The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-23

| l made ScruggS make out price llSI
and sent it to Hubbell. who sent his
prices in return. Then it was that
Mixson said Hubbell had offered him
q bribe. never asked Mixson to pur'
chase from him after that. Then the
correspondence between the two ap-
peaaed in the papers. Hubbell again
told me that Mixson was getting com,
missions, and I told him to 60 ana
state his case to the board, Whlch ne
did.
Mr.. Williams: You never saw
those telegrams and letters until they
were publisheda
Governor Evans: No, but Hubbell
told me something about the t.. M.
Mixson letter.
Mr.. Williams: He never told you
over a year ago that all the evidence
had been submitted to Senator Till
mani
Governor Evans: He never said
anything about it to me. Tillman new
er told me. We did speak to your
board about it, and Hllman wrote you
letter. saying it would be an act OF
gratitude to buy from Hubbell in view
of what the Mill Creek Cnmpany had
done to help the Dispensary at the
start.
Mr.. Williams: You never knew
anything about r. M. Mixson's letter
of introduction to Hubbella
Governor Evans: No. not until it
was published. Hubbell told me he
was satisfied something was wrong,
and said. he had seen R. M. Mixson,
He said, in reply to question by
Mr.. Weston, that Scruggs furnished
him with assurance that he had gotten
testimony some time in February. lie
reported after the confession of the boy
and said TO me that was the way it was
done and had evidence to the same ef-
feet.
Mr.. Barber: Colonel Tompkins has
been brought in and I suggest that he
be heard.
Colonel Jones said he certainly
would be given an opportunity and he
asked Mr.. Tompkins if he wished to
make statement, to which he received
a negative answer.
THERE WERE OTHERS.
Governor Evans had completed his
testimony, remarking that all ne had
| to say was in his letter when Mr.. Abney
asked: Were the rumors you speak
of confined to one man2
Governor Evans: No, there were
several of them. 1t was rumored that
I was in it. I couldn't act, though
some of the rumors came in such way
that had to notice them.
Mr.. Nicholson: You say there were
rumors afoat concerning yourself.
Have you in any shape or form ever
received or been offered any rebates2
HE NEVER GOT ANY.
Governor Evans: No, sir. NoDody
has ever offered me any. Mixson had
the exclusive privilege of purchasing,
and I only asked him to buy from
Cranston-to give him small order.
He was an old friend of my family
and represented Bakers whiskey, for
which there is a demand. Beyond
that never had anything to do with
purchases, and drummers rarely came
to me. I have dared any man to even
insinuate that l got one cent. told
Mixson to divide his orders, else peo-
pie would say he was getting rebates.
+ had, I suppose, 100 conversations
with Mixson on the subject, warning
him.
The Governor concluded by saying
that his services were at the DISPOSE
ton of the board, and he would be
glad to answer any questions at any
time.
Mr.. Barber said that great deal OF
Importance attached to those letters
referred to in the testimony and he
wanted them produced. MIR. Scruggs
said it would take him some time to
hunt them. He was excused from the
search just at that time, as his testl-
mony was wanted next.
SCRUGGS'5 TESTIMONY.
There has been feeling pervading
all shades of public opinion that Clerk
Scruggs could tale unfold that would
harrow up the very souls of the people.
Consequently when he was called every
body drew up close so as not to miss a
word.
Mr.. Scruggs prefaced his testimony
by saying that he would have to de.
pend on his memory and make state.
ments from recollection. He had q
treacherous memory on account OF the
business he was in-bookkeeping-but
he had hurriedly written out his re-
collections of conversations, etc.,
which to the best of his knowledge
and belief were true. He then read
the following:
What shall say relating to the de-
tails which led to this investig alton by
me of this rebate question must OF ne
cessity come from memory and some
things which have happened may have
passed from my mind, but / think all
essentials are still remembered by me.
All the knowledge which l have OF
this affair bearing upon my official IN
vestigation when fully told cannot 40
much more than confirm as a whole
the published letters of Governor
Evans, Commissioner Mixson and w.
T.. Mixson, as I remember them. l
have read these letters only once-and
then hurriedly-and for that reason
would not undertake to confirm them
unequivocally, lest possibly some
point of issue contained therein escaped
my attention.
From my recollection Of Governor
Evans's letter, so mueh thereof as re-
lates to my official investigation OF
this matter, is in the main correct al.
though his statement of the details
leading up to the investigation are not
wholly correct. This can easily &C
I,o,,,& TO-. fuo,,, 4ha foot thot no 10 do