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

Columbia, May 26.-When the dis
pensary investigating committee 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:
.Mr. Chairman, there has matter
come up this morning that deem it
my duty. though unpleasant to call to
the attention of this committee. I also
will state that the part of It that af-
fects me personally do not consider,
but that part Of it that affects the well
fare of our committee I do consider,
and I deem it important to the final
particular determination of our inves-
tigation that it be brought forward TO
the attention of this committee.
.'This morning in coming from my
room, which is above the hotel, over
the store of Giradeau & Marshall,
was stopped by Mr.. Solomon, who is
the agen of the Big Creek Distilling
Company, of Savannah, Ga. He was
talking to me /about sonle accounts
which the committee has held up. We
have had some conversation about this
matter before and he renewed the con-
versation there and wished me to give
him some definite information about
when we could reach it.
GAS I was standing .here talking to
him Mr.. Black of the dispensary board
of directors appeared before me.
really could not state from what di-
rection he came. I could not say
whether from the front Or rear. I was
intent with my conversation With Mr..
Solomon. Mr. Blacks face showed de-
cided anger and he used some very in
sulting language towards HE. He said
that he understood that l had been
spying out on hinn-on his private life
and things of that kind, and that it
was his purpose to kill ne on the spot.
tsI do not care to use a.:y of the par
ticular language he used OH that occa-
sion, but he said that he had notion
then and there to shoot me and blow
me up on the spot-to use his express
sion. There was in his company a per-
son that I do not know to have seen
before. My recollection is that there
was a person in his company with
blue suit of clothes, red naustache and
straw hat. While he was making his
threats against me and daring me to
investigate his affairs he also used
very violent language against Senator
Christensen, which I suppose was in
the nature of a rebuke 20 me for at
tending such person about the
streets.
"I remarked that there were three
Of them there; that did not care to
discuss the matter with them; that l
was investigating the dispensary and
expected to continue to do so: He was
so impetuous, though, that I scarcely
had an opportunity Of putting in
word, and, believing that he intended
to make an attack on me and in put
ting his hands about his person that
he intended to do me violence. I
turned and walked back to my room
and he used some very unpleasant
epithets towards me and told me that
I might go and arm myself.
81 returned to my room and shortly
afterwards returned to Wright's Hotel
AS I passed the Columbia Hotel I did
not see Mr.. Black or the gentleman
with him. I presume, Mr.. Chairman,
that Mr.. Black exhibited, or attempted
to exhibit, letter from Manning,
which I understood was from Mr..
Blacks former home-Walterboro it
was. found it necessary to go to
Walterboro few days since for the
reason that I had heard-and I can
recognize the difficulties that it is like
ly to place us in-I heard that Mr..
Black and Mr.. H. H. Evans had been
parties to bribing a member Of the
General Assembly who lives in the
town Of WATERFORD. I 90 not know
the facts in that case. I had some in
formation along that line and I went
there to get some additional informa-
ton in regard to the matter. That
was the object of my visit to Walter
boro, and I presume that Mr.. Black
has been informed by those Of whom
1 enquired thee.e of the purpose Of my
visit.
'I wish to say this: That I did go
to Walterboro for the purpose Of in
vestigating Mr.. Black and Mr. H. H.
Evans and this member of the General
Assembly, whose name I do not care