The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-03-24
MEDDLiiNG CHARGED
IN GOSNELL CASE

Complaint Lodged Against Prohibition
Officers. Carried to Capital. SheriTs'
Association Calls for Assistance.
Washington, March 2O.-Nothing
that has happened in Western Caro-
lima in years is OF so much interest as
the visit OF Congressman Byrncs and
Nichols with Sheriff Cannon Blease
Of Ncwberry county to the commits
sioner of internal revenue today to in
sist that prohibition officers in Green
vile county keel cut Of the case of
the state against Jake Gosnell, charg-
ed with the murder of Hendrix Rector,
sheriff OF Greenville county, several
months ago.
The sheriffs' association of South
carolina recently took this matter up,
and its real significance may easily
be seen by the following appeal made
to the members of the South Carolina
delegation in congress for assistance:
1T having been officially called to
the attention OF the sheriffs' assocla-
ton Of South Carolina by Messrs Bon
ham and Price and Solicitor Martin,
who are the prosecuting attorneys rep
resenting the state in the case Of the
state against Jake Gosnell charged
with the murder Of the late Hendrix
Rector, sheriff OF Greenville county,
that agents and employees Of the fed
oral government to Wit. - n No,.,;o,,
head Of the prohibition officers of the
state and his assistants arc pcrnici-
ously active in Grccnvillc county in
moulding sentiment for the slayer Of
the late sheriff OF Greenvile county
and in attempting to sound influence
in behalf Of the defendant, Gosnell,
and otherwise using their official po-
sition and influence in an effort to
acquit the defendant Gosnell, irrcspec-
tive Of the merits Of the case, despite
the fact that this case has been re-
manded to the court Of general ses-
sions of Greenville county for trial
by his honor, III. II. Watkins, United
States district Judge, for the Western
district OF South Carolina he having
declared by his order remanding the
case that the killing of Sheriff Rector
by Deputy Marshall Gosnell was not
done in the performance OF his official
duties as United States officer.
ut is therefore requested that this
committee, representing the shcriffs'
association of South Carolina, mcmor-
alize the members Of the South Caro-
lima delegation in congress to take up
with the commissioner Of internal
revenue this question in an effort to
have the whole matter investigated
for the sole purpose OF stopping
what we consider the unwarrantcd and
pernicious activity Of federal officers
In Greenville county into n mattcr
with which they should not be Official
~ concerned. to the end that the case
may proceed in the ordinary and usual
manner in the state court OF South
Carolina and thereby insure the ends
of justice being accomplished"
When Sheriff Bleasc reached Wash
ington. meeting OF the delegation
was called and Congressman Byrnes,
dean OF the delegation, and Congress
man Nichols. in whose district Green
vile is located, We're named as the
committee to take up the matter here.
They were informed that it would be
turned over to the district authori-
ties at Richmond and thorough cx-
animation made Immediately Very
serious charges. it will be noted, are
made and interesting results are ex-
pected when the investigation is com
pleted.
with this request. the delegation
filed the letter from the Greenville
lawyers making it part Of the record
In the case.