The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-12
SPECIFIC CHARGES.
T. Larry CAN'T Declares he
Will Make Them.

There were no new developments
in the Beckroge trunk, hocus pocus
key scandal yesterday. Everything
seems to have quieted down at this
end of the line with the arrest of
Messrs. CASTOR and Scruggs. Many
hereabouts seems to think that the
matter will die down now. But
there are some other things behind
the sccnes and they are liable to
develop att any time The other
trunk case is being investigated.
And now comes 7. Larry CAN'T,
who promises this week to make
specific charges of a sensational
character. giving information as TO
where evidence can be secured and
demanding an investigation Larry
AYERS that he is s.loaded to the gun
wales" with information and be
wants an investigation from "Hell to
Holland. -
But read what he says in his latest
card to The State
To the Editor of The State:
In your issue Of yesterday you
seem to think that | will be prevail
ed upon to withhold my demand for
an investigation Of the dispensary
management. If you will closely
read the next issue of The Headlight
you will find that | have specified my
charges and showed just where all
the evidence can be secured to con-
duct the investigation. Did you
ever know me to back down or finch
from task that / had undertaken
until it was accomplished.
Now, in demanding rigid inves-
tigation of the dispensary manage.
ment l have no feeling in the matter
whatever, but am solely prompted by
a desire to purify a most important
department of our State government
from even the suspicion Of corrup.
ton. There is not man connected
with the State dispensary but has
treated me with every courtesy, aud
| have no known cause for grievance
against any of these officials. And
you will also, Nj. Editor, do me. |
think, the fairness to confess that
this demand for an investigation is no
new found idea brought about by the
publication of the Howell letter, but
as the files of The Headlight will
show, during the last session OF the
legislature | wrote columns calling
the attention of that body to reports
in circulation about the dispensary
management. and demanded rigid
investigation. sly position has ever
been this; l brought the dispensary
law to South Carolina, and intend
to expend my every effort and ener
gy to purify the thing from even the
taint Of suspicion, or tear it up root
aud branch.
am now about convinced that the
dispensary is entirely too big thing
to place in the hands of five men,
with Unlimited power; and if the
State continues in the LIQUOR business
some ether means should be devised
to run it. Did it ever occur to you
that the purchases AID receipts of
the d;spensary Cif am not mistahen)
foot up near 50 900, 000 about twice
as much SIS the entire State tax levy?
1t presents too inviting field for
corruption l do not charge any
man connected with the dispensary
with corruption but do recite re
ports that have reached my ears, and
then show just where they can be
refuted or verified.
Ny only connection with the dis
pensary has been to work to secure
my friends positions--and men whom
| believed to be homes: and had al
ways stood by and assisted me in
every Legitimate way. | have fire
quently asked Mr. S. " scruggs if
everything was kept straight in Ills
department, and he said that it was
and as proof of this | had the reports
of that legislative committee, upon
which was Conservative aud oppo
nent to the dispensary, aud these
gentlemen always wound up by com
pIimentlng Mr.. Scruggs.
Of course, Mr. Editor, it was
wrong for Mr. Scruggs to take those
cigars and canned goods and divide
the same with other employees !; but
it seems he had preced Mt for so do
ing, and the value of the article was
SO triAing as to preclude the thought
of intentional venality. Mr.. Scruggs
had the handling Of thousands OF
dollars Of the public money each
month, for a term of more than two
years, aud it seems that every cent
has been accounted for and his books
balance to hair. This is certainly
- ,,rn,o. ,,Ioo IN bio f.vor and inst