The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-30

above, MeJor Bl2ck Sa1H Cha6 % "a
never heard anything about the allie
gati,n that be said Evans had at
ten pted to bribe represent tatlVe iron
Colleton. BE said he was incensed a
Mr.. Lyon because it appeared to hin
Mr.. Lyon was attempting to hount
nim down and blackel his persona
chars scter, because be had refused Il
allow NJ. Lyon to run the State dis
oansary to suit bimse!f When b
went to the dispersary he found TIT
institution half million dollars II
,ebt for whiskey for which it had NJ
use. Ee had wiped cut = larg:
AMOUNT Of this debt by forcing mum
Der Ct houses to take osck thier un
salable whiskey and had dine sal'
against the protest OF Lyon and Cnris-
tensen, whica they telssraphsd from
she West. They wanted the wnisksy
sept to suit thies cor Vscisnce. Tney a.
20 had been unable o force him to buy
at q Jess to the State, from firms tEe:
favored He had blocked their little
game to force the board to ouy from
their henchnen and let them usurp
the powers the Legislature had given
to the State board.
Wien they found it Impossible to
get snythil 6 against BIS tffeial rec
,r5, to gratlfy their spite; they en-
ieavored to blackeo bis personal char
acser. BE had a copy Of the taking
of testimony In Cincinnati, in whic;
this attempt was made and In which
they attempted to blacken Supreme
Court Justices and Circuit Judges
of this State by asking If they had
received presents OF wniskey or other
things from house he had once rep
resented In a cl rical way. Maj T
Black said he had slways tried to live
a clean life and his I'll ;ial record as
sheriff, mayor and in other capacities
would show be had never done any.
thing dishonest In his life. His CHAR
scter vas bis proudes5 possession ano
che best shiug be could hand down to
ois children was clean name. he hao
40 intention Of permitting anybody to
olacken it to grat.f} their personal
spite.
Major Black said the letter referred
to was from his brother, q. W. Black
Jr., Of Walterboro, in which he said:
I am told Friday morning that Lyon,
Of the Investigating committee, was
here Saturday last. F.on what can
learn he is trying TO fnd out some-
thing about a conversation Walker
1ad with his wife tvsr the long dis
usrce phone the night OF your cleo
..on." That conversation was a per
iectly private conversation between a
nan and his wife, in which the for
ner said he was glad that Black was
elected, as be was his friend and hac
celpsd him and would helo him with
ais personal influence il case be ran for
.olicitor. Major Black said this was
purely personal and private conVersa-
5ion, In which ne had no part and
when he heard that Lyon was In
1uiring into such matters it confirm
d his belief that Lyon was willing to
20 any length to try and find some
mud to put on his personal character
Maj jJr Back says he was perfectly
willing for fullest Investigation OF his
record IS public servant, but wcu.d
oever suomit to an attempt TO
his private character. AS
member Il the State board he had not
cried to please Lyon, but to do what
vas r.g1t. ano Chairman Hay ano
Governor Hey9ard could both testify
that he had consulted them aDd was
earnest Ia his eDdeayor to know and
30 the right thing. Mr.. Mobley, the
Clerk, had been sent to sse Chairman
8ay about some Ct the problems OF
5he State board, and his advice hao
been taken.
Major BlIck said the board was
wiling to do snything for the invest
igsting committee as a whole, but
5hey were lected to run the State
and were not going to turn
,ver the running OF the Institution &C
siuher the whole Investigating con-
nittee OF a part Of it. Finally, Major
ack said: When my peroonal
:nar< c c.er is assa!led I am willing 5o
die by IL. l would rather 80 home t.
my family dad than 90 home aliV6,
out robbed OF my character.
Tcieo to Escsp.