The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-04
"GIVEN TO GARRIS"
important Critters Havo Itoen Issued by
GOV; Ellerbo-What he Says-0uestlons .
for MIR. CASTOR to Answer.
(The State, both April.l
MIR. GASTON'S OFFICIAL REPORT, AZ
TO THAT 1RUNK.-,-

The report of x-commissioner
Jno. Il. CASTOR of tho State dispen-
sary on the Beckroge trunk and it's
contents was given to the press yes
terday by Governor Ellorbe. 1t read
as follows:
Columbia, S. G., April ID, 1907.
Hon w. A. Barber, Attorney 'Genor-
al of South Carolina:
Sir: Complying with your re-
quest concerning certain trunk
seized in Charleston by tho State
constabulary and sent to State dis
pensary, I have this to say: A large
drummer's trunk was received here
by the authorities, containing (to the.
best of my recollections) thrssstwo-
gallon jugs of whiskey; nine bottles
of wine, 10 xeycigars, two cans
peaches and kthink one dozen lem
ons. Tbs trunk was not to my rec
olieo1l6ns, marked SO that you would
knfMit contained whiskey. A card
mqeked glass was on the trunk in
Several places. Mr.. @. w. Garris of
Colleton told me that Mr.. Scruggs,
the bookkeeper, told him that he
could have the trunk and ] lot him
have it. The whiskey has been
dumped, the wines are here IN my
possession; the cigars, tho peaches
and the lemons are gone. That is
about the status Of the trunk bust
ness as l recollect.
.... Yours respectfully,
JOHN Il. GATsoNy
Acting Commissioner.
Governor Ellerbe is quite willing
to permit the search light Of public
opinion to penetrate into tho romot-
est corner of tho dispensary work
ings.
TO n reporter of The State yester
day evening he said that he only
heard of the Beckrogo trunk for the
first time a few days ago. It was
when the above report of Mr.. Gatson
was referred to him from the attor-
ney generals Office. 1t was thor
ough surprise. The governor con-
tinuing, said that he had had Il talk
with Clerk Scruggs soon aftor the
report was referred to him. Clerk
Scruggs said that he had sold the
trunk to Mr.. @. w. Garris.
Col. Willie Jones was sent for by
the governor and to him said that
that was the first time he had hoard
Of th;Ht;fhnk.
Though tho governor did not say
80, from his talk it was seen that he
was surprised whom he read iu Tho
State yesterday that Colonel Jones
recalled that the trunk had been put
in the dispensary and a report made
of its arrival to tho board of which
he is chairman.
Governor Ellerbe did not mince
words in speaking of tho trunk in
cident.~ "They had us we'll take the
the dispensary liquor that is bought
by tie State" said he, "and present
it to their friends" Contraband
goods are the property of the State
as much as the liquor that is bought,
he declared, and there was no war
rant or excuse for them to be consid-
cred in any other light. The consta-
bles arc paid by tho State to seize
contraband goods and the seizures
should go as far as possible to pay
forthe maintainance of the constab-
ulary.
vt is all right for tho officials to
psS the samples Of whiskey, he said,
md he could see no harm in an ofIic-
ial'even giving a bottle sometimes to
friend .}5. }5.
81 would not hesitate," declared
the governor, "to go in tho sample
room and get bottle Of whiskoy if
felt the need Of it, but L would
never think of taking any of tho con-
traband liquor no matter how choice
it might be-"
d. Continuing, Governor Ellorbe said
he had advised tho board to turn
over the management Of the details
of the dispensary to Commissioner
Vance. 1t would be we'll nigh impos-
sible for q board meeting onco a