The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-11-18
STATE BOARD CUTS OFF
CHARLESTON PROFITS,
Profits to be Used for constabu-
larry Expenses in Charleston
Board Furnishes Bonds.

AT called meeting held yesterday,
the State board of directors applied
the lash to Charleston for the treat
ment the constables have been receiv-
ing there recently. This was done by
adopting resolutions temporarily with
holding the city's dispensary profits,
amounting to $4,000 a year, and sum-
moning the Charleston city and county
authorities here on the I'd of next
month to show cause why this with
drawal shall not be made permanent.
The profits thus withdrawn will be
used IN furnishing bond for constables
and in otherwise meeting the expense
of enforcing the law in Charleston.
This action was taken at the instance
of Gov. Heyward, or rather with his
sanction and cooperation. The profits
cannot be diverted to meet such ex-
penses except upon his approval,
though had he failed to act the board
would doubtless have withheld
Charleston's city profits and turned
them over to the county of Charleston.
Gov. Hayward and Chief Constable
Hammet laid before the board the con-
dition of affairs in regard to the con-
stabulary and the enforcement of the
law in Charleston. The action in
stituted by Wieters in the United
States court against the dispensarv
constables and the arrest of the con-
stables and their indictment in the
State courts under two charges were
discussed. Chief Hammet reported
that every obstacle conceivable has been
thrown in the way of the constables to
hamper their efforts in the reasonable
enforcement of the law. Not ONLY
were heavy bonds demanded, but for
the want of bondsmen, which the
division chief could not obtain in the
city Of Charleston, the constables were
thrown into jail even in civil action
where nothing but money Judgment
was asked for. Mr.. Hammet also COM
planned that the clerk of the court
refused to accept cash in lieu of bond.
In these conditions the constables
were said to be hiding out in order
that they may escape being placed in
| jail, from which 1t seems next to i'm
possible to obtain release even though
placed there while attempting to en-
force the law under the direction of
the governor.
BOARD BACKS THE GOVERNOR.
Inasmuch as the consuables were un-
able to procure bond in Charleston and
upon the statement of the governor
that he had no funds available, and
requested such financial aid as the
State dispensary authorities could
afford, the following resolutions were
adopted:
That the sum of 81, ZOO be deposited
in the Carolina National bank as az
| indemnity for bail demanded of dis
pensary constables in the city Of
Charleston, and that, upon the perfor-
nance of the conditions of said bond,
the said $1,000 be converted into the
fund from which it was set apart.
"That upon the written order of
Chief State Constable Hammet, on the
approval of the governor, that so much
money be set aside and deposited in
bank as may be necessary to indemnify
any bail given for the release and ap-
pearance of any dispnsary constables
that may hereafter be held for appear
ance in any court for charges arising
in the performance of their duty
With this financial aid furnished
him by the State baord the governor
will be able to see that the constables
are fully protected in the discharge of
their duties and that the enforcement
of the law will be carried on with the
means placed in his hands.
At the same meeting Chief Constable
Hammet made statement as to the en-
forcement of the dispensary law in the
city of Charleston. He said that the
present endeavor to enforce the law
in Charleston as elsewhere had result
ed in an improvement but that this
very fact is evidently Irritating to the
law breakers and the efforts to enforce
the law are met in still more deter
mined spirit to hamper the officers,
and to violate the law. This was
event from the badgering of the Off
GERS that led to the resolutions Of the
board in making provision for bail.
Mr. Hammet says that not only are
the officers hampered in their work in
every conceivable manner but the
State is forced to great expense in en-
deavoripg to keep the constables at
their appointed duties.
OFFENDING LOCALITY MUST
PAY.
LII is QSCCrmluSQ IudC III view Ol GNS
persistant violations of the law and
the fragrant failure of the local au
thorities to enforce Or to assist in the
enforcement Of the law in Charleston
and theseStra expense incurred there
from, that the school fund should not
suffer from the violations of the law
and inaction of the local authorities
but that under section 565 of the dis
pensary law, the offending locality
should pay the expense incurred and
that this burden should not fall upon
other sections Of the State where the
law is enforced and obeyed and where
the local authorities give their assis-
tance and moral support in the en-
forcement of the law. In view Of these
facts the following resolution was
unanimously adopted by the board
Resolved, That under authority
vested in the State board of directors
by section 565 of the dispensary law,
the part of the profits going to the
city of Charleston from dispensary
earnings are hereby withheld to be eX-