The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-08
REBATES GIVEN DIsPENsARY.
Abe Hamburger So Stated to Mr.. A.
A. Bristow Does not Remember
Positively Name of Firm.
The State.

1nc Olale.
1t may never be possible in the
course of human events to prove that
rebates were ever paid by whiskey
houses to dispensary officials. 1t
may never be possible under the rules
of evidence guarded jealously by a
large retinuc of lawyers and passed
upon in Judgment by committee
which is accustomed to the strictest
adherence to the technical in rules
of evidence.
But while it may never be possible
to prove the fact, there are eases of
circumStantial evidence which will
make the general public arrive at
such conclusion despite the diff
Guilty presented by legal technicali-
ties.
One of the most significant pieces
of evidence yet produced before the
Investigating committee was the teS-
timony yesterday of Mr.. \. \. Bris-
tow of Greenville, president of the
board of trade of that city and a
business man who is well known in
the state. Without any fuss or
feathers he testified on the stand
yesterday that liquor drummer
named Abe Hamburger had told Mr.
Bristow on two different occasions
that he, Hamburger. had paid $4,000
in rebates to get an order of $685.
600 from the dispensary. Further
more Hamberger'S statement carries
out the evidence produced last week
to show that the shibbolcth of
"chemically pure" is all fake.
Hamburger told Mr.. Bristow once.
and later in the presence of wit
ness. that the shipment of liquor
had to be adulterated so that the
house would not lose its commissions
in paying the rebate. The house had
used adultcrants so freely in the
first shipment that they feared that
the lot would be returned t" them.
but they received Il check for So
600 in payment thereof and made
the second shipment 81 mean con-
cuctirn lh?t the liquor drummer
himself expressed curi">itv to know
how in the world people could drink
il.
Mr.. Bri>tow said that WAS the only
sale the house made t" the diSprn-
sary. Ten per cent. rebates is pref
ty heavy. In order that the people
Of 0,n - l,n "a, >f nn
difficulty which the subcommittee
has experienced in getting informa-
tion. the entire examination Of Mr..
BriStow is given from the notes of
the clerk of the committee.
Mr.. \. \. BriStow being examined
by Mr.. Lyon: Now. Mr.. Chairman.
want t" notify the committee before
this witness teStificS that the testi-
m"ny that he has is in the nature of
a confession of a member of the lipu-
or house in regard tn "ivin" rebates.
Now. that Is the proposition that is
here and as | understand ii that is
all there is in it. The committee. of
course. can rule upon the relevancy
of testimony Of that kind--the con-
feSSicn of that kind.
Mr.. Fraser: Was he dealing with
the dispensary?
Mr.. Lvrn: As I understand this
party was also dealing with the dis
penSary.
Mr.. Fraser: Does he know the
name of the man 2
Mr. Lyon: He certainly does.
Mr.. CASTOR: think if the state
ment was made to this man by the
man himself who confessed to be
party to the transaction it would
be competent.
Mr.. Lyon: In order that we may
not run amuck again. was it n joke,
Mr.. Rristow?
Witness: Do not think so.
Q-Iou do not think so. Now, Mr..
Bristow. will You state whether YOU
ever had n conversation with n man
interested in liquor house that was
selling the diSpensary in which he
made any statement in regard to
giving rebates or anything of that
sort to the dispensary down here?
A-Eou want me just to make the
statements9
Q-Yes, make the statement You
gave here this morning.
Al shall be glad to tell you all
know about it. a Mr.. Abe Ham
berger of Baltimore, who was con-
nected with whiskey house, whom