Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-07-17
Says Will Brand Each Charge False.

N'"J" "fAA 'iohu HoCh SIEtFSc raise.
Columbia, July 15.--"The fact
that Burns Is in this matter gives me
no concern said Governor Cole l..
Blease to-day, referring to the Au-
gusta Investigation.
I'm my opinion, Burns has proved
himself to be unworthy Of belief and
cheap hireling, as he has been in
his other transactions.
No Nichols Request.
"You can say, too that Sam ].
Nichols has never said anything to
me about the pardon Of Gus Deford.
He was at Barnwell, but l only spoke
to him there. | saw him again at
Blackville and at Bamberg, and he
was at the Mansion with me at Co.
lumbia yesterday, but never word
did he say to me about a pardon or
any other business transaction"
Ihe Governor was also asked about
the visit to the Mansion yesterday of
}. N. King and 0. NJ. Watson, of
GreenVille, who said they were insult
ed by the Governor and ordered out
Of the Mansion because they came to
apply for respite in the case of
Stake Morris, negro condemned to
die In the electric chair. They said
that the Governor ordered them
away, saying "Thosc sleuths were
after him with dictaphones," about
pardon matters.
The Governor stated that he had
nothing to slJ about Tho visit Of the
iwo men. b'I.oDds Of the Gov2rnOr.
unWrEEE SAY tHat lhG sW0 r,au were
NIltWt and conducted themselves nj
the Mansion IN u jlrc0teninG and In
loGGn. manner.
The Governor stated also that he
would take up one by one the
charges made against him at Angus
ia and answer them in detail with
proof showing that they were false,
and at the proper time would make
public this detailed statement.
He dictated however, the follow
ing statement this morning, which
was given to the press:
The entire transaction as brought
out in Augusta has been done at
this time Of campaign for the purpose
or ln1nring me, thinking as we had
passed over half OF the State it
would be impossible for me to reach
the people with my refutation
Tissue OF Wilful Lies.
"The whole thing is tissue of
misrepresentation and wilful lies,
which l. will show to the people of
Siic holtlS WIN lHe DlOOlS.
81 have received numbers Of tele-
grams, letters and telephone mas
sages from my friends throughout the
State and from parties who have not
heretofore been my friends, in which
they denounce the committee for the
action they have taken, and assure
me OF their undivided support.
am satisfied that they have done
me no injury, but have materially
strengthened me with my friends and
all South Carolina, who love their
State and who will resent the man
Der In which this cowardly character
thief (Felder), debauch and Dimp
has attempted to iniure the CHIEF
Magistrate of this State with the as
sistance Of this committee"
Committee to Hear Nichols Thursday
Spartanburg, July 15.--Samucl J.
Nichols, the Spartanburg attorney
mentioned in the testimony taken at
Augusta Saturday as having acted as
the gO-between for Governor Blease
In an alleged proposition to pardon
James Johnson, the yeggman, return
ed to the city this morning from CO.
lumbia, whore he conferred with the
Governor yesterday. He declined to
make any statement for publication,
o'iSi tIltl W lildt lHuCH Ol Tile
testimony involving him was false
Mr.. Nichols arranged with Senator
RI. b. Carlisle, chairman Of the leg
islative Investigating committee, to
hold another session in Columbia on
Thursday, when Nichols will appear
ana make a statement relative to the
charges.
lie Is not discomforted by the Au-
gusta revelations, but has met all
VINO questioned him in regard to the
matter with smile.
y; +. Sims. mentioned as having
colaborated with Nichols in the ef-
fort to secure the pardon, admits
that he was to receive fee for his
services, but denies that Blease was
to share in the proceeds.