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

to tell how the purchases were made
py the board Of directors Of the State
dispensary. He said that few pur-
chases were made by the board as
compared with the amount Of whis-
key received. He said that some
times the yard was Just full Of whis-
| key" He said that not one-twentv-
| fifth of the whiskey received by the
dispensary had been ordered by the
| board and there were sometimes as
many as 100 cars Of whiskey in the
yard of the State dispensary plant
He said that he called attention to the
fact that much whiskey was being
received that had not been ordere l
and that Evans protested. "Neverthe-
less, the whiskey continued to como
in," said the witness
Did Evans appear to have
money!"
| He was a pretty genial fellow" the
witness answered. smiling gently.
| Mr.. Towill said that he knew T. B.
Fielder but that he had never had any
business dealings with him.
Questioned as to giving testimony
before the Blease commission. Mr..
Towill said that he had been asked to
appear several times.
| The members of the investigating
| committee continued to revert to
statements made by Towill as to the
system as practiced by the board of
! directors in ordering whiskey.
About the loosest piece Of business
over seen in the State Of South Caro-
Ina was the State dispensary," said
the witness in replying to the question
as to the system
He was questioned by Mr.. Carey of
the committee as to the standing Of
the Ansel commission.
They are pretty good business men
and l do not know anything deroga-
, tory Of them. There is no reason to
believe otherwise"
He did not think that the State
lost money under the State dispen-
sary. He did not know whether the
Ansel commission was winner or
| loser"
Questioned as to the conscience
money paid by the whiskey houses
he said that lit was like taking candy
from a baby"
J The witness was questioned as &c
his interest in the business of the
board Of directors
Il did not take much interest in
the board. What little I did take ]
wish to God I had not" Replying to
a question as to who placed the
orders for whiskey, Mr. Towill told
a member Of the committee that 81
know about as much about the work
done as you do"
He refused to give his opinion as tC
who was responsible for the purchase
Of the large lots of whiskey.
Mr. Towill told Of turning over tc
the Blease commission three letter:
received from T. b. Fielder Offering g
form a liquor corporation.
| He said that the Blease commission
had ordered him to turn these letter:
over. The letters in question are con.
tanned in the annual report OF the
| Blease commission.
The relation Of T. +. Fielder, The
Atlanta attorney, to the State dispen.
sary was discussed at length by II. II
Evans Of Newberry, former chair
man Of the board Uc control Of the
dispensary, appearing before the leg
islative committee yesterday after
noon.
AS kind of preface to his testi
mony which consumed three hours
Mr.. Evans said that if it was permis.
sble that he would like to rise TO
question of personal privilege.
Il would like to rise to a question OF
| personal privilege" said Mr.. Eva1 =
for | do not wish to stab any man ir
the back. I was informed or be.
lieved that Il. B. Fielder Of Atlanta
would be here today or was in Colum.
bia | would much prefer for Mr.
| FIELDER to be present to hear what
have to say. | would prefer to face
him. but that is left to you gentle
men,"
Mr.. Evans was Informed that Mr.
Fielder was not in the city ana that
his testimony would be printed anj
become a public record. The witness
said that he would have to touch or