Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-08-14
NEAR TROUBLE AT NEWBERRY
Blease Supporter Sought Row With
Candidate w. y. Pollock.

Blease Supporter Sought Row With
Candidate w. p. Pollock.
Newberry, Aug. THE ugliest
situation Of the entire senatorial
campaign developed in Newberry to-
day, when the shedding of blood was
narrowly averted. Throughout the
meeting the atmosphere was sur
charged with smouldering tension,
which apparently single rash word
or act would have caused to flame up
into bloody wrath. Once the strain
ed circumstances got to such a pitch
that John iHery Chappell, an ardent
supporter Of Cole L. Blease, attempt
ed to get at Pollock with q pocket
knife after Pollock. had concluded
his speech and was getting a breath
Of fresh air in - rear door to the
court room.
The Chappell incident had its in
ception near the conclusion of Mr.
Pollock's speech. Mr.. Chappell ask
ed the speaker if he had said the sup
supporters of Cole l.. Blease were
disloyal. II am not charging any
one as disloyal," Mr.. Pollock said
He declared he was simply quoting
the record Of Mr.. Blease from
Blease newspapers before the vot-
ers. This did not satisfy Mr.. Chap
pell, who said something about Mr..
Pollock being too much Of a coward
to say SO, and started toward Mr..
Pollock, who made an effort to an
swer, but only got so far as to say,
"Now, look here, friend" when he
was admonished that his time was
up.
= Knife in Hand.
Sheriff Cannon G. Blease and 9TH
ers forced Chappell back into his
seat. While Jas. f. Rice was speak
ing Mr.. Pollock and a number Of
others were standing at the rear of
the court room. Chappell came back
through the rear room with a large
knife in his. hand and when he came
near Pollock began to give vent to
his wrath by cursing. Sheriff Blease
and others pulled him away before
the knife could be brought into play.
Chappell was also said to have been
on his way to the hotel, where the
candidates were stopping, as they
were taking their departure for Lau-
rens on the 1 o'clock train.
Candidates had been forewarned
of prospective danger at the New
berry meeting, just as threatening
letters have been received relative to
pending meetings in the Piedmont.
Harry Blease, county chairman, also
appreciated the quality of mood the
followers Of the Ex-Governor were in,
as evidenced by his urgent appeal
that the candidates be allowed to de-
liver their speeches. Later he plead
ed with the miraculous ones to re-
frain from disorder. He said he was
there to maintain order; also that
he was closer to his brother, Cole L.
Blease, than they were and stood be-
tween his brother and the speakers If
any false statements were to be ut
tered. A number Of police were sta
toned about in the court room and
Sheriff Blease and his deputies kept
within a few yards Of the speakers
throughout the meeting.
Mayor Called In.
Soon after the Chappell alteration
Mayor Wright was sent for and rush
ed to the court room. The whole
situation was fraught with possibili-
ties painful to contemplate and many
Of Newberry's best citizens were in
censed over the incident. The act,
they say, will serve only to intensity
the determined fight which has al
ready begun to have Mr.. Blease's
home county in the opposing column
again this year. He lost the county
by 172 votes when he ran for the
United States Senate four years ago,
and reports in Newberry to-day were
that efforts duplicating the zeal anG
enthusiasm and determination Of two
years ago are already sweeping over
the county.
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