The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-21
BIG SENSATION
Created in Columbia by the Told
Dispensary Commission.
WHAT CAUSED 1T ALL.

The Letter and Proposed Agreement
| That Raised the Hornets Nest
Names of Prominent Charleston
and Columbia Gentlemen Figure
in the Case.-Thcy All Deny They
They Are Guilty.
The commission appointed to wind
up the old State Dispensary, sitting
as court of inquiry, held special
meeting on last Wednesday for the
purpose of making an investigation
of certain letter purporting to be
signed by W. D. Roy, prominent
liquor manufacturer of Louisville,
KY, and addressed to various cred
itors of the State dispensary. The
letter, which is published in full
herewith, fell into the hands of Hon.
w. P. Stevenson, attorney for the
commission, and he advised the COM
mission that it was a matter which
demanded immediate consideration
at their hands. The matter created
a sensation as the names of several
prominent gentlemen were connect
ed with it. The letter is as follows:
Letter Roy Wrote.
Columbia, S. c., Dec. 81, 1907.
Gentlemen: At meeting of the
creditors of the South Carolina State
dispensary, held at Cincinnati Dec
ember 8, a committee was appointed
for the purpose of securing set
tlement, or at least to arrive at a
tentative basis of settlement with the
commission in charge. For several
weeks prior to this meeting had
been here aud about effected ar
rangements which, if cooperation
of creditors could be obtained, SEEM
ed to me reasonably promising of
| favorable results. so notified sew
eral of the creditors, who presented
my proposition at the meeting, and
from the kilograms sent me sup
posed it had been adopted and that
the committee had been appointed
to carry it out. I believe that quite
number at the meeting were of
the same impression and to these
wish to say that not shadow of
authority was given to me to act in
any capacity whatever. The COM
mittee was represented here by Mr..
Geo. B.. Lester, a member Of it, and
general counsel for Messrs Fleisch-
man & Co., who made Charleston
his headquarters when he first reach
the State. I met him there, and
whilst somewhat disappointed at
finding no power to act delegated to
me or my associates, determined not
to let this abridge my efforts to get
our money. I went over my plans
with him and gave him the names of
gentlemen associated with me, also a
letter endorsing these gentlemen
from Gov. DC. Hayward and E. W.
Robertson, in whose bank about half
of the dispensary money is deposit
ed. Mr.. Lester seemed much i'm
pressed, both with the plans and the
eminent responsibility, financially
and otherwise, Of the members of my
organization, several Of the latter be-
ing officials or co-directors in banks
with some member of the dispen-
sary committee.
"Mr. w. z. Melton, who, with
some difficulty, was induced to join
us, is the lawyer who was rendered
and declined the position on the COM
mission now held by Mr.. Stevenson.
With these and other connections or
relationships, not prudent to men
tion here, Mr. Lester appeared much
pleased, and gave me letter autho-
rizing me to go ahead with my plans.
1.-TWO days later he came to Col
umbia, and at meeting for the pur-
pose I introduced him to three of
my associates; in the discussion
which ensued difference of techni-
cal nature between him and Mr.. Mel
ton, which eliminated as Mr.. Les
ter will admit, in quite display of
temper on his part. Mr.. Melton
therefore declined to have anything
further to do with the case, and with
him l lost forces without which |
could accomplish noting.
"Before I could patch up the un-
fortunate disagreement Mr.. Lester
was persuaded by rosy assurance
from another element to adopt
plans. altogether independent from
mine l stuck TO him, however, hop
ing his strong personality might car
ry him through, but knowing that he
was pursuing course into which
others had been allured only to meet
with failure. He proved no excep-
tion
"Now, I do not wish this to be
construed as a reflection upon Mr..
Lester or the yigor of his efforts.
During the week l have been thrown
with him my regard for him has
grown daily. He is manly fellow
of high attainment, and / think a
lawyer of exceptional ability, indeed,
man who under conditions approx
imately normal would succeed in al
most any undertaking. but he is
wholly out of touch with these peo-
pie down here, nor has he the tact
| to handle this situation. / am send
ing him a copy Of this letter and be-