Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-10
LYON SAYS IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
What the Attorney General Thinks Of
Judae Pritchard's Action.


On being shown an Associate Press
dispatch announcing the acceptance by
Joseph A. Mccullough of Judge
Plftchard's appointment as receiver for
the dispensary. Attorney General Lyon,
who was in Augusta at the time, said:
Il regret exceedingly that there Is
person in the state cf South Carolina
who would accept an appointment as
receiver at the hands Of Judge Prit-
chard." Then taking up the general
situation Mr.. Lyon said: $50 far as
Judge Pritchard undertaking to en-
join any one from bringing suits or
to in any way interfere with the fund
involved is concerned l will state that
I instituted proceedings in the supreme
court of South Carolina for the pur-
pose of compelling the commission tn
disregard Judge Pritchard's injunc-
ton and to pay into the state treasury
for the use Of the attorney general s
office the sum of $4,000 which was
appropriated for the purpose of GER
tain criminal proceedings and prose-
cutions of persons connected with the
late dispensary.
Judge Pritchard's order will most
certainly be disregarded by me IL 1t
undertakes to in any wise restrain or
direct me in this or any other pro-
ceedings 1 may deem it advisable to
institute.
Il regard the entire proceeding as
without precedent and as a most out
rageous disregard Of the rights Of the
state of South Carolina. 1t is found
ed upon no sound authority. His
conduct in appointing receivers on
the day before the motion for the ap-
Ipointment of receivers was to be heard
in accordance with the formal order
which he passed was most wilful
disregard Of the rights OF the state,
and we were thereby denied our day
in court.
"As to his criticisms, in his former
decree, of my bringing the mandamus
proceedings in the supreme court OF
South Carolina to compel the COM
mission to disregard his injunction
and pay into the state treasury the
appropriations made for the prosecu-
,tion Of the criminals; the proceeding
in the supreme court was In accord
ance with the practice and law In
South Carolina, and II this had not
been 80 the court would have refused
to assemble and hear the same.
1.-The result of this proceeding can
not be foretold. 1t would, no doubt,
be as useless to explain the purpose
|'of this proceeding to him as it was to
explain the law and the facts In the
case in which he has assumed juris-
diction. I am most careful as to the
opinion the learned judge may enter
tain with regard to this proceeding.
1t is not surprising that he regards any
move on the part of the state to pro-
tect her rights against those who
would despoil her as unwarranted.
His conduct has been most unseen
ly and the state of South Carolina
must look to the United States su-
preme court for the preservation OF
it's sovereign powers.
"I am extremely gratlfied to know
that Messrs. Murray, Patton and Nc
Sween, members of the state dispen-
sary commission, have refused to ac-
cept the receivership offered them,
and that their patriotism canrot be
shaken by the hope Of any reward.
"I believe we will finally be success
full in the defence Of the state, but
whatever the result we will defend
her to the last extremity Of the law.
Knowing the righteousness Of our
cause. believe we will succeed"
Columbia. s. c., March S.-When
Attorney General Lyon was shown
the press dispatches as to the threat
ened attempt TO nave HlIu dlldShS"
for contempt on account Of the stric-
lures of Judge Pritchard, contained
in the interview given out by him In
Augusta, Ca, last night, he said:
"It is not surprising that these har-
pies referring to the liquor lawyers)
should wish to have me attached for
contempt. This wall is probably
caused, not from any disregard which
NAV have been shown the learned
Judge, but more probably from the
prospect of being kept for long while
from plundering and feasttng upon
the revenues Of South Carolina. The
attorneys fees and costs OF the var
ions satellites of the court may posi-
bly be $4,000, or more. 1t Is, there
fore. not hard to understand the cause
of the wall nor their unseemly haste
to have the court take action with the
manifest purpose Of circumventing
the governor when he advised the
legislature to act and protect the rev.
enues and autonomy of the state.
"I repeat again that l will use every
lawful means to save the state from
the possibility Of such plundering and
will proceed in the courts Of the state
to checkmate the liquor houses that
have fed upon the state whenever II
NAV be proper to do so, any orders OF
the United States circuit court to the
contrary Notwithstanding"