The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-11-12
GOV, BLEASE REPLIES
TO JEFF D. GILREATH
TOLD RECTOR TO CONSULT SOIL
CITOR BONHAM.
Governor Gives Out Correspondence in
GreenyiIle Case Relating to Sen
satiOnal Arrest.


Vile, answering specifically the lat
ter's question whether the governor
ordered his arrest. The governor
says in his letter that after Mr.. Rector
talked over the Vaughn escape charges
with him he told him to consult Solici-
tor Bonham, and if the latter so ad-
yised him, then to make the arrests.
The governor also relates the charges
AGAINST Mr.. Gilreath, which had been
reported to him. The letter in full
follows:
November 6, 1912.
Mr.. J. D. Gilreath, Greenville, S. c.
Dear Sir: On November 1, 1912, l
received the following telegram from
you:
"Greenville, S. c., Nov. 1, 1912.
Governor Blease, Columbia, S. c.:
Did you order my arrest Kindly wire
at my expense.
"(Signed) J. D. Gilreath."
To which I replied as follows:
Columbia, S. c., Nov /, 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 If my
wire is to be used against a Demo-
cratic nominee, I shall remain silent.
"(Signed) Cole L. Blease."
At that time I was reliably Informed
that Mr. Rector was the Democratic
nominee for sheriff of Greenville coun-
ty, and that one, Virden, was a can
didate on the indepedent ticket. My
first duty, as a Democrat. was to the
nominee of the Democratic party, and
to use every effort to secure his elec-
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 stoodOto their
eolors 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 1ong-distance telephone and stated
that Vaughn had made confession,
in which he had said that eX-Sherif
Gilreath. Jailer Phillips and another
person, whose name I 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 Vaughn's statement. I advised Mr..
Rector to go to Solicitor Bonham and
lay the facts before him, and if he
sthe solicitor) thought them sufficient,
to Immediately issue warrants for the
arrest of all of the parties. The next
Information I received over the phone
was from a gentleman whose name
understand to be Morris; he stated
that Rector had had warrants sworn
out for these three parties and that nc
had gone into the country to arrest one
of them and that as soon as he re-
turned he was going to arrest Gil
reath, and requested, on behalf Of Rec
tor, not to allow any person or per
sons to have any communication what
ever with Vaughn, as they felt some
OF the parties or their friends would
come and induce Vaughn to change
his statement The next information
I received was from Mr.. Rector, who
stated that he had arrested the three
parties and that they were in the coun-
y Jail
Mr.. Jack Power then took the phone
and stated to me that Rector had sue
ceeded in arresting the parties, and
that there was great deal of feeling,
and jokingly remarked that if they
put Rector in Jail that I must stick
TO him. / replied to him that 1 would.
This is in substance, the entire con-
versations had over the phone, and
E did not direct the arrest of any OF
these parties, but advised Mr.. Rector
to consult the solicitor and if ne
thought the testimony sufficient, to
make the arrest; and when 1 was
sohoned that the arrests had been
Il hppn made !!