The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-16
SQUEEZING THE DOODlEnS.
RICHLAND DISTIILING COMPANY
READY To DISGORGE GRAFT.
it Is said that State VIII Receive
Large Amount of Money As Result
Of Col. Feider's Efforts.


the dispensary commission that the
Richland Distilling company of this
city which did business with the
old State dispensary to the extent of
nearly s4.000.000 and against which
there Is a claim by the State for over
ss70.000 has. through its representa-
tives. made overtures for a settlement
which would be a substantial gain
for the State.
Col. T. b. Fielder Of the firm of
Anderson. Fielder. Roundtree & Will
son OF Atlanta, who has represented
the State In the litigation incident to
the winding up of the affairs Of the
old State dispensary. Is In Columbia
for t,e purpose OF meeting the COM
mission at les session to be held to-
morrow. When asked concerning the
negotiations for settlement by the
Richland Distilling company. he
would neither deny nor affirm the
above statement. He did admit that
dhe State would get a large sum Of
money from the Richland Distilling
company.
The commission. at It's meeting to
be held tomorrow. Will go deeper in
to the affairs OF the old State dlspen-
sary and the overcharges found
against the firms which had already
been settled with before the COM
mission took the affairs Of the insti.
tuition In hand will be considered. II
Is likely that suits will be instituted
against several OF the firms unless
the amount found by the books Is
paid. The amount claimed by the
State is over $500. 900. The companies
have been notified Of the intended
action OF the commission. registered
letters having been addressed to the
heads OF the different houses. The
houses have been ordered to produce
their books. Representatives of
several OF the firms have arrived In
the city and have filed a denial of
the overcharges with the commission.
None OF these firms have claims
against the State. as the business
with them had been settled before
the commission took charge, so IL
will be seen that the investigation
will be different from those in the
past. One Of the main questions to
be decided will be how 20 collect the
claim against Arm which Is located
outside the State. Attorney General
Lyon would not discuss the phase of
the question when asked concerning
the matter yesterday.
Col. Fielder was asked II II were not
true that the representatives of sew
eral OF the stockholders in the Rich
land Distillins company had offered
TO pay the sum of 100000 II the
State would abandon it's claim. lie
only smiled and said that the State
would receive a much larger sum.
THE Richland Distilling company"
said Col Fielder. twas organized with
the ostensible object Of distilling corn
whiskey and TO deal generally In all
kinds OF whiskies The real object
was TO deal with the South Carolina
dispensary. and this Is evidenced by
the fact that the books will show
that the firm did approximately $4.-
100000 worth OF business with the
dispensary during It's existance. The
Richland Distilling comapny sold all
kinds OF whiskies. There is no way
OF knowing the real stockholders &C
the concern. But we do know that
the stock was furnished by the Been
helm company OF Louisville. Block
company OF Macon. Landhan com.
pany Of Baltimore and James Farnum
Charleston. The commission in
going through the books OF the Rich
land Distilllng company found that
the State had been overcharged for
goods sod to the extent of over
s670.O00. This Is the amount Of the
States claim. The claims OF the
company had already been paid.
Tho commission TO recover this
sum has several courses. The lands
and buildings OF this company in
Richland county have been seized.
When this property has been sold, If
there Is not enough money to re-
munerate the State. then there are
several other courses Suit may be
brought against the owners Of the
company I'm behalf OF the State OF
South Carolina In the respective
States where they reside. The case
could be brought In the United states
supreme court under the clause
which gives a State the right TO sue