The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-07
COMMISSION ATTACKS LYON.
DISPENSARY BOARD MAKES
CHARGE AGAINST HIM.
Letter From New Body Asserts That
Attorney General Can't be De-
pended ON To Prosecute Fielder.

- A"'ot iSViis dt0OihSS SSHtIdit Win
being a partisan of T. Il. Fielder and
making charges as to the conduct Of
the attorney general. the new dis
pensary commission yesterday ad-
dressed a letter TO Mr.. Lyon. The
letter contains many charges and was
written. II is said. because the at
torney general called the attention
Of the commission to the fact that
the law had been violated in nam
ing the firm Of Holman and Holman
OF Charleston as attorneys for the
commits. on. The law requires that
the attorneys for the commission shall
be appointed with the consent of the
attorney general. Mr.. Lyon did not
consent 10 the naming OF the Char
lesion firm. The sum OF $500 has
been paid the Charleston firm by the
upnew dispensary commission.
The letter OF the dispensary COM
mission follows:
Dear Sir: In reply TO your letter OF
yesterday We beg to say that we have
employed the services OF w. A. Hol-
man OF Charleston to aid this COM
mission In the investigation OF the
Affairs II the State dispensary and to
facilitate our labors I'm accordance
with the acts OF the general assem-
bly, OF this State in such case made
and provided.
"Your attitude towards this COM
I, mission has been so unfriendly and
antagonistic that II appears to Us we
can not rely upon your judgment or
upon your legal services in the fur
ther progress OF our labor, and IT is
absolutely necessary and essential for
the best interest Of the State that we
xshould have the services Of counsel
Wand this we propose to have for the
benefit Of the State.
Your attitude In the Murray mat
ter was unfriendly and antagonistic
and hostile to the position Of this
commission; and your position in the
= Richland distillery case is unsatlsfac-
tory and hostile. You are the attor-
ney general Of this State and should
be In possession OF all the facts and
circumstances surrounding this case
or any other matter pertaining 20 the
public welfare or I'm connection with
nthe state dispensary; but In your un-
warranted zeal and unfriendliness you
saw fit 20 say 10 this commission that
you would prosecute the case IL they
would furnish you with proper evil
dence. This IL not the proper busi-
ness OF the commission u furnish you
with facts. but II Is your duty to fur
,hnish the commission with facts In this
behah and In all other public matters
connected with their business.
I'VE are satisfied that your relations
with one Thomas b. Fielder is such
as to make you a partisan with him
and that you could not be relied upon
Ito prosecute a man with whom you
have been so intimately associated
and whose conduct you will not in
vestigate if.you are required to do so.
We base thls opinion and this con-
clusion upon your attitude towards
this commission and on information
OF your relations toward Thomas II.
Fielder. He was your employe. or
rather you approved his employment
and he received large sums of money
from the State-we understand, some
thing over s100.nO0-and now when
we want to employ an attorney at a
moderate and modest sum to aid us
In the further investigation OF the
dispensary you interpose. or attempt
To interpose, your official position and
to cut of this commission from the
aid and advice Of counsel.
"we are satisfied that I'm employ
\ ing w. A. Holman we are acting fair
~ within our rights. The act gives
the commission broad powers I'm the
investigation OF the affairs of the dis
pensary. "a will be shown by refer
ence TO the act OF the legislature.
which gives TO this commission the
eright 10 employ any other person or
persons the commission may deem
necessary for the ascertainment OF
any fact or facts connected with said
state dispensary and its management
or control at any time In the past"
,and we have with this end in view
snd for this purpose employed Mr..
Holman and engaged his services I'm
conformity with the act to aid us In
our labors as aforesaid.
I'VE have thus made our position