The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-09-23
TIE STATE DlSPENSARY.
He RECENT SCANDAL lNVsS riGAT
Ed sYTaESTATe BOARD.

HE RECENT. SCANDAL INVsS rlGAr-
go HESITATE BOARD.
Governor Evans, Commissioner Mixsou
and Others Testify-No New Facts
Brought oat-Interesslng Rsadlng--No
Action Taken by the Board.
COLUMBIA, Sept. 1.-THE State
Board of Control was engaged all day
yesterday investigating the dispensary
scandal. The examination began in
the office of the board at $50 and with
two hours intermission was kept up
continuously until s p N. All mem
bers were present as well as all of the
legislative committee. The witnesses
examined were Governor Evans, Mr..
S. w. Scruggs, Colonel Mixson, j. W.
and w. T. Mixson and Col. D. H.
Tompkins.
Chairman Jones called the board to
order, whereupon Attorney General
Barber, addressing the boarl, said that
ne Was present Ia obedience to the res
olution of the board and was ready to
perform any duty the board might
call upon nm TO perform as he was
legally their counsel. Chairman Jones
stated that the board wished him to
examine the witnesses and suggested
that In order that he might be familiar
with the purpose of the meeting that
the published cards of Governor Evans
and Colonel Mlxson be read.
Mr.. Barber thought that unnecessa-
~, but asked that tne stenographer be
sworn, remarklng at the same time
that the board nao no authority to ad
minister on oath. Chairman Jones
being notary pubic administered the
oath and the BOARD was ready for busi.
ness.
Mr. Barber: What witness do you
want TO examined Governor Evans,
Colonel Tompkins ana Colonel Mixson
are here.
Governor Evans: Wouldn't it be
well for the board to indicate the
scope Of It's examination and deter
mine whaI it intends to oo2
Chairman Jones: It is our intention
togo as far as possible. We agreed last
night that it was beyond our power
70 investigate beyond our employees.
Mr.. Williams said that was the de-
clslon. The board would have no right
or power to go outside.
@r. Barber said undoubtedly the
board would not have that right.
Mr.. Abney arose and stated that he
had been requested by Mr.. Mixson to
appear IN his behalf. In doing so he
bsueyed'he was not transgresslng the
properties when ne called to tue at
lenlon Of the board the word thor
ougn In their resolution. There is no
limitation TO it He understood that
Lne ocard came into Office on April l !.
II You are going. toconhne yourself 60
slnce that Time It could be understood.
But the scope Of the examiniatlon as
lnIirnaIed Is NOT In keeping with the
resolution.
Chairman Jones stated that what
prompted him to cali the board tegeth-
er was the open letters Of Governor
Evans and Commissioner Mixson. He
tnoughs 1t necessary that the matter
pe looked into after that. Ii they had
not appeared he would have seen no
cause for calling the board together.
That's why they are here to consider
the matters charged In those letters.
Mr. Douthit. We are to consider
those and any others that may come
ont of them.
Mr. Nicholson: In other words we
want q searching investigation of all
matters pertaining to the management
of the d,spensary.
Mr. Williams: Our understanding
was that these charges are to be inves-
tigated. IF anything further comes
up, We viii investigate that unless
some objection is made.
The scope of the examination having
thus been definitely determined, the
lawyers had 8 little consultation and
after awhile Attorney General Barber
asked that the Governor be sworn,
which Chairman Jones proceeded to
do. General Barber then asked hlm
TO state what he knew.
GOVERNOR EVANS
Governor Evans testl6ed: ] don
know anything further than what Is
contined in my letter. Most OF the
evidence 7 have is hearsay. The only
thing in the way of positive evidence
are Mizson's statements and his boys
confession, which are in my letter,
which. 7 believe, have not been con-
troverted so far as the material part Is
concerned. The only thing I have to
state Is just what is in my letter.
Mr.. Nicholson: In order to refresh
the minds of the board would 1t not be
better to read the letter?
There was no second and Governor
Evans continued: I'll just state that
the facts stated in that letter were
brought to me by circumstances and
by statements of the clerk OF the oosro
Sticr led me to believe that the Com
or parties connected with
him were getting money from Whlskey
men.
At this point General Barber inter
rupted and said that MIR. Abney hao
been consulting MIN about cross ex
animation of witnesses and ne sug
gested that the board grant MIR. Abney
mat privilege, which was cheerfully
done.
Governor Evans resuming: These
reports went on from time TO time and
in conversation with Mr.. Scruggs he
said he could get the evidence tor me-
if he left the State. 7 told him he hao
my permission to leave and he said ne
wanted to 60 to Cincinnati. He did sc
and returned with evidence against
Mixson's son. Then Tompkins and
Mixson called at the Mansion and il
was agreed that they should get a con
fession from the boy. The next morn,
ing Tompkins came to my office and
wrote on slip of paper, which ne