Evening star., 1912-07-13

AUGUSTA, Ca, July 13.-When the
South Carolina legislative committee re-
assembled here today to continue its in
vestigation of alleged graft in the state
liquor dispensary case. Detective E. F.
Reed, an associate of William j. Burns,
was scheduled to testify. Burns swore
yesterday that high officers had been
guilty of grating in the purchase Of
liquor by the state, had sold pardons and
protected blind tigers
Reed was expected to continue along
this line of testimony.
Especially mentioned in Burns story
yesterday were Gov. Coleman L. Blease
and H. H. Evans, ex-commissioner of the
dispensary.
Hearings are being held In Georgia to
obtain the testimony of Thomas B. Field
er Of Atlanta. the attorney who was en-
ployed to help close the affairs of the old
dispensary when it went out of existence.
After his work was done Blease accused
Fielder of bribery. The Governor of
Georgia refused to extradite him, and a
grand jury at Newberry, S. c.. dismissed
the case
Still After Fielder.
Blease has repeatedly declared he would
arrest Fielder If the latter ever set foot
In the state. Fielder has not done so, and
when the committee of the state assem-
bly, wanted his testimony it had to come
on the Georgia side to get it.
Several years ago when the saloons in
South Carolina were ousted the sale of
liquor was placed in the hands of a COM
mission under state control. 1t was
k fha n 6icnn
accusations of boodling in connection with
the purchase of whisky and labels from
wholesalers followed.
Detective Burns was the star witness
yesterday. Testifying at last nights ses-
sion of the hearing, Detective Burns as
serted that records which will be intro
duced by his men would show whether
or not Gov. Cole l.. Blease of South Caro-
lima has been grating as governor and
senator
Alleges Fee for Pardoning Convict.
Evidence taken by. a telephone device
and personally by Burns detective was
submitted purporting to show that Gov.
Blease secured $1,000 for hardening Ru-
dolph RADON, convicted Of harboring
stolen goods. Testimony from the same
source was to the effect that Gov Blease
received $500 for blocking railroad legisla-
ton, 500 for thwarting the first attempt
ed dispensary investigation and that the
governor gets his share of the blind tiger
protection money from Charleston,
S. c.
Detective Burns was quoted from the
tness stand as declaring that the San
Francisco graft cases were infinitesimal
compared with the conditions which
have existed in South Carolina
Denounces Gov. Blease.
Thomas B. Fielder in his testimony
earlier in the day made sensational
charges of official corruption in South
Carolina. During his testimony he de-
nounced Gov. Blease and accused him
OF having "fattened upon graft. and
of having been paid both to defeat and
not to defeat legislation
After relating his connection with the
dispensary the witness told a startling
story of unlimited graft. Of legislative
"syndicates' alleged to have been con-
Col. Fielder also testified in regard tc
an alleged deal made in Atlanta by H. II
Evans. dispensary commissioner, and his
attorney, Cole L. Blease, with a whole.
sale whisky house. The deal to which
Fielder testified was for adding rebates te
the cost of whisky sold to the state dis.
| pensary, so the rebates could be turned
| over to the dispensary board of contro
| by the wholesalers
In conclusion Fielder testified that Gov
Blease and Chief Constable Stothar,
shared in monthly protection tax Levied
on blind tigers" in Charleston
Yesterdays session OF the hearine
| closed last night, with Burns on the
| stand.