The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-19
DlSPENSARY INVESTIGATION.
1HE LANAHAN CASE Is Still.
HANGING FIRE.
Representatives OF That Firm Order.
{" 10 Produce Books and Records
Inc Wilson Distilling Company
Case Discussed But Commission Not
satisfied With the Showing.

''es'isdtion proceeded with
some degree of celebrity yesterday. al
though the end of the hearings is NOT
yet IN sight. The commission in exc
cutive session decided that demand
would be made on all banks in the
state for interest on the funds do
posted. There has been a rumor TO
the effect that the banks would offer
20 oppose the paying of interest al
'hough they have had the use of this
money for nearly 16 months. The
commission will get the interest or
confiscate the collateral which is
double the amount Of the deposits.
Another important action Yesterday
was the settlement with Mr.. Duncan
Z. Ray on claim which he carried
Into the Federal courts as a friendly
suit. The commission is very CRATE
full for the valuable and valued ser.
vice rendered by Mr.. Ray.
The interminable Lanahan case
bohed up again yesterday and the
commission went on record in no I'M
certain terms. This firm must COM
ply with the mandate of the commits
sion with reference to the production
o. books Of record. The commission
was very emphatic about this.
The commission of course does moi
wish to get and make public any Of
flee formula with which a popular
trsnd of pure whiskey can be pro-
duced, put it does wish to find out
what was in the bulk goods sent to
South Carolina. These transactions
are not recorded on the books nut in
evidence and as Lanahan has been
proved to have paid graft to Alabama
dispensaries and to have sold a cheap
compound liquor under assembling
labels. the commission is really anxi-
Gus to know what kind of a scheme
ne had for the South Carolina trade.
An order was passed that this book
must be placed in evidence or steps
would be taken to have Lanahan ex-
tradited and compelled to tell some
thing about this. When here he
promised to send down man called
Cullins, who had charge of that part
OF the work, but he appears to have
forgot his promise. Col. Fielder and
Mr.. w. A. Clark. the local attorney
for Lanahan, had several sharp pas.
sages yesterday, but the commission
passed favorably upon Col. Felder's
request.
| Mr.. T. Moultrie Mordecai. a Char.
lesion lawyer who is Jim Farnum's
attorney and fought the commission
in every way he could before the Fed
eral courts, appeared yesterday with a
great show Of having complied with
the commissions mandate to have
here the books showing the commits
sions paid to South Carolina agents OF
the Wilson Distilling Company. How
ever, Col. Fielder challenged this az
not being given in fairness and in can.
dor. He declared that he had evi.
dence to prove that the Wilson Dis
tilling Company had paid 50 case
rebates in this State whereas Mr.
Mordecais claim showed only s1.5C
admitted. The commission ruled tha,
Mr.. Mordecai had not complied with
its order to submit books and records
and the claim was held up until Nor
decai would write to the house and
ascertain if they would allow their
books to come down here. Col Field
er asked Mr.. Mordecai if he had not
bought the Wilson claim and if the
company itself were not out of the
case entirely now, but an earnest de-
NAL was entered by Mr.. Mordecai.
Mr.. Mordecai had three other
claims, but he abandoned these at
once after his Wilson claim fell down.
He had the claims of II. & II. w. Ca
therwood. Cook & Bernheimer and
Gallagher & Burton. These aggregat-
ed about $4,000. Jim Farnum rep
| resented Gallagher e. Burton and
! Jack Cranston represented Gather.
wood. But the Augusta attorney who
had Jack Cranston's claim got chisel-
ed out of the CatherWod business in
some manner. Two weeks ago when
| asked whom he represented Mordecai
| gave the names of the four firms
above mentioned. Yesterday he aban-
| doned the case of the three last NAM
| ed. At the afternoon session he an
peared and tried to explain that he
had not abandoned them but the
commission has records which it will
rely upon.