The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-12

Scruggs came 10 deponent anu salu, Onar
ley, where are all those cigars?" Deponent
replied, "All gone, sir" Scruggs said, "The
pieces of boxes, too?'' Deponent replied,
Eyes, they are all gone" lie then left de-
ponent without any further remark. A day
or two afterwards Scruggs asked deponent
if he had told CASTOR he had taken those CT
gars. Deponent replied, "No, sir" Depo-
nent SAYS that at the time he and Scruggs
went into the contraband room and while he
was taking the cigars out of the trunk, ne
remarked, "Pll have this wine before get
through" and he afterwards made similar
remark about the wine in the Office. Depo-
nent further says Mr.. Scruggs asked him q
day or two ago if he knew anything about
the shoes, or had CASTOR said anything to
him about them,
Deponent further says that he omitted to
state above that the same day the cigars and
peaches were carried into the office Mr.
Mobley asked the deponent where he got
the things. Deponent replied, "In the con-
traband ROOM" He then asked him how he
got them, as he thought Judge CASTOR was
in charge of the room. Deponent replied
that MIR. Scruggs had q hocus pocus key.
Deponent further states that on the same
day the cigars and peaches were taken out
of the contraband room he went down to the
Commissioners office and Mr.. Blakeley ask
ed him if he knew anything about the miss
ing cigars from the contraband room. De-
ponent replied, eyes; that is what l have
come down to see you about" and then
went on and told him all about the cigars
and peaches; that at the next meeting Of the
board he reported to Mr.. Williams and MIR.
Douthit what he has said above as to the
taking of cigars and peaches from contraband
room and has also since that time reported
| it to the Governor.
Mr.. H M. Mobley, a bookkeeper,
aud Mr.. Charles, an employee in the
diepensarv, corrobcrated the testimo.
py OF Mr.. Lynch ss given above.
Commissioner Vance testified that
on the 29lh day of April, 1897, Col. j..
T. CASTOR came to him of his own &C
cord ard stated that he was due the
State Dispensary for some articles he
had received and paid him 81 for one
pair of shoes and 25 cents for some
cigars.
Ben Harris testified that he has been
working in the State Dispensary for
about FIVE years and has been in the
dumping room most of the time. he
said that Scruggs took cigars from the
dumping room, having gotten the key
from MIR. Watts.
Messrs. 81 E. Watts, W. W. Harris
and @. A. Koon, ali employees, at the
dispensary, testified to the facts above
narrated.
Mr.. Garris in explaining how he
came to buy the trunk says that at
the time he purchased said trunk he
did not know or Inquire from whom
it was seized, as he supposed it had
been forfeited to the State and the
board could sell it; that he still has
the trunk and has been ready at all
times to pay for It when the price was
fixed. Deponent further says that ne
at no time went into the contraband
room with MIR. Scruggs and two other
gentlemen and secured cigars while In
there, and that Mr.. Scruggs did not
take and give to him a handful OF cl-
| ears out of the trunk, and that when
he purchased and carried away the
trunk there was no cigars in it, and
none given to him by Mr.. Castor at
that tine; that he knows nothing
about any of the contents of the said
Beckroge trunk, and never received
any part of the cigars it was said to
have contained, or of any other arti-
cles; that he has smoked cigars with
officials OF the dispensary in a friend.
| ly and casual way, but that the small
number received by him at any time
was in this way, and he did not know
where they came from as he supposed
the gentleman had purchased them.