The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-20

alton ny the governor OF South Car
oiina that Attorney General Lyon re-
ceived a sum of money in connection
who pleaded guilty to charge of CIV
ing rebates and was fined $1,000 in
the Richland county court, was de-
MED yesterday by James s. Farnum
OF Charleston, who appeared before
the legislative committee appointed to
investigate the charges and insinu
ations by the governor.
All of the members OF the legisla-
tive committee were present except
Senator Clifton, who was detained be-
cause Of a case In court.
The first witnesses called before the
committee were DR.. +. c. McGregor
and DR.. w. G. Mcmillan Of Columbia
The governor. in his special message,
position of a quantity Of alcohol by
the members of the Ansel commits
sion and intimated graft on the part
Of the chairman. Or. w. ]. Murray Of
Columbia. At the first session OF the
committee last week, DIR. Murray gave
testimony to show that the alcohol
in question had been disposed Of ad-
vantageously 20 the State. The two
witnesses were called yesterday morn
ing and gave testimony sustaining
statements made by DIR. Murray with
reference TO the price received by the
State for the alcohol.
The second witness Of the morning
was James $. Farnum Of Charles
ton. He stated that he was beer
bother and had been a dispenser in
Charleston.
II was first acquitted and then
pleaded guilty OF giving rebates" said
Mr.. Farnum in answer to a question
as to whether he had been indicted
in connection with the affairs Of the
old State dispensary.
What agreement was there be-
tween you and Attorney General Lyon
money!"
None he replied.
did you or your representative
ever pay any sum to Attorney Gen.
eral Lyon or his assistants?"
"No."
How much more than $1,000 was
paid by you for pleading guilty?"
"None whatever"
''Is any statement made to the eff
feet that the attorney general was
paid true?"
1T is untrue" he replied.
rs there any truth to the statement
that you paid many times this amount
S5,00O for your immunity" he was
asked by the committee.
1T Is untrue" replied Farnum.
mo sum was paid outside of the
| $1,000" he continued
These statements were made by
James :. Farnum i'm denying the
| charges and insinuations made by the
governor to the effect that Attorney
J General Lyon was paid for granting
| immunity to Farnum after he had
agreed to plead guilty and pay a fine
of $4,000. Farnum reiterated several
| times that no sum whatsoever had
ever been paid the attorney general.
The witness said that the Blease
board had never made any attempt
TO investigate him officially.
An attorney representing John Bell
| Towill appeared before the commit
tee and asked that Mr.. Towill be ex-
cused from giving testimony as he
was under indictment. 1t was stated
that the Ansel and Blease commits
sions had not forced Towill to tes-
| tify The committee took the re-
! quest under advisement and follow
ing an executive session announced
that Mr.. Towill must testify but that
his attorney would be given the right
to request all testimony damaging
to his case In the courts to be ruled
out. Mr.. Towill was later called
The next witness called by the COM
mittee was j. NJ. Rawlinson. a mem
ber 0f the old state dispensary board
| OF control. He did not remember
anything In connection with the
amount of alcohol left on hand when
the Ansel commission. He knew
nothing of certain compromises re-
| ferred To by the governor i'm his mes
sage. He said that he had never
been consulted by the Blease board