Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-13
LYONS REPLY TO TILLMAN.
Investigator Makes High Toned State
nent of Situation.

Investi gator Makes High Toned State
ment of Situation.
Mr.. Fraser Lyon on last Tuesday gave
out the following card In reply to the
attack made on him by Senator TILL
man:
Not having been present at the
meeting at the State House last night
it was impossible for me to know
just what remarks had been made
by Senator Tillman in regard to my
self, but assuming the report in the
morning papers to be correct, l will
say that it was quite flattering to
know the senator has approved Of
every position l, as one Of the MI
nority members Of the committee,
have taken. / am glad to feel that
although denouncing me, Senator
Tillman practically approved of all
my work and efforts on the inves-
tigating committee, IL not directly
then indirectly.
He wanted to know why we did
not examine the witnesses brought
here from Newberry in February.
The answer he should know. Had
my vote been sufficient the commit
tee would have insisted on the evil
dence from the witnesses being made
part Of our records. He wanted to
know why the committee did not ask
Mr.. L. w. Parker who Lanahan's po-
litical agent was last year. Senator
Tillman should have known by the
reports published that l was not re-
sponsible for this failure. I did ask
those questions. The majority of the
committee voted that Mr.. Parker
should not answer.
Senator Tillman sustained my posi-
ton In those contentious as we'll as the
matter Of payment of 100000 worth
of claims. He asked why was not the
manager Of the Richland Distillery
put on the stand to corroborate the
evidence of C. c. Davis; that II. IL.
Evans had told of Wilson and himself
climbing on a table to watch through
transom to see rebates paid to 9TH
ers. The reason is that Briggs Wilson
ct that time manager of the distillery,
had moved to Georgia, and we have
not been able to get information
from him. That, Senator Tillman, Is
one Of the reasons why he was never
put on the stand.
about the piano incident. The
Il nj 1nfnnffUn
report all he could find relative to all
dispensary affairs. The detective
| formally and in writing reported 70
the subcommittee that the Mill Creek
Distilling company had given to Gov
ernor Tillman a piano. 1t was the
duty Of the committee, as l saw 1t, to
| inquire into such a report. Mr.
Hayes was seen and failed to confirm
the report submitted to the committee
After inquiry by committee failing to
secure any creditable evidence, the
piano incident was dropped and for
gotten, especially as Mr.. M. A. Ma
lone had previously fully explained
| the purchase Of a piano In 1891. IL
was never charged or stated by me
that Governor Tillman had gotten q
piano from a whisky house, but there
was a rumor to that effect the official
records Of the subcommittee will
show. That was all that was ever
said about the piano. Even Senator
Tilman insisted upon full investiga-
| tlon Of every act connected with the
dispensary, and I yet fail to see the
harm at the failure to find corrobor-
alton of the rumor that piano had
been sent him by the Mill Creek Dis
tilling company.
"It would be humiliating to me to
know that at public meeting l had
been rightfully accused OF starting 9
falsehood; but knowing that / have
always stated the truth, and that Sen
ator Tillman cannot substantiate his
charge in this respect-he not even
attempting to do so-the shaft which
he has intended to be deadly to me
will fall harmlessly at my side."
"I cannot believe that the justice
loving people of South Carolina would
aid Senator Tillman In the accom-.
plishment of his purpose TO defea'
me. To the people Of South Carolina
l will say that 1t Is my purpose To
continue in the course I have hereto.
fore pursued and will not be moved
by personal attack, nor will 1 bandy
| abusive epithets with any one.
IT regret that Senator Tillman feels
personally aggrieved on account Of his
being Investigated, but that has moi
been an uncommon happening to us In
our work However, Senator Tillmar
Is the only one known to me seeking
revenge on account Of 1t. Senator
Tillman might have inquired what the
committee had found in tracking down
this one Of the many rumors, and
gladly would have told him the reason
Of our inquiry, but he may have pre-
ferred to fondle the imaginary grieV-
ance to have hook on which to hang
abuse instead of argument; or Is ne
really mad because 1 was doing my
duty to the people Of the state col
lecting evidence Of the inherent cor
ruption of the dispensary system
which he Is working so hard to save
Had 1 agreed to whitewash the dis
| pensary system would such TRADE
have been directed against me, I Won
der?
"(Signed.) j. FRASER LYON.
Columbia, July 10, 1906"