The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-07-14
QUEER STORY.
a Dispensary Inspector Loses sixteen
hundred Dollars
or Dispcnsary Money. Claims He
Had 1t When He left Charles.
ton. But 1t DisaOpeared.

The Columbia State says very pc,
culiar story became known Wednes
day when 1t was discovered that q few
days ago Dlspensary Inspector Clar
ence L. Brown mystGri usly lost over
81 600, which he received from a
county dispenser to make up short
age in the mans accounts.
Inspector Brown went 10 Charles.
ton few days ago. according to his
statement, and In the course of his
duties went to the general dispensary
OF S. s.. Matthews and checked up the
books. He found the dispenser 81. 648
short in his accounts and asked for
payment Of this amount. He was
given check, and one Of Mathews
clerks went with him to the bank to
get 1t cashed. The money was OBJ
tained at 2 O'Clock in the afternoon
and Inspector Brown came to Colum.
bia on the afternoon train. Dispen-
ser Matthews accompanied him Mr..
Brown would make no statment con,
corning the reason why the dispenser
came, but 1t Is probable from what
can be learned that he held that the
shortage did not exist, and so came to
consult with Commissioner Tatum.
Mr.. Brown says that he parted with
Matthews at Branchville, the dis
penser going to Columbia and Mr..
Brown to Barnwell, his home Ar.
irving there, he found that his bank
book, in which were the greenbacks,
had disappeared. Not alone had the
money which he had collected disap
peared, but also about $500, some Of
which belonged to the dispensary
He came to Columbia the next morn
ing aud reported the loss Inspector
Brown is q bonded officer and when
his friends learned Of his predicament
ohoJ made up the amount lacking
and 1T was paid In to the dispensary' 8
funds, pending further investigation
When the facts in this case were
heard OF "Wednesday The State tele.
raphed It's Charleston correspondent
and instructed him to investigate the
natter. Late that night the follow
| ing dispatch was received:
Dispenser Matthews was seen by
The States representative In the after
noon and asked for statement about
the shortage. He stated at first that
he knew nothing abe ut the matter,
coupling the remark with an inquiry
whether Inspector .Brown had charg
ed him With beirg short in his &C.
counts. Showing no disposition to
discuss the matter, Dispenser Mat.
| thews was asked IL he had ever been
/ robbed which might account for the
ShOrtage-tO which he replied: Il
know nothing at all about the mat.
ter" He later said that he preferred
TO say nothing, but when. told he
would be quoted In this way, he add
A men ber Of the county board of
control was seen about the story and
ne said that while he had heard the
rumor Of a shortage, he could say that
the board knew nothing auout it Off
cially. "1'he stock Is regularly taken
and the reports sent to Columbia u
he said, "and any shortage which
might occur would be discovered
through the inspectors examination
II such a discovery has been made
no report OF it has been received by
our board
Mr.. Brown could not be found un.
til late Wednesday night and wou c
make no statement regarding Dispen.
ser Matthew'S visit TO Columbia
Commissioner Tatuin was likewise
taclturn. 1t Is almost certain, how
ever, that the dispenser came to the
c'ty to deny the shortage. He had {
receipt from Mr.. Brown. The story
Is very peculiar one and will be IN
vestigated to the bottom. T1er,
haye been rumors OF a shortage II
Charles on for some time, but It was
learned Wcdnts lay night that they
could not De confirmed.