The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-27

macon n8u already paid $l2,60O, and
that an additional $12,5OO was to be
paid soon. when the case against them
was mol pressed.
He said that as he understood the
Fielder contract generally that he did
not consider 1t unreasonable.
do you know Of anything that
would help the committee In going to
the bottom and investigating all Of
the charges in message No. AZ"
In reply Mr.. Abney said that he
knew Of no wrongdoing on the part
Of the old commission or Attorney
General Lyon.
What would you say as to the
| competency and honesty Of the Ansel
commission TO wind up the affairs Of
the old dispensary?"
He said that they were thoroughly
competent and honest. and were zeal
Gus to do their duty to the State.
He declared that he had no knowl-
edge Of Fielder being favored with re-
bates and purchases.
Mr.. Abney. In reply to questions,
said that he did not see how the
criminal prosecutions could have
been more properly or vigorously
handled. He was associated with At
torney General Lyon In the prosecu-
ton Of several cases.
Henry Samuels Of Chester was call
ed by the committee. He said that
he sold whiskey to the State dispen-
sary He told Of the houses that ne
represented In South Carolina. He
said that in making sales to the dis
pensary he did all of his business
through j. b. wylie.
Samuels told Of receiving money
from his whiskey firms and paying
Wylie for securing business. He
thought that he had paid wylie be-
tween $1,000 and $1,000. Sammels
told Of how the checks were passed.
He was a whiskey agent when Wylie.
Black and Rawlinson were on the
board.
Samuels said that he knew Of no
money paid Attorney General Lyon
by j. B. Wylie for immunity. Sam
uels was asked many questions by
the committee as to the scale Of re-
bates paid by the whiskey houses.
He told OF the moneys receivd. He
said he always divided his share Of
the graft with Wylie.
Senator w. ]. Johnson was ques-
toned as to a statement alleged to
have appeared in the Fairfield News
To- the effect that Farnum had paid
moro than $4,000 for his freedom.
lIe said that he did. not remember
sues settlement In The News. but
said that ne had heard some rumor to
that effect and that he had read ia
some newspaper that Farnum had
paid more. He did not recall the de-
tails Of the rumor. Senator Johnson
is a resident of Ridgeway and owns
some stock Of The News. He said
that he had cristicised the Ansel COM
mission on the floor Of the senate. He
said that he had based his criticism
on the fees to the attorneys for the
commission. principally T. b. Fielder.
What do you think Of the Blease
commission paying so per cent, as a
fee on claims collected to b. L. Alb
ney?"
II think. with all due respect to
him. that II Is unreasonable" said
the speaker. He was asked In this
connection IL he had heard the tes-
timony Of B. l.. Abney. Mr.. John
son said that he had never discussed
message No. with the governor.
Senator Johnson was questioned by
the committee as to what would have
been a just fee. He was forced to
admit that he did not know much
about dispensary affairs. but said that
he thought 10 per cent would have
been enough. ~ was pointed out to
Senator Johnson that Fielder received
10 per cent on 'line accounts" and
80 per cent on dead accounts" He
thought II unreasonable to pay any
man so per cent on any account
| considered dead"
Senator Johnson said that he knew
several members Of the Ansel com
mission. II have always regarded
DR.. Murray as heightened, honor
able and competent gentleman" said
the witness. He also paid a tribute to
| III prin l. ,