The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-16

Plain Statcmcnt-Criminal Prose-
cution Probable.
Columbia, April 13.-Reversing
what appeared to be the sentiment of
at least two members of the commits
sion at the morning session, the dis
pensary winding-up commission late
today, in executive session, entered up
DEGREES against certain whiskey firms
for more than 100000. The firms
named In the list given below are al
legged to have overcharged the State
pensary system, and the attorneys for
the commission say that the amounts
named represent overcharges for the
purpose Of paying rebates and COM
missions to the States agents.
Or. w. ]. Murray, chairman Of the
commission. who protested SO vigo-
rously at the morning session that
judgment should not be. entered
against the firms unless the evidence
were before the members of the COM
mission stated tonight that the entries
made this afternoon are not judg-
ments, but merely DEGREES by default
taken against these firms on the state
ment of the attorneys for the COM
mission. The firms not appearing in
answer to the notices sent out, requir-
ing production of books and other
documentary evidence, the DEGREES
were entered against them.
1t was contended by Col. Fielder,
OF counsel for the State, that the
books Of these firms would prove the
charges against them.
The method OF recovering of the
amounts against the several firms will
be by recourse to the courts. There
are no claims against the State by the
firms named below and all matters
brought up are almost entirely new.
1t was also learned tonight that Mr..
w. II. Songleys testimony before the
commission was in regard to the gaug-
ing Of whiskey. He testified, it Is stat
ed that the dispensary did not buy
on the basis of the regeuge, which 1t
should have done. This matter, it Is
stated, affects all the cases.
When Col. T. B. Fielder, of the At
lanta firm, asked the dispensary COM
mission-with Messrs. w. j. Murray,
A. n. Wood and J. Steele Brice pres
ent-to enter judgment against tho
whiskey firms that, it is claimed by
the commissions and the States at
torneys, owe the Commonwealth a
vast sum Of money, a snag was struck
in the hitherto rather smooth sailing
before the commission. Chairman
Murray and Mr.. Brice declared that
they would not vote to enter judgment
against these firms unless the evidence
were presented to them.
There followed quite a discussion
along this line, and prompted by Col
Fielder, Mr.. Brice made a motion that
the commission go into executive ses-
the matters to be considered may be
evidence to be used in criminal prose-
cution, it would be we'll for this to be
an executive session" The news
paper men present took the hint, and
filed out of the Supreme Court, where
usually all sessions are open, and the
commission continued it's work In pri
vate.
w. II. Songley was u witness before
the dispensary commission this after
noon. Nothing was given out as to
the matters testified to by Mr. Song
ley. Mr.. Songley is said to have been
an employee at the Richland Distil-
lery, so it is presumed that his testi-
mony was relative to the affairs of
this concern. Mr.. Songley was at
one time a guard at the penitentiary
Prior to the brief open session of
the commission this morning, Messrs.
Murray, Brice and Wood were n Coli
ference with none of the ATTORNEYS
present, not even the Attorney Gen
eral of the State. Messrs. Patton an
McSween had not arrived on the
scene.
What took place at this session of
the commissioners was given to the
pubic only in part. While no state
m"nt "; made for publication except
that Chairman Murray subsequently
related what the commissioners were
CoEfcrrinG about in a brief conversa-