The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-23
THE STATE DISPENSARY.
will have TO explain.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1.


Governor Evans: l haven't hac
them. Only saw them.
MIR. Barber said if any additiona,
testimony was put up, Mr.. Abney
would be given the opportunity to re
ply, with that Colonel Mixson wa:
called.
MIXSON'S STORY.
Mr.. Abney: When were you ap
pointed Commissioner
Col. Mixson: I don't recollect the
date, but was elected in January, 1895
but my commission dates from Feb
ruary.
Abney: There has been some ques
ton about the letter Of introduction
from you to Hubbell OF r. M. MiSson
What was the datel
Col. Mixson: / don't know except
from his published letters an6 they
make it December, '94. At that time
had nothing to do with purchasing
Whiskey. Mr.. Trayler was the Com
missioner and | the Superintendent
don't know of any influence that !
could have exercised over him to in
duce him to buy from any one and
didn't try to. [ was a candidate Tor
Commissioner at the time. At first
Mr.. Dukes of Orangeburg was my OPP,
ponent and later Mr.. TraXler decided
to run. MY election was not settled
matter. Up to that time lad no con-
troll over purchases. Inc letter OF in
PRODUCTION to HuDpell wasgiven to my
nephew, r. M. Mixson.
Abney: From favors extended to
your nephew by introducing him
what could you make in return?
Mixson: Nothing. l was simply
superintendent and could not aid my
nephew.
Abney: Evans refers 10 a conver-
sation with you previous to your cleo
ton as Commissioners. Tell what took
place.
Colonel Misxon: Iasked Evans 10
take my boy in partnership in the in
surance business, and nothing Was
said about the purchase of whiskey.
Abney: Will you state positively
and absolutely whether his statement
is true according to your views?
Colonel Mixson: 1t is not true. He
was in business in Edgefield at the
time and moved here after that. l
don't know whether he applied for the
Dispensary insurance or not, but l
gave it to him. I did not sacrifice the
interest of the Dispensary for him. He
insured as cheap as anybody else.
That was done in fair and proper way.
Abney: When you first came in
Office what firms were being bought
from2
Col. Mixson: The bulk was pur.
chased from the Mill Creek Company.
made a purchase from them. I need
ed some Bourbon. had seen Hub
bell but he refused to give me 5 per
cent. off. I wired him to send twenty
five cars of one and two x Bourbon
each with off. The next day he tel
egraphed that he would ship immedi-
ately. On Wednesday I received q
letter saying that the goods had been
sent because they thought I was in q
hurry, but they couldn't take off. I
immediately ordered them to recall
shipment, but they replied it had gone
too far; for me to take it and the 5
would be taken off. I never bought
any more from them because they
would not give me enough per cent.
off. I have never seen Hubbell's re-
duced figures the Governor refers to.
Gov. Evans: Ipulled them out of
nv drawer and we talked over them.
Abney: So far as purchases are
concerned, were the prices paid greater
or lesser than those of your predeces-
sor2
Col. Mixson: The original price
was less except on xxx, which was
the same. In addition on January 1
the Internal Revenue tax was increas
ed 20 cents gallon, and got per
cent off which my predecessor did not.
He paid for x Rye $1.50 and the tax
was 80 cents. l bought better whis-
key for $1.45 and got 5 per cent. off.
That saved in eleven months about
$4,000.
Abney asked whether Live Oak
whiskey was in demand2
There is more call for it than any
other, was the reply. The board now
purchases it, but I don't know whether
they pay the same price.
Mr.. Abney-Who is this man White?
Col. Mixson-He is member of the
firm of White & Cramer. a supply
house of Cincinnati. He claims to
have started the dispensary off. He
came to represent the Live Oak Co.
and maybe PEBBLES.
Did he offer you any inducements!
Iordered two bills of goods from
him. About March or April he came
in two or three days ahead of Yost and
PEBBLES. Then he told me he was get
ting commissions on what he sold and
he would give me half to purchase
from him. l told Yost, which can
prove by Scruggs, that he needn't send
White here any more. 1 would not
buy from him. Mr.. Scruggs said the
statement was true.
Mr.. Abney: Something was said
about letter from PEBBLES inviting
you and "friend Tompkins" to come
to Cincinnati. What's in that:
Col. Mixson retired and returned
with letter which he read. In il
PEBBLES extolled three brands of his
liquor and asked Commissioner Mixson
to buy several car loads and he would
be pleased with the stuff. 1t wound
up by expressing the hope that Clover
nor Evans. Colonel Tompkins ant
Colonel Mixson would all visit Gin
cinnati.
Colonel Mixson continuing in reply
to question said that he had never
seen any letter III which it was said
that Whites commissions must stop
He never received such letter.