The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-03-12

price; had never received any com 2en-
Sation other than that allowed by law
and did his duty, not even threats haV-
ir2 deferred him; had charged up car
fare as other than legally allowed, as
shown by accounts; had had no part
in any compromise and turned in con-
plete vouchers Of everything; never
allowed anyone to discuss the matter
outside of the commission room, Some
thing between 100000 or s5OO,OOO has
been turned over to State as AnsePs
commission report will show, said Mr.
Patton.
Patton Tells OF Threats.
Mr.. Patton, who was one Of the best
known members of the Ansel commits
sion. had said something about threats
not deterring him from performing
his duty, and Senator Sullivan ques-
toned him at length about these
threats. Responding, Mr.. Patton said
that information came to him that his
life had been threatened, that Fielder
mad received an anonymous letter
threatening his (Felder1s) and Pat
tons life; that the letter was post
marked NeWberry and that it was
said to have come from Governor, then
Senator, Blease He knew Of no acts
of the AnseI commission in violation
of law and never knew one to charge
for work he did not do. Mr.. Patton
spoke of Attorney General Lyons
work and service to the State and OF
his sense Of duty He knew nothing
Of the present commission, except the
summons to the Murray commission
to demand their vouchers which they
refused to surrender. He refused to-
allow the Blease commission to inves-
tigate them; had turned over about
$4,000 to B1ease commission, which
is shown by the report.
MIR. Patton stated the commission
did not object to the Blease commits
sion examining their vouchers, and
that they even offered the Blease COM
mission copies of the vouchers, but
they refused to turn the originals over
to them. After relating the history Of
the fight which certain liquor houses
made in the United States court to
compel payment of claims and which
the State won the witness told OF Fell
der's fees how he received 10 per cent.
commission on salvage Or overcharges
on live accounts, and on accounts
which were dead" those for which
the houses had already received their
money. He divided the alleged graft"
into classes, one being those houses
which had overcharged against which
the commission had no money in hand
to hold on claims, and the other the
commission had money to hold against
the overcharge. Fielder recovered, for
9he State, several hundred thousand
dollars, which was collected from
houses which had overcharged the
State, said witness.
Why Commission Was Removed.
Mr.. Patton said he thought no one
but Fielder could have obtained the
evidence showing the wholesale graft,
and replying to a question as to why
the commission was removed by Gov
ernor Blease. Mr.. Patton said it was
because the commission was doing its
duty. He stated that the suit in the
United States court had prevented the
commission from winding up its work
earlier but referred to the promptness
with which the work had. been done,
once the suit was decided in favor of
the State. Witness said practically all
the claims had been settled when the
commission was discharged, except
that of the Richland Distilling COM
pany, which, he said, had overcharged
the State some 100000, and the Caro-
lima Glass company. He stated that
the Richland Distilling company had
offered to settle it for 100000, and
that the Bernheims, one-third Tespon-
stble for this overcharge, had paid
their part, some $4,000, before the
commission was discharged; that the
rest had never been collected, and
that the Blease commission did not
collect that or any of the other moneys
due the State.
AS answer to critics, Mr. Patton re-