University of South Carolina Libraries
INVESTIGATION OF THE DISPENSARY Mr. H. A. CURIEL GIVES EVI DENCE. Shows That Farnum Got Large Com Missions For Ma!ing Sales to The Dispensary. The State. The commission to wind up the af fairs of the State dispensary resumed deliberations yesterday morning. The feature of the day was the placing on record of an affidavit from Col. C. H. Dudley in which he declared that he had given money to officers of the State of South Carolina to get them to buy liquor from houses he repre sented. Another feature was the examina tion of Mr. Herman A. Curiel, of New York, who stated that he had paid J. S. Farnum and Briggs M. Wilson, brothers-in-law, to get busi ness for him from the State dispen sary. He had not been told what they did with the commissions but th( intimation was plain that there wpre dispensary officials who were getting.it. And the worst blow of all was when Farnum offered for $1,500 to get Curiel 's claim paid by the dis pensary board when it was being held up, even after the legislature had de eided that the renowned blacklist should be removed and houses repre sented by Farnum received $400,000 immediately. When the commission first met Mr. W. A. Clark declared on behalf of his client, Wiliam Lanahan & Son, that ii. would be a physical impossibility to bring here the books of entry and record and the stenographers in the offices. He asked for a monification of the mandate of the commission with reference to his client. This morning at 9:30 was set for the hear ing of this case. Mr. Clark suggested that Mr. Lyon and Mr. Felder might 'have come around by Baltimore while in New York and Philadelphia. Mr. Lyon stated in this connection 1 that he had not gone anywhere that I the commission had not requested,1 and that the commission had not ouly showed no desire for him to go to see Lanahan, but had actually ex- i pressed some objection to giving Lan- ~ ahan any such consideration. Col. Felder declared that the did not go t East at all, but had spent his time. in Lexington, Lousiville and Cincin- ri nati.I The Carolina Glass company's case f*ill b'e reopened from start to finish. 9 This was the announcement made by r the acting chairman, Senator J. Steele Brice, to the attorney, Mr. W. H. c Lylei. Mr. Brice presides at the meetings at the request of Dr. Mur- ~ ray. The entire commission is pres- V ent, Dr. W. J. Murray ..of Columbia, ~ Mr. John Mesween of Timmonsville, '9 Mr. Avery Patton of Greenville, Mr. 3 A. N. Woods of Gaffney, Mr. J. Steele ~ Brice of Yorkville. Attorney General t Lyon and Mr. W. F. Stevenson, at- P -torney of the commission, are present, P as are Gen. Clifford L. Anderson and Col. T. B. Felder and Mr. Malvern a Hill of Atlanta, representing the corn mission; Col. Anthony J. Carroll of" Loaisville, Ky., and Maj. Clem F.S Dunbar of Augusta, Ga.; Mr. Jos. G. Graydon of Cineinnati, Ohio, and Mr. McLean of Rochester, N. Y., repre senting claimant. Mr. Curiel Testifies. Tihe case of the New York and lKen- fr tucky company was called yesterday t: morning. The first witness was ifr- t< Herman A. Curiel of New York, who y. had testified on a former occasion. The New York and Kentucky corn- C pany is the concern which sold Duffy y Malt liquor and Pieper-Heidseck t. champagne. $ Mr. Curiel, who is a native of Ger- v many an.d a highly educated man, is l secretary and treasurer of the New s York 'branch of the New York and a Kentucky company. He testified that a he attended to tilling the orders re- v ceived by the State dispensary and c that he put in the bids. He had met s Mr. Lyon in New York when Mr. b Lyon and Mr. Christensen were mem- 1 bers of a dispensary investigating committee in 1905. Mr. Felder read b from affndavit given to them on that le occasion. This affidavit told of a vis- a it of Commissioner H. H. Crum and f Briggs Wilson to his office. Mr. Crum, now deceased, was commission- E er of the State dispensary, the head a officer, and Wilson was manager of C the Rie-hland distillery. The affidavit recited that, wihen~ Curiel complained that he got no more business from so< large an institution as the State dis- a pensary, Crum had replied that Curiel] could get the business if the New York and Kentucky company had( "the right kind of agent.'' When< asked who would be a good man for I agrent Crumn referred 1o Wilson say ing, "I will indorse whatever Mr. Wilson does.'' Nothing was said def initely about commissions hut when .e aftrwards got some orders from Suin Carolina NWilson claimed i -elts per case. Curiel thought tb .vas an excessive commission ai filson replied that "cost a great dc f money to control the liquor bu; .iess in South Carolina" and intim ?d that the commissions were not for himself. Mr. Curiel had turned over to h Lyon a number of letters from Le Bamberg, a relative of Commissior Crum, all of which were brought c in the former hearing of the legis tive committee. The affidavit c( eluded witih an earnest disavowal having paid any graft, rebates or rect commission in South Carol and he never dealt -directly with a agent of the State. Commissions Were Easy. Col. Felder read the affidavit, wh. Mr. Curiel under oath affirmed, a asked many questions. Mr. Feli pulled it out that the New York a Kentucky company had paid Bri( Wilson more than $4,000 and appr4 imately $5,000 in commissions. 'I total sales to the 'dispensary w, '$130,000 in five years. Col. Fel< brought out the astonishing statemi that J. S. Farnum, a relative Briggf Wilson, was also getting co missions and that a quarrel betw( the brothers-in-law resulted. Witness declared flatly that he h never paid any of the commission o'r clerks anything. He afterwaz admitted that he had loaned G. Charles $150, but - this was afi Charles left the dispensary. Char] recited that he was in precarious aancial condition and needed tI noney. The check was drawn frc ,uriel's private bank account on t ,orn Exchange bank. He consider t apa't from the dispensary busine, When the State dispensary w -osed there was $20,000 worth roods returned to Curiel's house. I lad paid no commission on this ai iad demanded none back. he said, eply to Col. Felder. He had paid i -ommission on business received di ng the last administration (Rawli ;on, Black and Wylie). Denied Giving Money. Mr. Curiel was asked if in a ce ain room at Wright's hotel he h, Lad an interview with a dispensai flicial. He denied this. "Did you not take off- your le hoe and remove $500 therefrom ar ive to this man to get business >uth Carolina'?" "'It is absolutely false," repliE he witness. "And if this man would swear i "It would be false." "Did you pay any commissionsI our agents in ehecks o'r all in cu: The witness denied ever paying an urrency. Mr. Curiel said he had paid Fai umn $2,300 which Farnum claime 'as due un'der an agreement with ian named Sinn who represente uriel. Curiel declared Farnum >b a holdup. They had no agre< ent. Farnum had threatened to ai ich Curiel 's funds at the State dit ensary and he was blackmailed int ayrng commission. Col. Felder grilled the witness o series of questions as te why thes irge commissions should be pai ithout an understanding and i ich an unbusiness-like manner. Wa o record kept? Was there no regv r basis? How did he know hoi "What basis did you figure con: issions on?"' "They figured, 1 had no basis, plied witness. "'They did not sa at the commissions were- to be pai >directors but the implication wa ery plain,"' stated witness. Col. Felder -rather worried Mi uriel bW a certa.in line of question: h had h not brought the vouche show that he had paid Charle 150? Witness ireplied it was a pri ate matter. Mr. Felder declared tha e is prepared to refute witness :atement that the check was for $15 ud that Charles was not employe t the State dispensary. Mr. Curih as asked if he had brought down hi rrespondence with Briggs M. Wi: >n and-Jas. S. Farnum. This, als< e said, he deemed to be private, an e had not included such letters. However, he had brought som oks of record. Mr. Felder reques1 d that they be brought. There we recess for half an hour and the our stalwart negr.Jes br'ought int h State library, a large trunk; pre: ntly another trunk. There was the ,prolonged recess unfil the attorne) ould sort out and examine the book Afternoon Session. At the afternoon session one of ti 'ash books was put in evidence. how that on August 23, 1904, J.J ~arnum was paid $500 for assistir epresentative to land an order. M uriel didn't know the basis on whit tommssions were paid. Two da: ater there was an entry "Casth .$5 62.50.'' This, followed up on a: ther book, showed that J. S. Farnu r the cash. Mr. Felder wanted to know why 0] 1nr sol be marked differe: io~ is St out Your SEXTIRA VAG AN C ES er Cast them aside and open a Savings Account Ut with what you have left over. Do this each [a- week and you will have days of ease awaiting of you in your declining years. na Start your bank account fly at once. ch nd nd The Commercial Bank, Of Newberry, S. C. [er 'nt of m- 4, Paid in Our Savings Department. en ad JNO. M. KINARD, J. Y. McFAL, 0. B. MAYER, rs President. Cashier. V. President. ds Ef. er es in ae 10 r id A PIANO SHOULD HAVE PERMANENT VALUE. !It should give, satisfactory service, not only at the Stime of purchase, but for many years afterwards. B SNo instrument can fulfill this condition unless it is -made of good material and by skilled workmen. aBut as good material and good workmanship cannot d d be had cheaply, Pianos that will stand constant usage g and retain their original' qualities must command fair i. 2prices. They cannot be offered in competition with o those. sold at figures which in themselves proclaim b4 a the worthlessness of the instruments. : : : : eThis does not mean that one must ne- We have a large collection of these i cessarily pay a very high price to get a good, medium-priced Pianos to which we Piano that will satisfy. There are in- invite the attention of prospective buy-s sstrunments excellent in musical and con- ' ers They will prove cheaper in the end structive merit which can be bought at than the kind which you can buy at Vmoderate prices, unreasonably low figures. SEVERYTHING KNOWN IN MUSIC Cable Building 1. V. WALLACE, Manager Charleston, S. C. S Hardware and Paints to take effect July 1 st, therefore OUR SPECIAL SALE will be called off after June 12th. So if you care to take advantage of our special offers come this ?week. Yours truly, SCraig Supply Co. Prosperity, S. C. I tS I IF iT'S I God to Ei . +AND YOU WANT1 T HE BEST * YOU WILu. FIND IT AT i O ES' GROCERYj * 'PHONE No. 212 ROARING FOX. TeNWSJ o No. 73,855. .TeNWSNN. Recorded in American Jersey Herd o e, Tame Fox, Imported by T. S. PR ICE $4Oa00 ooper & Sons, No. 3,2t1. Dam, Mona's Amalfi, No. 176,413. It is a beautiful, vigorous indivi ial, bred in the purple, possessing I eat merit ; won first prize as calf ;Georgia State fair 1906; won first "ize as yearly at S. C. State fair )07. Gentle disposition, a sured -eeder. (See tabulated pedigree and ~tter test of ancestry at my .home.) T'he patronage of owners desiring improve the future milcher is solie- Ti rtn ahn ed. Service fee $2.00, due at time of i odE~uho rvice, with return privilege. E. 0. Lake, Ayoy Owner. ~IVSIAEI Newberry, S. C., (St. Julia), R. F. 6. 1NoOBNSN,A7.t RE1E TRIP to'the ARE YOU ONEth,asrqiebylwtehm """""*"Q of the may th e adt hii hy r nite-n - ends whop want t er h aso hsSaeL tera ORE60N explore t ndprsnl^rpetyo wih-h . 'derad ? ? 7? sad.M?pesidieado. SUNSET ~..iad 4 MAGAZINE ~ atrfrNwer ony 4. has instituteda new 1 department, whose Wnho olg special work it iSCHLRHPad TAC to put within the EAIAIN rach of every one an opportunity to e the FAR WEST. WVrite for Teeaiainfrteaado ample Copy..........aatShlrhpinWnhp For full particulars address Cleeadfrteamsino e unset Travel Club ~utH~s,o id,Jl ,a 6 Flood Budlding, San Fracisco, Cat .m plcat utntb OTICE or APPLICATION FOR 'hywl eaaddt toemk HOMESTEAD. nthhihsavreathsex Ex parte,dtingoength wr. pp leora G. Speers, Leland. Coppock frSeolrsps hudwit Speers, Lucy K. Speers and Hiram t rsdn ohsnbfr h x L. Speers, aiainfrShlrhpeaia Pettins. Thins.Wiig ahn peers,peers,K. Speersoand.HirampS.rC.