The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-05-30

/. The chairman (Senator Hay) is
there any action you suggest? It
seems to me that it might be called to
the attention of the governor as Major
Black is a member of the State board
of control and he (the governor) has
right to remove him from Office
Mr.. Lyon: This thing has been go
ing on for some time. did not know
that it had taken such violent shape,
but it has been reported to Senator
Christensen that witnesses who test1>
fed. that any one had received graft
or had stolen anything would be shot.
I was informed By gentlemen in
Wright's Hotel that Mr.. Black was in
Wright's Hotel vowings Vengeance
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 a long
time and it strikes me that in view of
the elimination that has been reached
today something ought to be done.
Gas long as your subcommittee had
to deal with sub-dispensers we had no
trouble of that kind. They took the
matter very philosophically. But just
as soon as we approached the higher
officials we Immediately began to real
ize that great pressure of various
kinds had been brought TO bear, and
witnesses had been made to under
stand that violence would be done
them if they testified. The former
chairman of the \ board, Mr.. H. H.
Evans, came to me in Wright's Hotel
last winter and told me that if Mr..
Klingenberg, who was assisting US in
our investigating, should ask cues
tions of what Mr.. Evans considered
his private affairs he would shoot him
on sight, and he came to give him the
warning. I did not pay much atten-
ton to it at the time, but just before
the investigation in the Supreme Court
room Mr.. Evans called me off and re-
minded me that he had made these
threats and that he wished it under
stood that he meant exactly what he
had said. Furthermore, he said that
if any witness got on the stand and
said that he, Mr.. Evans, got any mon
ey or graft that he would settle with
such a person on the stand.
..Now various matters along this line
have been reported to me for months,
but you know the subcommittee has
not deemed it wise to bring the matter
to the attention of the committee and
the public
The committee retired to go into ex-
ecutive session and, after remaining
outside for some time, returned to the
main hall.
Mr.. CASTOR stated that the final de-
cision in the matter rested with the
Governor, and that he, and he alone,
could act in the premises. Mr.. Castor
then read the following resolutions.
which had been adopted by the COM
mittee as fitting the situation:
To His Excellency, D. C. Heyward,
Governor, Columbia, S. C.-Dear Sir:
The committee appointed to investi-
gate the affairs of the State dispensa-
ry would respectfully call to your at
tention the following testimony taken
before the committee:
(Here is inserted the testimony al
ready given above.)
The committee would request that
you investigate this matter and take
such action as may appear to you to
be proper, the control Of the directors
of the dispensary, with the absolute
power of removal Of such officers, be-
ing in your hands.
(Signed)
All Of the papers will be ready to be
turned over to Governor Hayward
upon his return to the city. He is
now on his plantation, in Colleton
county, and will no doubt take the
matter up as soon as it is formally
presented to him.
The request for action by the inves-
tigating committee is based on Section
556, Paragraph AS, Of the Code,
which reads in part: 'The term Of
office of the members Of said board
shall be for two years, unless sooner
removed by the Governor" etc. etc.
This statute does not state what shall
be the cause nor is it very exact or
complete.
Columbia, May 36.--The calm has
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