The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-29
MAJOR BLACK AND
-. MR. ]. F. LYON
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
RECEIVES WARNINGS. =
Full Account of Lyon-Black Affair |;
Develops That Committee Has
Been Repeatedly Threat
ened. Appeal to the
Governor.

Columbia.
Things are getting red hot about
the diSpensary investigating commit
tee. The sub committee, Mcssrs.
Lyon and Christensen, today felt it
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. a member of the
present board Of control. this morn
ing is credited by Mr.. Lyon with hav-
ing used very violent language to-
wards him and then rounding off
things by tcllin" him that he clad
q notion then and there TO shoot and
blow him up on the spot.' Foru-
natcly for Mr.. Lyon, Major Black
and all concerned. there was no pis-
t"l practice. because good citizens are
too hard to get and there is no need
to break into the harmony of things.
Major Black WAS apparently pro-
vokcd by Il letter which he had got
ten from his former home, in which
it was evidently suggested that Mr..
Lyon was there working up tcSti-
muny. Ma. nr Black stated that he
resented any rrying into his personal
affairs.
Mr. Lyon. of the committee, stated
that he did 90 to Waltcrboro and
that the purpose of his visit there
was /" inquire into rumnr that he
had heard. which was to the effect
that Major Black and II. ii. Evans
had bribcd Il member of the general
assembly. living at Waltcrhur,.. and
it was on this work that he had gone
to Waltcrboro.
Mr.. Lyon did not 90 into details
with regard to the result of his in
vestigation on this particular qucs-
tion.
The committee evidently wished
the situation understood by the peo-
pie of the state and then they asked
Governor Hayward to take such nc
tion rs he thought best.
When the statements were heard
Chairman Hay made suggestion
about removal. The committee went
into executive session and ii is m-
dcrStood that at first such Il suggcs-
tion WAS made in committee that the
governor be asked tu remove Major
Black for his demonstration. II was
then thought in committee that it
might be diScuurtrouS to suggest to
the governor what he should OF
should not do and some of the com
mittcc even thought it going bit
far in suggesting that the governor
had the right Of removal.
This incident was the most strill-
ing and important of the session.
When the board met this morning,
Fraser Lyon arose and with one hand
on the large table in front of him,
and with the utmost dclibcration
and almncSs. made this statement:
g! mt to say this: that | do not
know ..w the committee feels about
thing of this sort, but rs far rs
am individually concerned, | shall
continue to investigate Mr. Black
and Mr.. Evans, and anybody else
who is on there, and if it is ncccs'
sary to be blown up in this matter
Mr.. Black or somebody will have il
to do
The chairman, Senator Hay, said
els there anything you suggest? Il
seems to me that it might be callc(
to the attention of the governor, a.
he is member Of the state boart
of control and he (thc govcriur) ha'
a right to remove him from Office"
Mr.. Lyon--"This thing has becl
going on for some time. [ did no
know that it had taken such a violen
shape, but it has been reported t.
Senator Christensen that witnessc
who testified that any one had re
ceived graft or had stolen anything
would be shot. T was warned by .
gentleman in Wright's Hotel, vow
ing vengeance against Senator Chris
tensen.'
Mr.. Christensen-"Mr Chairman
I 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 il
view Of the elimination that ha
been reached today, something ough
to be done. AS long as your sub
committee had to deal with sub-dis
,,aneo,,e 1ua had no trOnble Of that