Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-29
THREATENED TO KILL LYON
Sensational Turn In DISpenSafy In
VeStigatiOn.
MAJOR JOHN BLACK IS HOMICIDAL.

Committee Gets Close After a Rumor
OF Alleged Bribery, and Parties at
Interest Seek to Prevent Further
Inquiry, Resort to Intimidation-The
Matter Is Laid Before the Governor.
From the Greenville News of Saturday.
COLUMBIA May 25.-Things are get
ting red hot about the dispensary in
vestigation committee. The sub-com-
mittee, Messrs Lyon and Christensen,
today felt 1t their duty to tell the
committee and the world of the threats
that had been made against their lives
and the lives of others connected with
this investigation.
Major John Black, member Of the
present board Of control, this morning
Is credited by Mr.. Lyon with having
used very violent language towards
him and then rounding off things by
telling him that he Had a notion
then and there to shoot and blow him
up on the spot" Fortunately for Mr..
Lyon, Major Black and all concerned,
there was no pistol practice. because
good citizens are too hard to get and
there is no need to break into the har-
mony Of things.
| Major Black was apparently provok-
ed by a letter which he had gotten
from his former home, in which 1t was
Fevidently suggested that Mr.. Lyon was
there working up testimony. Major
Black stated that he resented any pry-
ing into his personal affairs.
Mr.. Lyon, of the committee, stated
that he did go to Walterboro. and that
the purpose Of his visit there was to
enquire into a rumor that he had
heard, which was to the effect that
Major Back and Mr. H. H. Evans had
bribed member Of the general assem-
bly,. living at Walterboro, and it was
on this work that he had gone to Wal
terboro.
Mr.. Lyon did not go into details with
regard to the result of his investiga-
tion on this particular question.
The committee evidently wished the
situation understood by the people Of
the state and then they asked Govern
OF Hayward to take such action as he
thought best.
When the statements were heard
Chairman Hay made a suggestion
about removal. The committee went
into executive session and 1t is un-
derstood that at first such a suggestion
was made In committee, that the gov
ernor be asked to remove Major Black
for his demonstration. 1t was then
thought in committee that II might be
discourteous to suggest to the gov
ernor what he should or should not do
and some of the committee even
thought 1t going a bit far In suggest
ing that the governor had the right Of
| removal.
This incident was the most striking
and important Of the session.
When the board met this morning
Mr.. Fraser Lyon arose and with one
hand on the large table in front Of
| him, and with the utmost deliberation
and calmness made this statement:
81 want to say this; that I do not
know how the committee feels about a
thing Of this sort, but as far as I am
| individually concerned, I shall continue
to investigate Mr.. Black and Mr..
Evans. and anybody else who is on
there, and If It is necessary to be blown
up in this matter, Mr. Black or some
body will have 1t to do"
The chairman, Senator Hay, said:
rs there anything you suggest? 1t
seems to me that it might be called to
the attention of the governor, as he is
member of the state board Of control
and he (the governor) has a right to
remove him from Office"
Mr.. Lyon-"This thing has been go
| ing on for some time. l did not know
that 1t had taken such violent shape.
but it has been reported to Senator
| Christensen that witnesses who testi-
fed that any one had received graft
or had stolen anything would be shot.
I was warned by a gentleman in
Wright's hotel that Mr.. Black was In
| Wright's hotel, vowing vengeance
against Senator Christensen"
Mr.. Christensen-"Mr. Chairman,
regret very much to have to take any
notice of the matter Of threats, but
they have been going on for long
| time, and it strikes me that in view Of
the elimination that has been reached
today. something ought to be done. AS
long as your sub committee had to
deal with sub dispensers we had no
trouble of that kind. They took the
matter very philosophically, but just as
fcials, we Immediately began to real
lie that great pressure Of various kinds
had been brought to bear and witnesses
had been made to understand that vio-
lence would be done them II they tes-
titled. The former chairman Of the
board, Mr.. H. H. Evans came to me
in Wright's hotel last winter, and told
me that II Mr.. Klingenberg, who was
assisting us in investigating, should
ask questions Of what Mr.. Evans con-
sidered his private affairs. he would
shoot him on sight, and he came to
give the warning. l did not pay much
attention to 1t at the time, but just
before the investigation in the supreme
court room, Mr.. Evans called me of
and reminded me that he made these
threats and that he wished 1t under
stood that If any witnesses got on the
stand and said that he (Mr. Evans) had
got any money or graft, that he would
settle with such person on the stand.
Now, various matters along this
line have been reported to me for
months, but you know the sub-com-
mittee has not deemed it wise to bring
the matter to the attention Of the COM
mittee and the public"
Mr.. Lyon-"Mr. Chairman, there has
matter come up this morning that
deemed my duty, though unpleasant
to call to the attention Of this commit
tee. / also will state that the part or
it that affects me personally l do NOT
consider, but that part Of 1t that af-
| factad tho u,alfara 0f our committee,