The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-14
SENSATIONS IN THE
 D|SPENSARY PROBE Gov. Blease Charged With
 Official Corruption IT WILL BE SIFTED
Burns Detective Used Convict as a oecoy-Telephonic Record of Con- versations Are Introduced
 and Also Messages

Augusta. Ga, July l3.--Sensa tional tes- timony charging Gov. Cole l.. Blease of South Carolina with official corruption was introduced before the dispensary fn- vestigating committee of that state at todays hearing. A. s. Reed, Burns de- tective, and Thomas B. Fielder, the At lanta attorney, were the principal wit nesses
 So unexpected was the character of the evidence that after the hearing was ad- journed, Chairman R. B. Carlisle of the committee asserted that the newly ad- duced charges against the South Carolina governor would be thoroughly sifted.
 Detective Reeds testimony included rec ords taken with telephonic device rela- tive 10 negotiations for the purchase of a convicts pardon from the South Carolina penitentiary. The records. Reed testified, were of conversations between the detec- tive and Sam J. Nichols. Spartan burg attorney, reputed to be go-be- tween for Governor Blease.
 Convict Was the DecOy
 Reed testified James Johnson, a yegg- man with several aliases, serving a 10 year sentence in the penitentiary for rob- ping a safe of sS0o0 was the convict about whom the negotiations were conducted.
 After making arrangements with John son. according to the detectives testi- mony, he called upon Nichols and in- formed the latter that the convict was heir to a large estate, but could only be- come a beneficiary by securing his par don.
 The detective testified that Nichols was interested and the former agreed to pay the attorney a handsome fee. As an ev- idence of good faith, the detective stated he gave Nichols a check for si500 duly indorsed.
 Reed then read records taken by the telephonic device of conversations he held with Nichols in spartanburg and at the New Willard hotel in Washington on June 26 1912 According to the records ernor Blease and named the terms upon which he would secure the release of the convict.
 The amount was tentatively fixed at s10000 or $15,000 The record as read showed that Nichols repeatedly referred to the amount of the proceeds which would go to Governor Blease for signing the pardon. On two occasions this sum was stated at $5oJ0 According to the records Nichols was to receive 5000 and his law partner. c. P. Sims, $500. Messages Introduced | A number of telegrams were introduced in evidence from Nichols to Reed, one of which was to the effect that Nichols had left Spartanburg to confer with Blease abotu the pardon.
 When Reed had concluded Thomas B. Fielder testified that a certain amount of money had been put on deposit with the understanding tha it was be released to Nichols' order as soon as Reed se- cured a cipher telegram from Nichols stating that the convict had been par doned
 I've know" testified Mir Fielder, that Nichols left Spartanburg to confer with Governor Blease. that he saw Blease at Barnwell Friday and was closeted with the governor at Blackville Friday night We have been unable to locate Nichols today however"
 1 Mystery surrounding the adjournment of the hearing from this morning until this afternoon was cleared up by MT. Fielder on the witness stand. He stated that he ex- pected Governor Blease to sign Johnson's pardon during that time and for that l reason the postponement was made. | At the conclusion of Thomas B. Eel der's testimony the hearing of the com mittee was indefinitely adjourned. Inn mediately after adjournment the com i mittee met in executive session. The 1 purpose of this meeting. it is stated. l was to determine whether further hear ings should be held.
 The telephonic device record of the conversation between Detective Reed and Sam J. Nichols, taken at Spartanburg,
 
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