The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-07-24
KING MAKES 4 STATEMENT.
Denies He was Drunk when They
Applied Mt Governors Mansion Last
Sunday.

today publishes the following self
explanatory letter:
Please allow me space in your pa
per to reply to the false statements
made by Cole l.. Blease in his speech
at Columbia last night concerning Mr..
Watson and myself.
The simple facts will be sufficient
for my friends and the public gem
orally to understand the situation.
Mr.. Olin M. Watson and | went to
Columbia to ask for respite of GO
days for negro, Stake Morris. con-
demned to be electrocuted on July 26.
so that a largely signed petition for
communication % like imprisonment
could be presented later. We went
to the mansion Sunday afternoon af-
ter dinner after making an ENGAGE
ment by telephone with him and TOLD
Blease our mission. We were in his
bedroom and the door shut
He said they had the sleuths and
dintagraphs after him and he would
not do anything.
We showed him the petition signed
by many citizens and the majority of
Greenv'ile county officials. He refused
to look at it. called his attention to
the fact that if anything were done
1t must be done at once. / was 90
surprised at his decision that | said.
After all have done for you. if you
ic
done with you"
Blease said angrily, Get out of my
mansion" | replied, as pulled on my
hat, Damn you and your man
sion, too"
This Vas in ordinary conversation
and was heard by no one except
those in the room. Mrs. Blease met
Mr. Watson and me as we went down
stairs to the front door and talked
to us and told us goodbye i'm friend
ly manner. She did not know what
had happened.
Mr.. Watson was so surprised that
he said to me, Blease certainly could
not have understood us. or must be
drunk or crazy, and after we got to
the street, went back against my ad-
vice. He did not stay long. as Blease
ordered him out in the same man
ner.
nave been supporter of BleaSe
for several years and a personal
friend. | remember one incident sew
eral years ago at Union, where he got
SO drunk he could not get on the
train. | bought a ticket, put him in
seat and told the conductor in
which pocket he would find his ticket
1t looks like if he had been drunk
Sunday and be the friend he claimed
to be, he would have taken care of
me in his house as | have done for
him, but the difference was that | was
mot drunk Sunday, but absolutely
sober.
He claims he sticks to his friends.
Watson and | are both poor working
men and we were interested in Stakes
Morris because We were sorry for
him. Perhaps if there had been a
few hundred dollars in it we might
have been rece' ed cordially
Blease saiu ON the statehouse
steps last nigh, mat if Watson and |
were gentlemen, God pity the no
boes"
If he felt this way about me. why
did he write the following letter last
month:
Columbia, June r2G, 1912.
Dear Sir:
Il forward you by express prepaid,
on yesterday supply of my books
in regard to pardons, paroles. etc.
| please distribute them to the best
advantage possible and should there
be any expense connected with the
distribution thereof, please send me
bill and will reimburse you for the
outlay
with kindest personal regards and
best wishes, very respectfully,
(Signed) COLE L. BLEASE
Mr.. James N. King, Greenville."
| have no favors to ask of Blease
but have supported him without re-
ward or hope of reward because be-
lieved that he was sincere and true.
| know now that he is neither, and
| liar besides. When he gets ready to
nave me turned out of the Red Men
will be glad to have him come UP
and try 1t. / am also a Woodman