The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-09
GAME WARDEN INQUIRY.
RICHARDSON GIVES HIS SIDE OF
CASE.
RichaivlsOn Blames "Disgruntled vi.
OiatOrs Of Law" for the Action
Against Him.

| CoiumDia, Feb. 6.-The sensation
Of the Richardson investigation this
afternoon occurred, when the defend.
ant, A. A. Richardson. former chief
game warden, quoted a letter from
j. p. Gray, manager of the local Wes-
tern Union Telegraph office, under
date of today, asserting that the tele-
grams introduced by Gov. Manning
yesterday, and alleged to have been
charged to the State, had already been
paid for by former chief game war
den by personal check. Mr. Richard
son gave his testimony this afternoon
In reply to the governors statement
OF yesterday.
MY recollection is that the entire
bill. including game warden tele-
grams and your personal kilograms"
said a paragraph of the letter, was
presented to you by our collector from
your successor; that you went over
the list and checked off all of the
above mentioned kilograms as being
personally due by you. and the same
has been paid for by you by your per-
sonal check. the State never having
paid for any of the kilograms men
toned above"
There was considerable sparring be-
tween Mr.. Richardson and the gov
ernor's attorney. r. Beverly Herbert,
Esq, of Columbia, when the latter at
tempted to have the records of Mr..
Richardson's office turned over to the
committee. which ruled that It did not
have the authority to compel pro-
duction OF the records but could only
request them to be brought in when
some specific point at issue was to be
investigated through them. Mr.. Rich
ardson attested his willingness to turn
over the books but would not give
specific replies to series of general
questions asked by Mr.. Herbert, who
was endeavoring to bring out the point
as to whether or not the records con-
tained all the settlements made out
of court.
Mr.. Herbert attempted q little bit of
"camoufiage" when he asked Mr..
Richardson IL the former game war;
den could show by his annual report
anything about the cases Of William
Thompson, Of Sumter. in 1915, and
William Harris. OF Florence, In 1916.
Mr.. Richardson replied that his repor,
was silent on the two cases. Mr.. Her
bert explained later on In the cross
that both were fictitious;
that he was merely trying to see if
Mr.. Richardson's records were accu-
rate.
Then he asked about the case of
Nj. B. Hutchinson. of Richland coun.
ty, whose case was alleged to have
been compromised in 1916. Mr.. Rich
ardson could not find this case in his
report for that year, but claimed to
recollect the circumstances. He said
that Game Warden Sloan, of Char
lesion. had arrested Mr.. Hutchinson
and others for violating the game
laws and they desired their names
suppressed. and that this Mr.. Hutch.
inson consented to. putting the case in
the name Of one OF the party and al
lowing the others to put up cash bond
which they forfeited. Mr.. Richard
son said that he had the record of this
case somewhere in his office and con-
sented to search for it. at the request
Of Mr. Herbert.
AS the former game warden had to
go through n mass of records, as he
explained. 1t would take some time
to find specific item. In the interim
the investigation committee decided to
adjourn until tomorrow afternoon al
$40 o'clock. when the probe will be
resumed with Mr.. Richardson under
cross examination.
The investigation is creating a grea.
deal Of interest. as was attested by
the large gathering that crowded the
senate chamber this afternoon for the
hearing.
In answering the charges Of the
governor, that the Audubon Society
had been packed in behalf Of the
former game warden. Mr.. Richard
son read what he said were the min
utes of the society. held on December
20, 1916, and prepared by Miss Belle
Williams, who said that the name OF
Mr.. Richardson had been endorsed
for reappointment and she was in
structed to send 1t to the governor.
He claimed that the only two new
names presented to the society for
membership at this meeting were his