The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-30


Columbia. Oct. 27.-From the line
of testimony that was entered into to-
day by the disepnsary winding up
commission 1t becomes apparent that
the affairs of the dispensary will be
investigated further back than the
last boards regime. There has been
general criticism floating around the
State that the commission has under
taken not to go into the details of
transactions earlier than the year 1906
and upon matters touching the board
Of directors. Of which wylie, Rawlin-
son and Black were members. But
today'sN happenings tend to discreiit
the rumor. and II begins to look Gus II
fhe commissions Investigations, as led
byS Col. Fielder. will probe into many
interesting sidelights Of the old dis
peusary regime. How far this inves-
tigation will proceed cannot be stated
at this time. but Il certainly looked
today as II the foundation was being
laid for deep digging.
The names Of H. H. Evans, the one
time chairman Of the board: L. ].
WILLIAMS. John Black. James Far,.um,
Jno. 4. Farley. the Fleischmann Com
pany. p. II. Aull. formerly presi dent
Of the State Press Association; Editor
Koester. Of the Evening Record. and
many others were brought into the
discussion this morning In the course
Of the examination Of Mr.. J. p. Mat
thews. . Columbia banker. who was
put on the stand today.
There wCss some matters either
brought out or. hinted ct that have
becn touched on in connection with
tho dsspensary investigation before
and since the recent trials. The intro
duction OF John T. BARLEY into this
State was practically laid at the feet
Lof the, bank cashier. Letters we're
ShS~r tssswhbshT ar aestehswsF1 F1s2d'
written to the Flelschmann Company.
telling this concern that he had met
with Mr.. Farley and understood that
he had made certain arrangements
here In reference to doing business
with the State Of South Carolina in
selling whiskey to the dispensary."
What these arrangements" were Mr..
Matthews avowed he knew nothing
of. and did not recall that BARLEY had
told him what they were.
Other interesting sidelights wer,e the
| questioning along the line that recall
ed the now famous "haul' OF Briggs
Wilson. when one Of the men who was
Interested I'm the situation Is said to
have gone into Georgia to bring back
this person. who was charged with
having made the quarterly collections
of rebates and went away with them.
The midnight fiasco," when $780,
600 or more was paid out in a jiffy,
$1,000 being the consideration alleged
to have been given the members Of
the board: the endorsement Of notes
for members Of the board and for
deals: the support of candidates for
election on the board; these and 9TH
er matters OF the old State dispen-
sary system were touched upon today
In the examination Of Mr.. Matthews.
To most Of the questions Mr.. Mat
thews replied that he did not recall
the circumstances. "T don't remem-
Der" was the expression oft repeated
ny him today. The letters were his
own. he admitted. and even after
reading them. he could not recall the
Information contained in the major
ity Of them.
The point that was mostly stressed
by Col. Fielder was a meeting that
was said to have been contemplated
by Sam Lanahan, of the firm of Will
liam Lanahan &c Sons. Baltimore; l..
D. Williams. Of the dispensary board
and j. +. Matthews. The letters in
reference to the meeting were in evil
dence. and kilograms sent by Mr.. Mat
thews on the subject were on hand, but
Mr.. Matthews could not tell what was
the object of this meeting, and con-
ciuded also that IL was never held.
There may he further light upon thu
matter later.
In the course of the examination
Mr. Matthews. who Is one OF the best
known bankers In the State, and who
is held by all who know him to be
above reproach. constantly asked Col.
Fielder the question IL he charged that
hess for tre whiskey houses referred