The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-11
SOMETHING ROTTEN IN
THE DISPENSARY
TESTIMONY TAKEN BY COM.
MITTEE IN SPARTANBURC.
Much Damaging Evidence Against
High and Low Ohcials-Mr.
Blease's Statement.

The general investigating commit
tee appointed by the last legislature
to investigate and examine the state
dispensary. began its first public
hearing in Spartanburg Tuesday at
ternoon.
The following is the condensed
account OF Tuesdays proceedings,
taken from the News and Courier:
Morris On the Stand.
John P. Morris, formerly beer
dispenser in Spartanburg county was
the only witness put on the stand
Wednesday afternoon. An affidavit
he made April Is before the sub-com-
mittee was read By Mr. J. Frazer
Lyon, of Abbeville, who stopped at
intervals to ask certain questions
Mr. Morris said, L was appointed
dispenser May 10, 1904. I fitted up a
place to sell beer. which cost me
about 5000 to $500. This included a
fee 70 my attorney and his expenses,
amounting to $50. Mr.. c. O. Smith,
member of the county board OF con-
troll, asked me how much expense /
had Been put to. and upon my telling
him, ne said that was very cheap, that
it would cost me more than that to
be elected again.
Then followed a string of testimony
about his (Morris) elecrion or reelec-
ton OF beer dispenser, which
News and Courier says brought ont
these conditions:
That the county board OF control
for Spartanburg county levied a reg
u}ar assessment on the dispenser for
his election or reelection.
That the average price paid Chas.
O. Smith. chairman 0! rhe county
board, was $3.50. and that Morris was
expected to pay a similar amount.
:spartanburg Journal Scandal.
Another interesting phase Of Nor
ris's testimony was made relating to
the Spartanburg Journal transaction.
Morris had no direct dealing with
This phase and all he knew was from
others. His testimony on this line
was: "Recently petition was put
in circulation here for the purpose Of
having an election on the dispensary
for this county When tfbe petition
for election was circulated, ]. w. Har-
mo-. dispenser. came to me and said
the Evening Journal would take up
Our fight for $500, and that my part
Of this would be SIS. l gave Mr..
Harmon check on the Merchants
and Farmers bank for SIS. Before
subscribing this, I saw c. O. Smith
and ". n. Avant about it and they
said i would be all right to give it,
Afterwards Smith came to me and
saiG 70 keep quiet, THAT Dunwoody
would give $50 for this purpose an
that Joe Huseman had collected
from representatives of Whiskey
houses IN Columbia about S285 after
Huscr1an's expenses had been taken
out, and that he, Smith, had received
check from Fleischmenn for S25.'
M7. Lyon: rs this Dunwoody the
man at7'o represents the Atlanta
Brewing company"
yes, sir" "Fjeiscmann & Co."
Whea asked whas was the object
OF giving the Journal money Mr.
Morris said:
'f1Thev said all the rest OF them were
giving money to fight the prohibi
tior movement and wanted me tc
come across. and I told them
would"
"You didn't have any agreement tt
put in any advertising matter in tht
Iournal?"
"No. I don't know whether it wen
10 the Journal or not, but when
asked fhe board about it I asked then
whv hey didn't get the Herald
influence: that Mr.. Henry had bee