The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-29

the finances ana espeC!dIlS IIe ioOo
method OF handling the contraband
room. He eulogized the bookkeeping
methods and believed that the board
follows the statute. He found some
competent county boards and found
that some boards signed reports with
out knowing what they were dong.
After while Mr.. Searson's testimony
became interesting and he explained
how he discovered tamperlng with
labels at Scotia. The goods were
! in the hands Of a successor. Inc
case was settled and according to
instructions there was no criminal
prosecution. On another occasion ne
told OF how dispenser had padded
his reports by partly filled cases. He
suggested that every box be examined
bv the inspectors. He kneWs that
DISPENSER Bishop allowed beer to be
consumed in his back room. He found
Windham, of Sumter, short $1,000, bun
thouqht the error was in Columbia.
He had the accounts made up here
and found that 81 800 goods had been
improperly charged him. The goods
were shipped to Summerville instead
Of Sumter and charged in error. He
noticed crown pullers in back doors
at several places. He rather believed
in liberal construction of the dlspen-
sarv law to meet conditions. He
rather ridiculed request books being
strictly used, and saw no great harm
allowing beer to be consumed on or
near the premises. He thought these
little things would regulate them
selves if the larger infractions were
stopped. He wanted to see reforma-
ton. He knew nothing about the
Bryan Lawrence shortage. He has
not been connected with the dispen-
sary since March, 1905. He did not
hear of the Lawrence matter.
,, The record, Mr.. Lyon said, showed
that Mr.. Lawrence had never paid
for any Of the liquor gotten from the
dispensary for the Isle of Palms.
Mr.. Searson said he annually set
tied the Tiencken shortage and &C
cepted a second mortgage in part OF
the final settlement.
In the Terry shortage nothing he
thought could be done. The suit
was improperly brought. Then there
was a case of the Argyle hotel prlvi-
lege. A check for $1,000 given was
turned down, but he finally got the
money for the check. He collected
all the Charleston shortages that
could be kept alive. He brought
suit against Toland, OF Spartanburg,
Bedenbaugh, of Prosperity, and Riv-
ers, OF Hampton. These suits are all
now pending for shortages. These
suits were filed a year or two ago.
He got a settlement in the Camden
claim. where the bank, the Scotia
matter, the Tiencken case, the Ar
gyle hotel company and other Set
Elements were made by him. He
forced settlements in freight claims.
He understood whiskey was vended
at tourist hotel privileges.
Mr.. Searson is a remarkable talker,
and his fluency of language and his
comments greatly interested the COM
mittee during his long examination.
He appeared to have been a care1u!
observer and to have done effective
work.
Capt. J. H. Claffy,
the superintendent OF the disoensary,
was next examined He has charge
OF the liquor. There is lot OF liquor
stored; in fact the storage capacity
is overtaxed. There is considerable
liquor there now that was there when
he went in. They are mostly case
goods. Most OF it was medium
grades. More goods are bought and
stored than needed in his opinion. He
saw noneed for such large stocks. He
had no voice whatever in ordering
whiskey. He had never had the