Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-07
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1912.

dorsed some native son" in the va
rious contests for state Offices
- Columbia, May 5: Governor Blease
In letter addressed to every sheriff
In South Carolina, calls on them lu
seize all contraband liquor which is
sold by United States officers, as con-
traband, as soon as IL is in the hands
Oh the purchaser. This action of the
governor is taken following the decis-
ion of Federal Judge Smith that Unit
ed States revenue officers have a
right to sell liquor seized by them I'm
this state at public auction, as was
done by Deputy Scruggs at Walhaila
recently. The letter Of the governor
follows: IF at any time an agent or
officer of the United States govern
ment advertises that he Is going to
have a sale Of whisky at any point
within your community, you are here
by directed and commanded to be per-
sonally present at the place Of the said
sale, and when the same takes place,
and the contraband whisky, which is
sold as such by the United. States gov
ernment, Is delivered to the purchaser,
you seize Immediately the said whisky,
beer, wine or other alcoholic liquors,
under and in accordance with the pro-
visions Of the laws Of the state of
South Carolina 1t may be lawful for
an officer Of the United States govern
ment to sell whisky within the state Of
South Carolina otherwise than Is pro-
vided by our state laws (but for one
do not believe IT'D however, we will
bow to the decision Of the court until
reversed, but when the United States
government sells this whisky ETC., he
who purchases 1t, becomes the owner OF
and in possession Of contraband Ii
quors, which is prohibited by our
statute laws, because IL 1t were not
|contraband the United States govern
ment would not be selling it; for, they
seize 1t as such. Therefore, under the
law of our state, when the whisky, or
other intoxicating liquors Is delivered
to the purchaser he then becomes the
owner and Is in possession Of the con-
traband. In direct violation Of our stat
ute laws. Therefore, when the United
States government officers make their
sale, as soon as the stuff Is put into
the hands Of the purchaser, you are
hereby directed and commanded to i'm
mediately seize 1t as contraband, and
II any action Is brought against you,
either civil or criminal, you will i'm
mediately communicate with this Office
and / will take proper steps to ha,
your interests protected. Do not fail
in this matter. / desire no conflict
between the state and the United
States government, but / do not pro-
pose to allow the flooding of this state
with whisky under q pretense of law.
when these government seizures are
sold the goods will be purchased and
resold by blind tigers throughout the
state, which know Is prohibited by our
statute laws. and the United States
government should not lend its assist
ance, through its officers to any such
illegal or Illicit traffic and / do not
propose to stand for 1t so far as / am
concerned. Therefore, when the sale
Is made and the stuff is delivered into
the hands Of the purchaser, seize your
prisoner for having in his possession
|contraband whisky, and also seize the
goods as contraband, and hold both un-
til they be released by due process Of
law. Failure on your part to carry
out these instructions will be dealt
with in no uncertain way. We desire
no conflict, but the dignity Of the law
of this state must be preserved and
will be-"