The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-03
DISPENSARY SITUATION WARM.
DIR. MURRAY APPEARS--REOUI
SITiON FOR TIIOS. B. FIELDER.

Attorney General Lyon also Replies
To Recent Resolution of Commits
sion Giving Reasons for Inability
to Press Case Against Richland
Distilling Company - Carolina
Glass COmpany's Petition for Re-
hearing Also Presented to Board.
Columbia, May 30.-The appear
ance Of DR.. William j. Murray, the
chairman Of the old dispensary COM
mission before the new commission
upon the rule to show cause, the
statement Of Attorney General Lyon,
that, in the circumstances, he can
not press the Richland Distilling
Company's case; the receiving Of a
petition from the Carolina Glass Com
pany to reopen its case before the
new commission; a consideration Of
the Scruggs matter and return
from the members of the old COM
mission, were the chief features Of
the session Of the dispensary commits
sion held here today.
AS to the exact charges against
Thomas b. Fielder it is learned today
that the John Pell Towill incident re-
ferred to in press some time ago,
and the III vans alleged frame
up" will be III main basis Of the
case against the 'nta attorney. 1t
is understood tina, 9th Evans anG
TowilI will be placed upon the stand
if the case is brought to trial.
Considerable interest was mani
tested here in the statement about
the arrest Of Col. Fielder. 1t is not
believed that he will voluntarily come
in response to the warrant, however,
and a hard fight for requisition will
probably be waged.
Attorney Generals Reply.
Columbia, May 3O-Attorney
General Lyon today made reply to
the dispensary commissions resolu-
ton. asking him to go ahead with the
Richland distillery case.
In brief, Mr.. Lyons reply is to the
effect that as the Atlanta firm Of at
torneys had charge of these matters
and were engaged at the time they
were dismissed by the new commits
sion, in handling this particular suit
and the data is in their hands, he Is
not in a position to carry ont the
suit
Mr.. Lyon concludes
Il will be unable to proceed with
this litigation with any reasonable
hope Of success without your furnish
ing me the facts or providing there
for, as was done by your predeces-
sors"
The letter Of Mr.. Lyon in full to
the commission is as follows:
May 20. 1911.
State Dispensary Commission, Co
lumbia, s. C.-Gentlemen: Respond
ing to your letter Of recent date in
reference to the case Of the State of
South Carolina vs. the Richland Dis
tillery Company, beg to advise that
several of the statements made by
you do not accord with my informa.
tion upon the subject. However, l
do not deem it of sufficient import
ance to take up your valuable time
with a matter which may not affect
the real question propounded I will,
therefore, endeavor as far as I think
necessary to an understanding to give
you the facts concerning this litiga-
ton.
The suit was commenced by
Messrs. Anderson, Fielder, Roundtree
and Wilson. under an agreement had
they had. as / am informed collect
ed sufficient information upon which
to base the action. This firm en-
ployed as their associates and at their
own expense Mcssrs. Abney & Steven
son, and while my name as ATTORNEY
General appears as counsel in the
case it was only nominally so for the
| reason that the law under which YOU
| exist proyides for the employment OF
| counsel other than the Attorney Gen
cral to conduct such litigation. And
so it has been that the above men.
toned attorneys, who appear upor
| the record as my associates, have had
| active management Of the case since
its inception under the agreement
| with your predecessors in office.
| You are in one sense correc
| when you assume that | must hay,
| had grounds for commencing thi.