The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-04-14
MAYPAY Big sum TO STATE
SETTLEMENT OFFERED BY THE
RICHLAND DISTILLING co.
1t IS Said That South Carolina Will
Receive Handsome Amount
- of Money.

- of Money.
It is practically admitted by the at
torneys for the dispensary commits
sion that the Richland Distilling COM
pany of this city which did business
with the old State dispensary to the
extent of nearly $4,O00,000 and
against which there is claim by the
State for over 100000 has, through
its representatives, made overtures
for a settlement which would be a
substantial gain for the State.
Col. T. B. Fielder Of the firm Of
Anderson, Fielder, Rountree G 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 the purpose Of meeting the COM
mission at it's session to he>held to-
morrow. When asked concerning the
negotiations for settlement by the
Richland Distilling company, he
would neither deny or affirm the
above statement. He did admit that
the State would get a large sum Of
money from the Richland Dtstilling
company. -
The Work Tomorrow.
The commission, at'its meeting to
be held tomorrow, will go deeper into
the affairs of the old State dispensary
and the overcharges found against
the firms which have already been
settled with before the commission
took the affairs of the institution In
| hand will be considered. It 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
100000. The companies have been
notified bf 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 denial Of the oyercharges
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, 80 it 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 to collect the claim
| against firm which is located out
side the State: Attorney General Ly-
on would not discuss this phase sof
I the question when asked concerning
theematter yesterday.
The Reported Offer.
Col. Fielder was asked II it were
! not true that the representatives Of
several OF the stockholders In the
Richland' Distilling company had Of
ferred to pay the sum Of $100,000 If
the State would abandon its claim.
He only smiled and said that the
State would receive a much larger
sum.
"The Richland Distilling COM
pany," said Col. Fielder, was organ
lied with the ostensible object of dis
tilling corn whiskey and to deal gen.
orally 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 ap-
praximately $4,000,000 worth of
business with the dispensary during
it's existence. The Richland Distilling
company sold all kinds Of whiskies.
There is no way Of knowing the real
stockholders of the concern. But we
do know that during the life of the
concern the stock was furnished by
the Bernheim company of Louisville,
Block company of Macon, Lanahan
company of Baltimore, and James
Farnum Of Charleston. The commis-
sion in going through the books of
the Richland Distilling company
found that the State of South Caro-
lima had been overcharged for goods
sold to the extent of over $670,000.
This is the amount Of the States
claim. The claims of the company
had already been paid.
Several Courses.
"The 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 Ito re-