The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-22
John II. Gilmer:und the Grand jury.

Much speculation has and is being made as to
who are the parties, and what the snb]eGt-natter.
before tho United States Court and Grand Jury.
Mr.. Gilmer Is we'll known TO be man OF frmness
of purpose and unyelding In the discharge OF any
duty Imposed on him which he assumes. The
decided course which he has thought proper TO
adopt In this matter he has s no b dGuD, o, wen
bis answer to the rule served on him, and
which brought him before the court, He
or jury, or any power placed IN the position of an
intormer before the grand jury. He had been re-
gularly summoned. and asked questions which
compelled him to leave with the grand jury the
aflidavits of Hicks and Roby. It muttered not
whether those men we're worthy Of credit or not.
The witnesses whose names he had left with the
grand jury would, as he was Informed and be-
levcd sustain every material fact disclosed in the
affidavit, and must result on proper eNamina-
tion, in the indictment of parties and per-
he he scorned the idea of prosecuting hum
BILE and little offenders, and overlooking
unnotccd. If ne were the attorney of this court.
ard occupied the responsible position OF the OFF,
Ger who had SO readily bad him lMr. Gilmerl served
one of the witnesses In the case referred to were
summoned and properly examined. He knew no.
thing of his own knowledge. An investigation
grand jury strike ut the high and influential as well
as the humble and prosecuted, who had but
them appy 3e nnetsns " ps to tbe
sent, living, frauds rather than rake up the
ashes of the dead past and infuriate public
ging up the issues which originated in sympa-
thies for the late Confederate States. lie had de-
MED the right and protested against the act Of
cession but when 1t came, he did sympathiZc with
the brave men and great Issues involved. He SYM
pathzcd with those great deeds and that fearful
struggle now. and IL T. was precisely that feeling
newly the issues which grew out of The late
civil war. Hence he respectfully rcfusedto answer
the question. and would not do 1t unless compelled
to do by this honorable court which for che
sons here assigned. he hoped this court would eX-
cuse him from answering. Let the jury ut least
first dispose OF the matters which they had caused
him to bring to their attention. ..'
The object of this communication is to enable
the jury to ascertain the very truth" of the sub
Let them summon and examine the following wit
nesscs, and ask them the following questions
First-Let them ask Mr.; Bohannon:
l. At whose instance did you look for the assess
ment Of the tobacco specified in Hicks's and Ro-
by's affidavit?
.. Where did you discover the assessment and
how did 1t come to be in that placer
3. Why was 1t placed there, and by whom2
!. Without regular assessment, regularly en-
tered at the proper time and on the proper books,
could the tobacco have been lawfully shipped?
S. Was the alleged assessment discovered after
there had been much talk about the matter, and
after the shipment of the tobacco Who first drew
your attention to the desk in which the alleged as
scssmcnt was discovered?
c. State al you know, and name any person or
persons who can testify on this matter?
Questions to be asked Major Hudson: ..
l. State all you know about the fraudulent re-
moval OF the tobacco referred to In the affidavit o.
| Hicks and Roby. now handed to you? ..
.. state when, how, and by whom, the asscSsmen
of the said tobacco was placed In your Office, where
II was placed whether such deposit OF the assess
| Incnt was regular and lawful and when the assess
mcnt was first placed on your books?
2. State whether the said tobacco was stampct
| regularly. and If so by whom and when?
t. State whether you investigated All the facts o
this case ut the time. and furnish us with the result
| of that Investigation? r~f i..
| 8. Did you examine any Of the employees. own
crs, managers of the factory In which the sal,
! tobacco was manufactured? If so, state results
and furnish the names Of the parties.
g. state all YOU know about the said alleged fraud
name the parties connected with II, and state dis
tncilv whether the facts and circumstances a
statcu In the affidavit of Hicks and Roby are cor
| rect not, far your knowledge enables yot
! to Judge!
Questions to be asked F.. VI. Garnet
| l. When and under whit circumstances did f.
! II. Hicks apply to you to prepare regular af
idayits To the fraud referred to his affidavit
now handed 10 You? Did you prepare the ailidi
Wits In what office should they have been iiled?
2. State all you know, and name all the wit
ncsscs know who testify as to the facts anc
circumstances relative to the facts US set forth ir
! the affidavit Of Hicks and Roby.
3. Name any person or persons who can testlf,
to The facts stated and set forth In the AFFIDAVIT
! of Hicks and Roby?
! fthc grand jury Will examine the abovc-na
witnesses, and prOpound to each OF them the fore
going questions, 1t Is more than probable that the,
will discover better food for judicial
than submarine explorations in the debris of tn,
past revolution. RESERVED FORCES.
Richm0nd, May 90, 1850.