The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-21
Issues Vitriolic State
ment in Denial of
Charges.
BITTER ATTACK
ON HIS ENEMIES
Denounces Fielder and Members
OF Investigating Committee and
Blames Mayor of Charleston
for Story of Blind Tiger
Graft-Encounter With
Jones Expected.

Especial to The Times- Dispatch.l
Columbia s. c. July so.-Governor
Cole L. Blease this afternoon issued
lengthy ana citrlol!c reply to tho
charges OF selling purdons and OF
Grafung on the blind tigers IF the
state. which were made by witnesses
before tho Legislative investigatinS
committee.
The Governor denies al charger. and
erters into Il denunclation of Felder
and the members OF the investigating
committee. headed by senator Carlisle.
The Governor also denounceE Judge Ira
tones who Is candidate against him
The Governor saws that Fielder threats
- produce evidence against him SUI
hcien, for impeachment twere telse
and NJ charges them as "s!anderous
eruption from the impure mind. foul
mouth and slanderous pen OF. Tom Eel
Ger
The Governor says Of detective VII
liam J. Burns and his men. that they
are "a set OF men who are aIways oh
the lookout for the disaonerable task
OF Safeguarding the good reputation
OF some honest man or woman. and
Matchmaking even their own employ
ers."
Blease says the real reason why
Fielder did not testify in this state
was that he knew he could syear TO
falsehoods in Georgia" and would not
Dc prosecuted for pcriury. sut no knew
that South Carolina jury would
convict him
Grace ORIGINATED story.
Blease says Fielder erred whom he
says nc went to Charleston between
the two primaries in 1910 to get money
from the tigers" for his (Blosse's)
campaign Expenses. lie says the state
ment that he IS getting graft from the
Charleston blind tigers originated Win
Mayor Grace. Of that city. owing to
tine Governcr's refusal 20 allow Grace
to control the constabulary there. The
/ Governor denies that he received any
money for his signature TO tho lnte-ur-
ban railway act. or that he knew OF
any plans to buy a pardon for Gus
Ieford or any one else and SAYS that
not one word ABOUT It had been said
to him by Nichols.
AS to the pardon for +. W. Bentley.
the Governor denie- that he received
pay for its issuance. He says cheek
for s25 was sent him for the payment
Of Benuey's railroad fare to his home
IN Iowa, but that no other money ng
ured In the transaction.
The Governor mentions persons from
whom petitions were received request
ing pardons. one Of whom was the Rev.
W. a c. Mueller. u. D., a Lutheran
pastor Of Charleston He says the ac-
cusation made by Fielder that 1000
lad been paid for by Rabens fer his
freedom was a wilful falsehood. and
he submits aTdavits from Rabens and
DIT Mueller purport.ng TO deny this
charge.
Amdnvit From Evans.
He presents an affidavit from II. II.
Evans TO the effect that ne has never
had any transaction with Blease as
t. d!spensary affairs. or that he and
Blease were ever In Atlanta together.
nor has he ever had money paid TO him
b. any party for Governor Blease.
Governor Blease also presented af-
hdavits from dozen persons that he
was not concerned in any liquor or
other corrupt transactions.
AS to the famous ct. b" letters. of
which Fielder has denied authorship.
the Governor said that he had sub
mitted the letters TO several men OF
Columbia who are familiar with the
handwriting of Fielder, and that these
men are willing to go on the stand
and swear that the letters were writ
ten by T 3. Fielder Persons in the
state Of Georgia who arc also familiar
with the handwriting of Fielder had
made the same assertions. II have also
two letters written by Fielder. one
from England and one from a point
in the United states. to a woman. and
tho writing or these letters. compared
with those OF the T. b. letters. shows
that tho letters l hold were written by
Fielder
These IT B. letters propose scheme
to got control of the liquor situation
in south Carolina for company by
Fielder and his associates.
personal encounter is expected
between the Governor and Judge Jones
They are meeting on the stump fire.
qnently. He is a cowardly liar" is
the denunciation Governor Blease hurls
against Judge Jones, and from the same
stage Jones shouts back: Down with
the demaGogue and the pardon
srafior'
In conclusion tho Governor says that
he has endeavored to answer every
charge made against him but II any
honest man in South Carolina desires
any information regarding anything.
however small regarding any alleged
dishonorable act, ne is willing 10 an
swcr the accusation.
Certain to Land in Pcnltcntiary
Atlanta. ca. July eO--Thomas b. Eel
der the Atlanta attorney wh, made