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

The witness said that he had met
II. b. Fielder on one occasion while
IN Columbia and that he had received
several letters and kilograms from
Fielder. He said that Fielder was cal
ways worrying him" for orders He
did not know the business Of Fielder.
! The witness told Of a conference in
1905 at the Jerome hotel in Columbia
! between Fielder, Towill, Evans and
; himself. He thought that Evans had
introduced him to Fielder. He said
that Fielder questioned him as to who
was going to run for the positions on
the dispensary board.
Fielder outlined a plan, stating
that he controlled several of the
, largest whiskey distilleries in Amer
lea and he wanted to get some busi-
ness IN South Carolina" said Boykin
Mr.. Boykin said that he left tn
room refusing to discuss tho an
offered by Fielder. 81 lards
told Towill that Fielder lot of
gall to come here and MAKE a propo-
sition like that" said the witness.
The witness denied that he knew Of
any State official receiving graft in
connection with the dispensary. He
. had heard Of some graft by the whis-
| key companies
! Boykin said that he had been called
, before the Blease commission He did
not give testimony, but made an affi-
davit, which was furnished to the leg
! islative committee. On question by
/ the committee he gave a list. so far
as he remembered, Of the reputable
liquor houses" Reverting to the Eel
. der letters and kilograms he said that
they merely asked for conference,
{ He said that he had never heard of a
row between Fielder and H. H. Evans.
The witness did not remember how
Hub" Evans received the alleged
proposition by Fielder to get business
, in South Carolina.
Does 1t come within your knowl-
| edge that money was ever paid to At
torney General Lyon or any other
State official?"
mo sir"
The witness denied that he had
ever received any money outside Of
. his salary.
Il would not doubt but that they
are the men Of highest honor. They
are upright" This statement was
made by Mr.. Boykin when asked as
to his opinion Of the members Of the
! Ansel commission. He thought them
to be competent men and we'll able to
wind up the affairs Of the dispensary.
II. H. Evans was recalled by the
committee. He continued his story
| Of the relation Of T. B. Fielder to the
I, State dispensary. He said that Fell
der was alleged to have become the
! owner Of the Sidney Lucas Whiskey
. company Of Nashville. He said that
during one conversation Fielder had
told him that he had his (EvansO
stock in the Sidney Lucas company
already paid for.
Evans said that he told Fielder that
the plan to form whiskey corpora
/ ton was impossible. because it would
have been impossible to place the
, goods" He said that the conversa-
, ton was after the conference in 1905.
| Evans told Of the conference in CO.
lumbia between Fielder, Towill, Boy
kin and himself. He said that they
all left the room together after Eel
der had outlined his scheme.
Evans said that he knew of 40 Of
ficer in the State of South Carolina
, that received any money in connec-
ton with the State jispensary other
| than the compensation allowed by
law. He said that he heard Of some
| rumOrs that gifts had been given He
tried all kinds of parliamentary
| ethics on me-" He stated that NJ. A.
/ Goodman had offered him "the cold
hard CASH to get business for a new
| company.
There is John Black. He has been
pardoned, he is free to come up here
| and testify. Ask him about these
matters" Evans said he kicked NJ. A.
Goodman down some steps for Offer
ing a bribe. He said that Goodman
afterwards received some business. All
whiskey, he said, was bought on re-
question of the commissioner Of the
diSpensary. Evans was questioned by
sented by Goodman.