The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-10-11
CUT OFF HIS HEAD.
Such is the Political Fate of the
Dispensary Committee.
CAUSE OF THE REMOVAL.
Cheap Liquors Marked and Sold
as More Expensive Grades and
Certain Makes Systemat-
ically Doomed.

Another dispensary sensation was
sprung Tuesday after having been a
brewing some time. It was the usual
semi-annual revelations with some ex-
ira frills. Commissioner Douthit was
Removed for Cause. p"
1t was fierce game while Il lasted
and finally Robinson, Miles and Hasel-
don voted to remove Douthit, while
Boykin and Williams voted to give him
further show and to 60 more fully
into the case. Theo Haselden moved
to make the suspension of Outzs per-
manent, but before action was taken
an adjournment was had.
There was committee appointed to
look into the contraband room, consist
ing of Haselden and Robinson. They
went right into things. Their sum
mary made nine pages and there were
several hundred pages of afidavits
bearing out the summary Of the com
mittee. The meat Of the report against
Douthit is, il seems from the testi-
mony, that under instructions from
Commissioner Douthit one firm s labels
were ordered to be place! on another
firms whiskey, and that high grade Ia
bells have been placed on lower brands
of goods.
In this connection Superintendent
Bryant testifes: "les, put up whis-
key in bottles with che firms whiskey
with another firms labels, but it was
under instructions from Commissioner
Douthit >
He further testifes that Lanahans S
labels were placed on the goods of the
Wilson Distilling company.
CAN'T says: Yes; whiskey is bot
tied with one firms label and another
firms whiskey. l have oever known
him to put label on whiskey where
the liquor called for by the label was
cheaper than the whiskey actually in
the bottles. We put up one y corn
whiskey with labels of xxx.
King testifes that whiskey was put
up last Saturday and the xxx label
was used, but the firm name Wilson
Distilling Co" was struck of.
Earnhart, assistant superintendent,
testified: II have never known him to
put label on whiskey where the label
was cheaper than the whiskey. Have
known him to put on as high as an
xxx label on Grover whiskey-
which | have heard is y goods. l
have never kept a record of these
changes. This has been practice dur
ing Mr.. Douthit's administration. They
put up Growers whiskey Saturday
morning with Wilson labels, but the
name ''Wilscn" was struck of.
c. H. Charles, assistant bookkeeper,
says: Growers whiskey is classed as
Y corn whiskey and the difference in
the price of y and xxx corn to con-
sumers is 81 per gallon.
The report Of the committee says:
I'VE conceive it to be our duty to
report the facts to the board as they
really appear, but in our finding the
conclusion cannot be escaped chat this
scheme of changing the labels on whis
key shipped ou: could have been de-
vised for no other purpose than to create
way for collecting more money for
goods sent out to the local dispensers
than the same were invoiced for to the
commissioners; and, 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 find that this practice Of chang
ing labels is not only wrong for the rea
sons stated, but it is absolutely inde-
fensible from any standpoint and con-
travenes the spirit and letter Of the law;
and candor compels US TO add, 1t has
unQuestioaably worked fraud on the
people Of South Carolina.
I'VE further find that the practice
of substitution of orders has been in
vogue under Mr.. Douthit's administra-
ton. Orders have been substituted
when received from the city Of Charles
ton. and elsewhere, in the State.
1t was reported that Mr.. Douthit
gave the printing Of the labels to the
Record. Bids were called on a 10. Of
ten thousand, and instead of the 10, 900
lot the Record printed $4,000 and Mr..
Bryan states that on that size order the
price should have been twelve per cent.
less.
After that no bids were called for
on printing and they all went to the
Record.
The report shows discrepancy
of 81, 100 in the contraband room.
Commissioner Boykin made fight
against the committee going beyond It's
authority.
Mr.. Douthit was given a hearing
and explained the matter. He said
that the liquor was in vats and there
were no labels on hand, and that the
labels used were Of goods of the same
value and that Growers corn was the
finest he ever saw. He was charged
with pushing Mercantile Club liquor
and said that he suggested this liquor
as cheap screw top. He gave explana-
tions Of all the charges, but they were
not satisfactory to the commissioners
WHAT MR.. pOUTHIT SAYS.
Commissioner Douthit asked for the
publication Of the following:
| ask that the public suspend judg-
mcnt as TO me until my side Of the case
is presented to it, as it will be very
soon.
For three weeks two members Of the
State board Of control, assisted BY two
expert accountants and stencsraph-
er, have been at work preparing the
case against me. Their charges, with
the evidence in support OF them, were
read when | was not present. An at
tempt was made to pass Judgment Oh the
report of Messrs. Haselden and Robin
son, without opportunity being given
me to say wor5 in my own defence.
The injustice Of such proceeding was
SO strongly pointed out that finally |
..a.lol +bo ,nocl-ary- Of o SOM