The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-03-26
DISPENSARY AFFAIRS
STILL UNDER PROBE
DISPENSARY PROBERS REPLY TO
"WHITEWASHING" CHARGE.
Noting Governors Criticism in New
berry Interview, Committee Re-
news Invitation.

were WnlteNdSu4uS IIS4A 4A4SAiN9
and devoting their time to attempting
to find something to discredit him and
his administration, the dispensary in
vestigating committee made reply late
this afternoon. Acser receiving the
governors refusal to appear before
the committee and submit his proofs
and evidence, which he says he has,
and of the governors refusal to turn
over the Fielder letters, the committee
saws that the governor can hardly be
serious in his statement that the COM
mittec is attempting to 'whitewash.' "
BIease Again Invited.
They recite the governors repeated
refusal to assist the committee, but
renew their invitation to him to come
forward and give out what he knows,
The committee says it is attempting to
probe without fear and without favor.
To this end the committee invites any
citizen o. South Carolina, who has
any knowledge Of any one who has
had criminal or unquestionable con-
rection with the late dispensary, or
who suspects any one Of any knowl-
edge of unlawful acts to come for
ward are assist the committee in
probing into everything! Governor
Blease is included in this invitation,
and the committee states that they
would be very glad to have the cover
1or present any proof or evidence he
D,Sy have,
"ShOw Down" Has Come.
The "show down" has come and the
committee issues the invitation
boardcast. Their next meeting will
be on April 3, at II a. M, in the State
house library, and any one who can
throw light on the dispensary matters
is asked to be on hand then and be
ready to give the committee his in
formation. 'The investigation is 60
ing to be thorough and will be with
out fear and without favor was a !
statement which sums up the attitude
of the committee.
Next Session April 5.
The dispensary Investigating com
mittee has taken a recess until April
8. in order to allow the Blease wind
ing-up commission to make their final
report, which must be in by March
%, so that the committee can examine
them at their next hearing. An expert
accountant has been employed to check
the books of the Ansel commission
and the Blease commission, and the
report of the accountant will be con-
sidered at a later meeting of the in
yestigation committee. The decision
to take a recess for two weeks was
decided on at an executive session of
the committee this afternoon, follow
ing the examination of witnesses.
Agreement With Blocks.
The chief feature brought out at the
session of the committee this morning
was the statement by Mr.. B. L. Abney
that the Blocks, of Macon, Ga, had
paid $12,50O as their part Of the over
charges of the Richland Distiling COM
pany, in which they were stockhold-
ers, and Of their agreement to pay $12,-
500 more when the indictment against
them, now pending at Chester, was
mol pressed. Mr.. Abney was employ
ed by the Blease commission to col
lect the overcharges due the State
from the Richland Distilling company
on a basis of the Fielder contract, 80
per cent. of the amount collected to
go to Mr.. Abney as his commission.
Other witnesses examined at the
session today were Henry Samuels, of
Chester, former liquor drummer who
escaped prosecution by turning States
evidence; w. @, Tatum, former dis
pensary commissioner who is under
Indictment in the label case;;" Sena-
tor w. ]. Johnson, of Fairfield; and
former Editor Edmunds, of the Fair
field News. All of the members of
the investigating committee were
present with the exception Of Sena-
tor Clifton, of Sumter.
Ex.EditOr Edmunds on Stand.
G. P. Edmunds, of Ridgeway, for
mer editor of the Fairfield News, was
the first witness. Mr.. Edmunds said
that while he was editor no statement
appeared in his paper that jim Far