The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-11

articles as above enumerated. on
account of pressure Of many other
matters, but we direct your attention
to an unauthorized private sale made
by commissioners Douthis to Con-
stable Lafar of horse
eve call your special attention to
the loose wey of dong business IN
regard 80
THE DISPOSITION OF EMPTIEs
eve have from the testimony of
Superintendent Bayant, that at least
two hundred aud fifty kegs, fifty jugs
and demijohns were sold by him dur
ing Mr.. Douhit's administration, and
be states in his affidavit that this
does not include sales made by other
officials at the dispensary building
that Bryant received for sales made
by him at least the sum of fifty dol
lars, and turned the proceeds over to
Bookeeper QUITS We requested
statement from Commissioner Dou-
thit. showing all sales of kegs. jugs
and demijohns since he has been in
Office, and while his statement is in
definite because he refers to sales
made in the plural number, and sets
opposite the amount, but he closes
his statement with showing of the
SUN of fifty four dollars and seventy
i've cents worth of such articles sold,
which. he says, includes ali sold dur
ing his incumbency. We find that
empties sold as high as fifty cents
each. Mn Bryant states that the
receipts were turned over to Book
keeper Ouzts for the same to be re-
corded
"Without any comment as to the
unlawful selling after hours and the
sales made from the State dispensary
building in small quantities to mum
Der of parties of all ages and color,
who brought pitchers, buckets, pans,
etc., we refer you to the sworn testi.
mony.
I'VE desire aIao to direc, your careful
attention to che evidence, showing that
the building has been found open at
uigbt; that. on ooe occasion, three
barrels Of whiskey have been found at
night on the platform, and allowed to
remain there that night. the -ext day
(being Sunday and the following
night.
.eAnother feature OF our investiga-
,ioo into matters pertaining to ebe
cootraband seizures. not considering
the contraband liquors which are
dumped. aud bottled. and shipped to
the various dispensers OF the State, We
End that the sales OF consraband goods
are largely coD6oed to two local dis
pensers in the city Of Columbia. aud
we further ind that such goods have
been sold cheaper to the consumers by
local dispensers that they are invoiced
TO dispensers.
1--WE would nest invite the considera.
sion Of tae board to practice which.
according to the sworn testimony Of
the dispeasary employees. has been
carried on during the administration Of
Commissioners Douthit. known as the
changing OF labels on whiskey shipped
to the local dispensers It seems. from
the testimony. that under Instructions
from Comm issioner Douthit one firms
labels were ordered to be placed on
auo.ber's firms whiskey, aud that high
grade labels have been placed on lover
braods of goods.
''In this COD nection Superintendent
Bryant says; Yes. / put up whiskey
10 bottles with one firms whiskey with
aootber firms label. Bns it was uoder
instructions from Commissioners Dou.
this.' He further tessifes that Lana
bans labels were placed on the goods
of Wilson Distilling Company.
"Gants says: Yes, whiskey is bot
tied With one firms label aud with
another 6ru's whiskey. 1 have never
kooWn bin to pu: label on whiskey
where the label was cheaper than the
whiskey. We put x corn whiskey
with labels of XXX
1--WE conceive it to be our duty to
report the facts to the board ss they
really appear, bat in our finding the
conclusion canuo: be escaped that this
scheme Of changing the labels on whls-
key shipped out could have been devised
for DO other purpose than to create a
way for collecting more money for the
goods sent out to the local dispensers
than the same we're ievoiced for to the
commissioner /; aud further, to create
the impression on the members of the
board that certain brands ARE becoming
more popular-they being hard to
keep in stock.
''We dod that this practice Of chang
ing labels is nc: Only wrong. for the
reasons stated. but it is absolutely