The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-30
PROGRESS IN LABEL CASE.
ATTORNEYS CONSUME TIME IN
NUMEROUS TILTS.
senator Christensen Principal Wit
ness In Case Against Towin, Boy.
Kin and Tatum in what is Known
as Label Case, One Of Many Dis.
pensary Graft Suits-Comparatiy tive
Bids on Labels Offered in Evidence.
w. III. COgswell Testifes.

w. III. COgswell TeStif1eS.
Columbia, Sept. 27.-The court to-
day. by legal arguments spent
about five hours in getting about half
an hours actual testimony. In 9TH
er words, about all the testimony that
was presented to the jury in the ia
bel case" IL offered continuously
would hardly have consumed more
than half an hour. The remainder
OF the time was spent in argument,
more or less acrimonious, as to
whether this line of questioning was
proper and whether this or that evi.
dence or record was admissible al
evidence, counsel suggested that if
the matter kept up that there was
danger OF getting into a debating So
ciety on the rules of evidence, but
with 1t all Judge Wilson was patient
and heard arguments pro and con
and then briefly decided the issue in
volved. All Of this means that the
case Is being hard fought. and that
is no doubt right and proper, but 1t
Is slow work in reaching the verdict.
Up to this time the real and vital n
sue involved has not been touched
upon in any way by the evidence.
There has not been scintilla of evil
dence Of wrong as yet. Today prac-
tically the entire session was devoted
to the Identification of the famous
Nivison- -Weiskopf labels, with q few
moments being given to several mi
nor matters that were necessary in
the development Of a case that is be-
ing contested to the shadow of an
inch.
The question was asked today:
How far has the case progressed"
and the reply was that 1t had just
started. Tomorrow will be the third
day or the trial and perhaps then the
real heart Of the matter will be
reached.
During the morning Mr.. Jno. Bell
Towill came into court with members
OF his family.
The court worked from until af-
ter 2 o'clock today and then adjourn.
ed until tomorrow.
In less than thirty minutes after
court opened this morning there were
half dozen legal tits between legal
counsel. The chief issue was wheth-
er Mr.. Thorpe. the States witness
could testify as to Mr.. W. o. Tatum's
good character and reputation for
honesty and integrity.
Mr.. Thorpe testified that Mr.. Ta-
tum's character was good from what
he had heard. and he reached this
conclusion from his own dealings.
DR.. VIM. J. Murray, former chair
man Of the winding-up commission,
testified that he turned over to his
successors all the records Of the dis
pensary.
Mr.. Edgar NJ. Thompson. secretary
OF the present winding-up commits
sion, was recalled for the purpose OF
identifying a letter from Governor
Blease to Attorney General Lyon. The
letter was not read in court but is
supposed to be the letter requesting
the Immunity" list.
Senator N. Christensen. Of Beau
fort. who was so active and diligent
IN the legislative investigation of
1905. modestly described his part in
looking into the label transaction. He
explained how he secured samples OF
the labels and had Walker, Evans and
Cogswell and the State Company
make estimates on the various sets OF
labels and incidentally he has kept
complete set Of the labels since
lSob, when he undertook the COM
parison Of prices on the labels and
10 Know why. The labels were offer
cd IN evidence. whereupon Col. Mel
son said this was heresay evidence
and that neither Walker, Evans and
Cogswell nor the State made the esti-
mates themselves nor were the labels
really wanted. but the inquiry was
merely for information. This he
ea'hered from the testimony from
the printed record
MT Christensen said ne knew the
iaoels offered In evidence were the
'iNisoh- Weiskopf labels himself
rom the invoice and shipment.
Mr. Christensen said he was told
hy Mr.. Ehrhardt whore the labels
were stored and this brought forth
d"o'her TIT as to whether this was
hearSay evidence or not-all on the
point whether the labels offered were
a