The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-18

dispersary and not having it entered
upon the shipping clerks book ss
required by the resolutions of the
board at the last board meeting :
Was the trap the addition Of the
words, "through the regular chan
neIs ?" Probably at the time Of that
conversation Mr. Robinson did not
know that Chief Conspirator Hasel,
den wanted my scalp also and, there
fore, spoke as strong friend, which
be always claimed to be. especially
since 1896. I and my relatives
worked for and carried Edgefeid
county for him as the candidate for
State superintendent of education
Bnt when Boss Haselden popped the
whip over his back be forgot his
friendship and sense of obligations to
me, and also forgot mis- statement to
me after hearing my explanation OF
my sale of that bottle of gin, that
he did not see how could have done
otherwise than obey the Instructions
of the commissioner, especially as
there was misunderstanding in the
board as to the orders given the com
missioner. He advised me to appear
before the board and make my state
ment, and said he did not see how
the board could do otherwise than
accept it as sufficient justification of
my action: Aud yet he voted to
make my suspension permanent with
out giving me chance TO appear
before the board and give that expla-
nation in reply to the CHARGES against
me.
The night before Mr. Robinson
voted to make my suspension perma
nent he told me- in the Columbia
hotel, tha. he could never De accused
of being ungratefuF, and that ne
owed debt of gratitude for the way
my brother and others of my friends
and relatives had worked for him
He added !: II belive you ought to
be reinstated, and will so vote. If
you find that you cannot get along
with the new commissioner, you can
resign in good standing, and not be
kicked out" The very next morning
he told me that my chances for
reinstatement were bad. l said that
did not see how that could be if be
stuck to his promise.
He replied that he was my friend
and had nothing against me, but be
would have to vote against me, as
the members of the board had
brought great pressure on him to
vote that way as personal courtesy to
them. I told him he was III of a
friend to man, to help others stick
mud on him as courtesy" to them.
and bid him go on and do bis Id
dirty work. And be did it
I have shown that there was no
Just cause for my suspension. But l
was not suspended ior what |
did, though that was alleged as the
cause l was suspended because
political clique wanted me removed
from the dispensary They are
bound together by community OF
interest, their predominant feeling
being a thirst for revenge and de-
sire to get complete control of the dis.
pensary for use as q political machine
and more venal aims, which can be un
derstood from the charges and specl
fcations which l will make. When
Haselden and Robinson, the inyesti-
eating committee, were in Columbia
they left the work of conducting the
investigation as to the contraoand,
which a committee was appointed TO
do, to Bookkeeper Mobley and In
specter Moody and spent their time
caucasicg with Chairman Miles and
the conspirators 4 caucus was held
in tine Office of State officer and II
was decided to suspend me without
giving ne any notice or asking me
for any explanation OF the charges
against me This termination was
talked around Columbia nearly 40
hour before / was notified of my
suspension friend of mine heard
it at the upper end of Main street
and walked down town to telephone
and told me that the gang had fixed
to make it hot for me and to DO
ne.
The day after my temporary sus-
pension Chairman Miles gave the
newspapers an interview which con.
tanned a he and slanderous insinua
ton, whose absolute falsity ne could
have easily informed himself CT: He
said Il did not know until this
that commissioner Douthit had been
doing the same thing. else | would
have suspended him along with Mr.
Ouzts' The afternoon before the
interview was given out | told Mr..
! eo1o ~ coutro