The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-15
DISPENSARY AFFAIRS
UNDER 4 HEAVY FIRE
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
ADJOURNED FRIDAY.
Lie Was Passed Frequently on Clos
ing Day-Sensational Testimony
Of Present County Chairman.

The first public session OF the dis
pensary investigating committee in
Spartanburg adjourned Fri>iav nigh .
Every one connected with the il:ves-
tigation was tired md worn out and
the broken tire eds will be taken up
in Columbia later on.
The follow! : nme 9: The 5nal
n3y's testimony IS from the News and
Courier:
4 number OF additional vi neSSes
were summoned. but it was found un-
necessary 70 call :hem and Messrs.
Christensen and Lyon ag-:e,' that
time would probably be gained by
wedding the rc:'!: ming witnesses
dean to a stand.
The day was largely devoted to ex-
plantations and privileged statements
from those who had been assailed by
the evidence and there was every
NlSpOSllIOIi ~ dlIoN ll4Slll ~ liIeNN
statements. Under this head Mr..
Charles O. Smith. Arch Cathcart,
Dispensers Ferguson and McGarty
and Mr.. .Avant. who was a member
of The board. made their explanations.
The dispensers who took the stand
all admitted that they placed in stock
the over supply OF bottles that were
sent out by the Mallard Dlstllllng
company. the Richland Distilling
company and Blutl1enthal & Bickert,
all pr the proceeds in the cash draw
as other sales. Dispenser Ferguson's
position was that as these goods were
sfsspDed to them by the state dlsper-
sary that they belonged 70 the dis
pensers and he could not see where
it wa< any wrong-do:ng in selling
1hese extra comp1im c7tary bottles
and taking the proceeds. where cases
were shipped out containing these
extra bottles by the State dispenser.
Touching Compliments.
Messrs. Lyon and Christensen pre-
sented number OF letters taken from
Mr.. Ferguson's dispensary in which
ne was notified that various whole
sale ihouses had sent him compliment
tary liquors. The subcommittee also
presented a letter addressed to MIR.
FERGUSON IN which Mr.. /. w. Boykln.
a member OF the State board OF con-
troll, wrote that he could now get
some other X corn and K rye than
the Richland stuff. and that he had
been trying for long time to get
the board to purchase some other
one X corn and rye for you fellows
,hat did not want the Rlchland stuff.
'buf have only succeeded yesterday.
Til. most interesting witness to-
day MaS Mr.. Charles O. Smith, who
was chairman OF the board OF control,
which has been charged with so much
wrong doing here.
He is a rather young looking man.
dresses WE'LL has a very flushed tace.
talks inteligently and is altogether
quite bright.
He denied absolutely and unequlvo-
cally thar he had ever accepted or re-
ceived one dollar for his vote in con-
nectiun with any dispensary election,
and insists that it was all pack Of
hes about his ever having received
any money for any dispensary cleo
ton
Mr.. Lyon asked him il he did NOT
90 TO Mr.. Wall'S home and there Of
fer hin? $500 if he (WaIN would vote
for me election as beer dispenser.
Mr.. Smith admitted tfa; this was cor
rect ard then went Oh TO say that The
had made he offer simply 10 see II
he would rake it. and what the other
fellows were doing, and he had no
idea OF paying him any money.
Ugly Scenes.
There were several ugly scenes IN
- . ( o,,.a ,,,I IN tu-o occo s;0r,c