The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-12-20
Lexington Is Not
The Worst County

great injustice by the ,socalled infor-
nation given out at the governors Of
| fec last Friday in reference to whis-
key raids conducted in Lexington last
Thursday. Two statements COM
ing from thet etgovernor's office arc al
legged to be misleading. They are
"that the county Is probably the
worst in the state for law violations"
and that the officers of the law did
not cooperate with tho consta blcs.
The facts in the case are: The con-
stables arrived in Lexington shortly
before noon last Thursday and went
Immediately to Sheriff ROOFS office.
tkhegnot having advance information OF
ltheT. coming, and plans were agreed
lSNpon FOR the raids. The sheriff was
asked FOR additional men to help IN
1.-THE work. and ut the time only ono
rural policeman was il. town, and he
Ewas in attendance at court. where hc
was an interested party and 4 ma
terial witness, and could not leave nj
the time. Sheriff Roof went to the
! place assigned him for one raid and
when that was completed, and moth
ing found, he took an nctivc part in
| the raid at the Harmon Drug store
and later accompanied the constables
| TO several places in the county where
no Shine" was found. The officers
did their duty.
/ Tho county is probably the wors,
N the state for law violations" There
We're six raids conducted here last
Thursday. and onl., a. one place was
Whiskey found. II half-pints in all.
The constablcs reported an additional
.Rallon. but il is said the can they
claimed contained wlrlskey was filled
with wood or denatured alcohol. The
Facts do not bear 3ou, the. statement,
that thu county is9thc .'wors, In the
l5state.''5 - - ~
Whtn seen after. the Hrticlc was
published inS.vThc State. Saturday.
Sheriff Roof said: -..'
;, ,ttAt the conference in my office
just before the raids we:c started
was asked to so to certain place and
prevent anyone from entering or iaav-
ing. until the raid had been ctm-
pletcd. This did. When this ru. d
was completed wc.i, with the con-
stables to the Harmn Drug store. and
TOOK an active part in the work there.
Later IN tho day I ..ccomnaniud the
constablcS to severe. other places and
took an active par, in III ;hr searches
made.
IT il alleged tina: "" officers are
not doing our duty. have been
making raids on huuticSrcrs and still.
In All parts OF the county sine. I hav.
held the office. and last May l went
TO the governor ana asked for help
IN enforcing the prohibition laws In
this county. AZ that time thu gov
ernor informed me that The Statr was
short OF funds with which to civ, IN,
the desired assistance. and ] at thu;
time gave Constable Rogers !. check
with which to pay his expenses in
helpinE me 20 enforce The laws here
now have on III. The cancelled
check. All this happ"ncd in MAY.
and Thursday S the t'irsi appearance
OF Constable Rodi:nrx"
Sheriff Roof also stated ,ha; he vr-
ceived letter from Constable. Rod
gers on June Il. III which thc~cou-
stable told the sheriff: Let me work
in my way and see what ,h,. results
VIII be Al th,st time TIM constable
promised TO do th"5 sheriff some
good"
Sim j Miller. who was mentioned
IN the governors statement. sad ,h,t
his garage wax not searched Thurs
dhy and that the corstables did no:
visit his home. He also stated that
ne did not know where potce got the
WhiSkcy which he sold the ronstonIcs
The constablcs returned TO Lexington
Saturday and raitlcd the home of Sim
j. Miller and also h.s garage, but did
not lind any whskcy At either place
They also visited several n,hrr r,,c.e
but 10 no avtl.
Rural Policeman Frcshicy. who. the
conGtablcS charge refused ;n ,cco,n
pany the officers to the caraSN oc
Mr.. Miller. was IN Interested party
and material witness in the judge of