The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-08-01
THE GOVERNOR
ISSUES A DENIAL
Makes Lengthy Statement IN
: Denying s5ggSSez5ersy 15.a,a ralder
and OtherS---AffidaVlIs
At Chester July 30. Governor

:At Chester, July 20, Governor
Blease issued a lengthy and care
fully prepared typewriter state
ment as to the charges made
against him and his administra-
ton bv Fielder and Detective
Burns. The statement is too
long to be handled by The Sen
tinel. It would fill the entire
four pages of this paper. We
would be glad to give it to our
readers, but cannot on account
of lack of force, type and space.
We give below a very brief sy-
nopsis taken from the Greenville
News;
Columbia, July Ex-Governor
Blease today issued his promis
ed statement refuting the charg-
es brought against him by Thos
B. Fielder, of Georgia, and W.
j. Burns. the detective. lnclud-
ing copies of affidavits, the state
ment makes about SO pages OF
typewriter manuscript. Each
and every charge OF rumor is
taken up separately and answer
cd by the governor.
Blease says Fielder erred when
he saws he went to Charleston
between the two primaries in
1910 to get money from the II
ger" for his Blease s. campaign
expenses.
He SAYS the Statement that
he is getting graft from the
Charleston blind tigers originate
ed with Mayor Grace, of that
city, owing to the governors re-
fusal to allow Grace to control
the constabulary there.
The governor denies that he
received any money for his sig
nature to the interurban rail
way act or that he knew Of any
plans to buy pardon for Gus
DeFord or any one else and says
that not one word about it had
Nichols said to him.
As to the pardon for +. W.
Bentley, the governor denies
that he received pay for its issu-
ance. He says a check for SO
was sent him for the payment
of Bentiey's railroad fare to his
home in Iowa, but that no 9th
er money figured in the deal.
The governor mentions .he
names Of persons from petitions
were received requesting par
dons, one Of whom was DR.. ".
c.. Mueller, a Lutheran minister
of Charleston. He says the ac-
cusation made by Fielder that
$1,000 had been paid by Rabens
for his freedom was a wilful lie
and he submits afidayits from
Rabens and DR.. Mueller purport-
ing to deny this charge.
He presents an affidavit from
H. H. Evans to the effect that
he has never had any transac-
ton With blease as to dispensa
nv affairs or that he and Blease
were never in Atlanta together
nor has he ever had money paid
to him by any party for Blease,
Gov. Blease also presented al
fdavits from a dozen persons
that he was not concerned IN
any liquor or other corrupt tran
sactions.
As to the famous IT. B." let
ters. of which Fielder denies au-
thorship, the governor said that
he had submitted the letters to
several gentlemen Of Columbia
who are familiar with Felder's
handwriting, and that these
gentlemen are willing to go on
the stand and swear that these
letters were written by /. B.
Fielder. I have also two letters
Written by Felder-one from
England aad one from a point |
in the JnitedStates-to a wom-
an, and the writing of these let
ters compared With those of the
7. B." letters, shows that the
letters hold We're written by
Fielder.
In conclusion, the governor
says that he has endeavored to
answer every charge made
against him, but if any honest
man in South Carolina desires
any information regarding Any-
thing, however small concern
insa,ly alleged dishonorable act,
he is willing to answer the accu-
satien
Fielder Replies