Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE BLACKSTONE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS Has since 1894 given "Thorough Instruction under positively Christian Influences at the lowest possible coat." RESULT: It b to-day with its faculty of 32, a boarding patronage of 328, Its student body of 400, and its plant worth $140,000 THE LEADING TRAINING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN VIRGINIA $1M pays all charges for the year, Including table board, room, lights, steam best, laundry, medical -attention, physical cultu.c, and tuition in all subject* except musio and elocution. For catalogue and application blank address, REV. THOS. ROSSER REEVES, B. A., Principal. BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA A BANK ACCOUNT SEEMS to BE a MAG NET; I when once Started IT DRAWS MORE. In 1861, a depositor in a bank in Cleveland, Ohio, had $418. Since that time he has drawn out $573, and still has $1,500 to his credit. How do you figure that out? Why, he let his money stay in the Bank. It grew. Make OUR Bank YOUR Bank. We pay liberal interest consistent with safety. Enterprise Bank Laurens, S. C. t N. B. Dial, President C. H. Roper, Cashier PHONE YOUR ORDER FOR: Ice Creaml When you have a party at home, when you have a few friends to dine with you or when, on any occasion, you desire a de lightful dessert. Additions have been made to our Parlor. We have installed several new tables and chairs thus giving plenty of room for large crowds. Our service always is prompt and pleasing. GDniy's Pharmacy Vescriptions a Specialty il Bldg. Laurens, S. C. TESTIFIED BEFORE DISPENSARY PROBERS THAT HE GAVE MONEY FOR PROTECTION Charleston Wholesale Liquor Dealer Unwillingly Admits Having Collected and Paid a Monthly Sum to Constable Stothartffor Pro tection From Raids. Appearing before the committee of the general assembly Thursday, J. P. B. O'Neill, a confessed wholesale and retail whiskey dealer of Charleston, gave testimony under oath that he had been paying a "protection fund" of about $60 a month to Ben H. Stoth art, the chief whiskey constable In Charleston. O'Neill made the direct charge that he had collected this fund from sev eral retail whiskey dealers. The testimony by O'Neill was given after he had been put through a grill ing cross-examination by the commit tee and after he had been threatened will a jail sentence for contempt. The witness when placed on the stand re fused to give testimony on the ground that it might incriminate him. The members of the committee took the position that O'Neill must answer all questions with reference to the Char leston situation or to be held in con tempt. The testimony of the witness and his answer caused a general up roar among the spectators. He tried to evade practically every question propounded on the ground that It might incriminate him or other Char leston citizens. After a conference With his attorney, W. S. Nelson, O'Neill said that he was ready to answer all questions rather than take a Jail sentence. Story of the Scheme. After evading questions by the com mittee for more than one hour and after several conferences with his at torney, O'Neill got down to his story of confession and outlined the follow ing scheme. He said that about 18 months ago Ben H. stothart of Charleston came to his place of buoiness and inform ed him that he had been appointed as chief constable for Charleston county. "Stothart told me that the hoys would be coming around to see me," said O'Neill. O'Neill then said that about one month afterwards he placed the "pro tection fund" that he had collected from the retail whiskey dealers In an envelope and put the envelope under the door of the ofllce of Ben H. Stoth art in Society street. He declared that the money was left during the night and that the envelope contained the names of the retail dealers who had paid for protection. O'Neill de clared that the "protection desired" was given to the retail dealers. The testimony of O'Nell was the most sensational that has ever been1, given before the legislative commit-, tee. In his testimony O'Neil declared that the collection of the "protection fund had commenced about IS months ago, or just after the appoint ment of Stothart by the governor of South Carolina. At a recent meet ing of the dispensary committee in Charleston several confessed "blind tigers" charged that they had been paying a protection fund to J. 1'. B. , O'Neil, who was said to be a member of the Marion Stock company, alleged to be a wholesale whiskey company operating in the city of Charleston. The principal testimony on the "pro tection fund" given tit the Charleston hearing was by John J. Miller. O'Neil admitted before the commit-1 tee that Miller had been employed as bis agent and that he collected the! "fund" from the retailers." Grace's Charges. Several weeks ago Mayor Grace, of. Charleston, made the charge that . graft had been traced practically up | to the governor's ofllce. The legis-1 latlve committee held a meeting In Charleston vthen n score of witnesses appeared. Practically every witness gave testimony that they had been paying a "protection fund to the wholesale whiskey dealers. The wholesale dealers charged with re ceiving the fund were subpoenaed to appear before the committee. The committee met last week and only one alleged wholesaler appear ed. He was Albert Sottlle. Sottlle Was Dumb. He refused to testify on the ground that it might incriminate him, the committee at that time let him off. Later a case was found giving the committee the right to forco to tes tify and not to use the testimony In criminal prosecution. O'Neil is the first witness to be called and he has directly charged the chief constable of the governor of South Carolina with grafting. All of the other whole salers will be called and they will be forced to tell what they did with the fund collected. The committee held an executive session tonight when several matters were discussed. No announcement had been made as to when the next meeting of the committee will be held. Mr. Carlisle: Mr. O'Neil. did you col lect any money In the city of Char leston or elsewhere for the purpose of paying It over to Mr. Stothart or and other constable for protection or immunity? A. I decline to answer on the ground that it would incriminate me. The committee ruled that the wit ness would have to answer or be rul ed for contempt. After reconsideration and consulta tion, Mr. O'Neil consented to answer. A. I cannot tell you exactly. It has been testified by two people they paid me money, and this money 1 placed In an envelope with names of parties paying it to me and left It at the con stable 8 ofn.ce. q. What parties paid It to you? A. Milton Is one. He paid It for two places. $15. q. Did you take It In person to the constable's office? A. Yes, sir. q. With whom did you leave It? A. At his office. q. Did you have your name on It In any way? A. Names of parties who paid the money and their place of business. q. How did you know the con stables would keep that money? A. Because I was to give the money to them. q. Acting agent between the retail ers and constables? A. Yes, sir. q. Did the retailers direct you how to do that? A. The retailers? Q. Yes, sir Q. Who told you to put it under the door? A. Those people who dealt with me was to pay me so much to keep from being raided by a warrant. All 1 had to do was to pl'.cs the amount in an envelope and names and to leave it at the office. Q. By Senator Clifton: What is his name. A. B. P. Stothart. The constable's office. Q. By Senator Carlisle: Who made that arrangement for you to do that? A. 1 arranged. Q. With those fellows? A. What fellows? Q. Those In this business. Did you ever have any conversation at any time about this method of "protec tion"? Didn't you agree with the con stables that this matter should be done in this way? A. That I could collect it. 1 made that arrangement with Mr. Stothart himself? Q. How many retailers did you rep resent in this proposition? A, Different times. Q. How many times did you leave It under the door? A. Once every month. Q. When did that arrangement be gin? A. About 18 months ago. Q. Commenced soon after Mr. Stot hart went into business as constable? A. About the time 1 went Into the Jobbing business. About March of last year. Q. Soon after the inauguration of Governor Blease? I want to get at the date of Mr. Stothart's appoint ment. A. Shortly after that. Q. And continued up to what? A. Up to when I went out of busi ness some Hem in the month of June. Q. Jupt about the time that article came out in Common Sense? A. Before that, I think. Q. I would like if you could give us the exact date of your going out of business9 A. Cannot .state positively. Q. Do you know whether any other jobbers had this came plan? A. Don't know anything about others. Q. Mr. Stothart didn't tell you? A. No, sir. Q. Where were you when you made that arrangement? A. At my place of business. Mr. Stothart came ?'ere. Me notified me he had been appointed chief con stable and the boys would be around to see me. Q. Whom do you mean by boys? A. Men under him. Q. What arrangement did he sug gest to prevent anything unpleasant and what did you suggest he could do for you? A. Didn't suggest anything, I Just collected the money during the month and put it in an envelope and left it at the otllce. Q. At the time of the first conver sation, did be tell you he would do that? A. Didn't specify anything. Said only the boys would be around. Q. Said something besides that? A. No, sir. I in the Jobbing business. Q. You think Mr. Stothart. when he found those envelopes of money, knew what they were for? A. Ycb, sir, the names were there. My name was on it. Q. Then Mr. O'Nell, the under standing was that those payments were made monthly there would be no search warrant? A. I did not do that. Q. Was not a search warrant serv ed on your customers after that? A. I don't know. Q. Did you ever give them credit for goods? A. No, sir. Q. About how many?any time during the last 18 months. How many men have been paid you that mon ey? A. Only six. Q. Qive us names? A. Milton is one. He paid for two places. Q. The others? A. Strickland, Windham, myself and W. J. Cantwell. q. How ?nuch did you pay., Mr. O'Nell? A. Fifteen dollars per month. Q. How much did you pay for each of the others? A. Five dollars and ten dollars. q. Your total payments for the month aggregated about how much? A. About $60. q. Where is that office located? A. Society street. (Continued on Page Five.) 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