The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-14
Mizsoll. Has Resigned.
Tomorrow; Evening He
Ceases to be Commissioner.

After all there have been two very
surprising things to develop from the
recent dispeusary investigation, and
the action of the State board Of con-
troll as published yesterday morning.
In the first place State Commissioner
Mixsor hes resigned his position and
his duties will cease tomorrow.
This is complete surprise to, even
Col. Mixson's friends. The other
matter is the determination Of the
State board Of control to leave the
Mill Greek and PEBBLES concerns out
of it when it comes to purchasing
liquors for the dispensary
1t was noised around yesterday
morning that Commissioner Mixson
had determined to hand in his resig-
nation, inasmuch 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 questioned, denied fiat.
ly that the board had requested the
resignation, and Col Mixson himself,
when asked if this were true, denied
it almos: as emphatically He declin-
ed to say whether he would resign or
pot Things rocked along through
the day, newspaper men being con.
stantly on the lockout for some de-
velopment, but no resignation was
forthcoming. During the morning
Col Mixson was summoned before
the board Of coutrol and found Gov
ernor Evans already present. From
what can be ascertained this was due
to the consideration by the board of
the matter of getting Governor Evans
to stop the seizures of imported
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 $3.50 o'clock yester.
day afternoon when Col Mixson sent
to the board HE resignation in the
shape of the following letter, which
gives his reasons for his action:
Columbia, S. c., Oct 8, 1896
To the State Board of Control:
1t has been my desire for some
months to resign my position as
State commissioner, but on account
of the many rumors and s1anderous
reports in circulation could not af-
fcrd to do SO, preferring to wait an
investigation by your honorable
board You have conducted this in.
vestigation and have exonerated me
fully from any wrong.doing, and I
now tender you this my resignation,
to take effect as soon as you gentle.
men can name my successor, or in
any ether manner relieve me Of the
! duties I would be glad to have you
act at as early time as you possibly
can, but I do not wish to embarrass
you nor the business in causing you
to act hastily.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) F. NJ M1xsoN.
Shortly afterwards the State board
of control took a recess until this
morning After the doors were
opened it was ascertained that the
board had accepted the resignation
of Commissioner Mixson, to take
effect at 6 o'clock to morrow even
ing One of the members Of the
members Of the board, when asked
what the board would do about elect
ing Col. Mixson's successor, stated
that the bard had not acted in re-
gard TO tt after as yet, but that it
would maxi proper provision for The
conduct OF the business of the dis
pensary 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
commissioner resignation, which
were pointed oct in The State a few
days ago, remain to be seen. Those
features of the law we're called to the
attention Of Tie State by an attor-
ney Of some note 1t is understood
that the attorney generals Office
holds different views, however, and
is of the opinion that the provisions
of the law quoted de not apply to the
matte: II lie Way pcaitcd cns The
board. j! is said. considers itself free
to go ahead aad select successor to
Col Ilixson
The board was busy yesterday
with its monthly purchases of whs-
key. Most of the purchases were
made, but no information in regard
thereto was given for the public, ex.