The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-18
Third Chapter of the
Dispensary Scandal.

DlSptliSdly OGduudi.
Columbia. Oct 14.-The third
chapter of QUITS 6ispensary revela-
tions has been issued. Like the Sec
ond it deals with instances of how
the machinery Of the dispensary law
has been used for years for the per-
sonal profit Of the men high in
authority. Il is spicy reading and
involves many or most of the men
who have had control OF that institu.
ton. He first deals with M. R
Cooper, presen: secretary of state,
who on his election to the board of
control put his farm in charge of one
Gatson, VINO a: once became whiskey
drummer and with Cooper's influence
to back him sold the state 81 275 "a
worth of liquor from two firms The
first having dropped Gibson, presum-
ably to more profitable trade with
blind tigers, their liquor deprecated
wonderfully in value in Cooper's
eyes Cooper, he said had ased dis.
pensary liquor at wholesale prices
very freely iD the last election. Mr..
Cooper is said to have blufed the
Charleston dispensers into handling
certain liquor. the agents Of which
made friends with him at the Colum'
bis hotel.
Capt. B. c. Webb, clerk of the
board, he says has violated rules by
the wholesale, besides spending a
week out of every month at his
home and running trade for the s. G..
Ry., over which road be held and
and used passes. He also set IAN
order of the board at defiance by
granting an extension of time to
Costello, beer dispenser of Charles
ton who was ordered to close an ac-
count of large sums owing the state
and unpaid. The amounts were
never paid. This man was St. Julian
Yates tenant. Miles knew Of it, but
mace no attempt TO suspend Weob.
W. j. Brown dispenser at Cneraw
was known to have violated the law
itself by selling the liquor on credit
but was not removed, but given time
to pay up
he calls attention to several in-
stances where be has by honest atten
tion to his work and the interests ofthe
state, his employer, saved money and
been the means of collecting money
that the board paid no attention to.
One case was that of man On lines
of one county who was to send corn
to the dispensary to refund money
advanced him to pay taxes on liquor
and sacks sent for the corn, money
nor corn have ever been heard o.
since, and Miles knew of it ali. Col
Vance had made a present of the
stable manure of the dispensary tc
one Dorm who used to give him
milk, butter and pork, though the
dispensary formerly sold the
manure and had the same bid as
formerly in for it when Vance gave
it to bis friend Vance also
used the dispensary teams to hau
broken boxes to his house as free
wood and used the same teams fol
his friend Dorm.
Vance sold wbiskey, contraband tt
bimsef and to some of the cons:aoes
Vance also sold some of the dis2enssry
stock to bis friends on credit also gave
some of it away. He gave the en-
ployees at the railroad about $40 ~ortf
Of wbiskey on Christmas. Vance alst
sold horse and wagon seized by tbs
coustables to friend for S. 90. anc
oever got the money. though twice a.
much in corn was offered him
Vance also arranged to be cus Of
Lapahsn's whiskey when it was time tt
Order and always substituted these goods
whenever there was 40 opportunity.
Vance also favored and advanced biz
500 and one Earhardt, paying them
against the orders of the board cut O
state funds, for work they were tole
DOT to do. Black, one of the en-
ployees was let off of duty. to lobby fol
the election of certain candidates fo'
the board of control. and also before
the primary to work for Cooper's elec
tioo. Whiskey was also given to BOYD
Evans, on credit, out OF the dispeosary
to use on the day Of the second pri'
mary when dispeusaries we're closed.
Dou.hi, vas defeated for state board
of control by Vance and the !oca
whiskey strikers working against him
because be refused to promise to vote
for Vance again.
Mob. Sloan, ex mayor of Colunb bia
called "Colum bias z mayor.candidate
for state board Of control, whlskey
drummer and coal dealer and friend o.
Vaoce, used to borrow the states Goa
e.o, tha 9ioDonoorJ meiOhInO IL IN