The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-10

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inserted, would not the effect have been C
transfer the control, OF the Richmond ana
Petersburg railroad to the Wilmington ant
Weldon road, or VIM. T. Walters2 A. j
have not sufficient information to give any
answer to that question. W.,
Q. Did you not use your personal inau
ence with members Of the Legislature and
the columns of your paper the Dispatch
in advocacy Of the bill as 1t stood, without
WOODS amendments A. I felt very little
personal interest in the bill, until under.
stood an effort was to be made to adopt an
amendment like that proposed by MIR.
Wood. I do not believe, so far as can
recollect, that l spoke to single member
of the Legislature on the subject prior to
the introduction Of the amendment. After
found that Mr.. Woods amendment was
before the.House, / did use what little infiu-
ence had against it, particularly with the
Richmond members, though was glad to
find that there was no special necessity to
speak to them. - n
q. In usingyour influence with members
OF the Legislature before the adoption of
the amendment, had you or your associates
conceived the idea of buying the States in
| terest in the Richmond and Petersburg
railroad7 a. That question has been ex-
pressly answered in our memorial published
In the Dispatch this morning, and made O
part of this evidence this afternoon. And
repeat here that the plan was conceived
AFTER TIE ADOPTION OF WOODS AMEND
t = MENT.
y. Then we are to conclude that during
the tendency Of the amendment you were
an earnest advocate of the sale of State
stock in the road to the road itself, and not
to yourselves? A. You are not to conclude
any such thing. My sole purpose was to
defeat your (Mr. Wood's) amendment. l
did not feel any great interest in the ques-
ton whether the State sold out its interest
in the Richmond and Petersburg road or
not. My chief concern was to keep it out
of what conceived to be
THE UNFRIENDLY HANDS ON GEN. MALONE.
Q. While Woods amendment was pend.
ing, did you not have frequent conversation
with r. 4. Bridges, president, and Messrs.
Lyon and Johnson, attorneys, of the Wei
don and Wilmington railroad, and unite
with them upon a plan of opposition? A.
NO, sir, did not. Until last night, in
your committeeman, I never knew Mr..
Bridges even by sight, and had never before
spoken to him, and then I only had a for
NAL introduction. I had had one or two
conversations with Mr.. John Lyon, and
none, think, with Gen. Johnston prior to
the adption Of Woods amendment, and 80
far as Inow recollect the conversations with
Mr.. Lyon had reference mainly, if not sole
ly, to the defeat of that amendment.
y. Are not General johnson, Mr.. Lyon,
ana Mr.. Bridges earnestly and actively aid
ing you in obtaining the States interest in
Inc Richmond and Petersburg railroad,
and IN defeating Woods amendment; and
before you made the offer to the General
Assembly was there not an expressed or
implied understanding to that effect? A,
| do not know Messrs. johnson and Lyon
as the attorneys for that railroad, nor have
any reason to believe that they are such
attorneys. They are actively aiding us to
the extent have already mentioned, in the
purchase of this stock. What l have al
ready said in regard to Mr.. Bridges will
show that l do not know to what extent, il
any, he is aiding in this matter. l had no
understanding, expressed or implied, and
| do not believe that any of my colleagues
had any understanding, with either of the
abovc-named gentlemen that this stock was
to be purchased for the Wilmington and
Weldon railroad.
Q. Your protest to the General Assembly
states that after the adoption of Woods
amendment several gentlemen of Richmond
and Petersburg consulted together, SC.
State
WHAT GENTLEMEN WERE PRESENT AT THAT
CONSULTATION,
and ut whose suggestion or instance it was
called? a. The whole plan of purchasing
the States interest in the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad originated with myself,
and was not suggested by any other person,
directly or indirectly; and there were seve.
raj consultations with the gentlemen whose
names are signed to the proposition adj:
dressed to the Legislature. Gen. Jos. R..
Anderson and myself discussed it for few
ing of Judge Cox, John B. Davis, Franklin
Stearns, F. R. Scott, and myself, at another
time in my office and there were consul
tations between myself and MIR. Reuben
Ragland, of Petersburg, between Isaac
Davenport, Jr., and myself, and between
A. T. Harvey and myself on three separate
occasions. The whole plan was suggested
by me, and acquiesced in by these gentle
men without any sort of suggestion from
Mr.. Walters, Mr.. Bridges, the Pennsylva-
mia Central railroad, the Weldon and Will
mington railroad, OF any other railroad or
person. 1t was originated and carried out,
so far as was concerned, solely for the
purposes have heretofore set forth.
@. Then, when and how did "your me-
morialists have the understanding that
Mr.. VIM. It. Walters, a wealthy citizen Of
Baltimore, would take the stock from them
on their terms and after such contract Is
made p A. After had conceived the plan
1 suggested it to Mr.. John Lyon as means
of securing the object had in view in my
efforts to defeat the Wood amendment. He
approved OF it, and informed me on the
following Mondayu spoke to him on Sat-
| urday, l think that he was authorized by
MIR. Walters to say that he would agree to
the plan proposed, and cooperate with us
in carrying it out. would have made the
same agreement with any other wealthy