The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-18
eSSary.
Next at Washington.

J
eral Hitchcock. AS in Spartanburg,
the conversation between Nichols and
lPorter was taken. This Transcribed
Testimony was introduced in evidence
this afternoon and made part OF the
official record. The discussion con-
tinued with reference to the Deford
pardon and the manner in which it
was to be secured. Porter said that
Nichols came to his room in Wash
Iington with a man by the name of
Paslay, from Spartanburg. Nichols,
he said, asked Paslay to leave the
room, as he had some important bus
| tiness to talk over with Porter. 1t
was stated by Porter that Nichols
promised to close up the pardon deal
within two weeks.
Went to Baltimore.
According to the witness, Sam J.
Nichols left Washington and went to
Baltimore. He was followed by Por-
ter and they both went to the Alta
mont hotel, where the South Caro-
lima delegation to the national con-
vention was registered. At this point
in the testimony the members of the
committee questioned Porter as to the
correctness Of the testimony by the
dictagraph. A technical explanation
of the working of the instrument was
given and the witness declared that
from experience it had been shown
that it was impossible to "fake' testi-
mony from the dictagraph. He said
that the stenographers' notes would
show whether it was genuine or not
Local History Proves Truth.
Porter said that the record of the
dictagraph was full of local history
that would show the absolute correct
ness of the testimony. Smiling conf
IDENTIFY, Porter told of his conversa-
tions with Sam J. Nichols in Balti-
more. The dictagraph gave in detail
the conversations. National politics
was among the subjects discussed by
the two.
Fielder Again on the Stand.
At this point Porter left the stand
and T. B. Fielder resumed his testi-
mony. He read certain sections of
the dictagraph testimony. He brand
ed as a lie statements made by mem
bers of the old State dispensary board
of control that he had been guilty OF
grating. He gave some interesting
testimony concerning his relations
with L. w. Boykin, John Bell Towill
and others.
Fielder Defends Himself.
In answer to the previous testi-
mony given the committee to the ef-
feet that he, Fielder, had been guilty
of grating, he said: II was connect
ed with the dispensary investigations
| in South Carolina for three or four
wears before these charges were pre-
ferred against me. If they had had
anything on me they would have
brought it out They would have
snatched at the chance So" said Eel
der, that it would not have made
your head swim, but would have
made it go around like whirlpool. -
"Did you ever try to bribe H. IL.
Evans with $500" asked the commit
tee.
Would Have Succeeded.
eff I had tried 1 would have sue
ceded,' snapped back Fielder. Fielder
said that the necessity of adding re-
bates in South Carolina was well
known. He illustrated the statement
by referring to an Augusta man who
was unable to do business with the
South Carolina dispensary until he
had paid the necessary money. Eel
der said that John Bell Towill had
followed him around to make con-
fession. He said that he would have
secured a confession from many OF
the ''grafters" if the present goVer-
nor had not been elected.
Blease's Election Stopped Them.
with the election of Cole l..
Blease the views of the grafters
changed as to confessions" said Eel
der. did you ever make PROPOSE
tion to Boykin, Towill and Evans to
form a whiskey corporation in South
Garolina?' asked the committee.
s'Never,' he replied. ANYBODY that
says that I received a graft in con-
nection with the South Carolina dis
pensary," said Fielder, tells an abso-
lutte, unmitigated and Infamous lie."
Excerpts from the dictagraph testl-
mony with reference to the signing OF
the Piedmont Northern charter by
Blease was read by Fielder and the
document was placed in evidence and
hrn