The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-07-25
n. C. SHERIFF
RAPS ON BLEASE
Writes Spicy Letter to Governor
Who Refused Requisition
Papers for a White Man
Wanted in North Car
0lina, Now in Jail
at Gaffney.

Shelby, July 21.-A bitter contro-
versy between Governor Blease of
South Carolina and the authorities of
this state is laid bare by correspond
ence in regard to a requisition for
Ernest Humphries, a young white
man who is wanted in Cleveland
county for several offenses.
Some time ago Humphries and an
other man, Harmon, were arrested
at Grover, on the South Carolina line
Tor drunkenness. They were placed
In the town lookup and threat was
heard by the Grover officer made by
Humphries that he would burn the
lookup before morning. Three rel
atives of Humphries went to his AZ.
sistance during the night and releas-
ed the two young men and the lock-
up was burned, it is alleged by Hum
phries. Sheriff d. D. Wilkins saws
he has an eyewitness to the burn
ing.
Harmon submitted and his recog-
nizence was taken for his appearance
to the Superior court pending the
arrest of Humphries who escaped.
Humphries lived just across the
line in South Carolina and South Car
olina officers aided in the search. Be.
fore ne was apprehended on this
charge, however, he was arrested for
iarcency at Gaffney and put on the
roads for 80 days. ,ss
Sheriff Wilkins asked Governors
Craig to make Ssqqisit tdoH for ~
|tSsn m! saa N Inoss =
ns sssl fcFgTcUI'E I;0vGfHors
blease and asked that he be not;f,Sd
when the matter would come nm for
q hearing in order that Solicitor
wilson or an attorney representing
north Carolina could appear before
Governor Blease. He says Governor
Blease failed to let him know and bo
wrote again.
In the meantime the sheriff nbon
ed Solicitor Hill at Spartanbure and
1T seems that the solicitor went
before the Governor in the interest
OF Humphries and protested against
the requlsition papers being issued.
Sheriff Wilkins considers that he
or the citizens of Grover who want
Humphries brought to Justice has
been charged with attempted black.
mail by Governor Blease, but he was
given the Governor as good as ba
SENDS by the following correspond
ence of today:
Governor Blease writes Sheriff
Wilkins.
Your letter of July Id received in
reference to one Earnest Humphries.
l am not going to give you this bow
am informed it is all trumped-
up charge against him. There were
TWO arrested, both of them drunk.
and they deliberately let the other
man go and now are trying to make
scapegoat out of this boy. wish
you would therefore, please ston
Dotherlng me about this matter. ror
most assuredly am not going to
give him to you. They had no hus-
mess to lock him up, he had done
nothing to be locked up for, and
10 not propose to allow citizen Of
ny state to be blackmaiied io anv
such manner"
Sheriff Wilkins reply is:
Your insulting letter of yesterday
n n regard to the notorious criminal
Ernest Humphries is received Re-
ny 70 same, l have to advise Won
nat whoever informed you that the
harges against him in this county
vas tfumped-up either did NOT
now the facts in this case or tbev
Vli,1ully and maliciously misrepre-
ented the matter. Humphries has
requently for the past several wears
erved terms in the jails and on the
haingangs in your state for larcencv
nd other crimes, and is now in iai,
1aHney, s. c., charged with grand
'rcency, but if you prefer to uphold
rime you are not, I am glad to saw.
'e Governor of North Carolina. We
ave charges in this county against
Vo other citizens of your state and
e intended to ask extradition for
'1 l suppose now in view of vour
ast conduct toward the officers of
'e law abiding citizens of this com
and state that it is hardly neces-
ny 70 ask you to let us have them,