The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-14
MIXSON HAS RESIGNED.
THE BOARD OF CONTROL ACCEPTS
THE RESIGNATION.

siders Other Matters OF Importance to
the State.
COLUMBIA, Oct. 9.-After all there
have been two very surprising things
to develop from the recent dispensary
investigation, and the action of the
State board of control as published
Yesterday morning. In the first place
State Commissioner Mixson has re.
signed his position and his duties will
cease with tomorrow. This is com.
plete surprise to even Col. Mixson's
friends. The other matter is the de.
termination of the State board of con-
troll to leave the Mill Creek and Pee.
bles concerns out of it when it comes
to purchasing liquors for the dispen-
sary.
1t was noised around yesterday
morning that Commissioner Mixson
had determined to hand in his resig.
nation, lnasmuch as the boards reso.
luton had cleared him of all wrong
doing. No amount of questioning
could bring any light to bear on the
matter. Several members of the board,
when question, denied fatty that the
board had requested the resignation,
and Col. Mixson himself, when asked
if this were true, denied it almost EN-.
phatically. He declined to say whether
he would resign or not. Things rock
ed along through the day, newspaper
men being constantly on the lookout
for some development, but no resig.
nation was forthcoming. During the
morning Col. Mixson was summoned
before the board of control and found
Governor Evans already present.
From what can be ascertained this
was due to the consideration by the
board of the matter of getting Cover
nor Evans to stop the seizures OF i'm
ported liquors by the constabulary.
Mixson, it seems, was called in to
make a statement as to the extent of
such seizures by the constables. What
the upshot of the matter was is OF
course unknown.
1t was about 80 o'clock yesterday
afternoon when Col. Mixson sent to
the board his resignation in the shape
OF the following letter, which gives
his reasons for his action:
Columbia, 8. G., Oct. 8, 1896.
To the State Board of Control:
It has been my desire for some
months to resign my position as State
commissioner, but on account of the
many rumors and slanderous reports
in cil culation I could not afford to do
so, preferring to wait an investigation
by your honorable board. You have
conducted this investigation and have
exonerated me fully from any wrong
doing, and I now tender you this my
resignation, to take effect as soon as
you gentlemen can name my success
or, or in any other manner relieve me
of the duties. would be glad to have
YOU act at as early a time as you pos
sibly can, but do not wish to embar.
rass you nor the business in causing
you to act hastily.
Very respectfully,
Shortly afterwards the State board
of control took recess until this
morning. After the doors were open.
ed it was ascertained that the board
had accepted the resignation Of Com
missioner Mixson, to take effect at 6
o'clock tomorrow evening. One OF the
members of the board, when asked
what the board would do about elect.
ing Col. Mixson's successor. stated
that the board had not acted in regard
to the matter as yet, but that it would
make proper provision for the conduct
of the business of the dispensary until
the place could be filled.
How the board will overcome the
features of the law affecting the con-
duct OF the business in case OF the
commissioners resignation, which
were pointed out in The Slate q few
days ago, remains to be seen. Those
features of the law were called to the
attention of The State by an attorney
of some note. 1t is understood that
the attorney generals Office holds dif.
ferent views, however, and is OF the
opinion that the provisions of the law
quoted do not apply to the matter IN
the way pointed out. The board, 1t Is
said, considers itself free to 20 ahead
and select successor to Col. Mlxson.
The board was busy yesterday with
its monthly purchases OF whlskey.
Most of the purchases were made, but
no information in regard thereto was
given for the public, except that no
orders were given to the PEBBLES and
Live Oak companies. The board has
determined not to make public hence
forth the names of the parties from
whom liquors were purchased and the
amounts that were purchased. This
information will be withheld in the
future.
Mr.. Allen, the member of the board
whose church intimated that it wanted
his resignation as member OF the
board, was present yesterday. He will
very likely have something to say
about the matter today.
Mr.. White of Cincinnati is still here.
He had the board informed that while
he had refused to make statement IN
regard to the rebate question in GIN
cinnati, he was here now and mad
come here for the purpose OF becom'
ing a witness. He has not yet gone
before the board, however. He Will
probably give statement TO the press
today in regard to the scandal, mas
much as his name was so frequently
brought in by the several Witnesses
State.
A Sensation In Sumter.
SUMTER, October 7.-Since Capt. u.
r. Keels retired from the treasurers