The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-06
the 0lspEAsARY INVESTIGATION.
A TALE OF PETTY GRAFT TOLD
TODAY.
Dispenser Mannheim of Marion on the
Stand-No New Species of Graft
ReveaIed-A Representative
in Role OF Whiskey
Drummer.
Drummer.

Christensen, of Beaufort and Blease
of Newberry, and Representatives
Castor of Chester, Lyon Of Abbeville
and Fraser of Sumter, comprising the
legislative committee appointed to
investigate the dispensary system, as
sembled in the court house at II
o'clock today to sift the system that
is at present agitating so largely the
public mind and which will be a po-
tent factor in the politics Of the State
during the approaching campaign.
The startling facts brought out IN
previous hearings revealing acts Of
fraud, graft, corruption and stealing,
equaled only by similar acts perpe-
trated during radical times, have
made the meeting in Sumter today Of
especial interest, and members of the
committee have expressed the belief
that the Investigation here would
bring to light additional evidence Of
CORFU ption no less amazing than that
previously presented to the public.
1t is impossible to print in the col
umns of The Daily Item the testi-
mony in detail, but the following is
synopsis of the salient points as re-
vealed by the evidence adduced to-
day, or what may be termed story
of the first days session at Sumter.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman Hay at 1905 o'clock, all
members being present with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Spivey of Conway, who
has not yet arrived in the city. Mr..
Lyons first stated the object Of the
meeting, and then called Mr.. Mike
Mannheim, dispenser at Marion, to the
stand who was sworn and testified in
substance as follows:
1 am the dispenser of Marion coun-
ty and have held that position for
three years. I remember having
made statements to Mr.. Lyon and
Mr.. Christensen, but have no recol-
lection of their having been given
under OATH At any rate what I then
said was true. When questioned as,
to his knowledge Of fshort measure in
bottles he stated that he had no par
ticular means of ascertaining whether
or not bottles containing less than one
half pint were sold. He often sold
LIQUOR for quarts which require
five quart bottles to make a gallon OF
liquor, and gave Hunter Rye as an
example. He was questioned partic-
ularly about receiving presents, and
in reply stated that he had received
an umbrella, a dressing case contain
ing comb, brush and mirror, three
quarts of whiskey and one gallon jug
of corn whiskey. Letters taken from
the possession Of Mr.. Mannheim in his
dispensary and addressed to him
were then introduced in evidence
and read. These letters disclosed the
fact that Mr.. Mannheim had been the
recipient Of numerous small gifts in
the way Of liquor for his own use,
and that Trolger & Co., had been es-
pecially attentive, sending him re-
membranes every Christmas. He
stated, however, that these gifts in
nowise Influenced his orders.
He was epecially certain of the fact
that he had never ordered whiskey
direct from any house, but obtained
his entire supply through the State
dispensary. He admitted that STAN
ley, his predecessor in office, had Or
dered wine from a firm in Weldon,
n. c., but cloimed that it came indi-
rectly through the State dispensary,
although the bill Of lading from We'll
don to Marion for twelve barrels and
two cases Of wine was produced.
Mr.. Mannheim testified to the fact
that all breakage Of case goods,
which was not discovered at the time
Of the arrival of the same, was
charged to the countys profits.
A preety little illustration of how
the gag is worked was portrayed by
bit of Mr.. Menheim's testimony. He
was asked WY he kept Hostetter's
Bitters, a patent medicine, in stock
and said in reply that a man called
for it one day and raised quite a dis
turbance about the State monopol-
izing the liquor traffic, and then not
keeping in its dispensary what the
people wanted. An order for bitters
was Immediately placed The repre-
sentatives of the whiskey houses know
how to work the game.
1t was shown that the money Nr.
Mannheim derived from returning
empty bottles and boxes amounted To