The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-07
7ol. Vincent and Col. Mixter
Named in Hughes Report
Receives Clemency.
ACCUSED OF SQUANDER-
ING AIRPLANE FUNDS
Attorney General Advises That
Charges Be Dismissed AS.
Both Offers Acted in Good
Faith and at Most Waste Of
Money Was Error of Judg-
nent.

Washington, Dec 3.-Lieut. Col, j.
G. Vincent and George W. Mixter.
army officers named by Charles E.
Hughes in his report on the aircraft.
investigation as having been guilty Of
transacting business with private
concerns in which they were finan-
icially interested, have been pardoned
By President Wilson.
This announcement was made to-
might at the White House:
1T was announced at the executive
Offices today that the president had
pardoncd Lieut.. Col. George w. Nix
ter and Lieut.. Col. j. G. Vincent.
whom the recent report on aircraft
production showed TO be technically
guilty because Of a breach Of statutes,
because he entirely concurs in the
views of the attorney general with re-
gard to these two cases. He believes
that the two gentlemen concerned
were entirely innocent of any i'm
proper or selfish. intention, that their
guilt was only technical and that
their services to the government,
which have been Of the highest value
and Of the most disinterested sort,
deserve a most cordial recognition"
No action against either Colonel
Vincent or Colonel Nfixter has been
taken by the department of justice
and the granting Of full pardons to
them was recommended to the presi-s
dent by Attorney General Gregory,
who took up their cases in separate
letters TO the president. These let
tcrs were made public tonight.
Colonel Vincent was vice president
Of the Packard Motor Car Company
and was one of the designers Of the
Liberty motor.
When that motor had been de-.
signed" said Mr. Gregory's letter to
the president, the Packard Com
pany rendered Mr.. Vincent and its
engineering staff and facilities such
service as might be necessary to test
OUT and develop the design for pro
ducticn. The authorities authorized
Mr. Vincent to build a required num-
Der of models and experimental mo-
tors and ne directed his company to
DO the work, he was commissioned in
the signal corps, reSigning as an OIL
Ger Of the Packard Company, but re-
aiming the ownership OF his stock.
His offense is that he acted for the
overnment in connection with set
ing the compensation to be paid the
Packard Company for this---work.
There is no evidence that he did not
act in entire good faith, or that any
advantage was taken of the govern
nent. The production of the Liberty
motor was one Of the great achieve-
rnents in connection with the war.
Colonel Vincent rendered valuable
service in designing and perfecting
it.
/ I'm view Of all the circumstances,
recommend that q full and COM
plete pardon be granted for the Of
fensc. as 1 believe it was unwittingiy
committed
Mr.. Hughes report said Colonel
Mixter owned 25 shares Of stock Of
the Curtis Aeroplane and Motor
Corporation valued at s2,100, while
he acted for the government, in
supervising inspection and produc-
ton at this co0paay's plant.
This was held by both, Mr. Hughes
and Mr. Gregory to violate the law.
Lieutenant Colonel Mixter,' said
Mr.. Grcgory's letter TO the president,
testified that he had formally own
ed q small amount Of both common
land perferred stock in the company
referred to. That at the time he was
commissioned he had sold the COM
mon stock and overlooked the fact
that he still owned the preferred.
There is nothing in the evidence
,warranting the conclusion that Lieu
tenant Colonel MiXter did not act in
entire good faith.
Lieutenant Colonel MiXter has
performed efficient service for the
government and at a substantial sac
rifice. I believe that the offense was
committed and recon-
-