The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-03
BARNWELL BOARD CASE.
MEMBERS DENY CHARGES
BROUGHT CONCERNING BUS
MESS OF DISPENSARY.
Hearing Before Governor Manning
Arguments by Attorneys Will be
Heard March 4-NO More Tcsti-
mOny.

mOny.
Columbia, Feb. 25.-Hearing on
tho order for the members of the
Barnwell dispensary board to show
cause why they should not be remov-
ed from office was begun today before
Coy. Richard l. Manning. The hear
ing, which was held in the Supreme
Court room, was attended by half
hundred citizens OF Barnwell county.
The members of the board cited to
appear by the governor are: B. f.
Peoples, '. S. Ovens and s. A. Wise
The first session was begun at IL
o'clock and ended at o'clock. Dur
ing the afternoon several witnesses
were examined. Gov. Manning made
it clear that his order was issued up.
on alfidavits submitted.
! II want 10 arrive at the facts.
don't want to have technicalities in
jected into the case," said Gov. Mar
ming.
Many affidavits were read at the
hearing by both sides.
The attorneys for the dispensa-y
board read affidavits denying each and
every charge preferred in the govern
or's order.
The attorneys for the prosecution
withdrew the charge of "habitual
drunkenness" which had been brought
against V. S. Owens, q member Of the
board. More than score of afIidavits
were read to disprove the charge that
Mr.. Owens was addicted to the use
of whiskey. The resolutions adopted
by the Barnwell bar Association and
the town council endorsing Mr.. Owens
were introduced as evidence.
The members Of the board in their
return denied that worthless goods
had been purchased for the dispen-
saries; that excessive prices had been
paid for whiskey; stated that the sail
ary of employees was entirely with
in the discretion Of the members; de-
MED that relatives had been knowing
ly appointed as dispensers ..... ....
we were greatly surprised at the
complaints and we do not fear to ap-
proach an investigation was the
statement contained in one of the af-
fidavits. @. '.- ....r.
L. l.. Tobin, clerk Of the board, de-
MED in an affidavit that worthless
goods had been purchased by the dis
pensary board. s, .t .. c.,..
t"FSeveral of the county dispensers
sent affidavits denying that they had
been furnished with unstable Ii
quor" by the dispensary board. ..
The report Of the special committee
of the grand jury, which praised the
work of the dispensary board, was
read at the hearing. The grand jury
recommended that the contract for
hauling whiskey be awarded by COM
petitivc bids, taking the position that
$500 a month, as paid now, is too
high.
Attorneys 70 rthe board objected to
the introduction of oral testimony. on
the ground that no, opportunity was
giNen to make answer.
Il can better arrive at the facts n
The case after hearing the testimony"
said Gov. Manning in reply to the at
torneys. The governor indicated that
he might permit the board to make
answer to any statements that the
witnesses might make.
w. |. Johns. member Of the special
committee of the grand jury appoint
cd to investigate the dispCnsary, was
the first witness at the hearing. He
took the stand Immediately after the
reading of the atfidavits. He substan-
tlated statments already made in his
aftldavits and gave information as to
unstable" whiskey furnished the
county dispensaries by the county
board.
Our report on the dispensaries was
farce We simply adopted the aud.
itor's report" said Mr.. Johns.
Alter long session tonight the
i5arnwell hearing was brought to a
close until March 4, when arguments
by attorneys will be heard. No new
testimony will be introduced.