The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-10-18

statement Mr.. Williams introduced a
resolution, which was passed, which
Mr.. Oouthit understood modified the
previous order and permitted sales OF
contraband at the State dispenssry,
provided they were entered on the
commiss jOner's petty cash book, and
invoiced at the end Of the month to O
CClum bia dispenser and the cash re.
ceived for them turned over to that
dispenser. Messrs. Boykin and Will
liams, two members of the board, as
sert such resolution was passed.
If the Williams resolution was meant
to accomplish any purpose at ali 1t was
meant 10 modify the rule forbidding
sales OF contraband at the State dis
pensary, yet as It appears on tho
minutes of the board 1t is construed by
the majority faction to be mere re-
affirmation of that rule. If that con-
struction be accepted as correct, the
board was guilty OF the absurdity of
twice at one meeting passing resolu-
tiOn permitting the commissioner to
do something which the disponsary
law itself gave him the right to do
without any resolutions of the board -
that is 10 send contrabaud to diopen-
ser for sale. AS areCorded, the Will
liams resolution permits sales of con-
traband, "through the regular chan
ncls," which words Chairman Miles adj
mits he told Clerk Webb to add to the
resolutions, claiming it WAS an amend
mont which had been adopted, but
which bIr. Boykin,lswho was in the
chair when the resolution was adopted,
denies was ever voted on by the board.
do not believe that at first recorded,
No i.t Vs. lnl
words attached to 1T. The writing OF
those words in the'minute book gives
evidences that it was not done at the
same time that the body Of tho Will
liams resolution. vas pinned in thai
record, because the sla-' u the words
Ct through regular r .dels," Indicate
that they were written by man sit
ting in q different position from that
occupied when thetSother part OF the
Williams resolution was written. l
am satisfied that they were added to
give color to the contention that the
board had not given permission for tho
sales of contraband, which the majority
faction decided to make as an excuse
for my removal.
The majority faction, which is plot.
ting to get absolute control Of the dis
pensary, filling all positions with its
henchmen, had decided to remove all
employees who were not subservicnt to
it. Ther did not intend to fully and
fairly investigate the conduct Of such
employees, but preferred one-sided tes
timony. At the September meeting OF
the board Messrs. Haselden and Will
liams were appointed to investigate
the contraband room and it's accounts.
MIR. Haselden wanted Mr.. Williams to
meet him in Columbia on Wednesday
fNi No Il ~f Al~
September meeting Of the board. Mr..
Williams said he had important en-
gagements up to and including Wed,
nesday, but would meet Mr.. Haselden
in Columbia the day after Wednesday.
They parted with the understanding
that Mr.. Haselden was to notify MIR.
Williams when to come to Columbia to
go to work on the investigation, which
he never did, but returned to Colum-
bia before Wednesday and gave to the
newspapers q statement that he was
going o to Harris Springs. Mr.. Will
llams saw that statement in the papers
and continued to wait for notifica-
tion when to come to Columbia. The
thai he had been supplanted on the
committee by MIR. Robinson, without
notice to him.
1t WAS then two OF kind and Mr..
Haselden was at liberty to proceed
with his One-sided investigation.
Neither l nor Mr.. Douthit were asked
for any explanation of the charges
eoncocted by this one-sidcd process.
z On the night of the 10th or 2lst OF
September L. G. Robinson, who had
loosenod his tongue With liquor, told
me in front OF Higgins store, on Main
street, that "Haselden had set a trap
for Douthit and had caught him in it,"
After asking him several times what
the trap was he said it was "in selling
contraband liquor at the State Idispec-
sary, and not having it entered upon
the shipping clerks book, as required
by the resolution OF the board at the
last board meeting" Was the trap the
addition Of the words, through the
regular channels ?"' Probably at,the
time of that conversation Mr.. Robin
son did not know that Chief Conspira-
tor Haselden wanted any scalp also,
and, therefore, spoke as - strong friend,
yul hi inh hn oil al q fpnn IN n no