The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-03-19
RawlinsOn Questioned.

tee.
RawlinsOn Questioned.
Jodie NJ. RawIinson, chairman OF
the dispensary board of control when
it was abolished, was the next witness
He knew nothing about how much al
cohol was on hand when the Ansel
commission took charge; remembered
no one having talked to him about the
alcohol before BIease sent in his Mes
sage No. T." Knew nothing Of the
so-calIed WyIie compromise, and the
Farnum trial, was never consulted
about the actions and doings of the
knsal. commission and was never call
ed before the BIease commission. Had
never been called in consultation by
Governor Blease with reference to
matters in Message No. 4"
RawIinson said he was never sum
moned before the Ansel commission
and knew nothing as to matters con-
tanned in Blease's message.
Mr.. Cary asked Rawlinson if he
could suggest any party or parties
who could prove or disprove the gov
ernor's charges against the Ansel
commission and he said NO" Stated
that he consider j the Ansel commits
sion honorable men and competent TO
wind up the State dispensary. Said
he had never offered the attorney gen
eral any money for considerations OF
Immunity, etc.. and knew OF no one
else who had. He exonerated the An
sci commission and the attorney gen
eral of all charges made by Governor
Blease.
WyIie TeStities.
Joe B. Wylie, a member of the dis
pensary board when the dispensary
was abolished and who turned States
evidence in the graft trials, was the
next on the stand. He was a mem
her of the board with Rawlinson and
Black. Told of his being indicted in
Chester and Richland and his being
given immunity on turning States
evidence. Said he paid nothing Tor
the immunity and gave no money or
consideration to the attorney general.
Paid money to no one for immunity,
and knew of no one who had paid the
attorney general anything in connec-
tion with any of the trials. Knew
nothing about the matters mentioned
in Blease's message. Didn't know Eel
der and never heard of him until they
were out of Office Said he never saw
FEEDER, and the board of which he
was a, member didn't pay Fielder any
rebates. Considered the Ansel COM
mission upright, honorable men and
thought they were competent. Said,
they were good as anybody and l
don't believe you could have gotten any
better. I know you couldn't have
gotten a better man. than ]. Steele
Brice."
do you think the State was heavy
loser under the old diSpenSary COM
mission?" Mr.. Cary asked the witness.
81 can't figure where the State lost
anything" he replied. Said he knew
the State had recovered much money
through the Ansel commission.
TOwill Called to Stand.
The committee declined to excuse
John Bell Towill from testifying and
called him to the stand as the next
witness. He was a member OF the dis
pensary board of control in 1904-19O9.
He said there was an indictment pend
inc against him; that he had offered
no consideration to the attorney gen
araI. the Ansel or the please commits
sion. Had never had any negotiations
with Attorney General Lyon. Knew
of no one who could throw any light
on the charges.
Asked as to the charges that Fielder
bod boon favored with purchases and
had Maid rebates contained in the gov
ernor's message, Towill said all ne
knew of this was that H. H. Evans
told him that he and Fielder had dis
agreement over the business CONSIDER
ton in the awarding of the contracts
for liquor. Could not remember tne
exact conversation, or whether Evans
had said that Fielder paid him rebates,
but he understood that it was dis
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