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

he had said and newspaper men were
appealed to-, who said the Judge had
said that "dispensary officials" would
not give the information.
The board adjourned until the after
noon in order to give Mr.. Scruggs a
chance to hunt up the letters and tele'
gram. o..
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On reassembling at 4 o'clock Mr.:
Scruggs stated that he could not ind
the letters wanted. He said there was
nothing in the Francis Kelley letter.
The letter Governor Evans refers to
can't be obtained unless it is written
for.
stated in my testimony l said the
first letter had a suspicious statement
because the writer said something
about freight rebates and the money
being sent by currency.
Mr., Nicholson-Cof. Mixson, can't
you get that letter.
Mr.. Mixson-No, sir. Ii it is on file
Mr.. Scruggs has it; he has charge OF
all such Correspondence.
Mr.. Scruggs-The second letter dis
sipated suspicious about the irst.
Governor 'Evans-Oh, yes, there is
nothing in that. The letter I referred
to was from the Live Oak Co., which
I cautioned Mr.. Scruggs to keep.
Mr.. Scruggs said he couldn't remem-
ber the date of the letters. But by
reference to his cash book he could
tell the time. But there is nothing in
it. The second letter brought the
freight rebates which were deposited
in the bank and the first letter was
dissipated.
Mr.. Abney: When the board went
into Office, who had charge OF CORE
spondence2
Mr.. Scruggs: I and Col. Mixson.
All was put together and filed away.
Mr.. Abney: You didn't say any
thing to Mixson about your first sus-
picions2 When the second letter came
you say your suspicious were dissipat.
ed when Mixson placed freight rebates
in the bank2
Mr.. Scruggs: Yes.
In answer to another question he
said the Live Oak letter referred to was
one in reply to one written by Mr..
Mixson to the Live Oak Company. I
Judge he had written about q mark
down in prices. The substance is that
if our goods are marked down White
can't get any more commissions.
Mr.. Abney: What's that to do with
Mixson2
Mr.. Scruggs: That's for tho board
to say.
Mr.. Abney: Was anything in that
letter which came officially that JUST.
fed you in thinking Mixson dishonests
MI. Scruggs: It was q curious thing
to me that White was getting commits.
sions ard Colonel Mixson knew it
without protest.
Mr.. Abney: Do you gee anything
wrong in that9
Mr.. Scruggs: I see> no wrong in
White getting rebates.
Mr.. Abney: Was any attempt to
conceal letters made on the part OF
Mixson2
Mr.. Scruggs: I got it first while
Mixson was absent. Iplaced it on hle.
Was filed in his desk.
Mr.. Abney: The Governor says you
exhibited letters to him2
Mr.. Scruggs: That was the letter.
Mr.. Abney: You showed it to him3
Mr.. Scruggs: Yes, but I told him OF
other letters and then filed them in his
desk. I received and opened more let.
ters in his absence. I don't remember
the time of this Live Oak letter. Think
it was last winter. don't know when
Mixson wrote to White. never read
their correspondence.
Mr.. Scruggs said he had looked for
the J. w. Mixson telegram but Mr..
Gray OF the Western Union told him
it had been forwarded to New York
and had kept no record of it. Records
were only kept six months, then de-
stroyed.
Mr.. Abney remarked that this tele'
gram was very important and the
chairman could get it by sending to
headquarters in New York. He asked
Mr.. Scruggs to tell what was in the
telegram. He said it was sent in July,
1895, aud was, "Send memorandum
at once" and signed by James Mixson
in Atlanta. 1t came to the office un-
sealed.
Mr.. Abney: What was in that to
say any man was dishonest3
Mr.. Scruggs: I cad't draw infer
ences for the board.
Mr.. Barber next questioned the wit.
ness about when the telegram came.
He said he was sitting at his desk. b.
B. Evans was there and read If before
] did.
Mr.. B. B. Evans: No, you showed
it to me. Uaughter)
Mr.. Scruggs said he had sent 1t TO
Mixson's house, knowing that he was
going away that morning.
Mr.. Barber: Doyou know anything
that would connect James and Colonel
Mixson in receiving rebates before
James left2
Mr.. Scruggs: Not a thing. James
had nothing to do with the Dispensary
I had charge of the invoice books, but
Colonel Mixson had access to them.
They lay on my desk and his sons
could look at them if they wanted. l
don't know as a matter of fact that
they did, but one might when I left
work. Colonel Mi1son and one OF his
sons were left in the Office. When I
came back next morning the book was
in Colonel Mixson's room. This was
several days before receiving the tele-
gram. think it was w. T. Nixon
in the room, but don't know as mat
ter of fact that he looked at it.
In answer to Mr.. Abney he said Col.
Mixson had a right to look at the