The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-16
Dig BIspEsslRY SCANDAL.
REVELATIONS OF THE SPARTAN
BURG INVESTIGATION.
Wstness Testiies to Bribery aud
Corruption in the Conduct of the
Local Dispensaries.


Corruption in the Conduct Of the
Local Dispensaries-
sparsanburg, Aug. s.-The lid was
lifted acre today off the dispensary.
decided aroma has come from the
pot. Today's work was brief, not oyer
two hours, but it was eventful.
II was not until 5 o'clock that the
d1spensary investigation committee
met. Chairman J. T. Hay and Mr..
Thos. B. Fraser arrived on the after
noon train. Every one was anxiorsiy
waiting to get down to work. There
we're all sorts of runors about the in
vestigation going TO pieces, because OF
the combined force Of concurrent
resolution. The issue was raised, but
it was brushed aside, and the lii
raised, at least as to a few things in
spartanbnrg county
John r. Morris was the only wit
ness this afternoon. He was on the
stand for more than an hour, and was
willing witness and seemed to know
what he was talking about, and his
aeasy-going, don't-care-accent sort OF
manner was rather to his credit Mr..
Morris brought out these conditions:
First, that the county board Of con-
troll for spartanburg county levied
regular assessment on the dispenser
for his election or reelection.
second that the average price paid
chas. o. Smith, chairman Of the
county board, was $3.50, and that
Morris was expected TO pay similar
amount
Third, that he was asked for and
paid a contribution to the Spartan
burg Journal for its support Of the
dispensary. He knew nothing of the
details of the transaction, whether It
was for advertising space or other
wise. He paid his share He under
stood that the original price was $500,
but that more was raised, and that
dispenser Husemann raised s2S5 for
this fund in Columbia from dispen-
sary officials and liquor houses
Fourth, that many months after
the commission was appointed MI.
Cole L. Blease, a member Of the COM
mission. came here and settled a
claim between Morris, the dispenser,
and the Atlanta Brewing Company,
and gave the receipts. That he un-
dertook to help Morris obtain the re-
turn of the money he had contributed
TO the Journal fund, and that he
wished to get and examine copies OF
: letters from the brewing company,
and that he suggested that the wit
nesses had told Merrs. Lyon and
Christensen, Of the subcommittee,
more than was necessary. Morris
said Mr.. Blease did not represent
Mr.. Dunwoody, of the Atlanta Brew
ing Company.
Fifth, Mr.. JEFF. Dunwoody, Of At
Ianta. writes that he thinks he can fix
it so Mr.. Morris will be elected beer
dispenser on condition that he handle
his beer, and that he has taken the
matter up with the proper parties and
had spoken to one member of the
State board Of control.
Sixth, that Mr.. Herbert H. Evans
suggested to the witness and Mr.. Ma
haffey, former member Of the
House. to put up $500 or $500 on the
election Of Legislators in favor Of the
dispensary, and he would make it
good.
Seventh, Mr.. Morris further testi-
fed that Mahafey told him that Mr..
Evans kept his room stocked with Ii
auors and put $40 bills in his pocket
during the pendency of elections. Mr..
Morris was bit reserved on this and
wanted Mr.. Mahaffey heard on this
$40 bill incident. as others viii no
doubt have something to say on this.
When the commission met in the
Court House, Marshal Schumpert got
orders. Chairman Hay and Messrs.
Thos. B. Fraser, D. y. spivey, Arthur
Castor and Cole L. Blease sat inside
the clerks railing, and outside. with
a satchel of papers in front OF them
sat Fraser Lyon and Neils Christen-
sen. Jr, of the subcommittee on local
dispensaries. md had their innings,