Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-06-21
GRAFT IN CHARLESTON.
investigating Committee Hears Some
Interesting Testimony.

Interesting Testimony.
Testimony tending to show whole
sale graft in connection with the
Charleston whisky situation was CIV
en- before the legislative investigating
committee, which held two long work.
ing sessions here today and tonight,
says a Charleston special Of Wednes-
day to the Spartanburg Herald. The
committee adjourned tonight to meet
next in Augusta on July 8, when the
testimony of T. B. Fielder, the Atlanta
attorney, will be taken.
do you remember conversation
with Capt. John Black, coming back
from Columbian" This question was
asked James Crocker, former consta-
BILE, by Senator Carlisle with reference
to the promised pardon statement.
"Yes, SIR" said Crocker. Captain
Black said he was going to see Cole
Blease and make him put me back to
work. I went on to the train to meet
him and Chief Stothart came out be-
there. Black was complaining OF hav-
ing q very severe headache. Miller
said let's go by a place and get a coca
cola. Miller told me that something
was wrong with Black. He said I'll
get away Black and went on up.
He said you go prepared. I asked,
what's the matter? He said, true
Ben Stothart is drunk, but he told me
coming down on the train that he had
been instructed by the governor that
| II he would dispose Of you and John
Miller he would pardon him."
"Is this the same Black who was
convicted for grating In dispensary
matters and pardoned by the govern
or" asked Representative Evans.
"Yes, sir" replied Crocker.
Testimony Of the same character
was given In the affidavit Of ]. ]. Mil
ler.
Man after man Of various national
tiles, appearing before the committee
at the different sessions, openly and
unblushingly admitted that they were
blind tigers and that they were vio-
lating the law.
The system Of collecting protection
money" was carefully outlined by the
various witnesses. It was shown by
the testimony that there is system
something like the following in exis-
tence in Charleston: The blind IT,
ger" buys his whisky from the whole
sale dealer and pays sums ranging
from IS to $40 a month for the whole
saler to protect him from the state
whisky constables, who are working
under the direction Of Cole L. Blease,
the governor. Testimony presented
today was to the effect that many of
the dealers had paid the hush mt
ey." In several instances the alleged
graft was traced to we'll known whole
sale dealers whose names were given.
These witnesses said that the protec-
tion fund was in turn delivered to
the whisky constables.
Various witnesses appearing charg-
ed that they had paid this protection
fund.-" to ]. Henry Doscher, Santos
Sottile and P. ]. Oneill, all said to be
we'll known whisky dealers Of Charles
ton.
Every effort was made by the COM
mittee to subpoena these men, but II
was found that they had left the city.
This report was made tonight to the
committee by the sheriff Of Charles
ton county The committee decided
to summon the three men named and
others to appear in Columbia at an
early date. Members of the committee
tonight expressed the opinion that the
testimony of the three would furnish
the connecting link with all Of the
testimony presented. The witnesses
were put up by Mayor Grace to prove
his charge that graft had been traced
practically up to the governors office.
The testimony was given to prove
that the graft money had been paid to
B. II. Stothart, chief constable in
South Carolina. Louis Schmonzes, ap-
pearing before the committee, stated
very frankly that he was a blind IT,
ger" and that he was engaged in the
whisky business because there was
more money to be made. He declared
emphatically that he had been paying
$40 a month as protection money to
member of the firm Of the Marion
Stock company, a whisky corporation.
He said that he went to Ben Stothart
and told him that SO was too much
and that he was not able to pay 1t.
The amount, he said, was reduced to
$3.50 after Stothart had told him that
inability to pay was one thing and re-
fusal another thing. did you pay
Stothart any money!" asked the COM
mittee. THE money was placed in
Stotharts hand. placed It there my
SELF" said the witness. This was the
most direct charge made before the
committee that graft had passed to
the chief constable Of the state.