The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-07-18
DISpENSARY
INVESTIGATION
The Legislative Investigating
Committee Examining Into
Graft-Felder Testifies

Columbia last Wednesday, but
only one witness appeared.
Did you or any member OF
your firm with your knowledge
at any time ever pay any money
to any liquor constable or any
officer charged with the enforce
ment of the dispensary law in
consideration of immunity to be
granted to you?''
Mr.. Sottile declines to answer
the question upon the ground
that the answer may tend to in
criminate him.
This answer was given by E.
W. Hughes, attorney for Albert
,Sottile of Charleston, before the
legislative committee. that is
investigating the affairs of the
old State dispensary Wednes-
day. The answer was given by
the attorney for Sottile in reply
to O final question by the COM
lnittee as to Sottile's knowledge
Of the whiskey situation in
Charleston, Mr.. Hughes raised
the question of the right of the
committee to investigate the
whiskey situation in Charleston.
The committee adjourned
Wednesday afternoon at 3
o'clock until Thursday morning
at 10 O clock in Augusta, when
the testimony Of T. B. Fielder.
the Atlanta attorney, will be
taken. The meeting in Angus
ia will be held in the Richmond
county court house, beginning
at 10 O, clock:
The absence Of material wit
nesses was the feature of the
session of the legislative COM
mittee here Wednesday, The
Dominion of Canada claimed at
least one witness. Others We're
said to be enjoying the cool air
of the mountains Of western
North Carolina and some SEEM
ed to have eluded personal con-
tact With the officers of Charles
ton county. The first witness
to take the stand at the morn
i.ig session was Albert Sottlle OF
Charleston. The feature of his
testimony was II don't remem-
Der. l don't know''-answers
to nearly every question asked.
His attorney. E. W. Hughes of
Charleston, was present and
raised many objections.
Among the witnesses sum-
m oned for the session YESTERDAY
were Santos Sottile, W. H.
Behrens, J. Henry Doscher,
Albert Sottile, James S. Far
mum, J. T. B. O'Neill and
Wallace K. Harley, y roll
call of the witnesses showed
that only Albert Sottile and W.
K. Harley were present.
Mayor Grace of Charleston
was present at the hearing. Ife
asked for permission to make a
statement which was granted.
He said that previous testimony
had been given before one of
the old djspensarY commissions
to the effect that there was a
system of fning Illicit whiskey
dealers in Charleston: He said
that the system had been insti-
tuted by Mayor Rhett several
years ago and that each dealer
was fined $500 year or $50
every three months. He said
that he approved the system as
instituted by Mr.. Rhett and
that since he had become mayor
he had more strictly enforced
The system. He declared that
the money thus derived was
turned into!the treasury Of the
city OF Charleston. He invited
an investigation of the affairs
and asked that any grafs charg'
es il connection with his ad-
ministration be probed:
When the committee held a
meeting IN Charleston several
weeks ago John J. Miller !testl.
fled that he had heard that a
man by the name of Harley
was the agent used in bringing
the whiskey graft money from
Charleston to the governors
office. Wallace K. Farley was
summoned to appear before the
committee Yesterday. He ad
imitted th:-t he was engaged il
the whiskey business, but denied
knowledge of graft. - re
men2he:.,si. yety little in con
inection With his business. HI
said that he did not even know
the constabulary of Charleston