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 . warrant to search
the custom house for contrabsnd
whiskey The warrant was placed
in the hsnds of Constable Howie.
When be reached tho custom house
aud made known bic errand John r
Tolbert, collector of the port. who
hss charge Of the building made
great splu,ter. objecting to q search
He voclferated about the flag cover
ing the building and he would die
before allowing it to be degraded.
All Of which wss entirely, unneces.
sary but Tolbert KEEP, up tbe racket
until bic assistant Osteudoroff came
upon tho scene and advised that the
ooustsbles be treated with more
civility Tolbert subsided and Il was
agreed to submit the matter to the u
8. Treasury who ct once sent
special agent to Charleston to inves
tigste the whole msttor In the
meantime the oonstsbles stood guard
around the buildiog. night and day to
prevent any one from Oarry,ng away
whiskey said TO BE- stored in the base
ment for the blind sigers Of Charles
ton
Tolbert denied that such liquor
wss stored In the custom house
while % . matter Of fact there we're
6fty csses Of Scotch and Irish whis.
key and two cases of wine co usigned
TO V Ohiooo who hes been known as
. vioIssor Of the dispenssry law 1t
seems that this liquor was under
bond and the collector allowed Il TO
be taken out by the package when
duty wss paid Oh IL In fact. the
search warrant Vas Issued because .
wagon IVES loaded up about day
light With whiskey st the custom
house end escaped the constables by
fast driving
Special Agent Mscstee Of the
treasury department searched tho
custom house Sunday morning and
invited the constsbles to 90 with
him which they did In the base
msns they found whore whiekey bad
been poured into the severe. There
were evidences Of where h0les bad
been bored 10 the barrelo aud the
floor wss vet With whiskey Reve-
nue. stamps we're also found on the
floor aud email shipping tag Thirty.
uius ten gallon whiskey kegs were
found 10 the upper story Of the
building They we're empty. but the
smell Of whiskey IVES fresh and
stroug. There we're also traces of
whore these kegs bad been moved
up from the basement. L,ghts were
seen in the building Saturday night
until . late hoor. aud il 10 estimstsd
that as lssst 400 gallons Of whiskey
were emptied into the sewers Sstur.
day night. There was also found in
the frost Of the building . 81 gallon
barrel Of rom abuut haif full Osten.
dortf explained that il was bic per
sonal property end that be used it for
bathing purposes.
There have been further develop.
ments daily end the fsot that points
moss strOngly to the guilt Of tho Gus
tom House ofioials 10 the resignation
Of the jsnisor and his sudden depar
ture from the city for parts unknown.
Ii IL said that he assumes responsible.
i'y for the storage Of the liquor 10
the Custom House, but it 10 the gen
ersl opinion that he is . mere scspe.
goat and that IL be can be brought
back and made to testify much light
will DO thrown on the rather sbsdy
transaction. The United States off
c'sls aud the dispeussry constables
are pursuiug the investigation with
energy and every effort 10 being
made to bring out the facts