The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-05-05
Dispensary's Dark Closet.

COLUMBIA, April 3o.-It looks much as
if the 'contraband room" of the State
~dispensary will prove to be a dark closet
for many The developments of this
particular clark closet are getting to be
quite interesting and the rumor about
what has happened Whereabouts have been
thick and fast. From what can now be
heard, upon the orders Of Col. Willie
Jones, new aud double locks have been
put on this ''dark Closet and if anything
further is to disappear from it there is
certain to be trouble.
But the future will take care of itself.
What is still a leading topic is the -
roge trunk. Governor Ellerbe liz,
stopped at the report of Ex-Commiss
CASTOR, and be said to-day in the
emphatic terms that he had ordere 49,
whole transaction sifted to the bottom
let tho chips fall where they will,
further he has instructed the Attd
General to prosecute whoever is at
Assistant Attorney General Town
said that he was called into the cow
nor's Office this morning and instructed
to push the case at once and that he would
Immediately begin an inquiry into the
facts further than already given in the
report of Col. CASTOR. He said that the
statements would be made under oath
and that he would get through with the
investigation as soon as possible.
Governor Ellerbe gave the impression
that he was not to be governed by any
precedents that might have been estab-
lished in his office in showing leniency or
in snlothering anything that came up
that smacked of wrong.
Governor Ellerbe further stated to-day
that if there has been any leniency shown
- ~ Il nFo,,1tsr l;nonr1n~o * of fhndn
who are short had better not expect any
them prosecuted or know the reason why.
He has in the last few DAYS ordered two
warrants and prosecutions against dis
pensers who are short, and if there are
no actions brought it will be because he
is not advised of the cases.
Day by day the eccentricities of the dis
pensary and the multitude of things
which are done by constables and others
under protection Of the great moral insti-
tuition come to light. In to-day's Register
there is the following card, which explains
itself:
Editor Register: For the information
Of the public allow me a small space
through your columns to inform them
that on the Goth of March I made applica-
ton and ordered a key of corn whiskey
from statesville, N. C.. J.. C. Sommers IL
Co., al once forwarded a sample to Prof.
w. B. Burney, State chemist. It took to
the 18th of April to succeed in getting a
certificate, according to the last Act of
the General Assembly in regard to the
%dispensary law. The key, with four and
q half gallons, was promptly shipped,
with the State certificate glued on the
end. When it arrived at Columbia on
the 14thi it was seized by a State constable.
On the 18th it was forwarded to Peak by
express, but was ordered back to Colum-
bia. The messenger carried it past Peak
to Nev7berry and returned it to Columbia
the same day. It was then released, and
on the 10th it was shipped to Peak, and
between Columbia and Aston State Con-
stable T. J. Harmon seized it again, and
instead of marking it to W. NJ. Wilson he
carried it again to Newberry, shipped it
back to Columbia the same day with his
card on it, consigned to W. II. Wilson,
State ~dispensary. After an investigation
of n week the whiskey was sent to Its
destination by the State commissioner, 1t
having been robbed of two gallons Of Its
thirty days and thirty nights to accom-
plish ind comply with the law, with a
loss of three dollars. Now, I would ask,
with all candor, Is the Governor of South
Carolina going to continue to let the State
constabulary seize honest mems whiskey,
have il delayed and robbed, when they
have absolutely complied with all the re-
quirenen4s Of the law?
This outrageous seizure has not only
been q violation of the Interstate COM
MERGE law, but q direct violation of the
State law, by men who have been en-
ployed to uphold the rights Of the people
of the grand old Palmetto State. If this
kind Of seizures continues to exist no
doubt The Attorney General will continue
to have an uphill business in the United
States Courts. w. NJ. WILSON.
Peak, s. G.
The facts here all seem to be correct.
The State, however, does not appear able
to find out where and when the leakage
or loss occurred, and Mr.. Wilson will
have to charge this up to his "breskage
and leakage" account with the State con-
ct 'bles.
vernon Ellerbe received the following
graz to-day:
IAl,LEsToN, s. G., April 3O.-simonds
refused TO accept goods. Turner offering
them for sale to other parties, and I have
seized them with warrant, while in depot.
Answer at once. w. N. BAHR,
Chief State Constable.
Governor Ellerbe telegraphed Chief
Constable Bahr to write full particulars
about The liquor mentioned in his tele-
gram, and upon receipt of his letter with
full particulars he would advise him
fully.
Chief Constable Bahr, together with
Constable Moseley, have been sued by
seizure IF four cases Of liquor sent out By
Vandercock &C Co., of California. Mr..
Turner, whose name is mentioned in the