The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-11
The Cost OF a Committee.

In March, 1869, the General Assembly ap'
poluted special committee to investigate
the disordered state Of affairs in the Third
Congressional District and the causes oil
the I" intimidation, outrages and murders u
perpetrated during the preceding general
election. The committee consisted 81 Joseph
Crews, chairman, and Messrs.a Wright (col-
Iored,) Elliott (colored,) Bryant (white,
|'smalls tcolored,) and Mcintyre (white.
They went toswork in May, and presented
ths, result OF their labors, last session, in a
work OF nearly 300 pages, printed at the ex-
pense OF the State. According to this re.
port, the last meeting Of the committee, to
take evidence, was held in September, 1863.
During the year endiag October 81, 1863,
there was paid to the committee, for e1'
Epenses $40, 2sl 80, and in the following year
sl7, ,5aa IS additional making. q total Of
s27, ,s15 As. The last item Of sl7,533 IS,
as reported by the Comptroller General,
caused mild astonishmeut IN she Legisla-
ture, and several attempts we're made to
fad out .howi the money gas spent and
where it had gone to. A special committee
was apppihtsd % Investigate the, matter,
and it was asoertained that, according to
tha yepohers,z the following amounts bad
lbssn ssrasn pysHrsF. A A Rhesr, sa ser
vices as attorney and clerk, viz March 2,
$1,000; April 10, $500; May 4, $500; Sep
tembse 2s, s25aO- -totsl. $500. The COM
mittee transmitted with thsir report atidavits
from members Of the Third Congressional
District Investigating Committee, in which
they deny having employed Mr.. Dunbar in
either capacity, and the committee, there
fore, in conclusion, recommended that the
encouragement (Mr. Dunbar's professional
partner) be instructed to Institute legal pro-
eeedings against Mr.. Dunbar, for the recov-
cry Of the-meaey. lraudulently obtained. A
stranger fact remains behind. Mr.. Dunbar
swears.t that be didnet receive this money.
There, stand hjs warrants. : sAre the Yay-
rAh hrgsrhs, s5f did Ar} 'napbar sau the
papers and allow some one else to draw
the money!
The next step was to put Mr.. Crews, the
chairman Of the committee, on the stand.
Mr. Screws decHned TO make written afe.
@ent, aut sad he Ewonla answer all CUES.
tions that would not criminare him. To the
question yyAstAee he, had retained Dunbar
as attorney, he said he had. The questions
whether Dunbar or himself had drawn the
$500 he declined to answer. He, also, de-
cAned to'say whether the warrant drawn to
the order of Mr.. Dunbar was paid to him.
In answer to-, another question, Mr.. Crews
expressed the opinion that the Third Con!
gressioual District Investigating Committee
hadnot been properly dischargedup TO this
time, and had a perfect right to draw on the
treasury until properly discharged.
This; ;is how the, case stands. A sum .of
s27, ,sl5 As has been spent, OF which $500
is charged to Ar, Dunbar. This sum, at all
events, lies between Mr. Crews and Mi. Dun
bar, and II the General Assembly has q
shadow Of regard for decency, it will push
the investigation. We should like to know
whether the Attorneys General cannot act in
this matter. We do not believe that Mr..
Dunbar received the money. A judicial in--
vesdgatlon viii show who aid :,
There is not much room for doubt. The
State Treasurer shows that s75po was paid
to the orderof Mr.. Dunbar. This gentleman
makes afidatie- that he "never received o
"dollar." J.J. Wright, Of the committee,
says that no attorney was employed, and
Messrs. Mcintyre, Snalls and Elliott con-
firm the statement. We are not aware that
Mro Bryant has spokea but Crews declines
10. "a, h3 ID