The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-07-24

Isle, which the witness did not wish
to answer on the ground that it might
incriminate him,but which the COM
mittee announced they would insist
on, as this is not a criminal case
O'Neill departed to secure the SER
vices of an attorney.
He said that he had been in the
grocery business and the iainl and
ice business, but declined 20 answer
as to whether or rot he had been in
the liquor business OH the ground
that it might incrmnrte him. lie
too, was given PERMISSION to relirc
and consult his attorney, who was al
10 Mr.. w. S. Nelson.
Mr.. Nelson, after consultation with
his clients, announced that he had
great confidence in his position that
the committee was outside it sscope
in taking this testimony, and that the
witnesses did not want to testify un-
less they had to. His second ground
was that witness should not beforced
to answer on ground thatit might in
criminate him. He asked that they
! be given time toi test the matter Of
the authority of the commission In
order to get the matter right up to
the point, Chairman Carlisle asked
Mr.. O'Neill the question "if he had
at any time collected any money in
Charleston end paid any constables
graft for immunity" and the witness
declining to answer on the ground
that the question might incriminate
him, the committee reserved it's de-
cision.
Declines to Answer
Witness said he knew ]. ]. Miller,
that he worke with him in the Mar
ion Stock company, and Miller had
been in business for himself. Said he
had endorsed a note for Miller and
said he had never paid him any mon
ey for "protection" for himself, but de
clined to answer If Miller had paid
him protection" for anyone else, as
he was of the opinion that question
might incriminate him. Never saw
anybody else pay any money for pro
lection, and didn't want to answer
the question # he had hc.ri anybody
say they had paid "urotection' as he
thought it might incrimlna.e him.
Said he had heard others Say they mad
paid paid "protection; but didn't
want to answer on ground that 1t
mightincriminate some one else.
You are not here to represent the
constitutional guarantees OF the en-
tire city of Charleston" said the
chairman, and told him to answer
Said he had seen others pay "protec-
tion;" but didn't want to answer as
"it was discriminating to somebody"
Said Mr.. Strickland said he paid MT:
: 7. ]. Miller money for protection
from the State constables Of which B.
H. Stothart was chief. Said Mr..
Strickland said he gave SIS for protec-
ton. Said Mr.. Strickland was run
ming a grocery and was in the liquor
business. Said he did not hear much
about money being paid to constables
for "protection' until about ~
months ago.
"Is that discriminating to me?' The
witness would ask the chairman every
time question was asked and before
he would answer. Said a Mr.. Wind
ham told him he paid $5 month TO
the constables for protection.
did you ever hear Stothart say
ANYTHING about this payment for pro-
| tectlOn was dShSu " A>Ciii, e-o
visible reluctance and delay the wit
ness said, 81 am trying to rememoer
what the words were. I don't remem,
Der them exactly" Finally ONelli
declined to answer on the ground that
it might iccriminate him. He SAID
he never recollected lending money to
Stothart, and never heard him say
that he had received any.
What Protection Meant
! Witness was asked to define what
he meant by protection" and he said
he understood that when Mr.. Strick-
land had paid protection" before the
constables would raid they would no.
tify him. "If l would say lhad heard
them say they had paid money Tor
protection" wouldn't it incriminate
me, for how do you know they didn t
nay it to me?" asked O'Neill amid
laughter when pressed for informa'
I ton a sto having hearl anybody else
say they paid money, witness sald'
I'VE are here looking out for our
selves and didn't discuss this question
at the table, for it was too unpleas-
ant" said O'Neill, denying that ne
had talked over this matter with Has
selmyer.