Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-05
Mr.. CHILDS GETS mad.
COIumbla'S Banker Refused To Tell
Things.
SAYS JOKES SHALL NOT Be REPEATED

Remarkable Incident Before the In
vestisatins Committee Last Friday
Witness Ruled to Show Cause Why
He Is Not in contempt-Reason Why
the c. N. G. L. Railroad Gets Dis
pensary Freight and the Columbia
Bank Is the Centre of Dispensary
Business"
News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, June 1.-"Well, by God, I
would go to Jail before l would tell the
Ijokes."
This was the expression Of Mr.. W..
G. Childs, one Of Columbia's most
prominent citizens, when Mr.. Lyon
pressed him to relate some Of the
Jokes he had heard about whisky re-
bates. Mr.. Childs stuck to his deter
mination not to repeat what he had
heard, because he felt that 1t might in
volve those who were entirely innocent
and he did not think it right or prop
er to repeat conversations Of this char
acter.
He suggested that he would rather
go to Jail and rot there than repeat
private conversations or jokes about
whisky rebates or things Of that kind,
and being the man that he Is he meant
every word he said. Mr.. Lyon was
evidently disgusted, and said that he
was through with Mr.. Childs, and that
the committee might itself take up the
examination of Mr.. Childs. Chairman
Hay then promptly said, "Mr. Childs,
you are excused"
That ended the incident, Mr.. Childs
got up, and while he was leaving the
room, said that he would never answer
such questions, but II the committee
wanted any proper information from
him, or wished to communicate further
with him, that he could be found at
his Office at any hour.
But the committee evidently did not
like the manner and the "by God" ex-
preston of Mr.. Childs, and later on In
the day the committee went into exec
/ ullNe SeSSlOI anu lSouCu q W Aui
Childs that he should show cause on
Tuesday, when the committee meets
again, why he should not be ruled for
contempt.
The committee will then hear Mr..
Childss position, and he will have the
opportunity Of making such statement
or explanation as he may care to.
Mr.. Childs, who Is a man Of most
even temper and equable disposition,
evidently got very much provoked
when Mr.. Lyon pressed him to know
what the stories or jokes were. Mr.
Lyon said that he had no idea what
they were, but thought il they~were
related that the committee might then
be the judge of the relevancy Of the
testimony; but Mr.. Childs stood pat
and that ended the incident for the
time being. Mr.. Lyon suggested that
the committee might determine wheth-
er the question might not be pressed,
but Chairman Hay said that he thought
the matter had better be pursued, If at
all, in executive session, and later on
the rule against Mr.. Childs to show
cause why he should not be ruled for
contempt was issued.
| Mr.. Childs is president of the Col
umbia, Newberry and Laurens railroad
and also president of the Bank of Co.
lumbia. He is a man of force and
character and his observations today
are significant. Mr.. Childs felt that he
had no right to lug anything into the
evidence he gave that was not neces-
sary.
In order that his position may be full
lly understood and at the same time
that there might be no possible mis-
understanding of the incident, Mr.. A.
NJ. Deal, the official stenographer Of the
investigating committee, prepared for
the News and Courier a verbatim copy
Of this entire incident and 1t is all we'll
worth reading.
| Mr.. Childs was the first and only
witness presented during the day: His
testimony was as follows:
Mr.. Childs, where do you live, sir?
Columbia; no, in Richland county. |
am a countryman.
A farmer?
Yes, sir.
Do you have any other business, Mr..
Childs?
Well, l am a railroad man and a
bank man.
What position do you hold with the
railroad?
President.
/ President of what road?
Columbia, Newberry and Laurels.
What connection have you with the
bank?
| President.
What bank?
| Bank of Columbia.
That is in the city of Columbia?
Yes, sir.
You have the active management
of this Columbia, Newberry and Lau-
rens railroad?
Well, 1 am president. 1 suppose
I am active manager.
You direct its affairs, and so on?
! Yes, sir.
Have you any stock in the Rich
land Distilling company?
No.
Do you know Of any one who has!
| have heard men say that they
have.
Well, sir, who are they?
1t is only hearsay.
Who have you heard say that they
!, have?
| have heard Mr.. Lanahan Of Lam
ahan & Son. / think l have heard
Mr. Block say that he had stock
Who else?
That is all have heard.
Did you ever hear of Mr.. Farnum
having stock in it?
No, sir.
Did you ever hear of Bernheimer
Brothers having stock in it?
No, sir.
r Mr.. Chids, did you ever hold any