Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-29
GRAFT FOR
THR GRAPIERS.
investigation Shows Where hi-
.;,.-,. quOr Profits Go.
nixon, GIVES 'isrrsEsr'S IsVdRlirIos.

a Fisht-More About the Lanahan
6usiness-Hew Dispensers Make
| Monsy--harris Says FAINT Lied
Mr.. Evans implicated by Elimina-
tion.
The following summary Of last Fri:'
days dispensary Investigation pro-
ceedings Is from the Charlotte obser-
| yer Of Saturday:
AS the morning session OF the dis
pensary investigation was drawing to
a close rather listlessly. a surprise was
sprung in an entirely unlocked for
tilt between Senator Cole L. Blease OF
Newberry; and Representative" ]. Fra
ser Lyon Of Abbeville, which would
have resulted In personal encounter
except for the fact that Chairman
Fraser stepped between the two men
and prevented them coming to blows.
Mr.. Lyon was examining Secretary
Charles, Of the dispensary director
ate, when Senator Blease moved to
adjourn on the ground that the stem
ographer who was sick, had been on
duty four hours and a half Mr.. Lyon
took exception to this In mild sar-
casm about his being In the hands OF
the committee. when Chairman Fra
ser asked him IL IL would be agreeable
for him to suspend.
t'I intended nothing personal by my
remarks" said Senator Blease, rising.
"The chairman himself will tell you
that II was at his suggestion that
made the motion.
"If chose to make any personal
reference to you," he added. sit would
be plain enough for you to see."
"Yes, and when you do II, I will
smash your face" Mr.: Lyon called
back. shaking his fist over Chairman
Fraser's shoulder.
"You won't get chance; you will
never get to me-" At
"oh. / know you carry your pistol
with you. but that makes but little
difference" y el ru -f fi}Sff
Senator Blease hoisted his coat tails
and insisted on the marshal searching
him for a weapon. II have no weap-
on, but meant would kill him be-
fore he got to me-"
| The room was crowded and the men
were prevented getting to each other.
There has been bad feeling in the
commission for some time. ~
Colonel Nixon Makes Statement
Col. Nixon asked and was granted
the privilege OF making q statement
without being cross-examined. His
statement was to the effect that, SO
| far as he knew, neither Mr.. Towill nor
Mr.. Boykin had ever met the Silver
Springs people and Clerk Charles Of
the board, was also without their &C.
quaintance.
Capt. r. e. Blakely, an assistant
bookkeeper under ex-Commissiorer
Nixon, testified to overhearing an In
terview between Commissioner Nixon
and Mr.. Sam ]. Lanahan, the purport
Of which was that Lanahan came In
to talk up his goods and Nixon told
him that he would have nothing to do
with him in a business way. as he had
his whisky flooding the state for the
tigers Witness never saw any letter
from Nixon advising the board Of
Lanahan's attempt to briee him.
Never heard Of the 'bribe being Offer
ed until this Investigation. =
Revenue Agent on the Stand.
Mr.. H. w. Richardson, a revenue
loficef at the time OF Col Mixon's ad
ministration, was the next witness.
He was friend Of Col. Nixon and his
duties as a revenue officer kept him
frequently at the dispensary. He said
ne was approached on one occasion
lby q whisky representative, whose
name he could not recall, remember
ing merely that he was from Cincin-
natl. The representative opened the
conversation by asking Mr. Richard
sons opinion Of Col Nixon. and after
getting very high estimate, said:
"Well, I have formed an opinion OF
him; he is either an honest man or
damn fool"
The representative explained by
saying that Nixon had refused an Of
fer of IS barrel on goods bought
from this Cincinnati house. He can
order as much as 100 barrels a month
from me, which would amount to
Sc, 900 a year for him."
witness said he reported the mat
ter to Colonel Nixon next day. Col.
Nixon was agitated and said the man
had made him the offer. but that he
had always striven to make an honest
living and didn't propose to break
over at this late date.
Whisky Men Visited Board Room.
Mr.. d. H. Charles, secretary Of the
board, testified to whisky representa-
tives visiting the board room, and ex-
planned some financial matters.
Sc far as he knew, Director 'Boykin
had never represented Lanahan.
In answer to questions, he gave the
names Of a dozen or more whisky
houses who sent him cases Of goods
from time to time, with the bottles
marked for various employees at the
dispensary. The names Of those firms
showed that three Of them had a
community of-interest" stock in the
Richland distillery.. I. w. Bernheim.
Is. ]. Lanahan and ]. s. Farnum are
directors In the Richland concern and
connected with big outside concerns.
Witness then touched on the old
row of years ago. when the contra
band room was entered by "hocus-
pocus key by members of the board,
and when Clerk Seth W. Scruggs was
indicted for breaking into 1t and
stealing a pair of slippers.
Unable to Locate Mixon's Letter.
Mr.. w. M Bradley, the commits
sion's expert, has not been put on the
stand, but answering a question from
the Observers correspondent today,
he says he has been unable to locate
the letter Col Nixon says he wrote
the board in April, 1896. notifying 1t
of Lanahan's attempt to bribe him.
He was told that all these old letters
bod haap dumned into q box and that