The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-30
Mixsoll Resigns.
Mr.. J. w. Mlxson's Singular
Letter to Judge Buchanan
Resigning his Position as
Stenographer.

COLUMBIA, September 27 The dis
pensary investigation has had its first
eequel in the resignation of Steno
grapher Mixson. His letter Of resig-
nation is an interesting chapter in
the dispensary muddle
COLUMBIA, S. G. Sept "a, 1896
Judge 0. W Buchanan, Lexing
ton-Dear Sir: Unfortunately for
me roy name has been connected
with the dispensary matter now un-
der investigation, and while | have
done no wrong, and consequently am
guilty of no crime, wish to relieve
you entirely of any and all possible
embarrassment that might arise by
my continuing to hold my position as
stenographer under you as Circuit
Judge. and l have therefore decided
to resign my position, and enclose
my resignation herewith
am moved to take this course by
reason Of the fact that there are
many careless critics in tie world
who are ever ready to cast the eye of
suspicion and turn loose the tongue
of gossip and slander against anyone
whose name, however innocentIy and
unfortunately. has been connected
with that which becomes matter of
public criticism. For labor perform
ed a as typewriter, at the request ofone
for his own benefit, l was made the
recipient of small diamond shirt
stud of but little value. Being con.
scious of no wrong action or lnten-
tion on my part and not suspecting
any on the part of the giver | retain
ed the stud, and yet there are persons
low and base enough, not to say
cruel and unjust, to charge me with
wrong and would have done as did
under the same or similar clrcum-
stances
was asked to be the bearer of
some money to my brother The
money was paid him as commissions
on whikey cold to the State dispen-
sary, which was under the manage
ment of my father l had no inter
est in the money. and had nothing to
do with it except transport it |
brought It and gave it to my brother,
after warning him against receiving
commission money, as it might IN
some way impiicate our father He
promised to discontinue his relations
with the wiskey dealers and receive
no more commissions If someone
besides my father had been in charge
of the dispensary not word Of critl
cism could have been justly made
against my brother. Whether it is g
business ali people approve Of or
would engage in or not, yet it is a
lawful business and many respectable
people do engage in it, aud the re-
ceiviDg of commissions is common
in this and other businesses. My
brother has violated no law and has
done only what others have done.
who have received no criticism be-
cause they are not tie sons oi my
father. l did nothing but consent to
ae th,. medium of transportation
My father knew absolutely nothing
of the whole affair, and for fear Of
Bringing criticism on his good name
l warned my brother. My brother
has committed no crime | am
guiltless. My fathers only crime
is, if it be crime, that he is the father
of his two sons. These are the facts,
and yet there are persons vile
enough and 80 lost to all sense of
Justice and right as to condemn US,
all three, and say we are all three
equally guilty of great wrongs. As
matter of prudence my brother
should not have accepted the COM
missions, but as matter of right
under the law he did have right to
take them, the same right that any
other citizen has whether he live in
South Carolina or not. The State
lost nothing by the transaction, for it
was not the Statess money, but the
distillers, and if my brother had not
gotten it the money would now be in
the pockets Of the distilers.
The foregoing is what brought my
name before the public in the dispen.
sary investigation and while | am
absolutely innocent of any wrong
doing or wrong intention l feel that
the simple fact that my name is before
the public in this way might embar-
raes you, and not desiring to place
you in this attitude in the slightest
degree have thought best under
the circumstances to tender to you
my resignation as stenographer. |
shall annreciate your kindness to me,