Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-04
STATEMENT FROM STEVENSON.
Attorney of Board Tells of the Asheville
Incident.
Columbia State, Saturday


Columbia State. Saturday.
Mr. w. F. Stevenson, general coun-
sci for the dispensary commission, re-
turned from Asheville yesterday and
was asked about the excitement in
Judge Pritchard's court. With refer
ence to the report Of the eXcoriation
he gave George B. Lester, an attorney
representing Fleischmann & Co., Mr..
Stevenson said that in his remarks he
made no reflection upon the state
senate, but he had spoken very plain
ly and truthfully of senators who as
lawyers had claims Of whisky houses.
1t was Of these he had spoken. He
had heard criticism Of his remarks,
but he wishes to go on record as say
ing that he has no retraction to make
and that his remarks should not ap-
ply to the whole senate or its action.
At the time that he had spoken he
had not heard anything definite,
merely that the senate had voted
down the resolution constituting the
act creating the commission. Mr..
Mordecai had taunted the attorneys
for the state with the declaration that
the senate had declined to endorse
the commission and his reference to
the senate was not voluntary, but was
provoked by this thrust. Further
more the whole matter was injected
by the other side and the press ac-
counts had been deficient in that they
had failed to state this and had at
trlbuted the Interpolation Of this mat
ter to Mr.. Lyon.
will stand by what he has said; fur
thermore that he has seen evidences
of regular whisky lobby being or
ganized here as in the days Of high
links" and when he gets conclusive
proof he proposes to make 1t known.
Mr.. Stevenson gave out the follow
ing written statement:
"The report in the State today Is
incorrect as to one matter, to wilt:
The Otis resolution constituting the
act under which the commission Is
proceeding and the work Of the COM
mission. This matter was brought up
by the attorney for Fleischmann and
not by US.
ut originated as follows: Mr.. Bar
nard stated that they would ask to
amend their bill to attack as Invalid
an act passed by the legislature on
the 28th. Mr.. Lyon stated that no
such act had been passed. Barnard
then asked what had been done and
Mr.. Lyon stated that a concurrent
resolution had been passed by the
house and was pending In the senate
and would be likely passed in the
senate that day.
This brought the matter before
the court on the initiative of the other
attorneys on the morning OF the 3Otn.
When Mr.. Mordecai was making his
argument, which argument rejected
on the fairness Of the commission as
a court, he adverted to the fact that
the senate had rejected the resolution
# confidence by a vote Of 10 to IL,
the inference being clear that 1t was
reflection on the commission or vote
of a want Of confidence. Acting on in
formation which had come over the
phone, I stated: L know that there Is
q considerably larger number or at
torneys in the senate of South Carroll
ma who represent claims against the
dispensary and represent officials un-
der indictment than the majority
against the measure, and I under
stand some Of them were opposing
the measure vigorously
1.-THE majority, they stated, was
majority Of one and the inference
that the commission was warped In
its Judgment by being also an inves-
tigating committee, elected my state
ment that enough members OF the
senate were possibly also warped In
their judgment by the circumstances
of their association to have turned
the tide in the vote. In fairness to
Mr.. Mordecai I will say that he dis
claimed any reflection on the commits
sion personally, but claimed In argu-
ment that the fact that they were an
inauisitorial body and had sworn out
a large number Of warrants and were
constantly advised by the prosecuting
attorney, rendered them unsuitable
r. sit in Judgment and render unbias-
ed DEGREES as to the claims, and l,
in like manner, disclaimed any re-
Election on the motives Of the senator's
thus representing clients whose rights
were antagonistic to the cause of the
commission, but applied the same In
inference that their judgment would
be warped"
Most of the senators in that cate
CORY were personal friends and l
would be the last to impugn their
motives and when asked If did so
am correctly reported as saying NO.
In justice to all parties 1t Is proper to
state the circumstances Of the COLO
guy that no wrong Inference may be
drawn. w. F. Stevenson"