The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-09-08
made in a general circular letter.

there was first-class side line in the
return of the empty beer bottles,
which were sold at 20 cents the dozen.
Mr.. Mannheim stated that he has re-
turned as many as forty barrels OF
empty beer bottles for which he
was paid at this rate.
1t was in Marion county that tie
subcommittee first heard Of the sug-
gestion OF campaign fund with
which to fight the prohibition move
ment, that then seemed approaching.
1t was this clue that made the COM
mittee look so carefully into the mat
ter at Spartanburg. The letter from
Dispenser Bass, at Dillon, sugses-
ting a campaign fund, was present.
ed in evidence, but Mr. Mannheim in
sisted that there was no fund raised.
Dispensers Order Liquor.
Another amazing feature OF the tes-
timony was that dispensers spepar
to place their own orders and that Il
ouors and wines are shipped directly
to the dispensers. Even the bills OF
lading were presented from Garrett
& Co., to show that at one time they
shipped directly to the Marion dis
pensary as many as twelve barrels
Of wines. Mr.. Mannheim said that the
goods were billed through the state
dispensary, but this, to say the least,
a most loose way of doing business,
and if a dispenser were inclined to
do bit Of figuring on his own &C
count there would be no check If he
could order goods shipped directly in
such fashion. The statement was
made that the wine was shipped di-
rect to save freight.
The bundle of letters gotten from
the Marion dispnesary throw flood
of light on how eager the whiskey
houses were to push the sale OF their
goods and retain the good will OF
the dispensers by presents, by buying
empty cases that were worthless to
the dispensers, by paying fancy prices
for the empty bottles and all manner
of clever schemes. The letters, ex-
cept those making renittances for
bottles and empty cases (which vary
as the returns were made, w gener-
ally carbon or mimeograph eers, in
rdicating that the same form had been
used in sending out presents, or ex-
ira bottles or in making offers to
the various dispensers throughout
the state.
There were several letters pre-
sented from state agents, who evl-
IDENTIFY travelled about the state work.
ing up orders and business for their
firms. One of these letters found
at Marion was from Mr.. Moody, who,
in former years, was connected with
the dispensary, and second from an
agent, who. at one time, represented
his county in the general assembly,
but who was not a member at the
time he represented the firm.
Quite a number Of witnesses have
been summoned here from va
7ious parts of the state and
number are already here.
Mayor R. Goodwin Rhett, OF
of Charleston, has been asked to be
witness here, and as stralghttor-
ward. honest man, he is to be asked
among other things how the sys-
tenn works in Charleston, and what
he knows about the system OF tribute
TO the constabulary, which 1t was
currently reported existed in Char
lesion not many years ago.
The subcommittee feels that it
could continue the developments as
to the management OF the county
dispensaries for many months, but
that it would be only to show what
has been already brought out and
what will be developed here as exist
ing in certain other counties.
The only witnesses examined here
TODAY by the Lyon-Chrlstensen COM
mittee were the dispenser and his
clerk at Marion. Mr.. Mannheim told