The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-09-25
A Dlspensary Fraud.

W1NNsDoRo, September 14.-That the
dispensary system has great many
features of improvement over the old bar
room system is certain beyond ques-
ton. It Is on trial, so to speak, and is
being watched with serious interest by
all right thinking men. One argument
against it was the tendency to corruption
on the part of the Government, the temp
tation to make money by way of private
bonus, discounts, etc. The question
which may some day arise is, whether it
Is better to have "whiskey ring in the
Government with the legislative, Judi
ciary and executive power prejudiced In
favor of the ring. or to have whiskey
ring which can be held in check by
Government not prejudiced in it's favor.
The question above is the suggestion OF
circumstances connected with the dis
pensary at Ridgeway in this County.
About year ago, on the day that Pope
and Tillman spoke at Ridgeway, the dis
penser at that place, R. b. Lewis, was
sick in bed. About o'clock In the even
ing an ardent Reformer approached Gov
ernor Tillman and besoughL him to open
up at once the dispensary at that place,
so as to accom- modate persons going home
in the County. Governor Tillman agreed
to the request and sent Mr.. Lewis writ
ten order to open up. Mr.. Lewis put
Mr.. Haynes, who was his clerk, in charge
of the keys, and it was not long before
"the boys" were in charge OF everything.
The whiskey was going out, and going
without money and without price. Mr..
Lewis was notified in person by DR..
Lnder that he (Lewis) was ruined; that
the whiskey was not being accounted
for. Mr.. Lewis sent Haynes word to
close the place up. Haynes replied that
it would take battalion of United States
troops to put those men out; that they
were drunk and would listen to no
entreaty. Various members of the three
military companies in the County had
stormed the fort and were holding the
ground. The next settlement of this
dispensary account showed LeWis's
books short about S58. Lewis stated that
the shortage occurred on that day and
requested the board of control to sue him
in order that his record might be cleared.
Two mem bers Of the board of control,
8. R. Rutland and j. F. Lyles, were in
the Ridgeway dispensary at the time it
was being relieved Of its contents 30
freely, but the board it appears did not
care to act on the matter of adjusting this
loss until Governor Evans had been con-
suited. The shortage was carried" until
about April without being noted. Mr..
Lewis refused to pay it, and told Cover
nor Evans he would not pay it. In order
to put Lewis's books right Governor
Evans charged this expense of big
drunk to the profit account Of town and
County, thereby cutting Ridgeway and
Fairfield County out of $58. The town
of Ridgeway put its claim in the hands
Of its attorney, and he appalled, to the
County Board Of Control for Ridgeway's
share Of the profits. But the State Board
had acted, and the County Board voted to
sustain Governor Evans's action. Lyles
and Higgins voted to sustain, and Tenant,
the County Supervisor, member ex-
officio, voting not to sustain 1t.
The two members of the board of Con-
troll who voted to sustain the State Boards
action were we'll aware Of the manner in
which things were carried on at Ridge
way on Pope and Tillman day. The
matter is not adjusted yet.
Your correspondent was informed that
the plan proposed by the town and
County to settle it was to haye the State
Board refund the amount of shortage in
order to give proper credit to Ridgeway
and Fairfield County, and to force the
settlement from tho County Board. This
was not done. SO it appears that the
State must pay the expenses of the
debauch on Pope and Tillman day in
Ridgeway.
The State Board sent an expert up to
Ridgewsy some time ago, but we heard
nothing from this matter.-Speciat to
NcaOs and Courier.