of
South Carolina held up the charter of
the Piedmont and Northern Railway
because of being paid to do so by the
Southern Railway, and only approved
the charter after Nichols brought his
influence to bear, was the other sensa-
tional feature of Reeds testimony,
which consisted of the records Of the
dictagraph of the alleged conferences
held between "Porter'' and Nichols,
in Spartanburg and Washington,
while perfecting the scheme.
Several thousand Of the words of the
dictagraph of such alleged conferences
gathered by Reed during several weeks
investigation into the South Carolina
situation, bearing on how to obtain
pardons, were read by Col. Fielder and
kept the crowded court house keyed
up to the highest pitch of excitement.
The alleged conferences between
"Porter' and Sam Nichols, Reed tes-
titled, were faithfully recorded by the
dictagraph and read to the public here
today at the investigation.
Prominent statements in Nichols
alleged dicta agraph talk with "Porter'
were that he could always get pardons
from Blease and that whatever he got
he always divided with the Governor;
that eff they get anything now it will
be the first time they have ever gotten
proof even indirectly on the Cover
nor"
Col. Fielder said that he would turn
over additional documents and other
material to the committee. He is en-
| deavoring to get check alleged to
have been made payable to the Gov
ernor and endorsed by Blease from
Iowa, alleged to be in connection with
| pardon which was granted, and turn
; it over to the committee.
1t is announced by Chairman Car
Isle, of Spartanburg, that the investi-
eating committee will meet in Colum-
bia tomorrow, and that Sam J. Nichols
4 I'LL Io fo toof;fx,