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Newspaper
Pickens Sentinel
Location
Pickens, South Carolina, United States of America
Date
Jul 25, 1912
Page
1
A renowned investigator presents findings alleging graft and corruption connected to public figures. The report highlights financial improprieties and questionable dealings, naming involved entities and locations under scrutiny. Authorities weigh the presented evidence and potential charges.
Detec tive Burns touted as top investigator reveals graft plots amid South Carolina politics. Augusta testimony describes dictograph use and forged testimony, linking Charleston blinds and Gov Blease campaign financing to protection money and con estables.
Augusta July 13. Dictagraph evidence and direct testimony from Burns detectives show Gov. Cole L. Blease allegedly received 2000 dollars for pardoning Rudolph Rubens 500 dollars for blocking railroad legislation 200 dollars for killing a dispensary investigation and a share of protection money from Charleston Burns stated he would prefer the committee hear records his men would submit Reed of dictagraph fame to testify next morning.
A dictagraph, a simple device similar to a telephone, uses a wire to send voice from one room to another. The sending end centers on a small horseshoe shaped instrument, while the receiving end uses two ear pieces placed over the stenographer’s head.
The main documentary material presented by Felder consists of personal conversations and diary notes used by Mr Wilson of Charleston, who is actually Detective Bailey of the Burns force. Additional documents Felder read before handing them to the committee served as sworn evidence.
Ben Stothart appointed chief constable by governor Bleas e says agreements protected Charleston blind tigers in return for a monthly sum totaling 3500 to 5000 dollars. He alleges he pocketed commissions and delivered the balance to Columbia to the governor. He says protests were ignored and the governor acted independent. He also claims a pardon for Rudolph Rabens costing 2000 dollars was secured through his negotiations at the Argyle hotel.
Henry Hasselmeyer described a scheme in which Charleston’s 350 illegal taverns would pay $10 monthly for police protection, authorized by Governor Cole Blease. The chief of the constabulary met brewery leaders in Columbia and Charleston, claiming a governor approved monthly commissions and monthly remittances, with Hasselmeyer protesting to the governor in Columbia.
Felder testified for hours alleging official corruption in South Carolina. He charged a syndicate driven by money to block legislation, pardons bought from the governor, and rebates to the state dispensary. He named Blease Evans Bluthenthal and Bickert in a frame up with whiskey houses and railroads, plus protection taxes and monthly shares.
F Charlton Wright from Savannah, newberry senator Cole L Blease era, testifies in Columbia about alleged railroad bribes. Wright, private secretary to Southern railroad general counsel, says he once handed a check for 500 dollars to Blease in the senate chamber to defeat a bill affecting railroad interests.
A fragmented passage shows a confrontation with the governor over alleged graft. The governor reportedly dismissed the complaint and said he would “run that end of the matter.” The wording suggests political friction without further details.
The document alleges Cole L. Blease, then a Newberry senator, was hired by Jeff Dunwoody of Atlanta to obstruct a state investigating committee. It cites cash payments, private interviews, and checks totaling $1000 tied to securing pardons for DeFord, with mentions of Sam J. Nichols, and funds deposited in Chicago and Spartanburg banks.
T B Felder deposited a $2,500 draft at the Fourth National Bank Atlanta to be remitted to the Bank of Commerce Spartanburg for a covert operation. The aim was to obtain evidence that Governor Blease sold pardons. E S Reed, famed detective and Burns forces head, would execute the scheme under the alias Henry N Porter, attorney of Chicago Illinois.
Testimony from dictograph recordings and stenographers reveals Sam J. Nichols discussions with detective Henry N. Porter about a pardon deal. It covers Nichols securing a Piedmont and Northern charter and threats to Gov. Blease over a bill tied to $10,000 a year.
Porter described DeFord alias James Johnson alias Edward Murphy alias Edward Holloway and other names as a seasoned safe blower with prior five year federal prison term in Atlanta. He recounted a scheme with Sam J. Nichols to obtain a pardon, involving dictagraphs in Spartanburg Washington Baltimore and Baltimore hotels, with forged letters and checks totaling up to 1000 dollars.
The witness testified from experience that it is impossible to fake testimony given at the diets i. He stated that the stenographer's notes would reveal whether the testimony was genuine.
The schedule lists campaign stops across Edgefield Aiken Camden Lancaster Yorkville Gaffney Spartanburg Union Newberry Laurens Greenwood Abbeville Anderson Walhalla Pickens Greenville with dates from July 25 to August 22. Officials propose a string of appearances including Edgefield July 25 and Greenville August 22.
A schedule shows the senatorial campaign visits across multiple South Carolina locales with dates in late July and August. Cities include Hampton Barnwell Newberry Laurens Greenwood Abbeville Anderson Valhalla Pickens Greenville Spartanburg Union Gaffney Yorkville Lancaster Camden Chester Winnsboro Lexington Saluda Edgefield and Aiken.
The county executive committee set campaign meeting dates: Easley July 27. Liberty August 3. Central August 10. Antioch August 16. Mile Creek August 22. Cateechee August 17. Dacusville August 22. Pumpkintown August 23. Pickens August 24.
Pickens Chapter extends deadline for Crosses of Honor applications to August 1 1912. Veterans and eligible descendants urged to apply at once via Probate Judge J B Newberry office or the undersigned. Mrs T J Mauldin president urges use of this final opportunity to obtain the badge of honor.
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