The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-31
CHARLBS1ON'S COURSE

DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT IN
RESISTING THE DIS
PENSARY LAW.
THE REPORT OF A SHAMEFUL CONDITION
OF AFFAIRS IN THE METRoPoLIsT
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Bold and Determined Course Of the
| Governor His Hands Will bt
Held up by the Charleston MIlitia
and the Law Abiding People o.
South Carolina.
Charleston, S. e., Jan. 26, 1894.
Governor B. r. TIllman. Columbia, S. q:
Dear Sir:-l beg leave to report the follow
| ing: On the 10Th we nude raid on two
places. John Black In King street; here we
found anu seized about sevon gallons OF IL
quor the other was made ON man by the
name OF Bottyer where we only found about
one pint Of liquor. The first named place
was quiet. AT the second we had little
trouble In keeping the crowd out. They
showed the spirit OF determined resistance tc
the EN- Increment OF the law. Here was devel
snce-lhe conspiracy of the liquor men. and
the organization known as the Barkeepers
and bartender Association, which has been
formed, believe, for the purpose OF deter
the dspen.ary law. l have the names OF the
officers of this association and have been In
iorihed of their proposed Intentions, develop
ing what consider a conspiracy against the
law and lives Of the State officers.
On the 9th inst. we raided +. Jordan on
King street. At this place Mr.. Legare's &C
LIon as attorney for this association confirms
my suspicious. This raid developed later In
Il tr x,r,koI I1k.
c. Elliot was attacked by Il mob on Wander.
horst street, and had II not been for the time
Iy Interference OF the chief Of police, II
would have resulted In bloodshed. Later IN
dealers. and their numerous sympathizers
held what they termed an Indignation meet
ing, wnere the most violent language was
used. After this meeting the crowd formed
tackled the boarding house OF Charlie Nc.
Cants, and shot In the building and tried 10
force the way over the policemen at the door
10 get In To the constables boarding ut tha.
place. The entire force OF the constabuary
was concentrated at my residence by advice,
after consultation with Chief Martin with
whom l have been acting since the excite.
ment began.
Chief Martin and his police force have per.
formed their duty faithfully and impartially,
and feel that cannot say too much In be.
half OF the determined action OF Chief Mar.
tin and his force.
Notwithstanding Jeers, insults and threats
offered US we have continued our work.
This, however, has been done under the most
trying circumstances. Each man performed
his part quietly under the law, and take
ly, and quietly bearing the abuse with com.
meudaUle fOrbearance.
There have been several arrests under the
dispenSary act, SecLion so. There must be
som ething done In the enforcement OF this
section. Should there not be convictions
Tor this violation, there Will be personal en-.
counters aud blOodshed. There are men who
follow on horseback, the cOustables on the
street from point 10 point. and also BY paid
spoilers, who are very threatening In their
manner, and we have heard from their
mouths threats against our lives.
Some action should be taken at once 10
avoid such sacrifice. There are strangers
here whom ne have located, and we may at
any time be driven TO kill in sell-defence.
These conclusions are reached by iniorma-
tiUn through friends, and is not the opinion
Of an alarlnist. The condition OF things Is
ugly in the extreme, made so by unwise and
unIriendly lawyers and lying press; but
with small body OF determined men whom
l must commend for their forbearance and
the State.
I raided yesterday afternoon the premises
Of Bagby d Speers, corner OF Line and Spring
streets. We seized there nine demijons Of II.
quor, con talning various kinds.
Our work will continue, and l shall press
the violators with AS much judgment ana de.
termination ns possible. AL or which Ia
THEo s. GAILLARD,
Chief State Constable.
THE GOVERNOR DETERMINED TO ENFORCE
THE LAW.
Governor TIllman was seen yesterday and
asked by several newspaper men who ca lied
matter, If there were any. For half an hour
the Governor talked over the situation.
When asked if he In tended TO pay the fine In
Elliots case, he quickly remarked: do not
Intend to, and am sure that ir Mr.. Whaley
does so he will do 1t out OF his own pocket"
Governor Tiilman was then asked about
the action OF the trial Justice In Charles on,
who heard Elliot's case, and the decision and
the justices reasons for II were reviewed. In
speaking OF IL the Governor said:
HE might as we'll send In his resignation
as trial justice. We do not want nor will we
have any trial justices who are afraid to up
hold the law and run counter 10 the opinion
of any set of men. If he won't carry out the
law we've got 10 have somebody that will.
So far as the evidence is concernediit amounts
to nothing, and 1t would take the testimony
Of dozens of such as testified In this case TO
make me believe that Mr.. Elliot struck wo-
man."
THE MILITARY OF CHARLESTON WILL sUs.
TAIN THE GOVERNOR AS AGAINST THE
OUTLAWS.
When Governor Tillman WAS asked II he
had heard anything from the Charleston mil
ilary Az 10 their course, he said: ayes; have
heard from Capt. Cogswell, and he advises me
that not only his command, but all the other
com panies of Charleston are ready TO assist
In the enforcement OF the laws of the State
so I'll not have 10 send troops there from
Edgefield, Aiken, Lexington and other coun-
ties should the occasion for a military force
arise. If these people want to get up bloody
riot am willing; III give them all they want
Of It, What Is more, I'll have the Legisatu re-
here to back me up In this effort to en- force
the laws of State, and want them TO under
stand this. II they think they are going to
bluff, frighten or bully-rag me or my con-
stables they are very much 1d mlstaken sno am
the laws, and II the good people OF Charleston
cannot prevail upon the bar.keepers TO obey
the laws and stop resisting them, intend
going right ahead In the policy have decided
~ have as many constables as the police
force OF Charleston, and II 1t is necessary they
will be armed with Winchester rifles, and
they will be backed up by the police force of
the city. have every confidence In Chlei
Martin"
WILL UPHOLD THE LAW AT THE MUzzLE
OF THE GUN OR AT THE POINT OF THE
BAYoNET.
Continuing, the Governor said: II want
these people to understand that am as cool
blooded about this matter as can be. l have
never been more determined than l am In
this case, and want these people 10 under
stand once and tor all time that propose TO
see that the laws of the State are upheld even
II we have to Kill a few OF these Italian cut
throats, bulldoZers and plmps. am making
no threat, but am simply warning them, l
am ready to go ahead II they are. am going
to carry out the law and suppress the sale Of
liquor in Charleston If have 10 call out all OF
the military"
THE pT.AME