The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-21

cided 10 summon the three men named
and others to appear in Columbia at
an early date Members of the COM
mittee tonight expressed the opinion
that the testimony of the three would
furnish the connecting link with all
of the testimony presented. The wit
nesses were put up by Mayor Grace to
prove his charge that graft had been
traced practically up to the governors
Office.
Paid to Stothart.
The testimony was given to prove
that the graft money had been paid to
B. H. Stothart, chief constable in South
Carolina. Louis Schmonses, appearing
before the committee, stated very
frankly that he was blind tiger"
and that he was engaged in the whis-
kew business because there was more
money to be made. He declared en-
phatically that he had been paying $40
a month as protection money to a
member of the firm Of the Marion
Stock company, whiskey corporation.
He said that he went to Ben Stothart
and told him that $40 was too much
and that he was not able to pay it.
The amount he said was reduced to
$3.50.
did you pay Stothart any money!"
asked the committee. "The money
was placed in Stothart's hand. plac-
ed it there myself" said the witness.
This was the most direct charge made
before the committee.
j. M. Strickland appeared at the af-
ternoon session and asked to explain
that it was his brother mentioned in
the Miller affidavit, and not himself.
He told of operating a whiskey place
near Charleston and charged that he
had been paying Henry Doscher $40
a month to keep the whiskey consta-
bles away.
+ He testified that for his brothers
grocery store, where whiskey was
sold. he paid various amounts for pro
lection to Doscher, O'Neil and lessen.
all said to be whiskey wholesalers. He
said that the constables, after taking
a couple of bottles of cold beer would
go right on
Louis Schmonses gave testimony for
more than one hour.
Produe eed Check.
He told of paying graft. He said,
81 paid the money into his hands. He
promised me protection. The trans
action took place in Stothart's Office"
Schmonses also produced a check for
$3.50 to show that he had paid the
protection money to the Marion Stock
company. James Crocker, a former
State constable under Stothart and
now city detective of Charleston, was
the next witness. He told of the ru-
mors of graft in Charleston. Croker
said that because he raided several
wagons he was put out of the way be-
ing commissioned to work at Barn
we'll by the governor. One Of the wa
CONS raided, he said, belonging to San
to Sottile, Crocker said that Theodore
Mappus, a blind tiger, told him that
the graft money from Charleston was
being divided between Gov. Blease,
Crocker and Stothart.
Crocker said that while on visit
to Columbia and just before he was
ordered to go to Barnwell, that A. W..
Todd met him there and told him that
he should go on to Barnwell for he
would be able to make much in that
town. The witness here referred to
the Miller statement that Stohart had
stated that Gov. Blease had promised
him a pardon to put Miller out of the
way for knowing too much about the
Charleston liquor situation.
As to That Promise.
do you remember a conversation
with Capt. John Black, coming back
from Columbian" This question was
asked Crocker by Senator Carlisle,
with reference to the promised pardon
statement. eyes, SIR" said Crocker.
Capt. Black said he was going to
see Cole. Blease and make him put me
back to work. went on to the train
to meet him and Chief Stothart came
out behind me- Some one said Todd