The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-02-01
LIQUOR PURCHASES
MADE ILLEGALLY
DIRECTOR BLACK FIGURES
LARGELY.
Made Purchase Amounting to $780,
1000 in Manner Not Laid Down
- in the Rules and Regulations

Columbia State.
In the senate Monday, Mr.. Chris
tensen presented the report of the
Legislative investigating committee
appointed to inquire into financial
conditions at the state dispensary.
The report came unexpectedly as
Capt. j. G. Richards, a member of
the committee, WIS out of the city
yesterday, but he returned at o
o'clock Monday night.
The evidence is too long to be print
ed i'll full, but Senator Christensen
permitted the newspapers to have ad-
vance proof sheets and brief ab-
stract of the testimony along lines
suggested by himself is given in The
State. The deductions made by the
committee are printed in full.
No witnesses were examined except
officers and officials of the state dis
pcnsary. Capt. John Black could not
be examined as he is very i'll at Hot
Springs, Ark. The testimony begins
with Commissioner Tatum' : letter to
dispensers and gives replies from 60
out of los, who condemn the practice
or the several boards in projecting
with new brands-which eventually
become hard stock.
The board several times acuuicsccd
in the commissioner request to can
eel orders, but in the last shuttle of
the cards he appears to have got lost,
for the stuff began to pour in by the
carload before he knew that the big
orders had been placed.
The report confirms Mr.. Tatum's
report that whiskey was bought ire
gnlarly and further shows up trans
action in which Maj. Black in person
bought $125,000 worth of whiskey.
He was authorized to make arrange
ments for a certain grade Of whiskey
but the legal methods Of purchase do
not appear to have been complied
with. There is also sensational testi-
mony in the evidence of the new rect
ifier and blender, Norfolk, who swore
that some of the goods for which
fancy prices had been paid are Of no
substantial value.
Following is the report Of the CON-
mittce:
To the General Assembly of the State
of South Carolina:
In pursuance of the concurrent
resolution passed by your honorable
body on January Is, 1907, for the in-
vestigation of the affairs Of the state
dispcnsary, you committee hey leave
That you committee met and or
ganizcd by the election Of the Hon.
Niels Christensen as chairman and
the Hon. William N. Gray.lon to con-
luct the examination of the wines
ses, and the Hon. T.. NJ. Rucler as
secretary. Mr.. II. II. Glaze was ap-
pointed stcnographcr for the commit
tee.
Owing to the limited time allowed
the committee to report, we have not
attempted to go into any general in
vestigation Of the financial status Of
the dispensary, but have rather con-
fined our attention to the manage
ment Of the affairs Of the state dis
pensary. We deem it just to say that
no obstacles were thrown in our way
by the officers and employees Of the in
stitution, but they testified fully and
freely as to all matters inquired
about. We examined no one but Of
ficers and employees. We have had
all the testimony taken in the investi-
cation printed for the use Of the
members Of the general assembly and
transmit the same herewith. We have
refrained from making recommended
tions,preferring to leave it to your
honorable body to say what action
you desire to take on our report,
without any suggestion from your
committee, contcnting ourselves SIM
ply with the findings Of fact which
we think the evidence demands.
We find as matters Of fact:
!. That the state dispensary is
ovcrstockcd, and that there was OH
hand in the state dispcnsary on Jall-
ary Is, 1907, about 100000 worth Of
stock.
2. That 100000 worth Of stock IL