The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-06

not believe he has ever seen the origi-
nal at all.
The Night Before The Inauguration.
As to his charge that there was ca
rousing at Wright's hotel the night
before my Inauguration, I herewith
submit statements which think will
prove to the public conciusively that
he is deliberate and designing falsi-
fer. and that the proof Of this is ad-
ditional evidence of his lies in the
other instances.
Affidavit BY Nr. Robert Courtney
Wright.
State of South Carolina,
County of Richland.
Personally came Robert Courtney
Wright, who, being duly sworn, says
that for ten years he was chief clerk
and manager of Wright's hotel in the
city of Columbia; that he remembers
very we'll indeed the night before the
Inauguration of Governor Cole. L..
Blease; that the said Blease arrived
at the hotel about eleven o'clock at
night, accompanied by his physician,
DR.. w. G.. Houseal and members of
his family; that the said Blease was a
desperately i'll man and was taken I'M
mediately to his room in the hotel and
put in bed, and that only very few
of his most intimate friends were al
lowed to enter his room; that every
thing was kept quiet and DR.. Houseal,
being very apprehensive of said
Blease's condition, remained in the
room with him during the entire
night; that he has noticed in this
mornings State the following state
ment made by John P. Grace:
"I recall a scene at Wright's hotel
the night before his inauguration. 1T
was the. first real insight had ever
had into Blease and the atmosphere
in which he moved, and I think I can
say that without exception it is about
the nastiest recollection of my life. 1t
was grand earouse."
The above statement is absolutely
and UNANIMOUSLY false. On the con-
trary. the room where the said Blease
was, was guarded in order that no
noise might be made, for we all feared
that the result of his trip from his
home in Newberry would prove fatal.
There was no car5use in the hotel dur
inc that night; if there was it was
not known to this deponent, and most
assuredly there was none in Blease's
room. or in any in which he took
par. or knew anything about. Depo-
nent further says that Governor
Blease, as a private citizen, stopped
many times with him; that he board
ed at the hotel during the four ses-
sions of the legislature that he was
State senator, and that he always be-
haved himself in clean gentlemanly
manner; that there was never any ca
rousing or general drinking in his
room at any time, and that he and the
other members of the hotel family
looked upon the governor as an es-
teemed guest.
R. c. Wright.
Sworn to before me this 31st day
of July A. D., 1912.
Fred. H. Dominick, q. S.
Notary Public for South Carolina.
Affidavit By DIR. w. G. Houseal.
State of South Carolina,
County of Newberry.
PERSONAL came DR.. W. G. Houseal
who, being duly sworn, says that dur
ing the fall of 1910 he attended Cole.
L. Blease for, three or four weeks, the
said Blease being very i'll with chole-
cystitis and jaundice. That in the
latter part of December, 1910, the said
Blease had a relapse and was desper-
ately i'll and that this deponent was
very uneasy about him, that Blease
was not allowed to leave his room,
but was confined to his bed; that on
the night before his inauguration as
governor, this deponent, assisted by
same others, carried the said Blease
from his bed room to the depot, on A
cot, at Newberry, telegram having
been sent in advance to the Pullman
conductor to have berth made down
and ready when he reached Newberry;
that the said Blease was Immediately