Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, December 02, 1891, Image 1
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37. YOBKYILLE, S. C., VEDKE8DAY, DECEMBER 2, 1891. " 1STQ. 4=3.
THE MAN Wl'
BY W. C.
Whose Nom de Plum
-A-Uthoi* or "The U
[Copyright, 1891, by Cassell Publishing Co:
ment with
SYNOPSIS.
Chaptkh 1.?John Dorison, son of the
head of the house of Dorison ?fc Co., deceased,
returns after eight years of wandering
under a cloud, to the old home in
New York city. The basement is used as
a saloon, and stepping in Dorison makes
a chance acquaintance with Job Nettleman,
who knew the Dorisons in their
best days
Chapter 2.?Nettleman leaves the
saloon and in a few momonts blood is
seen trickling from the ceiling. The saloon
keeper and his customers rush to the
front stairway to reach the tioor above.
Dorison goes up the rear stairs and find a
a young woman weltering in blood. He
alio discovers a miniature portait of his
- - - > ?l.?
nuner ana a laminar nu( uu wc
both of which he secures. A scrap
of paper in the dead woman's hand ana
another on the floor are also taken and secreted.
The entry of detectives and police
?laoe him under suspicion. The room
i used as a oostumer's establishment by
Mme. Delamour.
Chapter 3.?Dorison, using the alias
James Dudley, calls on Dettleman to help
him conceal his identity. At Nettlemanrs
office be meets Simon Cathcart, a private
detective, who engages him to assist in
working up the murder case. Dorison's
lather died while writing the letter, which
apparently accused the son of grave
crimes. The scraps found in the costurner's
room are in the handwriting
of Dorison, senior, and appear to relate
to the subject broached in the unfinished
letter.
Chapter 4.?Madame Delamour, the
costumer, is Mrs. Farisb. Cathcart goes
to her private house and finds that she has
been murdered in the same manner as
the young woman in the oostumer's shop.
The latter was Mrs. Farish's daughter
Annie. A mysterious young man called
on the Farish's at intervals, and on his
last visit went away angry. Cathcart finds
a man's glove near Mrs. Farish's body.
Chapter 5.?Mystery in the Farish
house. Mrs. Farish assumed mourning,
Annie withdrew from society and a son
disappeared, all about the date of Dorison's
death. The glove found near Mrs. Farish's
body has an extraordinarily long
thumb.
Chapter 6.?Cathcart starts Dorison out
as a young inan of fashion to discover the
wearer of the glove with a long thumb.
Chapters 7 and 8.?Dorison saves a
young lady from being run down by a
carriage on Broadway. She is the daughter
of an old friend of his father, Mr.
Eustace.
Chapter 9.?Dorison protects a womau
from insult and arrest, and discovers a
man with a long thumb.
Chapter 10.?The man with the long
thumb is Charlie Eustace, brother of the
rescued girl.
Chapter 11.?Dorison dines with young
Eustace in a restaurant, while Cathcart
looks on and concludes that Eustace is the
man with the long thumb. A man believed
to be the myterious caller at the
Farish's is ''shadowed" as suspect No. 2.
Chapter 12.?The new suspect is Harry
Langdon, a dissipated young man who
has been in company with Annie Farish.
Chapter 13.?Harry Langdon was an
occasional caller at Farish's. Cathcart secures
a lancet |found on the floor of Mrs.
Farish's room after the murder. Langdon
associates with crooks.
Chapter 14.?Dorison learns that Charley
Eustace, though educated in surgery,
never owned an instrument, hence
the lancet was not his. Harry Langdon
has forced himself on the Eustace's
through the physician of the family, Dr.
Fassett, and is secretly intriguing with
young Dorothy Eustace.
. Chapter 15.?A close intimacy existed
in bygone years between the elder Eustace
and Dorison's father. Cathcart puts
Dorison an track.
CHAPTER XVL
BREAD FOUND AFTER MANY DAYS.
"IFho made uou the protector of the
ladyf"
Dorison saw nothing of Cathcart for
several days. In the meantime no opportunity
was presented him to have an
interview with the elder Mr. Eustace, so
that be might clear up the misunderstanding.
Monday came, and in pursuance of his
engagement he went to the Eustace residence
to escort Evelyn to the theater.
He was distinctly conscious, on arriving,
of an air of constraint in his reception,
though so far as the young lady herself
was concerned he could see no difference
in the graciousness of her manner.
At first he was disposed to attribute
everything to his imagination, until be
found that Mr. Eustace was in an adjoining
room, the doors of which were
open, and did not come forward to meet
him.
"1 shall be very frank with you, Mr.
Dudley," said Miss Eustace as they drove
from the door. "You have offended father
in some way."
"1 wish you would carry your frankness
further," said Dorison in return,
"and tell me in what way. 1 am conscious
of his change of demeanor without
being certain as to its cause."
"The strange thing is that while he
8bow8 his displeasure be refrains from
telling why. though Charley urged him
to do so."
"1 eau give no other reason than the
one 1 gave your brother."
"I know, Charley told me. But it is
not that Charley urged that to father,
but he dismissed it with u wave of his
band as not being of the slightest importance.
Of course he could uot find anything
in that fur displeasure, and if he
did,' would not refrain from telling if it
werti so. There is something else."
"Then 1 utterly at a loss. Believe
me, Miss Eustace. 1 am too fond of your
brother's friendship and too sensible of
the kindness shown me within your
household not to quickly 6eek, with an
apology, to repair any offense 1 may
have given, if I knew wherein it lay. 1
really hoped that before this would have
been apparent that I should have been
enlightened either by you or your
brother."
"It is something serious, Mr. Dudley,
and at one time Charley thought his invitations
would have to be recalled."
"So serious as that," said Dudley, thoroughly
understanding that in this tac- >
tical way Miss Eustace had made him j
understand her father had opposed fur- I
ther reception of himself at the house, '
and had yielded his position only upon
being convinced that persistence on his
part would result in embarrassment to
his son.
"He has come to believe 1 am John
Dorison figuring under an assumed
name?the disgraced son," he 6aid to
himself, "and not being certain does not |
wish to give it as a reason."
The thought troubled hiin, and he was |
not consoled by the other one occurring j
to him, that he had had, in the family I
difference, the active partisanship of !
Evelyn and Charley. The affair sobered j
bim so that it was with difficulty that he |
could shake off his despondency.
He made the effort with these words:
"1 will make a serious effort to dis- ,
cover the cause, Miss Eustace, and shall 1
do all that is proper for a man to do under
the circumstances."
He was certain that this assurance
gave the young lady much satisfaction,
and she became quite gay during the
rest of the short drive.
m a thumb]
HUDSON,
ig is Barclay North,
diamond Button."
i
mpany and published by special arrangetbein.]
At the theater they found the rest of the
party, and in the pleasure of the moment
Dorison forgot the unpleasant impressicu
that had been put upon him. He found 1
the young lady a delightful companion, j
and thought she carried about her the
same charm of personality possessed by
her brother. She was endowed with
that quality rarely possessed by a woman
?a keen appreciation of humor, and he
himself, for that evening, was subject lo
one of tiiose alternations men of a
melancholy and despondent nature are
at times. His gnyety swept up to high
spirits, dangerously near to boisterousness,
and be was conscious of a marked I
eudeavor to impress himself favorably \
upon the lady who was his companion.
He talked much at the supper after
the entertainment, which was not his
wont, and what was better, talked well, j
with a gay, capricious and whimsical ,
fancy; told humorous stories, showered
witticisms without stint, which were entirely
unpremeditated, and carried all
with him into bis own wild spirits.
"Upon my word, Dudley!" cried yonng
Eustace, "I never knew you in such a
mood before. If I had not been watching
your glass and noticed your moderation
I would have supposed you were obtaining
your inspiration from wine."
"You forget that I promised you solemnly
that I would not frighten your j
sister with despondency. What would ;
you? 1 have not a large assortment of j
moods at my disposal. Either deep j
despondency or high gayety. Tomorrow .
1 will have a wet towel around my heart
while you have it around your head."
"That is a base hint that 1 am indulging
in too much wine. I honestly be- j
lieve the slnr was thrown out to prevent i
me from describing the awfully despond- ;
ent mood he was in the last time I saw
him. Then he told me that be was in
sane, that he proposed to immolate me
upon the Bacrificial altar of a phantom !
he was pursuing, and in the most tragic
manner urged me to beware of himself." |
Dorison blushed and was disconcerted, |
but looking at Miss Eustace his thoughts i
were diverted, for he perceived an expression
of dislike and annoyance flit
across her face, and following her eyes
saw that Langdon had entered the room
and was ostentatiously bowing to her.
She did not respond except with a
haughty and well bred stare, though her
brother made a gesture as if to rise from
his chair.
Dorison laid his hand upon his knee.
"Do nothing, Charley; you cannot
resent the affront without a scene, and
the mere act of bowing is not sufficient."
"You are right. What an insufferable
bore it is that we should be haunted by
this fellow."
Langdon was accompanied by a young
man, and it was plain they were making
the Eustace party the subject of their
conversation. The incident, unimportant
as it was, the meaning of which,
however, was known to but Miss Eustace,
her brother and Dorison, threw a
damper upon the spirits of those who
had.-been the gayest, and soon all rose
from the table. As they crossed the
room it was necessary to pass near the
table at which Langdon was seated 'with
his companion.
Fearing that Langdon would attempt
to secure recognition, Dorison maneuvered
to get young Eustace in the lead of
the party, intending to bring up the rear
himself. His purpose was to prevent a
scene, if possible.
An ho nnHrMnntori IjAnfrdnn roue as
Miss Eustace approached, with a smile
intended to be engaging, ready to extend
his hand. Dorison quickly changed to
the side of Miss Eustace other than that
on which he was walking, thus bringing
himself between her and Langdon.
It was the work of a moment, and
stopping, he said sternly and menacingly:
"It should be plain to you, sir, the lady
does not desire to be recognized by you."
A flush overspread Langdon's face, and
his eyes shot forth an angry glance as he
said:
"My pretty fellow you ure making
debts for me to pay. You will have to
answer for this insult Who made you
the protector of the lady?"
"Common decency, when a loafer in
suits ner, repueu uunsun, uiikui^ vu
quietly, before Langdon could suy anything
further. Miss Eustace, l aving
penetrated his .purpose, had walked on
rapidly.
"Did that scoundrel attempt to 6peak
to you, Evelyn," Dorison heard young
Eustace ask, as he joined the party in
the vestibule.
"Yes," replied his sister, "butw a prevented
by Mr. Dudley."
"You are putting my sister and our
people in your debt rapidly. Dudley,"
6aid Eustace warmly.
"That he is indeed," echoed Evelyn,
glancing gratefully ut Dorison, in a manner
which brought to his mind vividly
the scene in the drug store on the day he
first met her.
"Strange," he said lightly. "But do
you know that Langdon said something
of the kind also."
Evelyn looked at him quickly in alarm
and exclaimed:
"I hope you will get into no trouble
by it."
"No fear," replied Dorison hastily. "1
shall really bo obliged to him if he will
be the cause of such interest in my well
being."
All this had passed rapidly as the carriages
were being called, and in a moment
more he was on his way with the
young lady, endeavoring to make her
forget the disagreeable contretemps by
his gay talk.
After leaving her at her house he went
straightway to his own rooms to dream
of violet eyes and golden hair, no matter
how unattainablo they seemed to be to
him.
The following morning on ai ising he
was handed a note, written hastily in
pencil:
"Will Mr. Dudley meet the lady ho
saved from being arrested, this morning,
at eleven, at the corner of Lexington
avenue and Thirtieth street, sharp. It's
for his good. Gratefully, his friend,
Bess."
Not a little astonished, and at first
deeming it to bo a foolish woman's effort
to hhn into an acouaiutance. and
moreover disgusted with it, lie determined
to ignore it. But on reflection he
thought there was something significant
in the fact that she had learned his
name, and he further remarked to himself,
engaged as he was in Buch a search,
he had no right to cast aside any incident,
however slight or insignificant or
improbable it might appear.
Hence he determined to meet her as
requested. As he had slept late, it was
already near the hour, and so doffing his
lounging jacket he prepared for the
street and set out for the trysting place,
as he laughingly termed it.
The girl was already there, and approaching
him, said:
"Let us walk up Lexington avenue.
There is less chance of my being seen.
I'm takin chances doin this. You've
crossed my man some way an he's down
on you."
"Who is your man?" asked Dorison.
"His name is Langdon."
"Oh!" said Dorison surprised. "What
is he to you?"
"He's my husband," she said quickly.
"Don't you lielieve nothin else. The
priest didn't marry us, but we were married
all the same, though ho does try to
act and say we weren't. But we was
all the same."
"Well, what have I done, and if he is
down on me, what can he do?"
"I dunno what you've done to him.
But he's been grmnblin for some time !
about a feller named Dudley, before I |
know'd it was you?the one what saved j
me from arrest. The other day he came I
home growlin about you interfering in j
his affairs, and last night when he came
late a fellow named Pittston was wait- j
ing for him, and he took him off in an- 1
other room to talk with him. Some- ;
thing you did to him last night made
him very mad, an I heard him say he'd |
git you dosed for it before many hours." !
Dorison laughed.
"I don't think there's much to be !
afraid of."
"Yes, there is," earnestly replied the !
girl. "If there wasn't 1 wouldn't be
takin the chances I am. Now, sir, I'm I
grateful to you for what ye did for me, j
and because after ye did it ye didn't in- i
suit me, as most men do. So I said I'd I
give you a warnin. He doesn't treat me
so well that 1 shouldn't do it, anyhow. I
? " " ? a I
He's a bad one wtien lie 8 rousea, ana
that feller Pittston. who I hate, and him, j
has got Borne rough fellers tliat'll do any- j
thing they tell them. You've got'em ;
both down on you. What they will do j
or can do 1 don't know, but you want to ;
look out and be careful. I don't know '
just what they mean by dosin a man, :
but 1 do know that in Chicago they I
talked about dosin a man one night, and :
after that he was found on the street i
nearly dead."
"What does Laugdon do for a living?" j
"He don't do'nothiu. He's got money i
of his own."
"Do yon know that?"
"I kuow he ain't never done nothin, j
ain't never done uo work, and yet he has ;
all the money he wants. He don't stint j
me."
"Where did yon marry him?"
"In Chicago. My folks were agin him. j
My father is a policeman there, and said j
he was nothin but a gambler. He wasn't, j
though. 1 ran away with him, and |
father thought 1 wasn't married to him !
at first, but afterward he knew better,
although I came to know that his name i
wasn't always Langdon."
"What was it?" asked Dorison.
"1 never heard." said the woman ;
shortly.
"Is he as flush of money as he always i
was?" usked Dorison.
"I ain't seen no difference," replied
the woman; "but don't you think I've
done enough when I warn you of danger,
without askin me to give him away?"
Dorison answered, luugliing:
"Before I ask you to give him away
1 must know there is something to give
away. However. I am much obliged
for your kindness. 1 will be careful,
though 1 don't know what he can da
Do you know what I've done to him?"
"Only he says yon nre interfering in
his affairs. I heard him say you followed
Pittston into a restaurant, and did it because
a Chicago detective named Cathcart
told you to. And he said that if
you wasn't a swell in town he'd think
you was a detective."
Dorison laughed at the idea and further
asked:
"Do you know what 1 did to him hist
night that made him angry?"
"No."
"I prevented him from speaking to a
young lady who didn't want to be noticed
by him?"
"I know?a Miss Eustace. I've heard
him curse the family and say he knew a
way to pull 'em down in time."
A malicious thought popped into
Dorison's head.
"Do you know what lie proposes to do?"
"No."
"I do."
"What?"
"I'm afraid you will get angry with
me and make a row."
"No, I won't." she said with breathless
interest.
"He wants to marry the youngest Miss
Eustace, and has tried to get her to run
away with him."
Dorison was fairly frightened at the
effect of his words.
The black eyes of the woman flashed
fire and her strong, handsome face became
hideously convulsed with an anger
that seemed to be ungovernable.
"You are not lying to me," she hissed.
"Now bo calm. You promised not to
make a row. 1 shall not say another
word until you are composed."
The girl made a desperate effort to regain
control of herself, and while Bhe
was doing so they walked some distance
in sileuce.
"Tell mo all you know," she said at
length. "I will be quiet."
"Who is Dr. Fassett?"
"He's'a doctor that used to come to
see Harry every morning. I don't know I
anything about him, except ho used to ;
have a close talk with him, but about \
what I don't know. Harry's got some {
hold on him. Why do you ask?"
"He is the family physician of the |
Eustace people and introduced Langdon i
there. He tried to make the younger |
daughter like Langdon and arranged 1
meetings alone with Langdon. The :
brother, young Eustace, told me of this, j
and that ever sinco they found it out ;
they have kept so close a watch on the i
younger daughter that she can't see him j
at all. But he is still hanging around." j
The girl's struggle with her passion
was something pathetic.
"That's why he's tryin to make people ;
believe I'm not his wife, then," she j
gasped.
"Do you think so much of him?" he
asked.
"Does any wife want to see her husband
run after another woman?"
"T wpennifl Tint, but he'll never run i
away with her?"
"No, he never will," said the girl, with '
frightful emphasis.
"Who is Pittston?" he naked.
"I don't know. He's a feller of good j
family in Chicago. Harry knew him
there. He's crooked, I think. Hung it,
BOinetimes I think Harry is, but I don't
know. They never tell nie anything.
Harry laughed one day und said I was
too d?d honest to tell anything to. ;
They've got some ugly fellers about 'em, '
and you look out for 'em."
"I will look out. But what will you
do? Tell Harry what I've told you?"
"I'll tell him nothing. Don't you fear, j
But he'll never run away and marry
anybody. I'll see this girl and make her |
know I'm his wife. I must get back now i
or I'll bo missed."
The woman slipped down the cross
street, and Dorison retraced his steps
through Lexington avenue, deep in
thought. After carefully reviewing his
talk with the girl he said:
"I presume the first tiling to do is to
see Catlicart and inform him. The next
thing, to see Eustaco and tell him. It i
Btrikes mo that there is a strong weapon
vr? +r\ with tl?? vnnvnr ?rirl If.
114 41IIU vv Ms,W ...v.. V..? /v.?..0 O * - " -?
ought to rid her of nny sneaking notion
she may have for Langdon."
CHAPTER XVII.
PIECING OUT A STOltY.
Mr. Eustace got up and going to his desk
took from a pigeon hole a little book.
While Dorison was having the conversation
with the woman, as set forth in
the previous chapter, Cathcart was laboring
over a mass of notes in his own
chamber in Bond street.
"The story is made," he said, as he
leaned back iu his chair, his hands thrast
in his vest pockets. "Facts are connected
by a little effort of the imagination.
A little work in confirming the imaginary
parts, and if it does not go to pieces,
that part of the nffair is concluded. If
it does, at all events there will be triumph
enough in the other part to compensate
for all the labor."
"Urn," he muttered, as he reached forward,
taking up a memorandum. "The
records show the house to have been
transferred April twenty-second, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four, by Richard
Basselin, for eleven thousand five hundred
dollars; a check is given to
Richard Basselin April twenty-second,
eighteen hundred and fifty-four, a certified
check, and indorsed by Richard
Basselin is returned as a voucher. Thus
a clear connection is unmistakably
traced. Now to put that other conception
of mine to the test, and if it shonld
prove to be a correct one the road will
be straight to the end."
He took up another pile of notes, and
began the work of arranging in accordance
with souio nlan he carried in his
head. Finishing which, he transferred
the contents of each separate slip of
paper to a sheet, commenting as he did
so in briel sentences: "That fits like a
glove." "That is somewhat contradictory."
"There is astraight connection."
"A screw loose there," and so on.
He was thus engaged when Dorison
entered.
"Any new developments?" he asked
curtly.
"I have had a rather singular adventure
this inorning.which I have hastened
to tell you."
The old man opened a newspaper lying
beside him and spread it over the papers
lying on his table.
Having done this to his satisfaction, J
he swung his chair around so that he '
faced Dorison, and said:
"Tell it to me in detail."
To do this it was necessary to again
go back to that evening when Dorison |
wandered to Twenty-ninth street and
Third avenue?that evening so fruitful I
of results. Dorison consumed hulf an
hour in the recital of his adventure, during
which Cathcart listened intently,
interposing neither word, motion nor
gesture, keeping his keen, bright eyes
on Dorison's face.
"You have told it well and clearly,"
be 6aid as Dorison concluded. "No
necessity for going over it again. What
you tell is more important than you
suppose. I imagine. One part confirms
a theory 1 hardly dared to entertain. 1
You must heed that warning of the
woman."
Dorison laughed in derision.
"I give it no importance," he 6aid; "I
told it simply as showing why the woman
wrote me."
"But you must give it importance,"
said Cathcart earnestly. "Dosing is a
western term for sandbagging a man.
It means something."
"Threatened men live long," laughed
Dorison.
The old detective glanced irritably at
the young man, saying:
"You are self sufficient at times, and
when you are you display your ignorance
of the ways of the world."
He took up a book of telegraph blanks
and rapidly scribbled a telegram, handing
it to Dorison.
"Will you do me the favor of sending
that when you leave here? You may
read it."
Dorison did so with some interest. It
was addressed to u private detective in
Chicago:
"Find as soon as possible whether
Harry Langdon was ever known by any
other name."
Dorison inquired whether the person
to whom the dispatch was addressed
would know who was meant.
"Very well. I have had previous correspondence
on the matter. The officer
on Pittston," he continued abruptly,
"has been able to find out very little
about him. So far as his life is concerned
ho seems to be engaged in no
business?idling his time innocently,
it is explained, however, by the news
you bring me that I was recognized by
him. They have suspended whatever
business they weiv up to until they find
out what I'm up to. They evidently
think I'm here on a visit only. One
more question and then you must go.
Have you seen the elder Eustace yet?"
"No; I have tried to, without success."
"Don't do it for several days. Indeed,
don't meet him at all: avoid him until
you see me ngnin."
Wondering what was the reason of
this sudden change of policy, Dorison
promised.
"I want you to be within call," said
the detective. "My impression is that
you would do better to keep to your
rooms, so that if I want you I can find
you without delay."
"Very well."
"Now. get away. I've work to do."
As Dorison went out of the room, C'athcart
called on some one in an adjoining
room. The officer who had shadowed
Langdon and Pittston appeared.
"Mr. Dudley is threatened with ininrv
" hn Kniil "l?v I ,unr/rinn and Pit.t.R
ton. They won't do it; some one whom
they employ will, if it is done at all. 1
want you to be on his track and see if he
is followed. He obstinately refuses to
believe in it. I think a disguise will be
necessary."
"I can follow him home today without
one. After that 1 will 'fake' up
something."
"Very well."
So soon as the officer had hurried out
after Dorison, Cathcart gathered up his
papers on the table and placed them in a
wooden box on the floor, which he locked
carefully. Donning his topcoat and
taking his hat. he went out, walking to
the Bowery. Here he sought a drug
store, and entering, asked permission to
look at the directory. Securing the address
he desired, he took an up bound
Fourth avenue car.
Arriving at the corner of Fifty-sixth
itreet he descended and walked in the
direction of Fifth avenue. Near that
thoroughfare of fashion and wealth he
stopped aud ascended the steps of one of
the handsomest dwellings of the block.
It was the residence of Herbert Clavering
Eustace.
"This is my card," he said to the servant.
"But it will convey nothing to
Mr. Eustace. Please tell him my call
in n.-?f n cn/Miil one lint on business, im
portant business."
Ho was called into a rear room, which
Mr. Eustace reserved as his study.
"I have brought you here because wo
would be free from interruption," said
Mr. Eustace. "I am at your service,
sir."
Cathcart bent his head a moment as if
thinking how to begin his business. Mr.
Eustace waited patiently and courteously.
"I am here," said the old detective,
"in pursuance of an inquiry 1 am conducting,
and recent developments have
suggested to me that you may have
much knowledge of the matter."
i He lifted his liend as he completed his
sentence, and regarded Mr. Eustace fix,
edly.
"Unless I am further informed," replied
Mr. Eustace smiling, "1 shall bo
unable to tell whether 1 have the information
you desire or not."
"On the fourteenth day of July,
eighteen hundred and seventy-one," said
Cathcurt, ignoring the remark and proceeding
as in continuance of his beginning,
"Reuben Dorison died. When
found an unfinished letter was before
him. He had been stricken with death
in the very act of its composition. To
whom it was intended to be addressed
1 never was known, is not known now,
; but it did a great wrong. It charged
! some one with the commission of many
! crimes, to cover which and to pay the
I damages of which had wasted his for<?
tune. He was asking for assistance, by
implication?indeed, tone may say by inference
alone?these qrimes were charged
against his only son, a young man upon
whom lie had lavished his affection and
| of whom he had apparently been very
I fond."
"Ah!" said Mr. Eustace, deeply interested,
"I can confirm that."
"The executor and the immediate
. friends, however, insisted that the letter
j condemned the son, and indeed employed
the police to trace the crimes
j charged, and the friends of the jfainfr
man cut him and snubbed him. I&e
i strove as frantically to disprove the
charges as the polkje worked industriously
to trace them. -Both failed utterly,
Ind the bon, at m despairing and
; wholly miserable, abandoned further effort,
left the city and settled in the west
: At this late day I am employed in an
endeavor to solve the riddle. I am a
western detective."
| Mr. Eustace gs.ve a great start, and a
I look of blank amazement spread over
| his face. It was as if he had said in
| words, "You a detective! I never would
have believed it You do not meet my
preconception of a detective at all."
"This moveraenfc*lnttituted by the j
! young man, after the Inpse of eight |
j years, has no other purpose than that of !
-omndtirr frnm hin nnmp thfl st.ijriTlH. I
placed apon it by that unfinished letter.
He seeks no property, for his father's executors
discovered there was no property i
left."
"No property left?" exclaimed Mr. j
Eustace. "Why. he had a splendid |
property."
"Had. yes. Hut not when he died, j
Permit me to show you a copy of that :
unfortunate letter."
He handed Mr. Eustace a Bheet of paper
which he had taken from his pocket.
After it was read Mr. Eustace returned
it, saying:
"I was abroad at the time of Mr. j
Dorison's death, had been for several ;
years, and for two years after. At the j
exact time I was in the far east upon a |
special diplomatic mission, and there- {
fore not until my return to Paris, many
months afterward, did I hear of its oc- '
currence. I presume by that time inter- |
est in the events surrounding it had sub- !
sided, and upon my return to this city was I
almost all forgotten, and what was re- j
j membered was perverted. All that I
heard was that the young man had be- j
havqd very badly, and had baen discard- |
ed by his father previous to the father's j
death; that he had disappeared. I thought '
it strange, for the very last letter I had
from Reuben Dorison, written some
weeks before his death, but received by
me many months after it, while speaking
of troubles complicating his old age,
referred in enthusiastic terms to the
comfort and pride he had in his only
son."
"You maintained a close intimacy with
Mr. Dorison?" asked Cathcait.
"Yes, it could hot be clcser," replied
Mr. Eustace warmly. "At one period
of our lives it was aicredly confidential
?a confidence which doubtless would
have made me familiar with every event
in his life, and him with that in mine,
had not a long separation by which we
could not mee t, except at the intervals
of years, and then only briefly, occurred.
Upon my side there was absolutely no
reservation so long as it continued."
"He did you essential service at one
time?"
"He did. indeed."
TO BK CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
jftat? jpftosr
THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
FIRST YEAR'S WORK OF THE REFORM
ADMINISTRATION.
The Executive Submits a Review of
What has been Dor e and Outlines
Other Work Still to bo Accomplished.
Governor Tillman's first- annual message
to the general assembly was read
to that body on Tuesday morning of
last week. The paper required something
over an hour in the reading, and
is rather lengthy. Belov is a full synopsis
:
After complimenting Treasurer Bates
for the clear and comprehensive manner
in which he has set forth the condition
of the State finances, the governor
submits the following brief summary
of the general financial situation :
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
Cash oil hand October 31, 1890 8 77,943 93
Receipts, all sources 1,073,752 98
Total 81,151,(590 91
Expenditures 81,087,081 89
Bulance October 31,1891 04,615 02
Total 81,151,09(5 91
The following Is a comparative statement
between 1890 and 1891 as to cash on hand :
1890.
Cash balance October 31,1890 8 77,913 93
i Intutoiullmr irnrrnntu 41.802 82
Net cash balance 8 30,111 11
Borrowed money 50,500 00
Overdrawn on banks 22,800 00
Due by State October 3!, 1890.8 73,300 00
Less cash 30,141 11
Leaving net debt, Oetol>er31,
1890 8 37,158 89 I
1891.
Cash on bund October 31, lt>91 8 01,615 02 I
Less outstanding warrants 11,250 83 i
Net balance 8 50,381 19
Add bulunce jMiid for 1890 37,158 89
DlfTerence In favor of 1391 8 87,523 08
Here Ik a comparative statement of liabilities
or floating Indebtedness which may be
called foruny time:
1890?DEIiTC It.
Cash liabilities October 31, 1890 8 189,197 33
Net debtor 8111,253 10 {
CitEDITOK.
Assets October 31, 1890: Cash In
treasury 8 77,9-13 23
Itemized as follows:
NOVKMIIEK 1, 1890.
Assets In cash October31,189): Cash
balance October 31, 1)90 8 77,913 93 |
As follows:
oenenil account 3,913 08 l
Department of agriculture 33,822 27
Sinking fund commission 39,:t37 10 '
Hedemptlon detleleneles 1,011 20 |
Total 877.913 93
Current liabilities, In cash, October
31,1890:
Interest due and not called fur 8 177,878 81 j
Loan (Interest to be lnehuk(18500)... 50,000 00 j
Dcimrtliietit agriculture, applied to
Clciuson College 15,000 00
Department agriculture, dt eon department
warrant (since paid) 8,017 02 I
Sinking fund commission 39,337 to i
Interest on bonds not yet lunded... 91,328 00 |
Unpaid balance of appropriations 108,008 07 ,
MTO.IUI .M
18111.
Cash liabilities, November 1, 1KU1 ? 428,232 83
Cash ussets November I, 1MI1 (>1,1(15 t72
Net cash Indebtedness ? 363,017 81
As shown In the following:
AHsTiiAcr cash assets and maiiimtiks, !
NOVKMIIKH 1, 181(1.
Assets in ensli, (letober 31,181(1.
Cash balance, October 31, ]8!il ? IM,?15 112 I
As follows:
General aeeount 22,87(1 4!(
Department of agriculture 1,111 52
Privilege fertilizer tux 187 50
Sinking fund commission 31,010 34
Redemption delleienclcs (sales
lllues) IdiS 1(7
Clemson bequest, cash 5,247,78 '
Escheated property, cash 2,001 01 i
j Downer fund, cash 517 78
Total 8 B 1,(115 02
CL'ltltKNT CASH I.IAUII.IT KS, OITOllKIl 31, 181)1 !
Interest due and not called for 8 178,1(0(1 04 '
j Interest on Isinds not yit funded,
after funding, ir2,si(3 13
Sinking fund 31,010 31 I
Special accounts, reserved 0,332 12 j
Unpaid balances of appro print ions. 110,01)0 00
Total 8328,232 S3 '
The following Is an abstract of liabilities '
other than cash, 1st November, 1801. (iiond
I debt:)
Total liabilities 1st November, 1800:
Cash liabilities 8 480,107 33
Liabilities other than
cash 11,133,517 72
8 0,022,715 05
Cash assets, 1st November,
18*10 77,043 03 I
i Net Indebtedness 1st
November 1800 8 0,811,771 12
I Total liabilities 1st No- |
I vember, Ixoi:
I Cash liabilities 8 128,232 .S3
Liabilities other than
cash 0, lOO.lMKi 0(1
8 11,831,83? 83 I
j Cash assets, 1st November,
1804 (11,015 02
Net indebtedness, 1st
November, lsill 8 (1,770,223 81 j
During the year the
sinking fund comiiiIhh
on has purchased
and retired
Brown consols
amounting to 8 20,011 72
ABSTRACT LIABILITIES OTHER THAN* CASH,
XOVKMnKU 1, 1801.
Brown consols 8 6,893,076 70
Blue 4 per cents 400,000 00
BniWii 4 per cents, 18U0 29,800 70
Agriculturnl College scrip 101,800 00
Dellclency stock, outstanding 717 72
Bonds and stocks still fundable In
BrowrrconsolH, less Invalidity, etc. 391,014 8f
\ 86,400,000 00
Th$ following extract from the treasurer^
report calls attention to matters
whitr? are of great importance, and I
cannot better present them than in the
language of that officer:
"I beg leave to call your attention, and
that of the legislature especially, to the
fact that the Siate owes a large floating
debt, estimated, at $271,890.07 of past due
interest alone, besides unpaid appropriations
as set forth above, and to the further
fact that the so-called 'treasury reserve
fund' is practically a myth, representing
for the most po rt debts and not credits of
the State. The sinking fund portion of
what constituted the original 'treasury reserve
fund,' amounting to $40,047.18 when
the Act was passed in 1880, has since been
expended, as I understand, under laws
governing the sinking fund, in the payment
of warrants drawn against it by the
hoard of commissioners of the sinking
fund. The direct tax fund portion under
* -- i* ?i-? it? a~ onn
Act or 1SB4, amounting ongmuiiy tu
244.39, (the amount received from congress),
has been reduced to $18,453.77 by
payments upon the warrants of the governor
to parties to whom it belonged under
the law.
"The interest on the unfunded bonds has
been reduced gradually, as the funding in
Brown consols progressed, to 892,903.43, as
estimated. But it should be borne in mind
that these are, in a sense, debts the State
owes, and do not constitute a fund practically
held in reserve in the State treasury.
"The only available way to create a reserve
fund is to raise actual money by taxation
or by the sale of State securities and
then hold it in reserve for the special purposes
for which it was created. A reserve
fund is really needed to meet the large
llouting debt of the State, composed principally
of past due, but'uncalled for interest,
and interest on unfunded bonds, estimated
to be $271,890.07, besides unpaid appropriations.
It would perhaps better satisfy
the people of theStute ir the legislature
would nave this reserve fund investigated
by a competent committee."
The "myth" or mystery of this
"treasury reserve fund" has long puzzled
many besides the State treasurer.
The Act of December 22, 1886, creating
the treasury reserve fund, set
apart $272,121.33, and required "That
said fund shall be held by the treasurer
of the State of South Carolina, to
be used in payment of all interest due
upon the bonded debt of the State and
appropriations made by the general
assembly ; Provided, there be no other
funds in the treasury applicable thereto.
And when taxes are collected and
paid into the State treasury, the treasurer
shall at once, from said collections,
replace the amount of said reserve
fund which has been used. * * *
Said fund to be used and replaced as
hereinbefore directed in each succeeding
fiscal year."
Now, these figures either represented
cash or they did not; and if the
money was there, has been since spent
in excess of the receipts from taxation,
it should appear. If the money can be
honestly accounted for it will be a
source of satisfaction to know it.
Therefore, I cordially join in the recommendation
that steps be taken to
thoroughly investigate the whole matter.
It is idle to continue to keep this
"mythical" fund on the books of the
treasury, and the act creating it should
be repealed.
its will be seeu by the comptroller
general's report, there is an increase on
the assessed value of property this year
over last of $17,660,218, and that officer
deserves commendation for the
zealous and unflinching manner in
which he has endeavored to ferret out
tax dodgers and make them share the
burdens of supporting the government.
The law provides that property shall
be assessed at its "real market value."
And, while this is difficult of accomplishment,
the comptroller and his subordinates
are none the less bound by
their oaths to carry it out as far as
practicable. It cannot be done in one
year or in five, and there is neither
sense nor law for the claim that it must
be done "all in one year" or not at all.
It is like requiring a child to walk before
it crawls or forever remain in the
cradle. There is, and always will be,
great inequality in taxation. Much
property will always escape taxation
entirely, but when it can be shown that
any one species of property is placed
on the tax books at its "selling value,"
we have gone a long way towards
bringing it all up to that standard.
We have begun on the railroads and
banks. Justice demands that we go
through the whole list, and I join the
comptroller in asking that provision be
made for a reassessment of land next
y ear. In this connection I would urge
tue necessity ior a cnunge in me cuunty
governments and the mode of assessing
property.
The message next takes up the subject
of county government, on which
the governor delivers himself as follows
:
The ofiice of county commissioner
should be abolished, and in place of it
a government by townships substituted.
Three intelligent men in each township,
elected by the voters thereof,
should be entrusted with the management
of the roads and bridges,
schools and assessment of property in
the same. The chairmen of these
local boards should constitute a
county board to manage the county
finances, audit accounts and order expenditures.
The salaries, if any, paid
these township commissioners, or selectmen,
can be determined by the
voters or fixed by law. The constitution
can be changed to abolish the ofiice
of county school commissioner, and
these changes will inevitably result in
a great saving to each county, while
there will be a corresponding increase
in efficiency. Property will be assessed
at its real value, and millions now hidden
will be made to pay its share of
taxes. This county board should also
constitute the county board of equalization,
instead of being appointed as
at present by the auditor.
In this connection I suggest the propriety
of requiring all notes, etc., to
lie stamped by the county auditor and
placed 011 tax books to make them collectable
by law. Make the note shaver
or lender pay taxes as well as the land/iwiw.v
n'liimo lii'nTwrt v si amis ill his
name while lie perhaps owes as much
as it is worth. Equity would require
that a man deduct his dehts from his
property and pay tax on the remainder.
This is impracticable, hut it is better
that property shall he trebly taxed,
both (Tehtor and creditor paying, than
that the debtor must pay double, as he
is obliged to do, and the creditor pay
nothing, as is too often done.
Under the head of defaulters, the
governor refers to the adjutant and inspector
general's shortage of $5,52#, a
deficit of $080 in the account of the
clerk of the penitentiary, and goes on
to say:
The comptroller general has found
shortages still unsettled in the treasurer's
offices of Charleston, Sumter and
Union, aggregating $0,(iOM. The officer
says in his report that there had
been a good deal of money made good
of which no mention is made, and that
in nearly every county irregularities
were discovered and errors existed.
The amounts aggregated upwards of
$20,000, which he collected and turned
into the treasury. These are the
fruits of an examination of the hooks
for one year only. What could lie unearthed
if the investigations wore carried
hack several years is left to conjecture
?
Next the message reviews the lunatic
asylum investigations of last spring,
which are already familiar to our read- i
era, and endorse the recommendation
of superintendent Babcock as printed
in The Enquirer last week.' It is i
also submitted that several of the coun- I
ties, including Charleston, maintain no i
poor house at all, as required by law, 1
but instead commit their paupers to ]
the asylum at the expense of the State. 1
The assets of the penitentiary show i
up as follows: Cash on hand, $8,436.95; '
aU&nnt due by sundry contractors j
for convict hire, $5,300; estimate for j
cotton unsold, $15,000; total $28,736,95.
"This result, which is not satisfactory,"
the governor says, "is in no- <
wise attributable to the present management,
which has accomplished all that i
was possible under the adverse condi- ]
tions under which the institution has i
labored the whole year. Continuing i
he says :
"The farming operations, owing to :
extremely unfavorable seasons and the ;
low price of cotton, have also left a ,
very small margin. T'Jie. canal is completed,
and it is safe to say that it luu| ,
cost the State of South Carolina
less than $300,000. This amount she '
has presented to the city of Columbia
in lieu of five hundred-horsepower developed
at the penitentiary, but we
will hope that the increase in property 1
values which are expected to result
from the development of the water
power, will in time reimburse the State.
There is one contract for a year still to
be fulfilled, the work being on shares,
but the directors have decided that in
future they will only farm out the convicts
for a net sum per capita to contractors,
and they will bend all their
energies in farming to the development
of the State farm in Sumter county
known as the DeSaussure place."
Next, several pages of the message
are devoted to a review of the work of
the Phosphate commission. In reference
to the Coosaw case, the governor
says:
"I shall not mention it further than
to say that while there has been a decrease
in the revenue consequent upon
the stoppage of the Coosaw Company
of $52,636.60, we feel that the State is
to be cougratulatcd upon the present
status, as there is every reason to expect
that the United States supreme
court will sustain the view already exexpressed
in the decision of Chief Justice
Puller and the suit be terminated
early next year. The price of phosphate
rock continues high, and as soon
as work can be resumed in Uoosaw
river there will be an increase in the
income of the State from royalty more
than sufficient to recoup us for the
little loss we have sustained in maintaining
the right of the State to control
her own property. It would be wise,
in my opinion, to give the commission
the power to impose a graduated royalty
to correspond with the prices of
rock, and also to permit it to fix the
royalty on rock in streams other than
Coosaw at a less rate than for that
river. Some of the rock is of low
grade, and some of the deposits are
very hard, making mining difficult.
Therefore, a fixed royalty for every
locality precludes profitable mining
in many streams if concessions are
not made to the miners. It would
also be better when Coosaw river is
opened, to apportion that territory
among the different persons applying
for a license than require them to mine
over the whole allotted territory."
The free-school system is referred to
as follows:
"The report of the State superintendent
of education makes a full exposition
of the condition of the educational
institutions of the State. Our
free schools are uot in a satisfactory
condition, and never will he until the
present unwieldy, irregularly shaped
districts are subdivided, and small compact
ones substituted, in which shall
he permanently located one school
house for each race. This is the basis
upon which local taxation, supplementing
the two-mill tax, can erect a school
system that will accomplish the ends
desired, and until it is done little or no
progress will he made except in the
1110 illU'llUOIl 01 1110 iu iiuothor
matter. lie says :
"The regulation or definition of the
conditions to be complied with before
a student can be admitted to this institution
without paying tuition. The
scholarships at the citadel academy are
awarded to boys supposed to be too
poor to pay, and the law requires a
tuition fee of $40 at the South Carolina
college and at Clemson, of all students
who do not come under this class.
Complaint has reached my ears that
advantages have been taken of this
provision, and that there are now students
both in thecitadel and the South
Carolina college paying no tuition, but
whose parent are able to pay. I hope
| that legislation will he had clearly de- ;
i lining how the matter shall be deter- j
I mined so as to prevent the State's gen- <
crosity from being abused."
The message recommends that an |
I act be passed establishing the indus- !
j trial school for women, and among j
j other things, says :
"As a preliminary step, I urge that |
! the State, by act of the general assem- i
| blv, adopt the Winthrop training ;
school, name and all, as its Normal i
college, and provide for its amalgama- |
tion with the Industrial college as soon
! as completed. The reasons for this
j are these: The lVabody fund is to be
i distributed iu 18i)7, and it will be given
as an endowment for teacher-training
schools alone. If the State takes this
action I have every reason to believe
that the l'eabody trustees will hand
somely endow the proposed college.77 i
The governor next devotes several
pages of his message to the Charleston
3upervisorship case. He had removed
Supervisor Cantwell on the ground
that under the constitution he could
not hold two offices. Judge Wallace
had decided that the removal was illelegal,
as the governor had no authority
to remove an official without the advice
and consent of the senate. The
governor cites several sections of the
general statutes to show that Judge
Wallace had misconstrued the law.
In support of bis position, the governor
cites the case of W. T. McElroy, of
Laurens county. "Tbo senator and
representatives of that county askedfor
his removal on the ground of drunkenness
ahd neglect to open his office. I
removed him, but had he appealed to
Judge Wallace, he would have been
reinstated, because^forsooth tbe sen-i
j. :? 11
tue was xiul iu dcniuii. vvuuuuiugj
the governor says: > ? 1
. "I am aware that in thus comment- ^
ju*-on a judge's action I may be accus- I
ed of committing the -very offense f
with which I am charging Judge Wal- j
lace, viz.: an invasion of the domain (
of a co-ordinate department of the
government. The general assembly
enacts laws, the judges construe them, (
and the governor executes. To say <
that a governor should not criticise a ?
judge, even on the supreme bench, t
when the rights and powers of his of- j
fice are at issue, is absurd. Judges are
but men, and they are neither infallible
or immaculate. For the executive 1
and legislative departments to submit
in slavish silence to unreasonable j
decisions would be a betrayal of the
trusts reposed in them by the people, j
I have obeyed the court, and am only .
resisting encroachments on my office.
There was certainly a grave doubt as j
to whether my construction was wrong, >
and he should have given the execu- i
tive the benefit of the doubt."
The governor refers at length to the j
criminal law as follows: j
"As the duties of my office bring me ,
into intimate connection with the peni- {
tentiary, and the matter of pardons .
being also a source of cpnstant labor
and worry, I have had my attention
directed to certain defects in the crim- 1
inal law, to which I ask your attention.
"The laws delay" has been a matter j
of complaint for centuries, and there 1
have been of late so many instances of <
many OI II1C iTiurmn tuinuii|;iuivu
lmve been con.su in mated, or are in
process of consummation; but there
are other questions of vital importance
which I hope will receive your careful
consideration. The present deplorable
condition of our people, which, I have
more than once alluded to, caused by
the poor yield of our staple crop and
its low price, make it obligatory upon
you to cut off every possible item of
expenditure not absolutely necessary ;
for it is possible, and altogether probable,
that there will be a considerable
deficit by reason of inability of the
people to pay their taxes. A bill to
substitute salaries instead of fees in
county offices, putting the fees into the
treasury, and making a reduction of
salaries all along the line to a figure
corresponding with the increased purchasing
power of money and the decreased
ability of the people to pay,
seems absolutely necessary. The saving
may be little, hut we have reached
the point where even a small economy
is of material importance.
Relying upon your patriotism and
wisdom, and assuring you of my cordial
co-operation, I invoke the blessing
of (iod 011 your labors.
H. K. Tillman, Governor.
fisdy The first sin committed in this
world was a lie, and the first liar was
the devil. The Greeks who allowed
their deities almost every weakness
and every vice, held that they forfeited
heaven by falsehood, and that an oath
was as sacred to Jupiter, the cloud
compeller, as to the meanest denizen
of earth. A regard for truth is among
the highest of all virtues, and involves
superior cultivation. The savage is
full of deceit, both in word and deed.
nilitary estabiisnmenr. l anr giaa mj
iay that daring the year the law In
he State has been supreme, and that
10 person ps prisoner has been lynched.
The ihflitMy has been called on only
wice when it was thought there was
langer, but the presence pf so many
ifficient companies, scattered over the
>tatp ttad* largely to the suppression of
lisbrder. 1 Thfe oost of maintaining this
;s t abl isb men t is very trifling when collared
with its benefits. Another mint*
er in this connection is, that there is
io provision requiring county officials
o pay for the servfces of.extra depuies
sworn in by a sheriff in an emer;ency,
and to this cause may he attribited
some of the lynchings which have
lisgraced our nnnals. I recommend
hat provision be made for the paynent
of sucfe services by the county
vhenever the governor shair order the
heriff to summon such additional depities.
In defense of the increased assessnent
of railroads in the State, raising ^
heir valuation. $8,000,000, and the .
imon^of tajKS t&sy will have to pay
<100,000, the governor calls attention
p4hej6MA4fei^n%orgI?thepaaen- ~
yer rates are only 3 Santo a mile, While
n this State it is 3} cents, or
>ne-seventh more. This one-seventh
imounts to $364,666, which, after deluding
the increased taxes, leaves an
sxcess of $264,000 that the railroads
ire allowed to collect from our people
>ccause the rauroaa commissioners
iave 110 power to fix passenger rates.
An appropriation of 115,000 is recomnended
with which to show up the re.ources
of the State at the Chicago exjosition.
Reapportionment of representation
n the house of representatives, under
he United States census of 1890, is
ecommended, and the "gerrymandering,"
by which the "black district"
vas laid out, is condemned.
The governor recommends the re-enictment
of the old law providing for a
State board of medical examiners, and
icknowledges that tbe repeal of the
;ame, at the last session of the legislature,
was a blunder.
On the liquor question, the message
reads as follows:
"I desire to direct your attention to
i question of great importance, with
ivhich the welfare of society and the
economical administration of the government
are closely connected. It is
ihe matter of licensing the sale of
liquor. Without entering into any
liscussion of the prohibition question,
[ will call your attention to a gross injquality
and injustice to a part of our
citizens, entailed by the present system.
Section 1,732 of the general
statutes, reads:
No license for the sale of intoxicating
liquor shall be granted by any municipal
luthority in any city, town or village in tnis
State, except upon the payment by the person
applying for the same to the treasurer
)f the county in which said city or town is
iituated, the sum of 8100 in addition to the
iccnse charged by such city, town or village,
for the use of said county, to be applied
to the ordinary expenses of tne
county.
"It will be seen that by this provisos
of law, only a small proportion of
die tax derived from the sale of liquor
;oes to the general fund. Now, while
[ do not believe that it is practicable,
ir even desirable, to attempt the absolute
prohibition of the sale of liquor in
this State, no sensible man will deny
that one-half or three-fourths of the
crimes committed in the State are traceible
directly to the drinking of whisky.
In order to punish these crimes,
the machinery of the law is set in motion.
The courts are supported by
general taxation, and largely by the
country people, and yet ?he State pcrnits
municipal corporations to main:ain
or license what many men regard
is nuisances and breeders of crime,
while two-thirds or three-fourths of the
money accruing therefrom is retained
oy the corporations. The anomalous
condition is presented then of a community
allowing itself to be unjustly
taxed, as a whole, for the suppression
if a crime produced by the action of a
part?the tax being largely for local
aenefit, while the abuse is general.
Hie people in the country not only
pay tribute to those who sell liquor?
by means of which their towns are
beautified and rdomed?but they pay
tax for thesupression of crime produced
by the maintenance of these barrooms.
It is unjust and unequal, and
lught to be stopped. I therefore
strongly recommend that all municipal
corporation be prohibited from levying
nn\r 1i/>Aiiao nf oil rind thn.t. fill tftX de
i4vv%4MV ? ?1
rivable from the sale of whiskey shall
i^o into the State and county treasuries,
leaving the matter of local option
as at present; and if any municipal
corporation desires to license
the sale of liquor, let it derive no
special benefit from it. There are, as
I am informed, between 700 and 800
bar-rooms in the State. How many
municipalities would relinquish the
sale of liquor if they derived no money
benefit from it, I cannot even guess.
What decrease may follow the enactment
of such a law is equally unknown.
With a high license imposed on each
dealer in the article, either at wholesale
or retail, and all of this fund going
to support State and county governments,
it appeai-s to me we would have
a large increase of revenue, as well as
a large decrease in crime, with a corresponding
decrease in court expenses,
and consequent reduction of taxes."
After a brief reference to the death
of Chief Justice Simpson, the message
concludes as follows:
In conclusion, I beg to remind you
that the present general assembly and
the present State administration were
elected on a platform of reform, and
that the people are confidently looking
to us to redeem our pledges.
" - ll-- --C
towns and thickly populated sections
of the country. I would urge you not
to adjourn again till you take up this
matter and perfect the law.
This State is making a far greater
outlay for higher education than some
of her sister States, but the common
free schools alone are accessible to nine
out of ten children within her borders.
They should receive the fostering care
of the general assembly, and I know
of nothing which would give the cause
of education such an impetus."
The governor then goes 011 to review
the condition of the South Carolina
college, the citadel academy, Claflin
university, and Cedar Springs institute.
These, he says, are all in admirable
shape.
Referring to Clemson college, as one
of the trustees under the will of the
late Mr. Clemson, the governor says
that up to date the total amount expended
is $123,213.61 To complete
and partially equip the buildings, $65,000
more will be required. The estimated
income which the school may be
expected to have next year is as follows
:
From Hatch fund $15,000 00
From Morrill fund 15,000 00
Land scrip 5,750 00
Chanson estate 4,500 00
Privilege tax 40,000 00
Total $80,250 00
The college, the governor says, can
be finished and put in operation wuuoui
the help of taxation if the opening is
deferred another year, but he thinks
that the delay cannot be afforded. He
suggests, therefore, that it would be
the part of economy and wisdom too,
to formulate some plan by which the
trustees can borrow the money necessary
to open the school by the first of
next March. .Before leaving the subject
of the college, the governor calls
the failure of justice to punisn me <
most flagrant crimes, aud, if at all, af- 1
ter the patience of the people has be- )
come exhausted, that I cannot too <
strongly impress upon the legislature ]
the necessity of some changes. Con- <
tinuances are granted upon the slight- <
est pretext. Appeals are taken upon I
no pretext at all sometimes, and crime, s
when backed by money, appears to
override or break through the meshes 1
of the law with such impunity, that it \
is 110 wonder that our citizens have at ,k
times forgotten themselves and taken <
the law into their own hands. I give j
as instances of justice long held at bay j
the Turner and Senn cases in Spartan- j
burg, the James case in Darlington and <
the Jones case in Edgefield. One remedy
which I desire to suggest is, that i
the juries, which I have every reason I
to believ? now are sometimes tamper- j
ed with or "fixed" beforehand, shall 1
be drawn in open court for the next <
term after the judge in person shall 1
have examined the boxes and seen that <
everything is correct. In the prosecu- I
tion of criminal cases the solicitor is <
always at a disadvantage. He is often i
confronted by the ablest lawyers at the 1
bar, who live in the county and are 1
acquainted with witnesses, jurors, etc. I
But these difficulties are frequently j
overcome and verdicts obtained in <
spite of them. The main reason why i
so many crimes go "unwhipt of justice" I
is that the cases are not properly pre- i
pared for the solicitor by the trial jus- 1
tices or coroner. If the office of coro- i
ner were dignified and the salary or 1
fees made commensurate so as to make <
it a desirable office; if it were filled by i
a competent lawyer, whose duty it I
should be to investigate all deaths <
caused by violence, collect evidence, ]
prepare the case and act as assistant 1
prosecutor in his county, we would '
have many a man convicted who now ]
goes scot-free. Then if trial justi- 1
ces were required to attend court 1
and help the solicitor in cases where 1
they have held a preliminary examina- 1
tion, it would add largely to the list of i
convictions. Another abuse is, that <
instead of a prisoner under sentence, i
and in whose case appeal has been <
taken, being required to be brought i
into court at the next term for resen- i
tence, thus entailing expense upon the |
county for maintenance, the sentence i
should be executed as soon as the 1
supreme court shall have dismissed the <
appeal. Then there should be a strict i
and mandatory legislation prohibiting !
a judge from continuing a case that
had been once continued, except un- I
der extraordinary circumstances. An- 1
other is to make it obligatory upon the
supreme court to disbar any attorney
who takes un appeal on frivolous
grounds. It has come to the pass that
an appeal is almost a matter of course,
and a stay of proceedings follows. <
In reference to the punishment of
criminals, I desire to direct attention
to the advantages in a reformatory
sense of what is known as the indeterminate
sentence, which obtains under
different conditions in Massachusetts,
New York and other Northern States.
Society, for its protection against crime
has enacted a code of laws for its punishment,
and the primary object is first
to secure the community from a repetition
by incarcerating the prisoner.
The next object should be the reformation
of the criminal and his restoration,
if that be possible. Under the arbitra
ry "ipse dixit" of a judge great wrongs
are often committed, and sentences
altogether out of proportion to the
enormity of the crime imposed. The
system to which I allude provides a
maximum and minimum punishment
for the diflercnt classes of crime. The
prisoner, when convicted, is sentenced
in the discretion of the judge, but he
can by bis behaviour in prison reduce j
or increase the punishment by giving J
evidence of being a hardened reprobate
or showing a desire to reform.
The law in this case imposes upon the
prison authorities the duty, and gives j
them the power by a lixed ratio, to j
increase or diminish the prisoner's pun- j
ishment in accordance with his be- I
havior. The offender thus enters j
prison with every incentive to reform 1
and grow better.
Another matter which I would strong- j
ly urge is the incorporation of a re- 1
quircmcnt in the law that the peniten- j
tiary directors shall separate all crimi- I
mils under the age of sixteen, and
such others as shall exhibit exceptionally
good behavior, from the others, and
that these classes be employed on the j
State farm away from the more harden- j
ed criminals. Before leaving this mat- '
ter of crime and its suppression, I will
briefly recall to your attention the re- ,
cent trouble in Tennessee, in which j
the authority of the State government j
was overthrown and brought into contempt.
I do this for the purpose of ;
pointing out what some are apt to !
forget : that such a disgraceful condition
of affairs coidd not happen in South
Carolina. Tennessee has no militia, or
comparatively none, while we have
an admirably organized and efficient
force?amply sufficient at any and all
times to uphold the dignity of the law
and suppress violence, and I would j
therefore urge that the general assem- j
bly continue is fostering care of our ,