The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-11-15
Arrested Without q Warrant.
Special 10 Neaus and Courier.

Arrested Without warrant.
Special 10 Ne,US and Courier.
COLUMBIA, November 9.-There was
blood on the moon to-day at the Fair
grounds, and there came dangerously
near being serious trouble, and all on
account of the doubtful rice beer. 1t was
very unfortunate occurrence, and every
one ought to regret it. It was a hairs
breath escape for great many innocent
people and, perhaps, for the principal
actors.
Last week, when the booth privileges
were sold, William Meetze bought the
booth privileges for three hundred dol
lars. It was announced that this did not
give the right to sell beer or whiskey.
When the Fair opened Meetze sold rice
beer. 4 constable got bottle of the
beer, and the case was reported to Gov
ernor Tillman. It was in some way
arranged that the sale might continue
until the analysis had been made by the
State. chemist, SO it is claimed. The
analysis showed 3 per cent Of alcohol, and
thereupon Governor Tillman directed the
arrest of the parties. The papers were
served last night and bond given, and it
was supposed that the sale had been dis
continued. This morning the sale was
going on as usual, and when Governor
Tillman got to the grounds the matter no
doubt was reported to him by some OF
the many constables. Then the GoTor-
nor said the thing had to be stopped, but
he did not succeed for once. Ihave never
seen him look as vexed us he was when
his men came back and told him that
Meetze had not been arrested as directed
by him. They were not after glory, and
did not see the fun of running the risk OF
being perforated with bullets. Governor
Tillman held his consultations on the
piazza of the committee room.
Sheriff Cathcart was asked about the
matter and said he would make the
arrest with warrant, but not without 1t.
Governor Tillman did not care for that
formality, the arrest. he insisted, could
be made without warrant under the
dispensary law. After long consulta-
ton and talk procession, headed by
Assistant Attorney Gensral Buchanan
and Constable Bruns0n and Capt. Allen,
of the Penitentiary, went to the stand
bles stated their mission. Hoefer, one OF
the clerks, said: "Where is your war;
rant ?" "Here 1t is," said the constable,
showing his badge as State constable.
The clerks still refused to 60, and things
were at q standstill, when Lawyer Law
son Melton said: 81 wouldn't resist"
Then the constables got over and, with
the three white clerks, went to the trial
JUSTICES Office, where bonds were given.
Meetze at the time was In the committee
room, Before the first squad was out OF
the grounds Meetze's sol and negro
were hard at work selling rice beer.
Meetze soon returned. Governor Till
man was advised that the sale was still
going on, and he told the men to go on
and arrest if it had to be done every ff-
teen minutes. The procession started
again with Allen and two constables.
There were about six guards and other
cohorts. Governor Tillman told the men
they were posse under directions Of a
constable.
When the stand was reached Capt.
Allen did most of the talking. Meetze
told him and the rest very plainly that he
would not be arrested without warrant
except at the peril of his and his captors'
lives. He said he would go with the
blackest negro or a baby II he had war
rant, but to be arrested without warrant
would cost some one his life, or his would
be taken. They knew Meetze was a
determined man. "The first man that
crosses my counter to arrest me I'll shoot
unless he has warrant" No one tried
II, The guards were told that it was a
useless risk of life and innocent people
would be killed in the general melee that
would follow. The constables and guards
remained around, but nothing was done
except to talk and it was mighty plain
talking. -,
The posse went back and Capt. Allen
consulted with Governor Tillman. There
was no mistaking the Governors ire.
He said: "The man could not override
the State Of South Carolina, he's got to
be arrested" "But he will go on war
rant" "You need no warrant. that is
YOUR warrant" pointing tn the badge OF
State constable. Governor Tillman left
the grounds for the Mansion, where he
said he could be found, and he said he
would be ready to call out the militia il
necessary to arrest Meetze. he must
have told Allen to get the Penitentiary
guards to come up and make the arrest,
for Capt. Allen said that be wss going to
get the Penitentiary guards and make the
arrest under orders of Governor Tillmap.
But he reconsidered, for the guards never
came and Capt. Allen afterwards thought
Superintendent Neal might have some
thing to say. Mr.. Neal did not think
this was the work Of the guards, as they
were not special policemen. Finally
nothing was done until Meetze had sold
every bottle of his beer.
to order and while considering tho ques-
ton reports came that all the beer bad
been sold out. The society does not con.
til. ikoo1 rrooropo;t tIo for Moof1oju action
and will probably sue him for violation
of the contract.
About 5 O'Clock Trial Justice Clarkson
came up and 1t was pleasantly arranged
that Meetze would call in the morning
and give bond in answer to the warrant
he held: Meetze and Governor Tlllman
had an interview this morning. I'm told
Meetze then said he would not be arrested
without warrant, and claimed that Gov.
ernor Tillman had promised not to inter-
fere with him. When told that the beer
went above the per cent Of alcohol allow
ed Meetze said he was not responsible
for thai, and wanted to know why the
Palmetto Brewing Company, which is
responsible for the beer, was not bother
ed. Governor Tillman took the position
that this was violation of Q law Of the
land and that Meetze nor anyone else had
q right to act IN open outlawry against 1t.
Meetze, it will bs remem bored, killed
Clark here some time ago and was acquit-
ted, and no one questions his courage.
At one time things looked very squally
and pistols were felt on every side, and
many of them were cooked in pockets,
and soroe dirty work was proposed by
those around the stand. Meetze claims
that the rice beer does not come under
the Dispensary Act any mere than soda
water that it is not intoxicating. and be
had perfect right to sell 1T. The Fair
Association afterwards arranged with
Afeetze that no beer shall hereafter be
sold on the grounds.
Capt. J. K. Alston, Of the Governors &
Guards, was on the Fair grounds to-day.
Governor Tillman, walking up to him.
asked in positive manner whether be
could get the Guards out TO make the
Meetze arrest if necessary. Capt. Aston
replied that the men were working men,
were badly scattered and he did not know
whether they could be congEegated, He
was asked to tell Capt. Melton, OF the
Zouaves, to see Governor !'illman, and
nothing resulted from the interview be-.
tween Governor Tillman, and either OF
the captains. No formal demand was
made upon the militia to come out.
COLUMBIA, s. c., November 10.-Yes-
terday an attempt to stop ". B. Meetze
from selling rice beer in the Fair grounds
in violation of the dispensary law was
resisted by Meetze and the State authorl-
ties defied. Aleetze refused to stop selling
beer, and defied arrest without warrant.
He was afterwards arrested on warrant
and gave bond and stopped selling beer.
The Fair Society asked Governor Till