The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-11
John r Tolbert and Contra,
band Whiskey

Last week Magistrate Moore OF
Charleston issued a warrant to search
the custom house for contrabsnd
wbiskey The warrant was placed
in the hands of Constable Howie.
When he reached the custom house
aud made known bis errand John R
Tolbert, collector of the port. who
has charge of the building made a
great splutter, objecting to search
He voclferated about the flag cover
ing The building aud be would die
before allowing it to be degraded.
All of which was entirely onneces-
sary but Tolbert kept up the racket
until his assistant Ostendoroff came
upoa the scene and advised that the
constables be treated with more
civility Tolbert subsided and it was
agreed to submit the matter to the .
S. Treasury who at once sent q
special agent to Charleston to inves
tigate the whole matter In the
meantime the constables stood guard
around the building, night and day to
prevent any one from carrying away
whiskey said to be stored in the base
ment for the Sind tigers of Charles
ton
Tolbert denied tha. such liquor
was stored in the custom house
while as matter Of fact there we're
fifty cases of Scotch and Irish whis-
key and two cases of wine consigned
to V Chicco who has been known as
violator Of the dispeusary law 1t
seems that this liquor was under
bond and the collector allowed it to
be taken out by the package vhea
duty was paid OH it In fact the
search warrant was issued because
wagon was loaded up about day
light with whiskey at the custom
house and escaped the constables by
fast driving
Special Agent Macatee Of the
treasury department. searched the
custom house Sunday morning and
invited the constables to go with
him which they did In the base
ment they found where wh'ekey had
been poured into the sewers. There
were evidences of where holes had
been bored in the barre'a and the
floor was wet with whiskey Reve-
nue. stamps were also found on the
floor aud a small shipping tag Thirty
uine ten gallon whiskey kegs were
found in the upper story of the
building They were empty, but the
smell of whiskey was fresh and
stroug. There were also traces OF
where these kegs had been moved
no from the basement L,ghts were
seen in the building Saturday night
until late hour. and it is estimated
that a, least 400 gallons of whiskey
were emptied into the sewers Satur-
day night. There was also found in
the frost of the building 81 gallon
barrel of rum about baIf full Osten.
dorf explained that it was hls per
sonal property and that be used 1t for
bathing purposes.
There have been further develop
meDts daily and the fact that points
most strongly to the guilt OF the Gus
tom House officials is the resignation
of The iani.or and his sudden depar
ture from the city for parts unknown.
1t is said that he assumes Responsible.
ity for the storage of the liquor in
the Custom House, but it is the gen
e.a' opinion that be ie mere scape-
goat and that if be can be broug ht
back and made to testify much light
will be thrown on the rather shady
,ransac,lou. The United States OH
crals aud the dispepsary constables
are pursuing the investigation With
! ene,ey and every effort is being
! made to bring out tae facts