The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-03-28
TROUBLE BREWING IN UNION?
Tense Situation Apparently Brought
About by Recent Activities OF
''Detectile" FORMER.

OF Union on one SlQe, ana Governor
Blease on the other appears immin-
ent. AS a result, the people of Union
city and county are very mucn
wrought up, momentarily expecting
the smouldering flames to break out
in some new quarter in the triangular
fight now being staged.
Following the appearance OF Rep
resentative Fortner, of Union, a
Blease member of the legislature, in
Union with a commission from Gov
ernor Blease as State detective i'll
his pocket and the big row, it is said,
he kicked up by attempting to ralu
an alleged blind tiger, the mayor OIL
Union and several of the prominent
people caustically condemned the gov
ernor Tor giving representative a
commission as a detective, and the
people OF Union, at least many OF
them, resented the incident bitterly
and charged political plot.
Yesterday Sheriff FAINT, of Union' re-
cnived a letter from the governor
charging the sheriff with being dere-
lict in his duty in enforcing the laws
and strongly intimating that unless ne
performed his duty he may be remoV-
ed from office. In his letter to Sner-
iff FAINT the governor said: "1t has
been reliably reported to me that one
Will Estes is running an open 'ollno
tiger in the town of Union, which is
a nuisance to the community; and
that J. w. Wolling, a negro, J. r.
FAINT, Miller Fant and Dick English
Sre engaged in violation Of the dis
uensary law.
at is further reported That the
mayor and the police force in the city
of Union-in fact, it is reported to me
that members of the police force kept
special vigilance over one OF my de-
tectives sent there, in order to keep
him from accomplishing anything
MANY complaints are coming to
this Office about the open and fragrant
violation of the dispensary law in the
town of Union, as we'll as in the coun-
>ty of Union. I again write and beg
of you to get busy and enGeavor to
stop these violations of the law.
81 am writing to other sheriffs along
the same line begging them to get
busy, and / sincerely hope that all OF
the officers of the State will remem-
Der the oath that they have taken and
do something to help me in the en-
forcement of the law. I can not do 1t
by myself; I can only urge it upon
you whose duty it is."
Concerning rumor that the gov
ernor had threatened to remove Sher-
iff FAINT from Office and appoint for
mer Sheriff Long the sheriff Is quoted
as having nothing to say, while Mr.
l. ong is quoted q saying that if the
n,ace is offered to him he would ac-
cont Mr.. FAINT defeated Mr.. Long
for sheriff of Union county last sum-
mer.
Mayor Duncan is quoted as follows:
Mayor Duncan, when seen this morn
ing and asked if he had anything to
say regarding Governor Blease,s Sc
we're criticism Of the police force, SAID:
4 never give any attention to commu-
nications Of any anonymous charac-
ter. Let Governor Blease give nanny
of his informant, giving him informa-
ton, so-called, regarding action OF
mavor and police force, and it will be
shown that his informant is nothing
more nor less than common every
day liar. ,"
Union is thriving little city OF
some 5000 inhabitants in the Pied
mont section of South Carolina, and
the people are nightly stirred over
the threatened, clash between the gov
ernor and the local officials.
It is said that Will Estes is the own
er of the place which Fortner' while
in Union with a detectives commits
sion, said he would raid or he would
have the governor to place Union un-
der martial law.
When asked this morning about the
matter Governor Blease said he had
not threatened to remove Sherln
Fant; that all such rumors were poppy
cock. He said that complaints hao
- I,;,,, eropo &c good cltlZ6nS as