The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-12-09
MAY FORFEIT THEIR CLAIMS.

OA~~~~'~Ns
New Development in the Dispensary
Situation.
Columbia, Dec. o.-The never end
ing dispensary web has developed
another serious situation. Whiskey
firms not appealing to the Supreme
Court will likely forfeit their claims
against the county dispensaries, if
there have been overjudgments
against them by the winding-up COM
mission. This new phase Of the
claimants run will mean at least
S65,000 in over-judgments secured
by the State if it pans out as expect
ed.
There has been a great deal of
speculation recently as to what
method would be pursued by the
State to recover the over-judgments
or what the claimants were going to
do to get their money from the coun-
ty dispensaries. Not long ago Gov
ernor Ansel ordered the county dis
pensary boards to hold up the claims
of the firms named in the commis-
sion's findings against whom over
judgments had been found. The
claims were also held up in dispen-
sary counties, Charleston, Richland,
Beaufort, Aiken, Georgetown and
Florence. It has been stated that
the whiskey firms understood that
the appeal would be to the Circuit
Courts, but it now appears that the
firms not appealing to the State Su-
preme Court are in bad way.
Appeals to Supreme Court.
Only few firms appealed from the
findings of the dispensary winding
up comission. These cases will be
fought out in the Supreme Court,
and it is of more than passing inter-
est just what the highest court of the
State will say in regard to the COM
missions actions in the dispensary
claims. The other firms not appeal
ing, it is taken, lose their claims
held up in the county dispensary mat
ter. The total amount held up in the
case of the fifteen now dry counties
was about $4,000. There we're also
held up claims to the amount Of
about $4,000 in the six wet coun-
!ties of the State. The total net
amount would be about 100000, as
an estimate, represented in the
claims held up in the case Of firms
not appealing to the Supreme Court.
Reference to the audit Of claims in
the county dispensaries, as shown by
published statements from several of
the counties, shows that the dispen-
sary auditor has audited those claims
which are all right and proper In
structions were given the boards as
to what money to pay out. Claims
Of firms, against whom the dispen-
sary commission has over-judgments,
have not been o. K. ID, but it is stated
that this would not affect the situa-
ton at all because the money has
been tied up and could not be paid
out under any circumstances.
Matter in Status Quo.
The status appears to be that no
movement is being taken on either
side. The appeal of the claimants
under the Closing-down Act, in the
event of dissatisfaction with the dis
pensary auditors accounting is to the
Circuit Court. But, although the con-
tention Of attorneys for whiskey firms
would be that the appeal in regard
to securing payment on bills now
should be, under the Act, to the Cir
cult Court, it is understood, as stated
above, that the States contention is
that firms not appealing to the Su-
preme Court forfeit their claims in
the dispensary county purchases.
The commission did not meet
here last week, as was intimated.
The New York and kentucky claim is
still being held up. The commits
sion has paid out through the chair
man a considerable sum Of money to
claimants under the findings of the
commission.
Interesting side lights on the situ-
alton are many, and, while there is
less general concern about what is
done throughout the State, the COM
plete history of the dispensary may
make good reading later on. One
firm, the McNulty Company, was not
down on the list of firms that sold to
the State dispensary, but their claim
was held up because it was another
case, so the commission figured, Of
duality of business interests, for Blu
thenthal & Bickert were supposed to
be the other horn of this concern.
So the $4,000 claim was held up.
Laurens County not long ago sold
it's stock to Abbeville. Abbeville was
one of the counties having claims
from some of the whiskey houses in
bad light with the commission. These
claims were held up. Laurens hasn't
received her money yet; neither have
the houses.
1t is costing the counties retaining
the dispensary boards something like
$50 or more per month to keep
these men in Office, but under the
law they are to be kept there until
the business is wound up. In the
meantime matters appear to be at a
standstill.
Charged With Firing Barn.
Lexington, Dec. 5.-Charged with
oo++;-, Ern to hic hrOthpr'S harm