The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-08-17
DIspESsARY INVESTIGATION
Much Evidence Given to Prove That
There Has Been Shady Doings by
MANY Officials.


the dispensary began its work at
Spartanburg the first Of the week. A
great number Of witnesses have been
examined and much damaging testi-
mony has been brought out. Many
persons connected with the institution
have been proven guilty Of shady con-
duct. The whole matter SO far devel-
oped is summerized in the following
facts:
First. That the positions connected
with the dispensary here were barter.
ed and sold for money, borrowed mon.
ey or endorsements.
Second. That even $50 clerkships
were bartered, and H. H. Cunningham
was paid $50 cash by the chairman OF
the county board to withdraw his ap-
plication for $50 clerkship.
Third. That the then chairman Of
the county board Of control sold liquor
and travelled from town to town, and
that he sold liquor by telling dispens-
ers he would have them removed by
friend on the State board if they did
not patronize him.
Fourth. That during the session OF
the Legislature satchels full Of liquor
were taken from the rooms of candi-
dates for membership of the board by
Mr.. Mahaffey, a member Of the House.
Fifth. That all dispensaries here
have received case upon case Of COM
plimentaarv liquor from houses SELL
ing to the dispensary, and that most
often these complimentary liquors
have been put on the Shelf and the
liquor sold, for personal gain. without
accounting to the State or county.
Sixth That the Mallard Company,
Richland Distillery and Bluthenthall
& Bickart made practice until re-
Gently of packing one Of two extra bot
ties of liquor in each case. and these
cases were complimentary to the dis
penser; that they were sold as reg
ular stock.
Eighth. That at least one dispenser
here is charged with the habit of
changing the labels of liquor and SELL
ing as two X goods that which was
sent him as one X goods, and that this
same dispenser has accumulated
thousands within his few years OF
service.
Ninth. 1t was developed that the
Richland Distilling Company and Blu
thenthall & Bickart have been paying
25 cents for empty cases which origi-
nally contained their goods. This is
supposed to have been a method of
boosting the sales. One witness testi-
fed that Rock Castle cases were paid
for at % cents each, without bottles,
and that they were not returned. 1t
was shown that these empty cases
other than lose sold to the shipping
houses, were sold locally to drug
houses for not more than five cents
and often for less.
Tenth. That dispensers have writ
ten to liquor houses for gratuitous H.
quor to help them make up shortages.
Eleventh That empty cases were
run in the stock account and were
counted as stock on hand, when they
were entirely empty.
Twelfth. That two members Of the
county board Of control signed GER
tifcates that they had actually wit
messed the checking of the stocks in
dispensaries. signed and approved the
expense accounts and breakage ac-
counts, and left them with dispensa-
ries to use as they saw fit. Several OF
these ertificates on which the dispen-
ser were to make up their accounts
were exhibited. signed in blank, with
official approval Of stock-taking, ex-
penses and the like, that were to hap
pen months ahead.
Thirteen. That is Spartanburg Mr..
Blackwood, in particular. was used as
| a buffet to bull the market. He, was
| promised time and again a position
| and asked to file an application, and
he now thinks this was done simply 10
get the other fellow to raise his price
to the county board, two OF the mem
bers telling him plainly that 1t was
a matter of dollars and cents to get
the Office, and after they got the office
that they could easily take It back.
Fourteenth That one Of the star
witnesses who Is now absent, told Mr.
Blease, a member Of the commission,
| that for $100 he would not be a wit
ness, having previously made a state
ment to the ~Christensen-Lyon COM
mittee.
Fifteenth. That the dispensary is
selling fives, which means that five
quart bottles are sold for gallon,
when the consumer thinks he is buy
ing a full quart. Witnesses testified
| that Hunters Three Feathers, Old
| Dixie. Hannis and other brands were
| fives.
Sixteenth. That until recently re-
quest books have not been used. The
plea in defence of the non-use beng
that the dispensaries have not gotten
| the books and have not had the time
/ to fill them out.
Seventeenth. That the dispensaries
have been advised to charge all break
age to the county, and that the county
loses from its profit account all Break
age, and it is not divided between
State and county.
Eighteenth. That Dispenser Huse-
man is alleged to have said that he
paid as much as six hundred dollars
for a vote and then did not get 1t.
Nineteenth. That Charles 0. Smith
was re-appointed on the board upon
tention of members of the delegation,
although it had been called to the at
| tention O fmemberS of the delegation,
not all, that he was asking money Tor
| positions.