The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-13

was serving a long term at tho peni-
Tertiary when Blease came into once.
Soon he too. was liberated by the
governor. Rabens was known as the
receiver of stolen goods for gang or
"yeggman" which cracked safe after
safe in this State from 1902 to 1905.
Among the men who had dealings with
Rudy" Rabens were the notorious
Tennessee Dutch. Slick Williams.
Jimmy Nolan, and Gus DeFoTd.
Some Of Rabens' former customers arc
still serving terms.
In March, i9ll Pope b. Havird o.
Saluda. was sentenced TO Eve years
for abusing a school teacher. Havird,
who has some wealth. took exception
20 the young woman course in applying
corporal punishment 20 one Of his
children Meeting the young woman
in the road one day. IL was charged
Havlrd attempted 10 drive his mule
over her. and heaped verbal abuse upon
her. For this he was tried and con
victed He went 20 the penitentiary
but on october 27. 1912 Governor Blease
granted him a parole. He had served
only fraction OF his term.
An interesting side of the Cover
nors pardon record Is disclosed by the
testimony at the dlspensary investi-
eating committee hearing in Au-
susta Ga. last July. 10 was testi-
FED. and subsequently denied by the
Governor. that arrangements Tor Sc
curing pardons could be made by appi-
cation 20 certain lawyers known 70 De
in the inner-rank OF the Governor
friendly circle. Dictagraph records
were introduced in evidence tending
10 show that for the payment Of SIS
600. Sam j. Nichols OF Spartanburg.
offered 10 secure a pardon for one Gus
DeFord who subsequently turned out
not 70 be the notorious safe-crac kerr
The conversation contained IN the
I, Flz
Nichols. who is of a prominent fam
lily. and an operative for the Burns
Detective Agency. NICHOLS attef-
ward maintained that he was not
responsible for the statements made
20 the detective as he was under the
influence of liquor al the time This
defense he introduced before the legis-
lative committee al special meeting
called TO give him chance 10 defeAd
himself. On the stand he declared
that the detective had piled him with
Scotch xhiskey and had led him on.
Nichols said that ne was unable 10
remember the statements he was al
legged 70 have made, but maintained
thai if ne did make them they were
not TO be taken seriously, because OF
his intoxicated condition.
His Book of Pardons."
These chapters lend human INTEREST
70 the Book of Pardons." volume OF
q bout 200 pages, which the Governor
issued and sent TO the Legislature at
the 1912 session. This unique book con !
tains the record of pardons and pa
roles detailing the crimes and the SEN
fences. with the Governors reason for
extending clemency. However. it sets
forth only a part of Blease's pardons I
which have multiplied since II was pub
lished.
Blease was not long out Of the pub I
tic eve after his sensational utterances
al Richmond at the Governors Con /
ference threw him into the limelight. 7
he mas recently begun a war against /
those Of the notaries public or South /
Carolina who are not his friends.
When ne became Governor IN 1910. ne |
sent message TO the General Asser oiy /
announcing that he had revoked all com !
missions OF all notaries public III the /
State. lie announced that he TOOK this /
action because there we're some negroes /
holding COMMISSIONS as nOtarIes. and I
hat he could only dispose of these by /
removing all. All notaries had 70 make /
application for resppointment. and he /
refused to com mission some made on 1
application of those Who were not his /
political friends.
Last month he sent letters TO about |
100 notaries in Columbia announcing |
tina. they no longer had Offices, and in (
ne last few days he has extended these /
removals 20 other parts OF the State, IN ,
olcating that he will have another house /
cleaning of these officials In the cut /
ting off in Columbia some Of the most I
prominent lawyers and other business /
men IN the city were dismissed. and 1
the commission of the chief of police I
as a notary public was revoked
And Tuesday Coleman Livingstone 7
Blease begins a term of two additional /
wears in which he may set up some more /
records for the State Of South Carolina.