The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-28
ANOTHER HARD LICK,
IT WAS DEALT BY JUDGE SlMONTON
THURSDAY.

In The Meetzs Casa-Ths Most Far Reach
Ing Iriunction Yet Issued-Whst Mr..
Nelson's Purpose Is r Bearing.
The Columbia State of last Friday
published the following article:
At last it looks as il the very essence
of the dispensary original package is
she is to be gotten squarely before the
United States court. Mr.. P. n. Mel.
son, who is in charge OF the Meetzs
case, has made another move in that
case which brings the question of the
right to sell by the bottle In original
package stores by men acting as agents
Of manufacturers outside tine State
down to that point where a decision
will be secured. Mr.. Nelson announ.
ces his purpose then, if he wins this
fight, to have the court decide wheth
er such an agent cannot bring liquor
in by the barrel, bottle it and retallit
exactly in the meaner that the dis
~pensarias do it. M. Nelson says that
this is the real issus in the situation
it is but wasting time to have the court
pass on cases where such and such
devices are used to make packages
constitute original packages. In order
10 get the matter up for an absolute
test, Mr.. Meetze has sold liquor by the
bottle. Judge Simonton has already
intimated very plainlytha such agents
had all the rights that the dispensary
could exercise. If this position be
sustained, then Mr.. Meetzs or any
other such dealer can proceed to bring
in liquor in large quantities and bot
tie it to suit themselves SO long as
they comply with the regulations OF
the disuensary law.
A VERY SWEEPING INJUNCTION
Yesterday quite a little sensation
was caused when it became known
that Judge Simontou had issued a
further order of injunction in the
Meetze case which is more sweep ping
in its charac ;er than any heretofore
issued in any case, an order prevent
ing any one whatever from interior.
ring with MI. Meetzs in the operation
of his original package store until the
case has been disposed of.
On Wednesday morning Mr. Mel
son heard that Attorney General Bar
bsr had advised the governor that he
could have his constablss rearreSt Mr.
Meets and seize his liquors. He made
inquiries and finding that this was
true, he proceeded to prepare a furth
er restraining order, which he sent to
Judge Simonton for his signature:
About noon yesterday Mr., Nelson
received the following Telegram from
] Judge Simonton.
FLAT Rock N. G., July %.
P. II. Nelson, Esq, Columbia, S. o.:
Orders signed and mailed. Can
hear cases OH 9Th. 9. Il. SIMoNToN.
MI. Nelson, when asked for a state
ment as to the meaning Of this dis
patch, said: II got the original re-
straining orders against those three
constables - Morehead, Koon and
Bishop-only, thinking that after
Judge Simoaton had been made IA
| miliar with all the facts as to Meetzs's
sales, the governor and attorney gen
eral would pay sufficient respect to his
order as not to have Meetze arrested OF
Interfere with him till the final hear
ing. But after having the orders
served, 1 was informed that the gov
eruor and attorney general intended
to appoint other coDstables than those
en1oined, have Meetze rearrested and
his place closed up. After getting
that information, I went to SIC the
] governor aud attorney general and did
see them, and told them that Judge
] Simonton was fully aware Of all The
| facts as TO how MeetZe was making the
sales, and they still expressed the de
| termination to have HIN stopped. !
! thereupon notified Judge Simonton
Of what they had told me and SEM
| him an order requesting hun to sig q
it, epioing Bshr, chief State consta
| ole, acting as constaoles by virtue Of
| appointment by the governor aud al
| persons acting as conStables under sny
| alleged authority in the dispensary
lay of South Carolina from interfering
| with Meetze. / requested Judge 81
monton that if he granted the order tt
mail it to the clerk OF court with di
| rections to serve il at ouca. 1 this
morning notified Governor E!leros oil
! the receipt of this telegram, as l nae
! no desire 10 have any Of his cons!a
! ples ruled for contempt CT court"
Mr.. Nelson stated further that he
had been requested to have the haar
;ing OF the MGetze c&se advanced Sc
| that it could be taken up along witt
| the other cases on the same subJsc or
! Tuesday next. He will do this, anc
10 doubt this case, which goss NOR
to the real meat Of the issue than any
| Others, will be taken up first. The
opinion will likely be rendered in thi!
case decided in accordance witt
whatever that opinion may be-. Mr.,
| Nelson is very confident of establish
ing his point.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HUSTLING.
While Mr.. Nelson Was getting al
the above information up street Attor
| ney General Barber was up to his neck
lin work at his Office. Around hin
were Chief Constable Bahr, Constable!
Koon and Morehead, Liquor Commits
! sioner Vance and Others In the outer
office the typewriter was kept click
ing merrily, and every now aid ther
/ one or the other of the officers inter
| ested in the Meetze Case would be
/ called up to sign an affidavit. Mr.
! Barber during the day prepared tht
! return in the Meetze case, which i;
! long, but does not contain anything
not already brought out in what ha:
| been written about the case. MIR. Bar
b-r seems TO regard this as ths Cast
| LA had not heard while nnpaoed liz