The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-05-27
B. R. T|LLNANS STATEMENT
At Length He Makes Public the
Looked-for Letter to EIlerbe.
THE DISPENSARY DISCUSSED.
Admits Looseness and Undue Regard
forthe Law in Disposal of Seizures,
Etc.

of Senator Earle, at Gree lville, fully
explains itself:
Governor Ellerbe having declined
to give my letter to the press as l re-
uuested, [ waited TO hear from him be-
fore giving it out. 1t was written very
hurriedly and some things in it seemed
to be reflection on his administration
and he also objected to my structures on
some men and things Us coming through
him for fear they would be considered
as receiving his endorsement. AS l in
tended no reflection on The Governor
and had no purpose of striking others
over his shoulder, L have modified the
language which he considered to reflect
on him and give the letter to the public
in the form of o statement. | only ad-
dressed the letter to him in the first
place because being the Governor he
alone could order an investigation. 1t
is substantially as first written except
that have changed my comments on
the Agricultural Hall matter some since
reading the opinion of Justice Harlan
and left out one or two sentences which
might be considered as making boastful
comparisons.
"The dispenrary scandals and the
recent decision in regard to the Agri
cultural Hall case have excited a deep
feeling of concern in the minds OF the
people of the State, and have given my
enemies q good excuse to engage anew
in the pleasant pastlpie of abusing and
slandering me in connection with both.
/ commend heartily the Governors ac-
ton in pressing the recent lnvestlga,,
ton and join in the sentiment: Let
not the guilty man escape. | have no
desire, nor do believe has the gov
ernor, to make scape goats Of anyone,
but if there be any big fish in the net
let them not break through and punish
only the little ones.
.sThere has been more or less loose
ness in vogue in regard to samples from
the very start and 1t is probable that
contraband liquors and samples be-
came mixed in the minds of men con-
nected with the dispensary so that due
regard to law has not been had IN the
disposal of contraband seizures.
"But if there are no graver crimes ID
connection than those with which they
have thus far been charged, l do moi
see that much good will come, even, II
Scruggs and CASTOR are punished to the
fullest extent of the law. In this con-
nection, would suggest that too much
stress seems to be given to the having
of "hocus pocus" key. Scruggs was
the trusted agent Of the Board Of Con
troll. so much so that they refused OF
failed to elect a Commissioner, and
cannot see what need he had for key:
Shipments must have been received
constantly and l do not know how they
could have been placed in the contra
band room unless there was a key al
wavs in his possession to open it with.
II is possible. at this distance, how
ever. and for lack of familiarity with
the present workings Of the dlspen'
sary, my criticisms along this line are
worthless. Samples were sent In great
quantities when I was connected with
the dispensary and not knowing what
else to do with them, they were freely
distributed among the visitors to the
institution. as one means OF deter.
mining the qualities of the liquors. and
also as courtesies. I carried some to
INV house and used them, as did Gov.
Evans, and I presume, the present
State Board of Control, have done like
wise. and 1 have no apology to make FOL
il During my term there were very
few other articles than liquor seized,
though I recall the fact that kegs and
small barrels of liquor were found PACK,
ed in rice barrels and also in casks o1
hams. I instructed Mr.. Traxler to take
account of all contraband articles ano
disnose of them according to law. While
there is a great howl raised in regard te
the dispensary by the old barroom adj
yocates, it is done with the view OF un'
derminine and destroying the dlspen-
sarv system, and they do not care sc
mich for the punishment of these as
thew rejoice in the opportunity the re-
cent exposures have afforded them 1oi
revamping the old slanders about re
bates.
"The obvious purpose OF the anti
newspapers. anti.reform, antl-temper
ance and anti -decencv-their obvious
purpose. I say, is to folloS up the .lne
Of fight laid down long ago; to besmlfcf
the character of any ard every man
connected with the dispensary, and tc
| magnify everything which can be criti
cized in its management IN order &c
| break it down in the atte lions OF the
people and to accomplish the res'ora
tion of barrooms in some .orm
"The system has no lnhereAt !lce
which oueht to work its dissolution
and 1t only requires to be conducted a.
The asvluni, or as the tax department Is
run to command the respect and sup
mort of the people. No one can clam
tb;s ! = a matter of impossibility, and Il
the system shall finally fail it Will De
| owing to the improper administrators
of the law. So much for the genera
subject Now. for particulars, l hay'
waited to see this weeks Headlight se
as to have Gantt's specific charges, GOV
or er;ng the administration of the law un A.,
dor Rem Tillman and Traxler; and lik'
others, have been astonisshed at TN
affrontery which gives out SO muJi ,,
smoke and SO little fire. He mereli;
dips his syringe into the gutter OF .hla hlss
and slime. emanating for the last thre 11,
Years from the News and Courier In
State the Spartanburg Herald, an' t
Tbe 1Ireenyiiie News, with when tne
people have been so dlsgusted' an
spatters me along with others with its !ti
| contents. He, however, winds up WIZ
.ti;o, of tba cry. "Inyestigate