The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-07-17
STARTLING TESTIMONY BY De
GECTIvES In THE EMPLOY
OF TIIOS. b. FIELDER.
CONTINUED From Page Three.)

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at distance of about six feet. 1 took
a chair opposite him and his friend,
whom he introduced as the county re-
cordeD Mr.. Pagsy, sat on the bed. 1
did not care to discuss our deal--that
between Mr.. Nichols and myselr-in
the presence of Mr.. Pagsy, and, ac-
scordipgly the conversation that took
place" for about Ave mintes was only
general
"As near as I can recall, the con-
yersation was in reference to Mr..
Nichols leaving Spartapburg on Satur-
day night. He stated that he left
Spartanburg Saturday night and came
direct to. Washington, and that he was
pretty we'll Intoxicated when he ar
rived here at Washington, and did
not want to meet any of his friends.
He said he registered at the Continen-
tai Hotel near the depot. He stayed
around Washington for couple of
days, and then went to the Altamount
Hotel in Baltimore. and had just ar
rived there and registered and was as
signed to his room when called for
him. He said he was in the bar room
at the time left my card at the desk
of the hotel, and that he called them
down for not looking him up. l then
remarked that / vas wondering If he
caught that train on Saturday evening
at Spartanburg, as he had only four
of LOT hi
planned that he ran his machine at
great speed from the Merchants Club
to the depot, and that while we were
en- route we hit buggy; that stop
ped him and after being questioned as
to who l was | left the vicinity very
shortly after, leaving him and his ne
gro chauffeur to proceed alone to the
train. and that walked back up town
with his father. Mr.. Nichols remarked
that Mr.. Pagsy was also justice Of
the peace, or court Justice, and that
he himself was city attorney, conse-
quently we could not have gotten in
trouble for violation Of the speed
laws. told him that all was afraid
".
then began to discuss our matter
in general way, saying to Mr.. Nichols
in regard to that deal of ours, have
been thinking the matter over, and my
opinion is that we should perhaps re-
duce the amount agreed on, $40, 900, to
a smaller amount Mr.. Nichols replied
that he had been thinking the matter
over, too, and thought that he ought to
make possibly some deduction, or at
least agree on a different amount. Mr..
Pagsy had very little to say, and, at
this Juncture, Mr.. Nichols suggested
that perhaps as long as he and myself
had personal matter to discuss that
we would meet Mr.. Pagsy little later.
Mr. Pagsy excused himself and left the
room, saying that ne would see us
down in the lobby. | remarked as he
went out the door that we would not
be long, and that we would soon be
down for lunch. / closed the door and
Mr.. Nichols and / took the same seats
as we had occupied before and started
in on our conversation, which, no
doubt. was recorded by the dicta-
graph. The confusion of the three of
us talking for about five minutes would
no doubt prevent the stenographer
from being able to distinguish the
voices and record accurately the con-
versation. No one was present in my
room until the conclusion Of our inter
view, except Samuel j. Nichols and
myself.
When we left the room, the stenog-
rapher, Mr.. Reik, according to my in
structions, was in the hall and saw
Mr.. Nichols and myself leave Room
AL; saw me lock my door, and also
saw Mr.. Nichols and myself proceed
to the elevator and we proceeded down
together. Mr.. Nichols and his friend
and myself proceeded to the bar. where
were served drinks, and later went into
the dining room, where we were served
dinner. After dinner was served Mr..
Nichols insisted that accompany him
to Baltimore that he wanted me to
meet Senator Tillman of South Caro-
lima, and also Senator Smith and a
few of his friends / consented to do
SO, and securing taxicab, we were
driven to the railroad station and
boarded a train for Baltimore at 3
o'clock"
The Alleged Dlctagraph Record.
twas stated in the testimony that
the conversation below, between Mr..
Nichols and Mr.. Porter. was made In
the presence of friend OF Mr.. Mich