The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-25
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25 1899

commissioner Vance was Defrlendlng
him daily and on two occasions
saved him from dismissal, is equally
astonishing to any fairly honest man.
But the contemplate Ransey sniff.
fes. who was beguiliDg himself into
Mr.. Vance's confidence. knew. or
thought he knew, how to play his
game. He judged other men like
unto himself, aud doubtless fondIy
cherished his little note book, which
was to serve MIN in such good stead,
to blackmail his position back again,
whenever he should be ousted for
either of his fafliDgs, ipcompetency
or dishonesty. OF these failings, the
former of course had long been
known to Us, and the latter we had
good reason to suspect, but unfortu-
| nately gave him the benefit of the
| doubt and retained him as cour
fesy to member of the board of
control who lived in the county from
which he came, and to preserve if
we could harmony in the board, as
we knew his dismissal would enrage
two members of the board who were
tied to him by some bonds we were
unable TO comprehend.
That blackmail was contemplated
by him and relied on. is plainly
shown by the threat, which he even
went 30 far as to give 90. the newspa-
pers, that he would lay bare certain
inside history if his suspension were
made permanent 1t will be noted
by the public that he did not "bIow
off his mouth 10 his own classic
language, until the board of control
had invited him to it by making his
suspension perpanent-a very good
evidence that the authorities there did
not fear it's production.
That they, or any of the gentlemen
| whom he has so malicjously malign-
ed aud slandered had no cause to fear
his revelations will be indisputably
shown to the public in Que season
That the worst that he knows has not
yet been told by him, as he says, it
| is easy to believe, from our knowl-
edge of him, and of the opportuni-
ties for stealage which be has enjoy
ed during the six years be has been
connected with the dispensary, but
we are equally certain that it will not
be given to the publicat least BY
QUITS The public is not asked TO
take our word even for the statement
that from investigations which have
been made of the so called charges
of this mas, are not only absolutely
groundless, but are outrageous lies,
with a thin veneering of truth in
minor particulars only sufficient to
give them plausibility. A large ma
jority of these assertions must have
been known to QUITS to have been
false when he penned them, as the
public must conclnde when the facts
are given them The other state
ments are but twisting of transac-
tlons gathered by this sneak from the
desks of his fellow CLERKS while
their backs were turned and infor-
nation sifted through keyhole, OF
which innocent pastime this sanity
ex clerk has occasionally been found
engaged
If the members of the board Of
control have really treated this man
with less consideration then he de.
served in his dismissal, as he claims,
and have at times been less harsh
with the shortcomings of other clerks
whom we believe to be conscientious
and honest men-and these short
comings we are glad to say are not
greater than is found among the EN-
pioyes Of any mercantile house do
ing an equal business-as QUITS
claims that we have done, to this
estimate of his character land to his
abortive attempted blackmail, for we
all have names Of which we are jeal
ous, and there are some men in the
State who are only too ready to be-
lieve any assertion derogatory TO an
cfbcer of the dispensary) and to this
alone must he attribute the fact
That many of the daily papers oil
the State have dignifed his abusive
aud outrageous attack upon the char.
acter Of number of gentleman with
admission to :heir colums. makes
this plain statement to the public
necessary. Were the people Of the
State all acquainted personally with
the men whom he has mal;gned. and
with QUITS. no reply would be made,
and we desire this fact understood.
In due time evidence showing the
details of all transactions that nave
teen questioned that merit a reply,
will be given to the public
j. Dudley Haselden.