Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-16
DUNCAN TELLS OF GRAFT
Wholesale Charges Reduced to Speci'
fications in Affidavit.

fications IN Affidavit.
The wholesale charges of Illegal
manipulation ana graft 10y certain
citizens or Columbia In securing 0l
land for tn" rautonmcnt at Camp
.Iarkson. made at F'lorrnc" and Other
towns al the state 10y John u. Dun
can OF ColumbEI. candidat" for COVER
nor. in his campaign speeches. cHl'ul-
nLtri in the audience at th" stat
nl,, tan: III il"rrnr, las; Saturday
adopting - resolution calling on Mi
Duncan Ia PAT h,S charges in affidavit
form la he presented 10 IN" Federal
-, "rnrnoni for Investigation.
Duncan Makes Affidavit.
This Mr.. Duncan did in tn" pres
,nrr of a committee appointed hS
County Chairman J. w. McCown
consisting of J. W. Hicks. n lawyer;
G.. VI. McCurry, auditor, and y. l.
Erwuacesrtsss,anaFsser.-atssHials Hials
who offered tho resolution at the
campaign meeting, said that If Mr.
Duncan's charges were true. there
should be prosecutions. and IL un-
true. they should bc shown to hc cr-
.oncous. Mr.. Hicks stated that the
affidavit will hc filed with the gov
,rnmcnt.
In his ailidnvit dictated to n ste
nosraphcr in Mr.. Hicks's office. Mr.
Duncan charged that John Hughes
cooper. Il lawyer of Columbia, al
though making patriotic speeches urg-
Ing others to enlist was not in the
service. although Of military age. Mr.
duncan gave as his position that the
influence of Edwin W. Robertson oi
columbia, president Of the National
Loan and Exchange bank. who h'
SAYS is the boss OF the system.
aud W. \. Clark. president Of tho
Carolina National bank. the "cN-boss
a. the SYSTEM" are being used in Mr.
roopcr's behalf to keep him out oi
the army AS Mr.. Cooper is very
lose to them. in this connection he
iisrd the names OF August Cohn ol
rolumhia. former newspaper man and
iInanrirr.
lie directly charged Robert Moor
man. II lawyer of Columbia. and chair
,nan of the exemption board Of tn,
city OF Columbia, with sending oui
at the country the papers of Count
Wcd"l. whom hc charged with being
- German spy" and whom thu
Providence Journal hal exposed II
Teu;onic spy methods in this country
and after Count Won Bcrnstorff. am
Ia#Sadnr to the United States from
Germany. and his attaches had beer
:-ivrn their passports. Count Wcdel
who came to America on the wit
tckind," purchased farm near Co
lumhia and resided there until H.
WAS recalled To Germany to serve Will
his regiment. Mr.. Moorinan. said Dir
Duncan, was the attorney of Count
Wchel
Mr.. Duncan charged Mr.. Robertson
with various manipulations In thu
procuring of the land for the Cam
Jackson site and stated that Il ccrtai,
development company of Coumbia
WAS using misrepresentation to the
natives near the camp to get thciI
farms for Il pittancc. and. hr asserted
hy implication. getting handsome re-
turns from the government. He said
that business men of Columbia sub
scrihcd $50.O00 TO purchase land fol
the cantOnment site. which was to bt
given tn the government at n hand
some rental. He named NJ. w. Ma
son. II real estate man OF Columbia as
the agent of Mr.. Robertson in this
manipulation, stating that later Mr.
l.lobcrtson'S influence had placed, Mr.
Mason with the government to secure
opt ions on land.
He stated that Major General Bal.
Icy. commander OF the Slst division
| former commander at Camp Jackson
who had been 'wined and dined" 10y
Mr.. Robertson. had used his influence
with Governor Manning to have tn,
chief executive veto the hill passed u!
I he last general assembly requiring
| FIVE cent car fares between CamI
JaV kson and Columbia on the lines o.
| Columbia Isnilwa.:, Gas and Electric
company. Of which Mr.. Robertson wa:
president. The charge OF ten cent Cal
| fare occasiOncd the Legislative statute
In this connection. Mr.. Duncan
charged that Mr.. Robertson had usct
his influence with Governor Mannins
to get the appointment of Christie
| Brnrt of Columbia. as senator to sue
cerd the late II. II. Tiilman. He al
legged that he wanted him to stand be
tween the Federal government and al
investigation OF Camp Jackson.
| The other state candidates made
their usual speeches.