The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-13

His BAD Language ana says nc 1n-
tended No Contemplate, A. A.
Bristow of Greenyille Testides to
Case of Graft, but Gives No Names
or Dates.
Columbia, June 5.-The work Of the
dispensary Investigating committee
this morning was brief, but full Of in
terest. 1t may be divided into three
sections--the rounding off Of Mr.. VIM.
G. Childs; the orthodox position OF
the committee as to what it would
permit in the way of evidence, and
finally the sensational evidence Of Mr..
A. A. Bristow, a prominent citizen OF
Greenville, in which he related that a
LIQUOR man told him that he had paid
$4,000 in cash to get an orderifo $o1'-
600 from the State dispensary.
Unfortunately no names, no dates
and even the name Of the liquor house
alleged to have paid the money was
not given.
In nutshell Mr.. Bristow testified
that Abe Hamburger, Of Baltimore,
told him that he paid $4,000 to get a
LIQUOR order for $4,000 from the
State dispensary. The crux is that the
money is alleged to have been paid, no
teli-tale checks or express records.
Now the disbensary's friends already
say that no. names, no dates, no cor
roboration is given, and that Ham
burger is sore because he received only
the one order. Be that as it may, he
told Mr.. Bristow, a high toned citizen
Of Greenville, merchant Of means,
damning story. Why is Mr.. Ham
burger not brought before the commit
tee to tell his story and to get names?
He is not amendable to the orders OF
the committee, being a NONRESIDENT
and he is afraid to come. That is the
whole situation. He told his story to
MT. Bristow and again to Mr.. Jesse r.
Smith, of Greenville. The testimony
was simply presented by Mr.. Bristow'
and Mr.. Lyon did not undertake to
press it any deeper than he saw Il
went of its own accord.
It is very interesting to watch MI.
Fraser Lyon in his uphill work, strug-
Cling inch by inch to gain evidence,
and to get evidence out Of the witness
es. The committee, it is to be remem-
bered, has been unable to get big
LIQUOR dealers to appear before the
committee, so it is said. and this fail
ure appears to be exciting comment.
The liquor firms are represented by
eminent counsel, but the committee
would like to see the drummers and
the heads Of the firms.
Mr.. Lyons right bower was detained
today and was not p: esent to lend MIN
that moral encouragement he needs.
Mr.. Childs today made his return te
the committee on the contempt writ
No one even thought he meant any
disrespect. He simply got mad arc
lost his temper, and, like a man, own
ed up and apologized. Mr.. Chi:os
however, persisted in his refusal &c
repeat rumors and jokes, and the com
nittee decided not to force the issue
with Mr.. Childs, and there the matter
ended. Mr.. Childs today was very en-
phatic and positive to say three things
First, that he would never and hae
never paid, directly or indirectly, fol
the freight business Of the dispensary
for the business enjoyed by the Colum'
bia. Newberry and Laurens railroad, O.
which he is president. Second, tha'
he never owned a share Of stock II
the Richland Distilling company, ane
that he never, directly or indirectly
held in trust or Tor others a share o.
stock in the Carolina Glass company
and finally that he would never re
peat what he regarded as idle rumor
or jokes about dispensary affairs.
During Mr.. Childs's testimony III
candidiy stated that Mr.. il. H. Evan
has held an annual pass over the Co
lumbia, Newberry and Laurens rail
road for the past 16 years, and dur
ing all these years Mr.. Evans has beer
engaged as counsel for that railroad
Columbia, June There wa
brought out before the dispensar,
investige ung committee yesterda,
testimony that did not come from
..sore head it was not a statemen
made in 'joking way" and it wa
not hearsay. The witness was MI
| Lewis W. Parker, president Of tn
Olympia, CRANKY and Richland cottol
ILL. -, Co1,,uhia treasurer of tn