The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-09-08
MORE INVESTIGATION
OF THE DISPENSARY
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE
IN SUMTER.
Conduct Of The Marion Dispensary
Under Fire-The Testimony
Taken.

The third session OF the dispen-
sary investigating committee began
in Sumter on Tuesday. The follow
ing report Of Tuesdays session is
by the Columbia correspondent of
the News and Courier:
Chairman J. T. Hay, Senator Blease,
Senator Christensen and Messrs. T.
B. Fraser, Fraser Lyon and Arthur
CASTOR were present. Col. Spivey
was absent on account OF sickness at
home.
The session was brief and only
one dispensary, that at Marion, was
taken up. The inquiry was conduct
ed by the Lyon-Christensen sub COM
mit1ee. 1t was cumulative evidence
as to the manner in which sub-dispen-
saries are conducted. Some may have
thought that the conditions in Spar
tanburg were unusual, but Messrs.
Christensen and Lyon plainly showed
by the dispensers themselves that
what exists at Spartanburg> is to be
found in Marion, what is symptom
in the Piedmont is also typical in
the Pee Dee. Witnesses and affi-
davits will be presented here from
Darlington, Orangeburg, Charleston,
Beaufort, Florence, Marion, Sumter,
Barnwell, Greenville and other coun-
ties to show that Spartanburg is not
type but a general run. In some
counties conditions IRE better than
others, but the subcommittee has not
yet found the county in which the
empty cases were not returned for
Is cents each: where complimentary
liquor was declined; where extra bot
ties were not accepted and sold;
where presents were not protuse;
where drummers did not beg for or
ders, and all that sort of rhing. True
the funds did not permit visit to
every county, but the committee has
cumulative evidence from ten coun-
ties.
In Marion the dispensary has
good reputation and the dispenser is
good fellow.
Unlike most dispensers ne did not
burn his correspondence. He told
the subcommittee that he had no
letters that amounted to anything
much, bu, Mr.. Christensen found
some old boxes stuffed with letters
that told much of the relations be-
tween the whiskey houses and the
dispensers. Mr.. Mannheim was care
full and circumspect in his testimony.
He would not tell much. but stuck
to facts. He was slow to give lntor-
marion, but gave it straight.
The testimony here today was
largely that OF the letters that were
picked out of the dispensary at Mar
ion-that was before the word went
out and there was a wholesale burning
of letters. so the report goes.
The testimony showed that Marion
cot its full share Of dead head sam
oles: that it got its share of Christmas
presents; that it was NOT tor5otten
in the offer for empty cases; that II
was in at the beginning in the extra
bottles sent out by the various liquor
houses. and all that sort Of thing.
Mr.. Lyon figured that the Marion
dispensary must have averaged ABOUT
s25 month on the empty cases that
were bought by three OF the Trims.
The evidence here today fixed the
identity of Mr.. x. Y. Jones as synon-
vnous with Bluthenal & Blckart, and
letter brought forth the astonishing
statenen. that this dummy arrange
ment for the return OF the empty
cases was done with the consent OF
one Of the members of the board OF
control. at least it is claimed. 1t now
remains for the state board Of control
to fasten OF deny any such statement