The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-09-23

prices IN return. lnen IL was LAal
Mixson said Hubbell had offered him
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 | told him to go and
state his case to the board, which he
did.
Mr.. Williams: You never sa W
those telegrams and letters until they
were published2
Governor Evans: No, but Hubbell
told me something about the Il. M.
Mixson letter.
Mr.. Williams: He never told you
over year ago that all the evidence
had been submitted to Senator Till
man2
Governor Evans: He never said
anything about it to me. Tillman new
er told me. We did speak to your
board about it, and Tillman 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. NJ. Mixson's letter
of introduction to Hubbell2
Governor Evans: No, not until If
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. He
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.
COLONEL ToMPRCNS.
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
negative answer.
THERE WE'RE OTHERS.
Governor Evans had completed his
testimony, remarking that all he had
tosay was in his letter when Mr.. Abney
asked: Were the runors you speak
of coniaou to one man?
Governor Evans: No, there were
several of them. It was rumored that
I was in it. couldn't act, though
some of the rumors came insuch way
that I 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. Nobody
has ever offered me any. Mixson had
the exclusive privilege of purchasing,
and I only asked him to buy from
Cranston-to give him a small order.
He was an old friend of my family
and represented Bakers whiskey, for
which there is a demand. Beyond
that I never had anything to do with
purchases, and drummers rarely came
tc me. I have dared any man to even
insinuate that I got one cent. l told
Mixson to divide his orders, else peo-
pie would say he was getting rebates.
I had, I suppose, 100 conversations
with Mixson on the subject, warning
him.
The Governor concluded by saying
that his services were at the disposi-
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. Mr.. Scruggs
said it would take him some time to
hunt them. He was excused from the
search just at that time, as his testi-
mony was wanted next.
SCRUGGS'S TESTIMONY.
There has been feeling pervadlng
all shades of public opinion that Clerk
Scruggs could tale unfold that would
harrow up thevery 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 mad a
treacherous memory on account of the
business he was in-bookkeeping-but
he had hurriedly written oat 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 investigation 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 l think all
essentials are still remembered by me.
All the knowledge which | have OF
this affair bearing upon my official IN
vestigation when fully told cannot do
much more than confirm as whole
the published letters of Governor
Evans, Commissioner Mixson and w.
T. Mixson, as I remember them.
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 much 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 moi
wholly correct. This | can easily &C.
count for from the fact that he is de-
pending entirely on his memory fol
every detail relating to the earliest
period of this case. 1t is true, as Gov
ernor Evans states, that I reported tc
him that I believed commissions were
being paid to some one; but not as he
states, that I arrived, in broad sense
at these suspicious from letters indis
criminately opened by me during the
absence of the Commissioner. Ny re
u IL. I'll Ill