The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-01-08
DISPENSER PLAYER
HAS BEEN ARRESTED
HE ~ CHARGED VITA MALFEAsANCA
IN OFFTIE
Detectives Worked Up tho Case-Tho Total
Losa by tho Robbery May bo over
-, 900; Gross Care olessn ess and In.
competency tho Cause.
(Spcial to Tho State. J

Florence, Jan. 5.-The Kingstree
dlspensary case reached climax
this afternoon when Frank NJ Player,
tho dispenser, was placed behind the
bars of the Kinratroe jail to answer
at the next term of court to tho
charge Of malfeasance in Office.
A few days ago Gov. McSweeney
received telegram from Kingstree
announcing that Dispenser Player
had been held up at tho back door
Of the dispensary by four masked
men and robbed of 1900. Player
stated that he was unable to identify
any OF the men and readily gave up
md allowed them to help themselves
TO tho contents of his safe. Tho
story was published at the time in
full. Player had been dispenser for
about ayear, and this is the third
robbery that he bad reported since
he had filed that position.
Gov. McSweeney detailed w. H.
Holloway, well known in Columbia,
Il special constable to accompany Mr..
St"nsell, an inspector to Klngstree,
to look into the matter aud, if pos
sible, tc arrest the guilty party or
purties. They have been at work
continuously ever since and have
been reinforced the past two days by
Constables j. +. Bateman, George
S. McCravy and member of tho State
board, a. j.. II. Dukes An exami
nation Of tho books and stock on hand
show shortage Of at least $500.
Such is the condition Of the books
that 1t is next to impossible to got at
tue oxact amount
The statement OF these gentlemen
IS that Player was incompetent to fill
the position and had no conception
Of tn" duties required of him. Evi
IDENTITY he Wis ha lily imposed on by
his friends, and loaned out the States
money ns we'll us credited out liquor,
which is contrary to tho dihponeury
law.
Players bond expired December
18th and tho board knew this fact,
yet he was not required to renew it,
aud it is stated that Player, white
nnd"r tho influence liquor, boasted
on the streets Christmas day that he
had $1,000 i'll his pocket, and wheI
demonstrated with by his friends
that he should not take such a risk
but should deposit it with the county
treasurer, ho coolIy replied that if it
was stolen it could not hurt him, as
his boud had expired.
At a previous robbery, which oc
Cured just aftor the primary, Pla, er
reported that he had been robbed OF
stock amounting to 1927. This the
board allowed him and credited the
amount, hnt when an investigation
WAS made it was found that no WAS
S32 short instead Of $l27. This
500 Player paid up.
Those facts, together with Other
evidences of criminal carelessness
convinced those in charge of the case
t" swear out warrant today against
Player, which was done by w. II
Holloway and placed in the hand OF
Constable Bateman for execution.
Bateman went to Players home to
day and quietly arrested him. Player
broke down and wept like a child
He protested that he had done moth
ing wrong and added that he hat
loaned ont some small sums of mono,
to bis frlends, which his books woulc
show, @9but vigorously stuck to biz
story concerning the robbery.
Solicitor John s. Wilson was i.
town to represent tho State, and al
though Player employed counsel, ,
preliminary was waived and he wa.
scat To jail in default of $1,000 bail
Players homo was searched few
days ago but nothing was found i1
the shape of money. He has turned
over to. Treasurer Rollins $135
which ho claims was under his pillow
at the time Of the robbery.
The dispensary is now in the hand.
of Mayor Kennedy, being turnec
over to him by Mr.. Dukes, of the
State board, but will not be reopenec
until " now dispenser is appointed
As soon as it can be done a new
county board will also be appointed
The State is in possession of much
eliminating evidence, which will no
be made known until tho case Il
called in court.
Play er comes Of good family il
Clarendon county, who have Away.
stood well in their community; but
like many before him, this "grea
moral institution" proved too mucl
. for him and tonight he is languishine
behind tho bars Of Kingstree's jail.
Hon ~ u Daily Food.
DIR G. q M;lo, L., tbo No..o.