The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-07-19
$4,000 was Price Set to Gain
Pardon for the Worst Crook

in South Carolina.
Augusta, Ga, July 13.-Sensational
testimony charging Governor Cole L..
Blease of South Carolina, with official
corruption was introduced before the
dIspensary investigating committee of
that state, at today's hearing. A. S.
Reed, Burns detective and Thomas
b. Fielder, the Atlanta attorney, were
the principal witnesses.
SO unexpected was the character of
the evidence that after the hearing
was adjourned, Chairman H. B. Car,
Isle of the committee, asserted that
the newly adduced charges against the
South Carolina governor would be
thoroughly sifted.
Detective Reeds testimony included
records taken with dictaphoneic de-
vice relative to negotiations for the
purchase of a convict's pardon from
the South Carolina penitentiary. The
| records, Reed testified, were of CONVEX
sations between the detective and
Sam j. Nichols. Spartanburg attor-
| ny, reputed to be a go-between for
Gov. Blease.
Reed testified James Johnson, alias
Gus De Ford "a yeggman, serving a
ten-year sentence in the penitentiary
for robbing safe of $4,000 was the
convict about whom the negotiations
werer conducted.
After making arrangements with
DeFord according to the detective, he
called upon Nichols and informed the
latter that the convict was heir to a
large estate but could only become a
beneficiary by securing his pardon.
Cave Nichols Check for $500.
The detective testified that Nichols
was interested and the former agreed
70 pay the attorney q handsome fee.
AS an evidence Of good faith the de.
tective stated he gave Nichols a CHECK
for 81, 800 duly indorsed.
Reed then read records taken by the
telephonic device Of conversation he
held with Nichols in Spartanburn and
at the New Willard hotel in Wash
ington on June 26, 1912. According
TO the records Nichols told Of his in
fiuence with Gov. Blease and named
the terms upon which he would Sc
cure the release of the convict.
SIC, 900 or SIT, GOO. The record as read
showed that Nichols repeatedly re-
ferred to the amount of the proceeds
which would 60 to Governor Blease
Tor signing the pardon. On two occa-
slons this sum was stated at $4,000.
According to the record Nichols was
to receive $4,000 and his law partner,
c. P. Sims, $4,000.
A number of kilograms were intro
duced in evidence from Nichols to
Reed, one of which was to the egect
that Nichols had left Spartanburg to
confer with Blease about the pardon.
When Reed had concluded Thomas
b. Fielder testified that a certain
amount of money had been put on de-
posit with the understanding that it
was to be released to Nichols order
as soon as Reed secured cipher tele-
gram from Nichols stating that the
convict had been pardoned
we know" testified Mr.. Fielder that
Nichols left Spartanburg to confer
with Governor Blease, that he saw
Blease at Barnwell Friday and was
closeted with the governor at Black
vile Friday night. We have been un-
able to locate Nichols today, how
ever"
Mystery surrounding the adjourn
ment of the hearing from this morning
until this afternoon was cleared up by
Mr.. Fielder on the witness stand. He
stated that he expected Governor
Rlease to sign DeFord's pardon during
that time, and for that reason the
postponement was made.