The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-06-06
Between the Investigation Com.
mittee and a Witness.
WOULD NOT REPEAT
Runners Because He Thought People:
Character Too Sacred to be Hurt in
That Way, and He Was Ruled
for Contempt of the
Committee.

The invest eating committee has
another row on its hands. The State
says as 2 result Of having become ex-
cited and used profane language in
the presence Of the dispensary investi-
eating committee, Mr.. ". G.. Childs.
president Of the Bank OF Columbia
ard also OF the Columbia, NsHb rry
and Laurens railroad, has b zen cite6
to appear before the committee on
the charge OF contempt.
1t was apparent at 5be time that
MI. C5ilds did not mean to show
contempt for the COMMITTEES, bu5 he
meant to express very forcib y his
position In regard to testifying against
certain dispensary people through the
medium OF repeating anything which
ne had heard in joking manner and
might be taken to refact upon the
integrity OF honorable men.
Mr.. Lyon was trying to get the in
formation so that the committee
could pass upon its relevancy. BE had
submitted the matter for the com-
mittee as whole to pass uoon when
Nj. Chi!ds very excite6ly e8claimed:
We'll, by Goo, I would go to j Ill oe
fore + would tell these JOKES, and Mr..
Lyon had right to confer with me
before Il be wanted to
Mr.. Lion stated that he would
leave the matter to the comnittee.
Mr. hay, the chairman, stated that
Mr.. Childs could be excused from the
witness stand. The latter went cut
OF the senate cha n5er vowing tha: be
would not tell anything 20 rehscs
upon anyb Jdy else If be had heard it
Ia liking way.
NJ. Lyon, thinking that Mr. Chiids
had exceeded toe p1oprietisS Of the
occasion 10 defVing the Committee be-
fore the testimony had been insisted
pom by the committee, made the re
quest that MI. Cnilds be made to re
peat the jokes be bad heard so as the
committe could jldge If they were
relevant to the investigation.
Chairman Hay replied:
Well, Mr.. Lyon, do not know
that we should discuss this matter
aey further right no1. We can axe
it up in the committee and discuss 1t
among ourselVes-the bearing OF it."
Later Oh the committee issued an
order for Mr.. Childs to appear before
the committee On Tuesday and show
cause why he should not be attached
io1 contempt Of the committee in be-
ing guilty Of disorderly conduct and
contempt in the presence OF the com
nittee cn Friday, tie lst day Of
June, A. D., 1905 Herein fail not.
The position taken by Mr.. Childs
in refustIg to repeat these rumors is
not a surprise to those who know
him. He i, just such man as would
do a thing OF the kind, and Just such
man as will 20 to jail il be con tinues
ct the opinion thai LIE ought not to
repeat these rumorS.
WHAT CAUSED THE ROW.
The following is the testimony OF
Mr.. Cnilds which lead up to Ghe
trouble, Mr.. Lyon was examining Mr..
Child:
9 Have you ever heard anybcdy
confess or acknowledge in any way
that they received any profits or div
idends arising from either the & ch-
lard Distillsry Company or the Co.
lumbia Class Works?
a. No, sir.
G Now, Mr.. Childs, you are In &C.
tive business around the city OF Co.
,,umhia here, I presume, frequently?
A l very seldom ever leave my Of.
hce except to 60 to dinner OF on BUS
mess.
@ Your bank doas some collecting
for creditors Of the dispensary?
A. I think 80.
@. Don't the l'quar drum mers 90
to your bank there or you have a
good deal OF correspondence OF things
Of that sort with them?
A. Yes, sir; liquor drummers come
around when they want checks cast
ed
. Have any OF them ever stated
thai they paid any graft TO any Of
these dispensary Officials?
a. l have no recollection Of any
thing OF that kind.
@ LsJ's see if you can't remember?
a. Il would not be fair for me in
king conversation to make re-
mark that would reflect upon any
body, and I never heard anybody say
in seriousness that they paid rebates.
@ Tell US the Jkes.
a. I cannot remember the jokes.
It has been four or FIVE years ago.
y What was the nature OF those
jok;s?
A. I would not be able to testify
as to JOKES in remarks made. I have
never heard auy remarks refsctiup