The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-10-08
YOUNG NIIxsON RESIGNS.
His Reasons are Given in n Letter ia
The Circuit Jndrn.


The Circuit Judge.
Mr.. J. w. Mixson who h as been stenog-
rapher OF tho Third Circuit since
Judge Buchanan went on the bench,
has scnt in his resignation. This was
uono In view Of the developments re-
sulting from the dispcnsary investiga-
tlon and his reasons are 9iven in the
following letter:
COLUMBIA, Sept. a, 1896.
Judge =. w. Buchanan, Lexington
Dcar Sir: Unfortunately for me, nv
name has been connected with the dis
pcnSary matter now under investiga-
tion, and while | have done no wrong,
and consequently am guilty of no
crime, wish to relieve you entirely of
any and all possible barrassmont
That might arise by my continuing to
hold my position rs stenographcr under
you as circuit Judge, and [ have,
therefore, decided to resign my posi-
tlon, and enclose my resignation here
with.
| am moved to take this course bv
reason Of the fact that there are manV
careless critics in the world who a"e
ever ready to cast the eye of suspicion
and turn loose tho tongues of gossip
ana slanuer against one whose name,
however innocently and unfortunately,
mas bcen connected with that which
becomes u matter Of public criticism,
For labor performed asia typewriter. at
tie request Of one, for his own benefit.
was made the recipient of small
diamond shirt stud of but little value.
Being conscious Of no wrong action or
Intention on my part, and not suspect
ing any on the part of the giver, | re-
tanned The stud and yet therc are
persons low and base enough, not to
say c"uol and unjust, to charge me
with wrong, who would have done as
dlu under the same or similar circum-
stances. | was asked to be the bearer
OF some money to my brother. The
money was paid him as commissions
on whiskey sold to the State dispen-
sary, which was under the manage
mentot my father. | had no interest
in the money, and had nothing to do
With IT except to transport it.
brought it and gave it to my brother.
! alter warning him against receiving
commission money, as it might in some
| way duplicate our father. He prumis-
| ed to discontinue his relations with
the whlskey dealers and receive no
more commissions. If some one besides
my father had been in charge of the
| dispenSary not a word of criticism
could have been justly made against
my brother. Whether it is Il business
all people approve OF or would engage
IN or not, Yet it is a lawful business
and many respectable people do engage
in 1t, ana the receiving of commissions
Is common IN this and other businesses.
My brother has violated no law and
mas done only what others have done,
VINO nave received no criticism because
| lhcy arc not the sons Of my father. !
ulu nothing but consent to be the
medium OF transportation. NY father
knew absolutely nothing Of the whole
affair, and for fear OF bringing criti-
clsm upon his good name | warned NV
brother. My brother has committed
no crime. | am gultless. My fathers
only crime IS If it be u crime-that he
Is the father OF his two sons. These
arc the facts, and yet there are persons
Vl!c enough and so lost to ali sense Of
Justice and right as to condemn us, all
three, and say we are all three cuualIv
guilty OF great wrongs. AS matter
OF prudence my brother should not
have accepted the commissions, but as
a matter Of right under the law he lid
| have Il right to take thcm-the same
right that any other citizen has,
whether he live in South Carolina or
not. The State lost nothing by the
transaction, Tor 1T was not the State S
money, but the money Of the distillcrs
and If my brother had not gotten it
the money would now be in the pockets
Of the disLillcrs.
Tac foregoing is what brought my
name before the public in the dispon-
sary investigation, and while am alb
solutely innocent Of any wrongdoing or
wrong intention, yet | feel that the
simple fact that my name is before the
public in this way might cmbarrass
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
stcnOgraphcr.
shall always appreciate your kind.
ness TO me, and tho pleasant aud most
cordial relations which have always
existed between us shall forever be my
fOndest rcCOllcctiOrs.
Most gratefully and faithfully yours.
j. w. MINSON.