The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-04-12

{ SOUTH CAROLINA
( STATE NEWS ITEMS.
S~eeeSooe9~o
Charleston Gets Free" Liquor

A Charleston Glspatcn says. FREE
cocktails are. being served at the GUS
tom house these days, where 81, 600
worth of fine Cabinet rye whisky was
dumped the other day, while state con-
stables were trying to break in the
doors. AS already told in the news
papers, the custom house blind tiger
has been under investigation for more
than a week. The constables were
making things so hot for the officials
the other day that thirty-nine barrels
of liquor could not be removed, and in
order to throw aside suspicion the
liquor had to be poured into the sew
ers. There was 80 much dumped at once
that the pipes could not carry it of.
and as result, great part of the stuff
was forced through other pipes and
finally drifted into the cistern from
which the drinking water was drawn.
''At first tho cistern water had only
q faint trace of liquor. Later on, how
ever, every cooler in the building was
'spiked.' The officials refused to drink.
The water was tested and the liquor
was in evidence so strongly that the
negroes from the water front got in
droves and begged for taste.
"The water from the custom house
cistern is used at the Clyde Steamship
Company's Office and the clerks mixed
cocktails ad lib. The only Ingredients
needed were sugar and ice and dash
of bitters. It was really surprising
how strong the drinks were, and for
time the fact that free drinks were on
tap created a decided sensation about
the custom house. It was novel ex-
perience.
Older officials at the building who
did not 60 in for free drinks put in
complaint about the condition of the
cistern.
At the time the constables claimed
the liquor was dumped into the sewers
the charge was denied at the custom
house, although the water from the
cistern has been dished out as unde-
niable proof.
Under the New Law.
The state board of directors of the
dispensary held their first meeting
under the new law at Columbia the
past week. There being question as
to the term of Office of the incubent Of
county boards of control, the board
has decided that they are not affected
by the fact that the new law provides
different method of selecting them,
and that new boards have been select
Ell by the Legislative delegates in each
county. The old boards will hold till
their terms expire.
Several months ago the old board of
control decided that beer privileges
would be abolished after June next,
allowing the people engaged in the
business some time to prepare for
closing up. The directors now an
nounce that the terms of the privilege
of all such dispensers will end June
10Th, and it will then be for the pres
ent board to decide whether beer dis
pensaries are to continue or not.
The board has begun purchasing
liquor under the new regulations
by sample and in the absence Of let>
tiers or drummers from the firms max
ing the offers. So far about 400 bar
rels Of corn have been ordersd.
~.
Parker Gets Life Sentence.
Another white South Carolins mer-
chant goes to the penitentiary for life,
hanging only being avoided by the
merciful recommendation of the jury.
The trial of E. q. Parker for the MUIR
der of Wade Hampton Bourn began
at Chester Wednesday and was con-
cluded last Saturday. A verdict of
guilty with recommendation to mercy
was rendered after six hours delibera-
tions. Bourn was young man OF
good standing, who had recently en-
tered into business at Cash's, Chester
field county, where the killing oc-
Cured.
Property to Be Improved.
The working committee of the South
Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical
Society, consisting of Colonels Hollo-
way and Vance and Mr.. w. D. Evans.
is making plans for expending in build
ings and other improvements the
money received from the seaboard
Airline for right-of-way through a |
quarter of mile of the society's land