The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-07-24
BLIND TIGER PAYS
FOR PROTECTION

The committee investigating the af-
fairs OF the old dispensary held &
meeting in Columbia Thursday. ]. +
B. ONeill, OF Charleston appeared
and testified that he paid graft to
Chief Constable Stothart The follow
ing is a condensed statement OF his
evidence.
Columbia, July 49, The sensation
of the hearing Thursday afternoon be-
fore the special investigating commit
tee fthe South Carolina Legislature
was the testimony OF ]. P. B. O'Neill, a
confessed blind tiger operator, who
testified that he had collected pro
lection" money in Charleston, S. c.,
and paid it to Chief Constable B. H.
Stothart.
O'Neill's testimony was made before
the special session of the committee
investigating the alleged dispensary
graft and charges OF corruption
against tsate officials.
O'Neill proved to be an unwilling
witness and after evading questions OF
the committeeman for more than an
hour he was induced to testify by a
threat of imprisonment.
VlNC "
The witness testified that for about
seventeen months he had been col
lecting protection" money amounting
to about $50 per month from blind
tigers in Charleston and turning the
money over to Chief Constable Stot-
hart.
Eighteen months ago, he testified,
Stothart was appointed Chief consta-
BILE by Gov. Blease and few days lat
er he came to O'Neill's place of busi-
hess. "Stothart told me that the boys
would be coming around to see me"
testified O'Neill.
The witness then testified that he
collected the protection money
from the retail whiskey dealers and
about a month later placed 1t under
Stothart's door in an envelope. The
envelope, he testified, contained the
names of the dealers who had "contrl-
buted." O'Neill testified that the pro
lection desired" was given.
The testimony of O'Neill was the
most sensational that has ever been
given before the legislative commit
tee. In his testimony ONeill declared
that the collection of the protection
fund" had commenced about IL
months ago,or just after the appoint.
ment of Stothart by the governor OF
South Carolina. At a recent meet
ing of the dispensary committee III
Charleston several confessed blind
tigers" charged that they had been
having a protection fund to j. P. B.
O'Neill. who was said to be member
to be a wholesale whiskey COMPANY
operating in the city OF Charleston.
The principal testimony on the pro
lection fund" given at the Charleston
hearing was by John j. Miller.
O'Neill admitted before the commit
tee that Miller had been employed as
his agent and that he collected the
fund" from the retailers.
Grace'S Charges
Several weeks ago Mayor Grace OF
Charleston, made the charge that
craft had been traced practically up
to the governors office. The legls-
lative committee held a meeting IN
charleston when a score Of witnesses
anneared. Practically every witness
save testimony that they had been
having a protection fund" to the
Wholesale whiskey dealers. The whole
sale dealers charged with receiving
the fund were subpoenaed 10 appear
before the committee. The committee
met here last week and only one al
legged wholesaler appeared. He was
Albert Sottile.
SOtille Was Dumb
He refused to testify on the ground
that it might incriminate him, the
committee at that time let him on.
Later a case was found giving the
committee the right to force to tes-
tify and not to use the testimony IN
criminal prosecution. o'Neill is the
first witness to be called and he has
directly charged the chief constable
of the governor of South Carolina
with grating All of the other whole
salers will be called and they Will DC
forced to tell what they did with the
fund collected.
The committee held an executive
session when several matters were
discussed No announcement had been
made as to when the next meeting
Of the committee will be held.
what was the business OF the Ma
rIon Stock Company" was the ques'
tion asked O'Neill by Chairman Car