The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-30
SUMTER. s. c.. SATURDAY OCTOBER 3d. 1909


overpaid to Block, Briggs Wilson bav-
ing collected the money, Block claim
ing it. Upon this transaction witness
did not recall making the statement
credited to him that this committee
is in behind you and this committee
would have been delighted to get hold
of some things. I know on this transac-
tion," or words to that effect, the COM
mittee evidently referring to the in
vestigation that was then going on by
the legislative committee.
That $4,000 paid over by the Bern
helms was asked about. Witness said
ne read about it and had heard that
only $4,000 of the money reached
this State. This is explained by the
. contract with attorneys, no doubt, If
Mr.. Matthews information as to $15,-
600 reaching this State is correct.
The examination Of Mr.. Matthews
assumed wide range and Col. Field
er jumped from one matter to anoth-
er without apparently concluding one
subject. OF course there must have
been method in this Madness" but
1t naturally makes the grasp OF the in
dfvidual matters referred to very
hard. =
January 13, 1904. letter to ]. w.
Bernheim from witness stated that
there was quite q stir in dispensary
politics. and that I'VE would not like
for you or your firm not to be taken
care OF in the way we think best. ("
Witness said he would do anything he
could to get the business represented
by this and other firms.
Touching the appointment" at
Baltimore. the following extract was
read:
There is quite a stir up here at
present In reference to the State board
OF control. but see no reason why
we cannot fill the appointment and
look out for our interests at both ends
Of the line"
TO this reading witness said: II
never made any appointment" But
Mr.. Matthews explained that possibly
Williams had suggested the meeting,
and that in consequence of this he
wrote to Baltimore suggesting, as the
letter showed, the meeting. ;,
Witness had no idea what both
ends. land shake up'' in the letter
meant. Nor could he tell why he was
to have gone to Baltimore. Later q
letter read: williams is sick and we
cannot come. The board will hold q
meeting Thursday. We may have to
wait until later"
Commissioners Patton asked witness
the direct question If he had ever re-
ceived any commissions. The witness
made the monosyllabic reply: mo"
Witness admitted that he supported
the ticket" that was elected in 1906
and that it was his friends that went
into the office Of me board of dispen-
sary directors.
Witness had no knowledge of i'm.
proper relations between Farley and
Black. that he brought none of them
together"
There was a little transaction about
which witness said he knew nothing
but which is an interesting sidelight
Of the dispensary doings. Towin is
said to have sent money back to w
d. Roy. the whiskey man, when the
commission got in behind him. Be-
ing told of this matter witness said:
Il swear no man ever told me he re-
ceived rebates" He did not recall
having seen Roy and Towill together.
Coming down to a specific question
COL Fielder asked Mr. Matthews if he
recalled transaction something like
this: Don't know the exact amount
involved, but w. D. Roy sold liquors
to the State board, and he gave GER
tain commissions to John Bell Tow
but shipped back. WAS the substance
OF this transaction stated to you?"
asked Col. Fielder of witness, who re-
piled that may have but he did not
recall it, in spite of the fact that Col.
Fielder put the question in the man.
ner that he makes so effective: Sup
pose both should swear that that hap
pened,"
The. amount was either $4,000 or
$1,7OO, and witness did not know what
Towill told him he wanted with the
money when he came to the bank to
get 1t out. The Inference from the
statement Of Col. Fielder was that the
$4,000 or $2700 was returped 70 po,,