The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1917-07-05
Thursday, July S, 1s11s

but no answer was received until june 8.
At about I o'clock on June Father OHern,
a Catholic priest of Washington, D. c., called
up Mr.. Stevenson on the telephone and asked
about how his friend Knisley' getting
along in connection with his appointment to
the navy, to which reply was made that in
Stevenson's judgment he was not entitled to
it and he expected to that he didn't get
it. Father OHern replied that Knisey was a.
resident of Chester in the Fifth district and
that he was informed that when Kinsley was
at home he lived with Mrs. A 3. Collins,
107 Dewey street, Chester, that Knisey
great friend of his and Father Duff Of An
napolis to which Stevenson replied that he
was not interested in the friendship business;
what he wanted to know, did Knisley live
in the Fifth district of South Carolina. At
"a p. m. that day, the following telegram
was sent to Mrs. A. 3. Collins, who is de-
vout Catholic and an estimable woman
Washington, D. c., June 4, 1917
2:45 p. m.
{" TO Mrs A. B. Collins, 1O7 Dewey Street,
Chester, s. c.
''Knisley has had residence with you
since January; let it not be questioned.
"'FRIEND.' -
1920 p. M
Mrs. Collins had received a letter signed by
Knisley, 80 e. street, Annapolis Md, on
April II, asking that he might use her home
as the permanent address so that he could
stand his examination and stating that her
address had been furnished him by priest
residing in Columbia. 1t stated that Father
Kennedy at Annapolis had phoned Father
O'Hern at Washington, that his appointment
was 0. K. and that he must get Mrs. Collins
street address so he could state where he
lived as his appointment was from Chester;
that he possibly never would be there but
he must claim her house as his home Steven
son got possession Of those facts and then
asked Mr.. MCCOrke if he had appointed Knis-
McCOrk1p TpI11iod
and that he knew nothing Of him and SO
wired the navy department. Investigation
there disclosed the fact that on February 26,
Mr. McCorkle appointed Mr.. Whitaker prin-
cipal and signed his (McCorkle's) name in
ink in his own handwriting. The alleged ap-
pointment of Knisley made March 1 and
Mr. McCorkles name is attached with his
rubber stamp. Mr. McCorkle is blind but
writes his name splendidly and did SO when
he appointed Mr.. Whitaker. On consultation
with Gst Finley, Mr.. McCorkle became con-
WINGED that he authorized the appointment
and has informed Mr.. Stevenson that priest,
Father O'HeTn, he told came to his office
several times to him about it and it was
represented to him that Knisley lived in the
Fifth district and on such representation he
had the appointment made.
lately Mrs. Collins saw Mr.. NIcCOrkIe in
Chester and stated to him that she never had
seen Mr.. Knisiey in her life and that he had
never resided with her. Knisiey June
wrote Mr. Stevenson that his home 1O7
Dewey street, Chester of Mrs. A. 3. Col
Inns and sent and received kilograms there,
to and from priest i'm apparent effort to
braZen it out. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of
the Navy, cancelled the appointment on June
8 and John Davis Palmer of RidgeWay i'm
mediately was appointed principal and Stew
art Carlisle Dunbar, first alternate and Ches-
ter Alexander, second alternate, both of these
young men from Chester. Mrs. Collins is in
no wise to blame and acted in perfect good
faith in the matter. Mr.. Knisey has since
been appointed by Congressman Whaley from
Charleston and is qualifying under this
appointment which apparently settles the fact
that he doesn't live in the Fifth district"
Father O'Hern said today he does not care
to make a statement concerning the matter
but is fully satisfied that Knisley did nothing
improper and used no methods to secure the
appointment which were not entirely correct.