Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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im SUMTER WATCILMAN, Estaatl Consolidated Aug. 2.188 Cbr 35ftatcbwran anb Soutbroii Published Weilneedny ami Saturday ?BT? 08TEEN PUBLISHING COMPANY SUMTER, 8. C. $L?0 par annum?In advance. One Square first Insertion.$1.00 Every subsequent insertion.SO Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates All communications which sub eerve private Interests will be charged for ao advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged tor. LADY A VICTIM OF RABID POO. North Carolina Farmer's Daughter Cannot Recover. Wlnston-Salem. N. C. May 17 ? atlas Maude Klmbel, sixteen-year-old daughter of a Forsyth farmer, who was bitten two years ago by a rabid dog. and who for the past two days haa been manifesting signs, of hydro? phobia, was declared today by attend? ing physicians to be suffering from that dread dw*ase. It Is said she can live but a fe v days. SEUsOAUD REORGANIZED. Da via Werfte id. One of the Receiver*, to be President. New York. May 17.?It became known here today that the reorganiza? tion plan of the Seaboard Aair Line Railway, which la now In the hands of the receivers. Is about completed and will be Issued In a short time. It Is understood that no assessment will be made oa the stock, of whtoia Caere la outstanding $17.011,400 common, and $$$.m.$00 preferred.* The $11,771. 000. first mortgage 4 per cent, bonds will be exchanged for new 4 per cent, refunding bonds, while other existing srllt be exchanged for a new od that Davlea Warneld. of the receivers will good etPKFjLT FIRM FAHA IffTrV***4^ of Tracy St Co. Betlmated At n Million. New York. May 17.?In the appolnt t today of a receiver for Tracy & .. members of the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. Wall street had a million-dol? lar failure with an interesting varia? tion from the uauai. The taxlcabs, not stock manipulation or market conditions, are said to be Indirectly responsible for the firm's trouble. While no announcement as to the ex? act cause of the failure has been made. E. A. Benedict, the receiver, said tonight that hs understood that money lost In backing a local taxlcab concern figured In the outside ven? tures. The firm hss no stock ex? change obligations. The total liabilities are estimated at $1.000.000; the assets at half that amount. Both these sums, however, are approximated. ??JIM" WILLIAMS ILL; RESIGNS. Newly Appointed Civil Service Com? missioner lies Tubercuksiis. Washington. D. C. Msy 17.?It will be a surprise to many persons In South Carolina to hear that James T. Williams, who waa made a civil ser? vice commissioner by the president a short time ago, today tendered his resignation, to take effect at once. He will leave aWshlngton within a few days for Fort Bayard. New Mexico, which Is noted as a climate calculated to cure tuberculosis, with which, it is said, he Is afflicted. Mr. Williams' illness Is peculiarly sad. He is only 2? years of age. but In spite of his youth, ho had rendered such valuable services to the Repub? lican party during the last national campaign, that he was made civil ser? vice commissioner. During the cam? paign, he was private secretary to Na? tional Chairman Hitchcock and later he was the national commltt???' < n ? r sentstlve on the Tsft train, when Mr Tart made his forty-day trip through the country Mr. Williams Is a na? tive of South Carolina and up to a year ago he was the head of the Washington bureau of the Ro/v.u Transcript During his carser as a newspaper man. he was noted for hla knowledge of affairs at the departments of war, ststs and navy and Mr. Taft was par ttcularly friendly to him. John Rrunson, who died at Norway. S. C. several days ago, lived In three centuries. He was born In 178$. I ?li?d April, 1850. 'lie Just ai X._SI WKim INQUIRY BEGUN. winding-cp commission held shout session yesterday. Little Was Done Except the Reopen? ing of Several Judgments in the Claims of the Whiskey Houses und the Postponnient of the Fleisch - mann Case ? Yesterday was the Calm Before the Storm, and the ComlSKlon will Get Down to Real Work To-day. Columbia. May 17.?The reopening of several judgments in the claims of whiskey houses, the postponement of the case of Fleischmann & Co., until Thursday and the announcement of tr.ree cases to be heard tomorrow morning, were the matters settled at the short session of the wlnding-up commission of the old State dispen? sary this afternoon. Today's session was the calm before the storm, as the commission will get down to busi? ness in the morning, when the follow? ing three cases will be considered: E. A. Sanders & Co., Richmond; Big Springs Distilling Company, Savan? nah; Strauss, Pritr & Co., Cincinnati. Col. Felder, of counsel for the State, asked that these three claims be con? sidered together, and also that, along with the Fleischman claim, the fol? lowing be postponed until Thursday: Gsrson-Sellgman Co., Cincinnati; Richards ft Co., Washington; Belair Distilling Company, Baltimore. It was stated that It was desired that these cssee be heard together. Alt the members of the commission Tore present and a number of-repre? sentatives of the various Interests. Of ths well known Atlanta firm there wero present Mosers. Felder, Hill and Anderson. A* there were two new members of the commission present, Messrs. Wood and Brlce, the Claims. ! fostered, wore not considered this af irsioon, as these genclemen wished to it themselves with the details the commission's former work In connection. When the Flelsch ras called, It was an Mr. Oraydon, of Maxwell ?ft** ^ER. been asked to represent Flelschm'ann nfld more time was requested to look into the case. This was granted upon request of Col. Felder and upon motion of Mr. Brice. ot the commission. Chairman Murray stated that the cases had been put down as the commission wished them heard, and Col. Felder pointed out that the whiskey concerns had full notice to present books, etc. Upon the granting of the postponement In the Fleischmann case, Col. Felder stated that, because of their relation? ship, the other cases mentioned above should also be postponed. N Columbia. May 18.?In the dlspen ssry investigation today Attorney Felder for the State, sprung a sur? prise In the form of a copy of a let? ter from Salesman Nelson of E. A. Saunders ft Co.. a whiskey house of Bichmond, to Morton A. Goodman, now out on a 12.500 bond to answer charges of conspiracy to defraud the State, setting forth that commissions would be paid him on the dispensary business. This Is In line with the State's effort to prove that Goodman had a four-year contract to distribute the dispensary business among certain whi'key houses and get commissions, paying rebates to the purchasing agents from the State before the liquor was shipped out. Nelson has already testified before committee that no commissions were to be paid The Saunders company has promised to have Nelson reappear before the commission to testify. The springing of the surprise fol? lowed evidence from Mr. M. H. Cham? bers, secretary-treasurer of the Saun? ders company, who appeared to testi? fy this morning In the interest of his company's claim for $40,000 against the State, that he knew nothing of Goodman, that no commissions were to be paid him by his company, that his books an 1 record showed no transaction with Goodman. Mr. Chambers frankly acknowledged that the letter was a great surprise to him, and afterwards told the members of the committee that his experience to? day was the most humiliating he had hod In all his business career. Mr. Chambers did not bring any letters to or from Goodman, as he was specifically required to do by the committee In its summons to the com? pany He said that he made no search for such letters as he knew there were none, thut the name of Goodman did not appear on the company'" books. Toward the conclusion of the morn? ing session of the commission the wit? ness agreed to let Attorney Malvern Hill go to Richmond and examine the letter files and ledgers of the company id Fear not?d?et ail the ends Thon Ain TMTER. 8. C. SATU] i for any records bearing upon the bus? iness with the State. The witness testified that Nelson had told him In conversation that there had been a spat between Nelson and Goodman, regarding Goodman's demand for a commission, which Nel? son said he had refused. Mr. Cham? bers denied most emphatically that the company had gotten a letter from Goodman demanding the commissions on the ground that he had already paid out rebates to the purchasing ager.ts of the State, and that he, the witness, replied that the commission could not be paid until the company's bill against the State was paid. It is denied that he had any knowledge of his company ever having paid or promised anything to Goodman. Columbia, May 20.?The commis? sion winding up the affairs of the late lamented State dispensary had appar? ently a desultory day yesterday, but those who are on the inside say that Its effects will be noted later. In brief, the commission went on record as Insisting upon its mandates being obeyed and the books of original en? try being presented as demanded. There was a good deal of talk by counsel and mope or less skirmishing which seemed unnecessary, but the commission finally ruled that If whis? key houses really wish to get their claims adjudicated, they must present their books?or take their chances. This was brought about by discus? sion of the claim of the New York and Kentucky company. This Is the same concern which turned over to Messrs. Lyon and Christensen a num? ber of celebrated epistles, one being from a county dispenser who asked for consideration at the hands of this company on the ground that his doc? trine was "whose bread I eat, his song I sing." It has been believed that the trans? actions by this company were as nearly straight as possible under the old State' dispensary, and the claim was about to be paid when Mr. Lyon asked for tho matter to be held in suspense, for he la developing certain lines of Information which are worth money to the State of South Carolina. Mr. Curlel, the manager of the New office, and others were present, as was Mr. Mc< his general coun? sel and law partner of Congressman Perkins, of New York. It was final? ly decided to put Mr. Curlel under bend to appear here and to require the presentation of his books. Some remonstrance had been made that it would require a freight car to bring all of the books, but Col. Felder ridiculed this idea. These people had not been paid $22,600 which they claimed. The attorneys for the State figured out that $6,733.44 should be deducted as the amount of graft In the case. This charge of graft was repudiated by the lawyers on the other side. However, they admitted overcharges and claim? ed that this was due In part to the freight being Included. Col. Felder made a very adroit argument, sustaining Mr. Lyon's po? sition. Both gentlemen declared that the claim is filled with overcharges and they would not accept the offer by attorneys to accept the reduction and withdraw from the State. It Is expected that today the Flelschntann case will come up, also that of Saunders & Son, of Richmond. Nelson, the sales agent of the latter house, may be here today. Fleisch mnnn was the mayor of Cincinnati. It was his attorney that started all this fight. The case of the Green River Dis? tilling Company, of Kentucky, was submitted by the attorney, Mr. A. J. Carroll. This company admitted "ov? ercharges,'' about $2,500. "I can do nothing for you." Capt. M. E. Adams, United States engineer, stationed at Charleston ar? rived in Klngstree a day or two ago and started on a canoe trip down Black river from Klngstree to Win Nab Bay. This trip is made to fa? miliarize himself with the character of the stream before undertaking Its survey, as provided for by the recent act of congress. It is the dream of thiit section of country to have Black river deepened and straightened so that it will be navigable for light diaft steamers as high as Klngstree. Such a condition would give Kings tree and surrounding country a water route with Its attendant cheap freights from New York via George? town. The outcome of Capt. Adams' Ti port on the feasibility of the under? taking is eagerly awaited. A lino of itsamersfrom Georgetown to Kings* tree would mean a large increase In the business of the old town. Robert Sams leaped from a South? ern train near Greenville in the hope of gaining escape. Sams Wll being taken to Anderson to answer the charge of criminal assault. is't at be thy Country's, Thy God's an RDAY. MAY 22, 19Q{ THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATION. EXAMINATION OF FARM MAN? AGEMENT MADE TUESDAY. Details Were Gone Into?Mr. Bunch Explains Working of His Depart? ment and Gives Some Comparative Figures. Columbia, May 19.?A session of nearly three hours of the legislative committee in charge of Investigations at the State Hospital for the Insane yesterday was devoted exclusively to the examination of two witnesses, Mr. J. W. Bunch, who has been treasurer and in charge of the farm work of the Institution for about 19 years, and Mr. D F. Hedgepath, who has charge of the dairy and superintends the milk? ing, one of the departments about which specific complaints have been made, concerning the cleanliness. The testimony of Mr. Bunch was very interesting. It related to the de? tails of the farm work, the profits made, a description of the method of obtaining supplies and Just how much was saved by the institution. On examination by Dr. Julius Tay? lor, a member of the board of regents, It was brought out that about $20,000 profit was made on a farm of about i 237 acres last year, thi? not including deductions for taxes, and other costs that a State institution does not have to pay. Mr. Bunch also presented a table showing the cost per capita from 1889 up to the present. The testimony of Mr. Hedgepath, who has charge of the dairy and su? perintends the milking, which is done by the patients, was to the effect that the charges as to uncleanliness were unfounded. Mr. Hedgepath entered into details as to the management of the department. The testimony of Mr. Bunch was along the lines suggested by questions from the committee to show the growth In this particular department. In 1891 650 bushels of corn was raised, as against 7,500 bushels last year. Pork and bacon were produced amounting to $1,644 in 1908, as against $521 in 1891. The milk 18 [ years ago waa valued at about ^.Of^O1 and the output is now valued at about $18,183; the vegetables in 1891 were valued at about $3,000, and this year are valued at about $19,405. Mr. Bunch explained that there were about 400 hogs on hand and a large supply of oats and corn was on hand after the institution has been supplied. The home raised corn meal he re? garded as more wholesome and much better. Ag to the milking, it was done by patients. There were cement floors, scoured once each day. The milkers washed their hands and washed the cows. Replying to Mr. Harrison he said! that there had been a strike some time ago. With the hired men they could not be forced to bathe and I many of them were diseased. He thought patient labor better. These were paid $1 per month. He thought it impossible from an l economic standpoint to raise wheat. About $600 worth of fertilizers were I used, the rest being furnished by the garm. The hogs were fed from the swill from the institution. He farmed j on the extensive system to supply the institution. Replying to a question from Mr. Harrison he thought conditions might be better with a larger farm, say 1, 500 acres, averaging one acre per pa? tient, provided the land was good land. From an economic standpoint I It would be better, with prospects for further enlargement. With ^a refrig erantlng plant he could supply fresh meat at any time. * Last year over $1,500 was spent for Ice. It cost about $1 per ton to pro? duce ice and a plant, on an estimate several years ago, would cost about $8,000. Since then it was cheaper. Ht thought under that plan, with milk and meat stored In this place, about a pound or two pounds of Ice per capita would be ample. The total cost, outside of the actual price of production of Ice, would ho about - ooo. The plant was an actual neces? sity! Mr. Hedgepath was in charge of tb? dairy and tho patients were so" lootod from tho negro male ward. Ho did not think they were as dirty ai the hired men formerly employed wore, Tho white dairyman looki d li? ter the oleanlineaa, a report \\:is sent Jr. each month, a report wai made by Mr. Bunch to the board of regents Just as if it was a private corporation Replying to Mr. Carey he thought the farm an absolut?? neCOOOity; tho prices in the Columbia markets, espe? cially milk, would be prohibitive. More care waH made In the selection of meat than If it was bought on the id Truth's," TIDE TR?J New 8er market. The beeves were fattened on clover and cottonseed meal. This idea of the institution furnishing its own ?eef grew out of constant trouble un? der the contract system when beef was furnished by outsiders. The Wallace property produced 10 bushels of corn to the acre when first bought and now produces 70 bushels to the acre. It would not be practicable to buy additional land around the asylum at present prices of real estate. The patients were not forced to work. They were encouraged, how? ever. There was one farm laborer who was worth probably $75,000 to $100,000. He thought the produce was just as good as could be bought on the market. The preparation was not so good on account of the large number. The kitchen had a capacity for about 300 patients and fed about 1.200. Each cook prepared food for about 200 patients and employes. He considered the cook overseer a com? petent man. Of course it was impossible to em? ploy all good men as cooks, he aald. The kitchen should be enlarged and another one built. There should be ranges for the Parker building and the white women departments or the present storeroom should be convert? ed into a kitchen. He did not like the idea of steam cooking as was done in the main building. This was partly the cause of complaints. With the means at hand the cooking there could not be bett?r. More room and more cooks were needed. He regard? ed the bread as very good. He had nothing to do with the din? ing room but for the class of patients that eat there he did not think it could be any better. He had heard no com? plaints and in fact learned more about it since the hearing. Dr. Babcock had always shown a willingness to correct any trouble and there was cooperation between the two. Answering questions by Mr. Harri? son the witness thought the congested conditions reduced the efficiency of the institution. He made several sug? gestions as to changes that might be made that would furnish more room with additions to bf> added. He alsn daacHb^t purchase supplies. Cloth had been bought from the South Carolina mills. Khaki cloth had been purchased from the govern? ment and there til enough now on hand to last the Institution about two or three years. Coal was bought in the spring at a very cheap price. The board of regents, he said, met once a month. The work was sub? divided. His department was under Regents Jones and Glenn. He made regular reports to them and they in? spected his work, occasionally making suggestions. The management of the farm was left to him and there was perfect harmony. His salary was $150 a month, about the same as many men for looking after one department. He kept 13 books, bought all the supplies, looked after the various distributions. He had one assistant in the office and one In the storeroom. He made annual reports. The last report, for 1908, was made about tw 'j or three weeks ago. It was ready a few days after the first of January. He did lot think the report of the entire institution was ready that early. Questioned by Dr. Dick, he stated that he had nothing to do with the menu card. Replying to Mr. Christensen, the witness explained the minor details of his department. There were several hundred personal accounts to be kept. A special clerk had been provided to keep these within the past month by the board. He also attended to vari? ous commissions by the patients, at? tending to their personal purchases, this being looked after by the assist? ant. This took up several days each month. Replying to Mr. Harrison. Mr. Bunc h explained his ideas as to appro? priations. Every bit of the money should be for a specified purpose. Questioned by Dr. Taylor, he said that $20.000 profit, less Interest and taxes was made last year on tho farm. He bought suits about 30 cents per suit from the United states govern-1 ment, They cost about $3 each to the government. This saved about $i> 000. in Savannah blankets and sheets a'ere bought at a saving of tousands of dollars, nr. Babcock stood over the sales day ; fter day, frequently Without RISSlS. oner of Graft in Savannah he and Dr. Babcock had been offered $500 each to leave a sale. He had rebates offered him veral times, a party who wanted to -ell shoes to the asylum had Offered him SB cents on each pair of sinus. Mr. Bunch at once broke off negotia? tions. An offer of 25 cents per barrel of Hour was also made. Mr. Bunch replied that he was not for sale. The party making this offer wrote a E SOUTHRON, Established June, ISM ies?VoL XXIX. !io 2ft 12 page letter explaining that he did! not wish to be considered as offering: a bribe. Dr. Babcock approved of this letter. Mr. Bunch then gave some figures on the cost per capita. In 1889-1890 the appropriations was $152.78 per capita; 1891, $133.42; 1892, $132.11; 1895, $123.24; 1896. $116.48; 190?. $101.52 to $109. The Dairy. Mr. D. F. Hedgepath, in charge of the dairying department, was next Mvorn. He milked about 137 cows and tried to keep the patients clean. They had to wash their hands and the cows were washed. The patients were of the better class. He was very particular, he said, and? personally saw that the equipment was all right. He had an assistant, not a patient. The milk was weighed and reports made to Mr. Bunch. Out of the 137 cows he got about 200 gal? lons. >. Within the last year he said, in an? swer to Dr. Taylor, the cows were ex arr. ned and injections made to pre? vent tuberculosis. He said that the talk about filtni getting in the milk was "all imigua tion.' He went into details as to the dairy work and a number of ques? tions asked before adjournment until 10 o'clock this morning. Columbia, May 20.?There were some decidedly interesting features yesterday at the meeting of legislative committee investigating affairs at the Slate Hospital for the Insane. The interest was centred in the-testimony of Dr. J. W. Babcock, a native of this State, a graduate of Harvard and su? perintendent of the institution since 1891. He has a national reputation as an alienist and is regarded as an. authority on pellagra and several dis? eases which are interesting the seien? tists. The examination of Dr. Bab? cock took a very wide range. Ques? tions were asked him by, every mem? ber of the committee, although the examination was under the direction* of Mr. Carey, who, with Mr. Bates, constitute a special subcommittee for this work. The investigation went into the administration eT tHe of the asylum, the trei thoritles 30 days in which to file changes that they/might suggest. One of thejntereeting features' the statement by Dr. Babcock that the time of his absence from .the city. Mr. Hunter A. Gibbea, an atterney,, oC this city, who had later presented ?' memorial to the general assembly, asking for an investigation, had placed in the institution a young man of this city who was in jail under a\ charge et fraud. The patient was?, committed on certificates by two pby 8icians over the protest of the air?r thoritles, and Dr. Babcock stated that: it had been reported to him that Mr~ Gibbes, while visiting this patient, had talked with other patients and offered to get some of them out for a. fee of $35 each. This caused action to be taken for disbarment proceed? ings, a letter being written the attor? ney general and the case being under consideration by Mr. Eenet, at that time solicitor. The testimony of Mr. Bunch, the treasurer, and the testimony of ?fr. Earle. who has charge of the* kitchen, related principally to the manage? ment of their respective departments* It is probable that the committee will complete the examination. of Dr. Eabcock today and after a few mor?cr witnesses are put on the stand there will be an adjournment for about $u> a days when the committee will reas? semble to receive the recommenda? tions made by the authorities. Many of the matters brought out by Dr. Babcock were of a nature that would require considerable study and the committee wishes to go into these before making any recommendations 11 the general assembly. Dr. Babcock laid emphasis on the* fact that there was no friction at the* institution, that there was need fee larger quarters, that there was a great deal of work in every department and! explained In detail the manner of re? ceiving and discharging patients an* the blank< filled out in these cas?s. \ SHOTGUN WEDDING. Man in the Ca*e \p|?eals to <?>vi l or Ressef. Columbia. May 19? Claiming that he had been married at the muxxre? of 25 shot guns in the hands of the woman's relatives. C. M. Holliday. n member of a prominent family cC Clarendon County, today appa\e4r*t** the governor's 0000 for relief. He said the life of a 1 apttst preschet or. Rev, J. R. Punderbu.k who per? formed the ceremony against bis *av clination, was also threatened. Holliday says the woman's relatives are now threatening him because has will not live with bee.