The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-02-27
REPORT ON THE
GAME WARDEN CASE

! Columbia, Feb. 21.-ASenators john
stone and McCown, of the senate ill.,
vestigation committee, in a majority
report made public tonight, white
wash Governor Manning's charges
against former Chief Game Warden
Richardson, and condemns Colonel
Richardson in severa | particulars.
Senator Williams, of Lancaster, in a
minority report, finds the most SER
lous of the governors charges unsus-
tanned in effect and "that nothing was
produced before the committee tp as
sail the personal integrity of Mr..
Mr.. Richardson, nor tending to show
corruption in office. "The majority
report does not contend that the evil
dencc showed any "fraud or misappro-
prlatlon of funds" and states that the
governor himself said to the commit
tee that he did not so charge.
The majority finds that the evil
dence showed that Governor Man.
ning's charge that Richardson's rec
ommendation by the Audubon Society
tor reappointment was brought about
by "the admission of about fifty new
members to the society,"" is sustained,
insofar as it relates to friends of Mr..
Richardson. Senator Williams holds
that the charge is sustained "only to
. the extent that friends ana support
ers of Richardson engaged in he
stated activities with his knowledge
and consent" and that "the COVER
nor's present appointce to the posi-.
ton of chief game warden invoked the
same methods"
Ihe majority finds that the charge
that, Richardson's deputies made il
legal COLLECTIONS of money with his
approval "is sustained by the produc
ton of letters" and "by oral state
mcnts made by the governor before
the committee" Senator Williams
points out that practically all these
tines were collected from nonresidents
who had violated the game laws of
TINS state, and preferred to give and
forfeit cash bond :..:.thcr than 90
into the courts" that it was further
shown that Mr.. Richardson relied up-
on an opinion from the attorney gen
crals office, exercised such authority
III only rare and exceptional cases,
ana that IN the cases cited it was
found that the money was prcDerlv
turned over to the state treasury.
The majority finds that Richardson
eNc1+dIi his expense account, as
charged by the governor. end that
,Such records as were presented in
d!c&tcG that the office was loosely
run and the records kept with lack
or regularity" going on to say, how
ever. That the governor stated that
he dld not charge fraud or misappro
prlatlon of funds, and that the COVER
nor hlmS2if had stated to the COM
mlttcc that upon later inquiry Of the
state auditor, he had learned that the
item Tor upkccp of automobiles, really
inc principal item i'm the matter, chad
been paid by Mr.. Richardson ont of
his own private funds, and asked that
corrcct!on be made ii lis prnsonta-
ton to the committee" Senator Will
ilams finds that the charge of exceed
ihE Inc expense account is sustained,
DGt It vas pointed cut ut the hnn-
iLE that after the passage of the
county license law" the activities of
inc department were greatly enlarged
and the expense proportionatcly in
creased; that the expense was less
than $500, made by Mr.. Richardson's
under an opinion from the attorney
generals office and that "thc reason
ablcncsS of this excess expenditure is
"EoWn by tn fact that the present
chlcf game warden has asked for and
received at the hands of the lcgisla
turc an expense allowance of 81 800
OF, $500 more than the Richardson to-
tai, including the "excess."
AS to lobbying, the majority sus-
laihS inc governors charges as to
General lobbying, which, it SAYS, was
sin effect admitted by Mr.. Richard.
son. Senator Williams finds there
was no testimony produced before
the committee, however, to show that
the lobby was unusual or pcrnicious
IN its character" but that Richardson