The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-07-17
STARTLING TESTIMONY BY DE.
TECTlyEs IN THE EMPLOY
or TH0s. b. FIELDER.
Continued From Page one)

.
/ there. He said that Wilsno's real
name was Bailey and he was receiv-
ed with open arms by the Charleston
tigers. He said. that. Wilson. represent.
ed that he wanted to get a location in
Charleston and that James s. Farnum
and others were very attentive to him
and the result was that he learned all
about the Charleston situation: that
Gov. Rlsase'sl second primary campaign
was 4nanced by the tigers, all about
tne graft situation, the protection
money collected by the constables.
, etc. He presented documents gather
+ ca ibyHWhson while in Charleston. He
said that Wilson was not present today.
peipg away on another case, but he
! was at the disposal of the committee
: whenever they wanted him. In this
Mr., Burns assented.
Fielder gave q lot OF, the dietaRraph
information Wilson gathered on the
Charleston situation. A@ y'
In With %Tigers.o Hf 's'
Referring to Wilson's temporary
residence in Charleston while he was
posing as g gambler and blind tiger
and gsthering the, leaders OF, the Gala
ing from all parts OF the country, MT.
Fielder said that Wilson was SO we'll
liked by the tigers" that he came
near being elected a delegate to the
State convention from Charleston.
He obtained a history OF Charles
ton from Beersheba, found out all
about how to obtain protection and
got the whole history OF the seamy
side of the city" said Fielder. referring
to Wilson.
My firm represents the Postal Tel
egraph and Cable company as general
counsel Of the Southern department.
We represented it in 1900 and in a
more restricted territory" Fielder tes-
titled. IA bill was introduced In the
South Carolina Legislature prescribing
a penalty for the delay OF non -deliy-
cry of kilograms.
Il went over to Columbia to make
an argument in opposition to the pas
sage of this act. While in the city of
Columbia. was introduced to Mr..
Evans and one or. two other members
of the legislature. The bill received
favorable recommendation We were
opposed to it. / was informed in a.
rather confidential way that there was
a legislative syndicate, and in order
to compass the defeat of the pending
measure 1t was necessary for me to
reach the ear Of the syndicate. l told
the gentlemen that / would be very
much pleased to reach the gentlemen
who controlled the South Carolina leg
islature.
Blease "MOdeSt.o
Il went down to the Jerome hotel
where Senator Coleman T.. Blease was
stopping. He said in very modest
way that he controlled the legislature
and that IL my company was with him
to come across with the quid pro quo
(meaning money. made 1t clear to
him that l did not represent that part
OF the company's business"
\ iou maF expect to have pretty
trough Shedding II you undertake this
graft investigation unless you employ
such distinguished men as w. J.
Burns" said t. B. Fielder this after
moon. There Is so much corruption
and so much graft in connection with
this case that hardly know where to
start"
Fielder said that he was not afraid
to go to South Carolina, but that he
had been advised by his friends to
remain away, because if he crossed
the line his life was in danger He said
that he knew that mercy had been
promised to one of the governors,
henchmen to put him out of the way.
He declared that he had received 500
letters from South Carolina advising
him to remain out of the State. He
said that. his life was indanger I'm
such a state Of anarchy in that un-
fortunate, graft-ridden State" He
said that Blease had sent an emissary
to Georgia to influence certain persons
to use their power with Gov. Brown
to honor requisition papers. Gov.
Brown refused.
Concerning his relations with 4. Fl.
Evans of Newberry, Fielder said that
Evans called on him every time he
went to Columbia.
In one OCCASION" said Fielder az
was in Columbia at the Colonia hotel.
The card of II. Fl. Evans was sent nm