The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-07-19
CCLl w. w. Johnson, Comp. TT
CRlIIISv nvVnVOIN y UUILcI
REED WILL NOT TESTIFY
S. J. NICHOLS AND C.. P. SIMS TO
TESTIFY IN COLUMBIA.
Burns Detectives Are Willing to
Appear Before Committee Any
where Except in State of
South Carolina.
(Thursday's Spartanburg Herald.)

(Thursday's Spartanburg Herald)
Senator Howard B. Carlisle, chair
man of the dispensary investigating
committee of the legislature, was no.
titled yesterday that Detective E. S.
Reed, of William j. Burns agency,
would not appear before the COM
mittee in Columbia today to confront
Samuel j. Nichols, whom Reed ac-
cuses of having planned to get par
don for James Johnson, the safe rob-
ber, in return for $4,000 attorneys
fees and $4,000 bribe for Governor
Blease.
Col. Thomas B. Fielder and Detec-
tive Reed sent word that they would
willingly come before the committee
in Augusta, Charlotte or any other
nearby city outside of the state at
any convenient time, but would not
enter South Carolina for the reason
that to kill either of them would be
"a safe amusement"
Fear For Their Lives.
They made it known that they be-
lieved their lives would be in danger
SO long as Cole l.. Blease was the
chief magistrate and the state was
"ungoverned," since they felt that
the governors friends could assassi-
nate them with impunity, confident
that even if they were convicted they
would be pardoned. AS the situation
now is, they said in effect, there was
virtually price on their heads in
South Carolina. For that reason none
of the Burns detectives will openly
come into the state.
Mr.. Nichols and G. P. Sims, the
local attorneys and friends of the
governor, with whom Detective Reed
says he bargained for the pardon of
4Nhnsan slUiak both go. before the leg
islative committed today and answer
the charge. They will be accompanied
by delegation of Spartanburg at
torneys and friends.
Array of Counsel.
The accused men will be repre-
sented by this array of counsel:
Judge George w. Nichols and Will
liam M. Jones respectively father and
uncle of Samuel J. Nichols; c. P. San
ders, Ralph Carson, Robert ]. Can't
and Cecil c. Wyche, of Spartanburg;
]. Gordon Hughes of Union, and Will
liam Nelson of Columbia.
Messrs. Nichols and Wyche left
for Columbia last night. The other
members of the party will leave at
7:4O o'clock this morning. Senator
Carlisle will also leave this morning.
A number of Spartanburg men ex-
pect to go to Columbia as spectators
of the proceedings, among them be-
ing Col. B. G. Landrum, of the gov
ernor's staff; Oscar Godfrey and sew
eral friends of the governor.
MIR. Nichols Defense.
Mr.. Nichols defense to Detective
Reeds testimony will be that the de-
tective piled him with liquor until
he was not responsible for what he
said. He will point out that at the
beginning of the conversation in the
Finch hotel which was caught with
the dictagraph, he repudiated the
detectives suggestion that Blease be
bribed and said the governor was in
corruptibfe, and it was only after the
intoxicants had taken effect that he
agreed with what Reed said on the
subject. Mr.. Nichols will take the
position that what he said under the
influence of liquor is unworthy of be-
ing given serious consideration.
Mr.. Sims Position.
Mr.. Sims position will be that he
was persuaded that Johnson was in
wretched health, was paying the
penalty second time for an offense
for which he had already served seven
years, and was deserving of par
don; that he (Sims- undertook to Sc
cure the pardon in his capacity of an
attorney, but that he. entertained no
thought of, paying Governor Blease
anything for the pardon.
Senator Carlisle said that the hear
ing would be held in the State house
and begin at noon.
.t: 4 Charleston Witnesses. ~,
In addition to the Spartanburg men,
Charleston witnesses will be examined
if their presence can be secured, in
rgard to allegations that the "blind
tigers" of that city paid Benjamin
Stothart, chief constable, for protec-
ton, and that, Stathart, after deduct
ing his commissions, turned the graft
over to the governor. a,-,.
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