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

scRUGGS AND GAsToN ARRESTED.
Both Of Them Waived an Examination
and Gave Bond.
The Beckroge trunk dispensary scan-
dal, which hss been the all absorbing
topic all over South Carolina for a
week past, eliminated Friday in the
arrest of ex.Clerk Seth W. Scruggs of
the State board of control, and ex-
Commissioner John T. CASTOR, upon
the common law charge of official
misconduct. Both have given bond
for their appearance at the next term
of the court of sessions in Richland
county, and will be free until the court
meets in the summer.
Friday every one was still talking
about the scandal and the afidavits
that had been secured, and wonder
ing what the State authorities were
going to do about it. It was about
noon when Mr. L J. Williams, the
member of the State board designated
to swear out the warrants, went to
Magistrate Smiths Office and made the
afidavits having the warrants issued.
The warrant in the case of MIR.
Scruges charged that ION or about the
first day of March, 1892. one Seth w.
Scruges did commit official miscon-
duct by taking and carrying away
from the contraband room in the State
dispensary four boxes of cigars and
four cans of peaches and other articles
the property of the State, while en-
gagged in the discharge of his duties as
clerk and bookkeeper of the State board
OF control in said State dispensary, with
intent to defraud the State OF South
Carolina, as fully set forth in the atti-
davit hereto attached"
AGAINST COL. GAsTON.
The warrant against Col. CASTOR al.
leges that ION or about the lst day OF
March, 1897, one John T. CASTOR did
commit official misconduct by taking
and carrying away from the contra
band room in the State dispensary
one pair of shoes, part box of cigars
and other articles the property of the
State while acting as State commits.
sioner in charge of said room and
while in the discharge of the duties of
said Office, with intent to deiraud the
State of South Carolina, as fully set
forth in the affidavit hereto attached.
The affidav Wit is also made by Mr.. Viii
liams before Magistrate Smith.
BOTH GIVE BOND.
1t was about 2:30 o'clock when Mr..
CASTOR walked into the Office of the
magistrate and surrendered himself,
ne having been informed by the mag
istrate's constable that he was wanted.
He waived preliminary, and gave
bond for his appearance at the sessions
court in the sum of $400. His bonds.
men were Gen. John Gary Watts and
Maj. B. B. Evans.
About o'clock the same proceeding
was gone through with as to Mr..
Seruggs. He came up in response to
a similar notice from the constable,
Mr.. Hartin. His bond was fixed in
the same amount. His bondsmen
were James G.. Payne and W. j.
Scruggs.
Attorney General Barber says that
the punishment for the ofense charg.
ed upon conviction is imprisonment
and fine in the discretion OF the judge,
The imprisonment not to exceed seven
years. It is not of necessity in the
State penitentiary.
MIR. CASTOR said thathe had nothing
to fear; he had done nothing wrong
80 far as he knew; and intimated that
he did not even think he would en-
ploy counsel to defend him.
There has been considerable talk as
to what ofense these men should be
prosecuted for. Breach of trust, grand
larceny, housebreaking in the case OF
Scruggs and numerous other oHenses
were looked into, but the attorneys
could not find where any of them
would lie upon the evidence present
ed. Attorney General Barber yester-
day said: "You can just say for me
to the public, that If there is any
other ofsnse for which these parties
can be indicted, then this office stands
ready to prosecute therefor. State.