The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-13

From the Daily Item, Sept. Z.
Yesterday afternoons session Of the
investigating committee was opened a
little after o'clock by the calling Of
w. D. Howard, former dispenser at
Spartanburg, to the stand. The es-
tablishment was run in his name, but
he was only an employe of Thomas
son & Sims, with whom he had
written contract as to wages. He was
to receive $50 per month for the first
two months and $50 per month for
subsequent months. He became dis
satisfied with the business on account
of Thomasson drawing from the cash
taken in amounts varying from IS to
| $40 per day. Saw that the business
could not stand the drain for any
length of time and decide to quit.
Mr.. D. M. Miles, chairman Of the
State board of control, now county
supervisor, told me that he had
Thomasson appointed in order tnat
he might get $500 out Of him that
was owing to him. Mr.. Sims paid
s25 United States license just prior
| to my final settlement with Thomas
son and Sims. I paid to the county
treasurer sS1.34, the state royalty. I
made the payment by check. The
day after 1 made the payment Miles
came to the dispensary accompanied
by Mr.. Dunwoody, the representative
! Of the Atlanta Brewing Co., and in
structed me to go to Treasurer Epps
and obtain the check on the plea OF
desiring to make change in it, and
to make it out in favor Of Mr.. Dun
woody. Miles said that he would
stand by me. I obtained the check
without trouble, and did as I was in
structed to. This all happened in
the course Of my settlement with
Thomasson and Sims. left Spartan
burg and when I returned two years
later I was arrested by Mr.. William
Bishop, charged with not having paid
royalty to the State. The indictment
was sworn out by the company that
went on my bond. I sent for Mr..
| O'Shields after I had been put in Jail
and told him about the contract, ex-
| planned that I did not own the dis
pensary. I was released by the mag
istrate on my own recognizance; never
had trial; case was thrown out. Af-
ter I left Spartanburg was bottle
seller for the state and received from
the dispensary authorities check
for $500 two months after I left
Spartanburg. then went to Tennessee
to work.
Mr.. W. S. Glenn was next called
upon to testify. am the representa-
tive of the Fidelity and Deposit
Company of Baltimore, Mo, and have
my Office in Spartanburg. My COM
pany went on w. D. Howard's s
bond as beer dispenser. Bond was
written in November, 1898, and short
Iage was discovered three months la
ter Howard, as was informed, sold
out and as soon as I got the knowl-
edge / applied to see if his accounts
were correct. I went to Miles for the
information and was told that How
ards accounts were correct and sat
jsfactory, and got his written state
ment to that effect signed by him as
chairman Of the Spartanburg board
of control. This paper was filed with
the company after notice of shortage
was given. Company did not want to
pay claim. 1 have al of the original
correspondence pertaining to the
bond, which was then read Was told
that if company did not pay shortage
under bond without suit that my
company would be boycotted. so the
shortage, amounting to $126.25 was
! pd1o Oy the company, as COnS1Cero1
not as a matter of right. but simply
for policy. I am Informed that the
stub Of the receipt showing payment
made by Howard is now in the treas
urcr's office in Spartanburg. We re-
Trained from prosecuting the case be-
cause we belived that Howard was
only tool in the hands Of other par
ties.
Mr.. Lyon then examined Mr.. Wind
ham, the local dispenser. 1 have been
dispenser at Sumter for the past five
years and a member of the county
board Of control for two years. have
sold bottles containing less than one
half pint Of whiskey. "Old Fashioned
Cocktail was some of this kind; I
measured it and shipped it back to
the State authorities. Five's have been
and are still being sold for quarts.
Neglected the law in regard to re-