Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1908-01-23
SAME OLD TALE.
The Old Dispensary Winding Up
Board Springs a Sensation.
LYON YIELDS PROBE.

9 Written by Whiskcy House Agent
: Names of t. NJ. Mordecai, f.. w
Robertson, August Kohn, p. II
Nelson and w. ID. Melton I'm Case
: The commission appointed to winC
up the old State Dispensary, sittinl
as court of inquiry, held specia
meeting on last Wednesday for tn,
purpose of making an investigation
/ OF certain letter purporting to be
signed by w. ID. Roy, a 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 1t. The letter is as follows:
Letter Roy Wrote.
Columbia, s. c., Dec 21, 1907.
Gentlemen: AT a 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 a 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 and about effected ar
rangements which, If a cooperation
OF creditors could be obtained. seem
ed TO me reasonably promising of
favorable results. i so notified sew
eral of the creditors, who presented
my proposition at the meeting, and
from the kilograms sent me | SUD-
posed II had been adopted and that
the committee had been appointed
TO carry 1t out. | believe that quite
a number at the meeting were of
wish to say that not q shadow of
authority was given to me to act In
any capacity whatever. The COM
mittee was represented here by Mr..
Geo. B. Lester, member OF It, and
general counsel for Messrs. Fleisch-
man & Co, who made Charleston
his headquarters when he first reach
the State. l met him there, and
whilst somewhat disappointed at
hnding no power to act delegated to
me or my associates, determined not
to let this abridge my efforts to get
our money. | went over my plans
with him and gave him the names of
gentlemen associated with me, also a
letter endorsing these gentlemen
from Gov. ID. G. 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 respectability, financially
and otherwise, of the members of nv
organization, several of the latter be-
Ing officials or co-directors in banks
with some member OF the dispen.
sary committee.
Mr.. w. ID. Melton, who, with
'ome difhculty. was induced to Join
IS, Is the lawyer who was rendered
md declined the position on the com.
mission now held by Mr.. Stevenson
With these and other connections OF
elationships. not prudent to men
ion here. Mr.. Lester appeared much
'leased, and gave me a letter autho
iZlng me to go ahead with my plans
Two days later he came to Col
mbia. and at meeting for the pur
>ose introduced him to three O
ny associates; in the discussion
which ensued difference of techni
, al nature between him and Mr.. Mel
= on, which eliminated as Mr.. Les
'er will admit. in quite a display O
emper on his part Mr.. Meltol
therefore, declined to have anythin,
further to do with the case. and witt
him | lost forces without which
: could accomplish noting.
Before | could patch up the I'm
fortunate disagreement Mr.. Leste
! was persuaded by rosy assuranc
from another element to adou
{ | HiNOSONHtl independent frOT
Y mine. / stuck TO him, however. hou
d ing his strong personality might car
o ry him through. but knowing that h
i was pursuing a course into whic
n others had been allured only to NEE
r with failure. He proved no exceI
g tion.
q Now do not wish this to h
construed as a reflection upon M
Lester or the vigor of his effort
During the week l have been throw
d with him my regard for him ha
grown daily. He is a manly fello
? of high attainment. and | think
le lawyer of exceptional ability, indee,
4 man who under conditions appro,
l. imately normal would succeed In a
" most any undertaking. but he
n wholly out of touch with these pc,
ID pie down here, nor has he the ta
n to handle this situation. am sen,
'e ing him copy of this letter and b
~ lieve he will confirm all have wri
ten.