The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-16

of the dispensary is making good day
by day. Messrs. Lyon and 'Christen-
sen are showing cold facts that even
surprised the natives. The evidence
is cumulative and it is for the evi-
dence to speak. The subcommittee
kept up a Gatling gun fusillade OF
witnesses until it tired out every one,
and it made it well-nigh impossible to
present the evidence the brief remain
ing time. The session continued from
10 o'clock until s o'clock, with one
hour for dinner. The evidence will
show the facts to many good peo-
pie, and they will wonder what will
be the next phase of possible dispen-
sary graft.
This session is to inquire into the
conduct of sub-dspensaries, and the
special committee is not charged with
handling any other lids, if they are
movable. Today's session develops a
whole pot pourri OF mess, but it may
be we'll to stick memory pin here
and there This is what the evil
dence tries to, or does, show, and not
my observations:
First That the positions connected
with the dispensary here were barter
ed and sold for money, borrowed
money or endorsements.
Second. That even $50 clerkships
were oartered, and H. H. Cunning
ham was paid $50 cash by the chair
man of the county board to with
draw his application for a $50 clerk
ship.
Third. That the then chairman Of
the county board Of control sold
liquor and travelled from town to
town, and that he sold liquor by tell
ing dispensers he would have them
removed by a friend on the State
board if they did not patronize him.
Fourth. That during the session of
the legislature satchels full liquor
were taken from the rooms Of candi-
dates for membership of the board
by Mr.. Mahaffey, "a member Of the
house.
Fifth. That all dispensers here have
received case upon case Of compli-
mentary liquor from houses selling
to the dispensary, and that most often
these complimentary liquors hav:,
been put on the shelf, and the liquor
sold for personal gain, without ac-
counting to the State or county.
Sixth. That the Millard Company,
Richland Distillery, and Bluthenthal
& Bickart made a proctice until re-
Gently OF packing one or two extra
bottles of liquor in each case, and
these cases were complimentary to
the dispenser; that they were sold as
regular stock goods and no account
made of such sale to the State o..
county, but this was to the gain Of
the dispenser.
Seventh. That, in addition to graf
uitous liquor, the dispensers received
free umbrellas, smoking sets, foun-
tain pens, match boxes, wines, and
even suits of clothes.
Eighth. That at least one dispen-
ser here is charged with the habit
of changing the labels of liquor and
selling as two x goods that which
was sent him as one x goods, and
that this same dispenser has accumu
lated thousands within his few years
Of service.
Ninth. 1t was developed that the
Richland Distilling Company, an1
Bluthethal & Bickart have been pay
ing 25 cents for empty cases which
originally contained their goods. This
is supposed to have been method Of
boosting the sales. One witness testi-
fed that Rock Castle cases We're paid
for at 25 cents each, without bottles,
and that they were not returned. It
was shown that these empty cases,
other than those sold to the shipping
houses were sold locally to drug
houses for not more than five cents
and often for less.
Tenth. That dispensers have writ
ten to liquor houses for gratuitous
liquor to help them make up short
ages.
Eleventh. That empty cases were
run in the stock account and were
counted as stock on hand, when they
were entirely empty.
Twelfth That two members Of the
county board Of control signed certi-
Gates that they had actually witness
ed the checking of the stocks in dis