The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-20
THE FIELDER LETTERS
GOVERNOR BLEASE REFUSES TO
LET Them Be seen.
HUB EAVANS TESTIFIES

The Legislative Committee Again at
Work Investigating Charges Made
by Governor Against Winding Up
Commission, None of Which Have
Been Sustained by Witnesses.
"The governor said that he would
not turn over the letters to the COM
mittee except on the order of cir
cult Judge"
Tbs statement was made before
the legislative dispensary investigat-
ing committee Friday by Senator
Clifton, member of the committee
who called on the chief executive
with Representative J.. ]. Evans, to
make request for the inspection Of
certain letters alleged to have been
written to H. H. Evans by T. B. Eel
der, the Atlanta attorney.
Il think that We can get that or
der from the circuit judge" said
member Of the committee. 1t is ex-
pected that the matter will be car
ried into the courts. H. H. Evans Of
Newberry, appearing before the COM
mittee Thursday and Friday, told OF
receiving certain letters from 7. B.
Fielder, the Atlanta attorney, offering
to for a "whiskey corporation to
secure the business of the old State
dispensary in South Carolina. These
letters, he said, were in the hands
cf the governor.
H. H. Evans said that he would
try to secure the letters. He failed
and the committee Friday appointed
Senator Clifton and Representative
Evans to call on the chief executive
and ask for the letters. The COM
mittee met with a refusal. H. r..
Evans, in his testimony, charged
wrong intentions on the part Of Eel
der, and said that the letters would
substantiate his statements. He said
| that he was anxious for the letters
to be presented in evidence. The
committee desired the letters for in
spection.
The first witness called at the ses-
sions Friday morning was l.. ". Boy
kin, former member of the dispen-
sary board Of control. He was ques-
toned by the committee as to the
purchase of whiskey by the board.
He was asked by the committee con-
cerning the statement of Towil that
small orders were made at the regu-
lar meetings and that large quanti-
ties came in between the regular
quarterly meetings. He said that he
complained to W. o. Tatum concern
ing the large shipments of whiskey
which were made without order from
the board.
He said that the orders were plac-
| ed by G. H Charles, the clerk, Mr..
| Charles is dead. W. O. Tatum, men
toned by the witness, was the COM
missioner of the dispensary. Mr.. Boy
kin declared that Mr.. Tatum was
very much worried over the action
of Charles in ordering the large
amounts of whiskey. The entire
blame for the large orders were
placed on Mr.. Charles.
| The witness said that he had met
T. B. Fielder on one occasion while
lin Columbia and that he had receiv-
ed several letters and telegrams
from Fielder. He said that Fielder
was always worrying him" for or
6ers. He did not know the business
of Fielder.
The witness told Of a conference
in 1905 at the Jerome Hotel in Co.
lumbia between Fielder, Towill, Ev-
ans, and himself. He thought that
Evans had introduced him to Fielder.
He said that Fielder questioned him
as to who was going to run for the
positions on the dispensary board.
"Felder outlined a plan, stating
that he controlled several of the
largest whiskey distiileries in Amer
ica and he wanted to get some busi-
ness in South Carolina" said Boy
kin.
Mr.. Boykin said that he left the
room, refusing to discuss the plan
offered by Fielder. Il afterwards
told Towill that Fielder had a lot Of
gall to come here and make propo-
sition like that said the witness.
The witness denied that he knew
of any State official receiving graft
in connection with the dispensary.
He had heard of some gifts by the
whiskey companies.
Boykin said that be had been call
ed before the Blease commission. He
did not give testimony, but made an
affidavit, which was furnished to the
legislative committee. On question
by the committee he gave list, so
far as he remembered, of the "rep-
utable liquor houses Reverting to
the Fielder letters and telegrams he
said that they merely asked for
conference. He said that he had
never heard Of row between Fielder
and H. H. Evans.
The witness did not remember how
Hub Evans received the alleged
proposition by Fielder. to get business
| in South Carolina.
"Does it come within your knowl-
! edge that money was ever paid to
Attorney General Lyon or any other
State olfcial?"
''No, SIR
The witness denied that he had
ever received any money outside OF
his salary.
q would not doubt but that they