The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-06
1nE RIcHLsND DlsIILlERY.
THIS OFFSPRING OF THE DIS
PENSARY COULD FURNISH
BIG SENSATION.
Who Owns the Stock and Who Profits
From the Big Business is the
Ouestion-No Probability of
the Facts Are Leaking Out.

OuestiOn-NO Probability OF
the Facts Are Leaking Out.
Columbia, Sept. "A matter which
is puzzling the dispensary investigat-
ing commission, as it has been puz-
zling many people here and through
ont the state for many months, is
what is back OF the scenes in the
case Of the Richland Distillery con-
Germ, which has been getting such
rapidly increasing business from the
state dispensary, although there is
much complaint about the quality Of
the goods. The company, which is
capitalized at only 100000, did
million dollars worth Of business with
the dispensary last year, and three
of its directors, J. S. Farnum, the
Charleston beer man; and Sam j.
Lanahan, he Of the Mixson bribery
incident; and Mr.. Bernheim Of the
whiskey house bearing his name
managed to "cop out" good busi-
ness on the side for their outside
houses.
"What we want to know" said e.
member Of the commission to your
correspondent, "is who is holding
certain stock in trust and whom it is
being held for we have not been able
to get at this so fa-."
The report has been current for
some time that dispensary officials,
have stock in the concern, but no
body has ever been able to point to
the man. If the commission estab-
fishes at Sumter next week that dis
pensary officials are or have been
holders of this stock cracking SEN
sation will be created, though the
proba bility is not strong that such a
showing will be made. Director Boy
kin will go on the stand at his re-
quest, but otherwise the Sumter in
vestigation is expected to be con-
fined to the Asub-dispensaries.
In the opinion of many people in
position to gather information, there
is no foundation for these suspicious.
The president Of the concern receives
salary of only $1,000 year and
the active manager gets less than
$4,000. President Block said recent
ly the concern was not profitable and
has never paid a dividend, that the
profits all went out in salaries.
State Chemist Burney who has been
analyzing for the State dispensary
since the G. NJ. I started, says it will
be useless for the commission to put
him on the stand as he will be able
to give no information Of value, since
his duties have been merely to exam
inc samples sent him for impurities
and establish the proof
NO" he said in answer to a question
! nobody has ever attempted to .bribe
me either directly or indirectly. From
the beginning let these whiskey men
know that did not wish them to cali
on me- and they have let me alone.
81 know nothing about the quality
of goods-I do not pretend to know
anything about grading whiskey or
| wine. Experts should do the grading
| by taste. But this is an accomplish
ment it takes years of practice to
perfect. There are wine tasters who
have such delicately sensitive tastes
as to be able to tell, not only the gen
eral quality Of goods but to name the
vintage, but these people are paid
well, as are expert tea tasters, who
are absolutely necessary to the tea
| merchants, and who by the way do
not live long, McCaw.