The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-04-10
DLEASE'S CHARGES
AGAINST LYON And OTHERS Be.
ING INVESTIGATED.
SEVERAL MEN TESTIFY

Ssessrs. James Stackhouse and James
Y. Wallace, Members OF the Blease
Winding Up Commission, Tell
What They Know, and Admitted
Their Board Did Not DO So.
The Legislative Committee appoint
ed 10 investigate the charges made
b. Governor Blease agains. the Attor-
ney-General and the Ansei Winding
Up Commission. resumed its work on
Wednesday. The first witness called
at the morning session was James
Srackhouse, the chairman of the
Blease win5ing-up commission. He
is resident OF Mullins. He was
asked by the committee as 20 efforts
to wind up the affairs Of the dispen-
sary. He said that the report would
show the work. He was asked as to
the contract with B. L. Abney to
wind up the affairs Of the d;s2ensary.
He said that the commission was IN
able to secure any other attorney to
90 the work. He told Of employing
Attorney Holman Of Charleston and
the payment Of $500 retainer fee.
What Stackhouse Said.
The witness said that the commis-
sion was forced to give the contract
for the work to B. L. Abney by Attor-
ney General Lyon. The witness ad-
nitted that he had not attended
many meetings He thought that the
contract with Abney was similar to
the Fielder contract. 4 resolution by
the Blease commission authorizing
Attorney General Lyon to proceed
with the settlement Of the Richland
Cistil]ing company and 70 employ as
sistant counsel was read. The reply
of Attorney General Lyon to the
commission was read. in which it was
pointed out that the commission had
ample power to ascertain the facts in
the case OF the Richland Distilling
company and that when the proper
testimony had been gathered that he
would give his cooperation in the set
element Of the case.
eve had 10 alternative" said the
witness with reference to the employ
ment Of B. L. Abney.
Mr.. StockhoUse was questioned
with reference TO the contract with
the American Audit company being
paid by the State and not by the An
de-son, Fielder, Roultree, and Will
son law firm OF Atlanta. He thought
that the firm should pay the audit
COMPANY if they benefited by it. He
was asked il the contract had not
been made before the contract with
Fielder. Mr.. stackhouse was asked
many questions as to the relative
merits between the Fielder and Abney
contracts. He was asked why it was
not JUS to charge the expense Of au-
aiting to the A5ney contract if il was
lust to charge the same expense to
the Fielder contract. The witness
said that ne did not consider them to
be parallel cases.
did the attorney general offer his
services in assisting in winding up
the affairs of the dispensary?"
in a general way" replied the
witness.
I'VE felt that the attorney general
vas not with u.s." continued the wit
ness.
"In what PARTICULAR
"By his general deneanor he did
rot appear to be in sympathy with
Us" said the witness.
did YOU consult personally with
the attorney general concerning the
employment OF Abney?"
The witness said he did not know.
He said that Attorney General Lyon
had appeared by Invitation before the
commission and discussed all phases
If the Richland DistiN;ng case.
Demeanor of Lyon.
Mr.. Scackhouse said that the ode
n,eanor-of Lyon" had led him to GER
tain conclusions He thought that
Lyon had mot been the same"
II was shown by the questions ask
ed by the committee that Attorney
General Lyon had never refused to
give assistance when called upon by
The Blease commission.
Mr.. Stackhouse was questioned
closely By the committee with refer
ence to the employment Of Attorneys
Holman and Abrey. The witness ad-
mitted that the act required that
counsel for the commission be ap-
orored by the attorney general. He
a7so said that Attorney Holman was
employed without the consent OF
Lvon. Holman received $500 from
he commission. The witness referred
periodically in his testimony to the
strained relations with Attorney
General Lyon" He thought that the
commission had received letter stat
ing that counsel could not be employ
e without his consent.
.Do YOU know the members OF the
Ansel commission?'
"I know John McSween and would
5e glad 20 pay him a tribute for
honesty and integrity" replied the
witness. He said that he had known
N-. NcSween from boyhood. He
though, J. Steele Brice to De Ger
rattle He did not know the other
members.
"Thev had mighty little to do IN
winding Up the djspeDsary. 1t was
the LAWYERS" said the witness with
reference to the work OF the Ansel
commission. He, however, thought
hey might he capable business men
"T don't feel that the old commits
sion did Us any harm. salo the VIZ
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