The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-12
NGoMPETENCY,
NOT DISHONESTY.
Chairman Haselden's State.
ment in Regard to The
Chester Case

The action of the State board OF con-
t,o! 10 closing the dispeusary at Chester
has been eubjsc; of considerable COM
mens The action of the board sim
ply sustained Chairman Halesden,
who had previously ordered the dis
pensary closed.
In Justice to himself, 10 view of the
criticism, Mr.. Haselden makes the
following statement of the causes which
prompted him to take such steps:
The 6rs. moushly stock taking after
Mr. Mcdaniel vas elected dispenser.
there occurred shor.gae of $3.50. "a.
This happened under F. NJ. Mixson's
administrators and a suit for this
amount was instituted agaiost Diepen-
ser I Mod. Hood. The .ria! resulted
in their favor last summer. The oit-
issns OF Chester who heard ane are
familiar with the case know that the
suit was lost on account of the county
board not doing i.s duty properly
8 April, 1898, Inspectnr q. A..
awards found Mr. 3 A Mcdaniel
dispenser at Chester behind las has az
eoao.s to the amount Of $46 90. which
.amoanss the dispenser paid.
Having had . law suit there aheutsa
shortage Of $739.34 and wishing 20
avoid another one. the following letter
wss sens Mr. McDaniel- ss - 3
Columbis, s. c., May II, 1898.
j.. Mcdaniel, Chester, S. c.
Dear Sir II am Instructed by the
board os control to write you in refer
epce to your shortage as dispenser at
Chester. The board regrets vesy much
20 speak SO plsinly5 about this matter,
bu. da,y forces them 20 be plain with
you aud say that they cannot allow any
further shortage. To say the least Of
ii, With faithful discharge Of duty 10.
busipess-like way, there is 30 rea-l
soa for a shortage to occur, unlees By
Ere or robbery and let me beg that
yon guard against anything of the
kind 10 the future. for forbearance Will
cease to be virtue Of the board.
Very respectfully yours.
(Signed) j. Dudley Haselden,
Chairman
s l.. B. Rrom Letter Book s'5", page
453.
En- Jcne, the very next; mouth, In-
sneetor w. J. Hill found bin short or
behind S43, al. which amount the dis
penser paid. It seems that kindly
warning given him proGted nothing,
aed in September. 1898. Inspector
H. A. Edwards again found him short
or behind $50 "a, which amount was
paid. We do not keow whether the
ooau,y's profits oc these shortages
have been paid to the county or not.
The inspectors who checked up Nc
Daniel reported that they do not be-
lieye bin dishonest. but incompetent,
careless, or Indifferent as to conduct Of
the Gispepsary 10 busiuess-like man
ner. We do not charge bim with dis
honesty, but he has nos conducted the
busioess as il should De done and the
board got tired OF it.
he is not the first one 10 be dis
charged. and will perhaps lot be the
lss:. I, is ny Iu:eosioo to see to At
that every dispenser shall do his whole
ausy, and if be fails to do so i: matters
not xbo. be is. I soaii ask for his re-
moval aud, judging by the boards ac,
tioa in sus,aining me 10 ordering Mr.
McDapiel's removal, f believe they
willsbeck me in this. 4 would not give
this statement we're i, not for The ar.
.icle, Of toe cos.ospoodens from Chester
to ThesS few days ago. | want
the people 10 Chester okoow that Mrs
Mcdaniel vas warned and begged 20
keep bis d;spensa-y business strai'.
pu. it seems ne proGsed Dot by It aud
be must take the consequences.