Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-12-13

Mr.. Douthit stated, in the presence OF
the board, that it was very fine liquor,
and that he would sell it as xxx.
This was not objected to by any mem
ber of the board, and further, Mr..
Haselden asked to be permitted to
take the sample home to his father,
who was very fond of fine corn liquor.
This request was granted.
Now, in my judgment, said Mr..
Williams, this condition of facts effec-
lively disposes of this charge, because
no fraud or deception was practiced
by Mr.. Douthit.
The other charge was that Mr..
Douthit violated the law of the state
and the rules of the state board by
retailing liquor from the state dispen-
sary. 1t is unnecessary to recite in
detail the various resolutions upon
this subject. 1t is sufficient to say
that in Mr.. Douthit's presence reso'
luton was passed, as Mr.. Williams
understood it, that Mr.. Douthit should
be permitted to retail the odds and
ends of contraband liquors from the
state dispensary, invoicing the sales
monthly, through county dispenser,
delivering the money collected, along
with the invoice, to some local dispen-
ser. This was intended to comply
with the requirements Of the law that
no sales should be made except through
county dispensers.
If a mistake was made the board
was more responsible than Mr.. Douth-
it, and Mr.. Williams was willing to ac-
cept his spare of the responsibility.
Intent was what constituted crime,
and if this case was before jury it
would not be necessary for Mr.. Douth-
it to furnish other testimony than that
within his reach from members of the
state board if they were witnesses.
Knowing in advance, as Mr.. Williams
did, the nature of the testimony that
Mr.. Douthit would be able to produce,
be must confess that he believed
Douthit was not guilty under either
charge. He said that he was willing
to vote for the Robinson resolution or
to 90 ahead with the trial of Mr..
Douthit that he was not willing that
Douthit should be retained as commits
sioner under charges of wrong doing,
and remain himself (Mr. Williams)
Mr.. Douthit's superior officer on the
state hoard that he must be vindicated
or quit the service; that if he was
not vindicated he (himself) would press
the charge against him.
Mr.. Boykin coincided with Mr.. Will
liams's views and demanded that the
board confess their error or try Douthit.
Mr.. Miles said that Mr.. Haselden,
chairman Of the special committee OF
investigation, had proposed, by resolu'
Lion, to withdraw all charges against
Mr.. Douthit, and he thought that that
should settle the matter. He had no
charges TO prefer against Mr.. Douthil
and would prefer none. He had never
said that Mr.. Douthit was guilty of
any dishonesty, but that he was con.
vinced that Mr.. Douthit had violated
rules of the board sufficient TO warrant
removal, and until that was disprov-
ed he still maintained that he was
right in his previous vote to remove
Mr.. Douthit; but that he was perfectly
willing to vote for resolution with
drawing all the charges.
Mr.. Robinson said that as member
of the investigating committee he joined
IN report to the State board upon the
Douthit case based upon ex parte testi-
mony. Since that time, as it was his
official duty to do, he had done some
investigating for himself on the other
side, and that he had become convinced
that the charges against Mr.. Douthit
could not be sustained, and that it was
his duty as man, as we'll as his official
duty, to confess it, as he was convinced
that Mr.. Douthit was not guilty of those
charges. He conceived it to be his
duty to propose this resolution as a
substitute for the resolution offered by
Mr.. Haselden, as expressing his con-
victions
Whereas, certain charges have hereto
fore been made against j. b. Douthit,
commissioner, and whereas, the board of
control have since become thoroughly
convinced that the charges cannot be sus-
tanned: BE it, therefore,
Resolved, That the said charges be, and
and are hereby withdrawn.
Mr.. Haselden said that, in his opin-
ion, further discussion of the case was
unnecessary; that he was willing to
abandon the prosecution of the charges
against Mr.. Douthit, and he, therefore,
insisted that the board come to u vote
on the pending question, which was
the resolution proposed by Mr.. Robin
son.
The question was then taken and the
vote resulted as follows;
Ayes-Messrs. Robinson, Boykin and
Williams.
Nay-Mr. Haselden.