Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-08
SPARTANBURG, S. c., April 9, 1897


7th, in which you state that you hear
that there is a letter in circulation in
Columbia, purporting to have been
written by myself, and in which your
name is connected, etc. You ask me
to let you know the substance of this
letter. You remember that sometime
in February wrote you that I heard
a report in circulculation that a certain
official in the state dispensary had been
offered a bribe of 25 cents a box for
every box of certain brand of whis-
ky he shipped out, that this bribe was
offered by an Atlanta firm, but after
wards that the firm stated to said Off
cial that they could only pay 10 cents
a box, and after he fell in his price
then the official reported the represen-
tative of this firm as trying to bribe
him.
I also stated in said letter other re-
ports connected with the dispensary
management, and the purchase of IL
quors that smacked strongly of corrup-
ton. I stated to you that 1 intended
to publish those reports, that the people
might know them, and demand an in
vestigation of the whole business.
A few days after the receipt of this
letter you came to Spartanburg and
asked me to suppress the publication.
You know at the time I warned you
against the suppression of anything
crooked in the dispensary that came to
your knowledge, and told you that
you could not help to cover up rotten
ness of any one connected with the
dispensary because of your friendship
for him. You replied that you didn't
wish to hide any corruption, and the
official in question you believed to'be
your enemy and was working in con-
junction with others to secure your de-
feat. stated to you that I heard the
representative of this firm would tell
much more, but that he was coerced
or bulldozed, and was also afraid OF
publicity, fearing that it might destroy
his chances for future business with
the dispensary. I told you further
that was not satisfied, and that be-
lieved if they were assured that by
telling the truth, and all they knew, it
would not injure their prospects for
business, that they would make full
statement of all the facts. With this
view I wrote a private letter to my
friend, Hon. Clarke Howell, editor OF
the Atlanta Constitution mot the IL
quor frm,) an assuring letter, which
was personal and private and sealed up.
This letter was written to Mr.. How
ell, who was friend to said firm, with
the hope of stiffening the backbone OF
this liquor man, and thereby securing
all the facts. I don't remember what
I did write; but I can tell you that l
am a free and independent American
citizen and can stand by anything that
do or say. I wear no mans collar
and my hands are not soiled with cor
ruption, and what I wrote was with q
view to discovering corruption that I
might expose it through The Head
light, and not to wink at rascality.
The mistake I made was not in pub
fishing at the time the rumors heard ;
but you know your strong personal
appeal to me not to do so is what de-
tered me. If necessary I will call on
you to publish the letter I wrote you
some time in February.
But to show you that was not
bushwhacking any man, upon learning
that the Atlanta firm stated that the
offer they made said official had been
rejected, came to Columbia, saw the
accused party, and stated to him the
report I had heard, told him just what
had done, and that he seemed ex-
onerated.
The Howell letter I sent by Mr.. L.
O.. J. Wood, but that gentleman, in
stead Of delivering it as addressed,
turned the letter over to said liquor
firm, when one OF its members broke
the seal and read the contents. He
stated to Mr.. Wood that it was rot
necessary to deliver the letter, as he
could give him no information about
the reported corruption. Mr.. Wood
left the letter in the hands of said firm.
How it came to be turned over to
parties in Columbia do not know.
If you will see that letter you will
find that was simply working to un-
earth reported corruption in the dis
pensary management and to assisting
Mr.. Wood in securing a position. |
am not mixed up in any rebate or 9TH
er business connected with the dispen-
sary, for my hands are clean and 1
defy anyone to prove otherwise.
I remember in that letter telling Mr..
Howell that Colonel Willie Jones and
Hon. D. M. Miles were my personal
friends and would stand by me. My
reason for writing this was that l in
tended that Mr.. Howell could use it
to get the desired information from
that Atlanta liquor house, for could l
convince them that their business
would not suffer by telling all they
knew, they would more likely give the
desired information. I also told two
members of the state board the report
that had reached my ears.
Come up Saturday and see me.
Truly your friend. T. l.. CAN'T.
WHAT MR.. sCRUGGs SAYS.