The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-11
ALL ABOUT THE PURPOSES OF
MR.. WALTERS AND OF THE
NINE WEALTHY
vIRGTNIANS.
THEY SIMPLY DESIRE AND WILL HAVE
AN OPEN HIGHWAY BETWEEN
RICHS7OND AND
PETERSBURG.
Mr.. LYON ENLIGHTENS MIR. WOOD
ON VARIOUS POINTS.
General Malone Takes the Stnad and
Makes a Long Answer TO
"a Short Question.
The Investigation Not Yet Over.

The Committee on Roads yesterday after
noon resumed che investigation of the pro-
position SUI ,mi;ted by certain citizens of
Richmond. for the purchase of the States
interc>'. in the Richmond and Petersburg
ra,s'. Dad. Present : MesSrs. Graham, Budd,
.retz. Moss, Hill, Wood, Horton, Segar,
Guy, and Wall.
Testimony OF Isaac Davenport. Jr.
Mr.. WooD asked Is the firm Of which
YOU are q member engaged in banking? If
so, what is the style of the finn, and who
constitute it?
A. We do a mixed business. Mr.. Charles
f. WORKMAN and myself are in the business
Of insurance under the style of Davenport
X Co. We also do some business in stock
Q. Has not your firm been engaged large.
~ in buying up stock in the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad for Walters & Co., oil
Baltimore!
A. 1t has not bought or sold q single
share. to my knowledge.
.. Has any member Of your firm bought
any stock for the Weldon and Wilmington
Railroad Company, or any person con-
nected with it rs agents or attorneysP
A. No, sir.
q. Has any member OF your firm within
the last six months bought or sold any stock
in the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad
Company for any person?
A. don't know of any except some
twenty-five shares sold for Mr.. Andrew
Johnston belonging to some estate.
q. Who bought it!
A. don't know, sir.
Q. State what you know in regard to this
offer of yourself and other gentlemen to
purchase the State stock in the Richmond
and Petersburg railroad.
4. Mr.. EllI'son called upon ME and asked
If would be one Of several to purchase the
states interest in the Petersburg road.
eur converse ton did not occupy three
minutes. jumped ut what he said-that
We could buy this interest and get control
of the road, and parties stood ready to take
il off our hands after giving us IL satisfac-
tory guarantee that it would
he RUN IN THE INTEREST OF RICHMOND.
BY Mr. MARSHALL: Do you know who
the parties were who were ready to take ii
oil your hands?
A. don't think any names were men.
toned, but l think MIR. Walters was one.
| was willing to be one of eight or ten to
take the stock if he diG not, and was will.
ng to take my portion Of the risk.
Q. Do you know Mr.. Walters, or What
is his business?
A. [ do not. Coming from Washington,
| was introduced to Il gentleman from Bal
limore by that name, and inferred that he
was the gentleman; but don't know.
AN EXPLANATIONS.
Before retiring, MIR. Davenport said he
dcsilcd permission Of the committee to
make single statement. Something had
been said in the debates in the House about
this being a money making business, or a
speculation. 1t was nothing of the kind.
80 far as he WAS concerned. He did not
expect to make single cent out Of it, but
merely desired, rs Il citizen of Richmond,
to See that this road was managed in the
interests of that city and of the State OF
Virginia.
The Editor of the WING Examined.
Colonel John C.. Shields was then sworn.
BY MIR. THURMAN: State If you were ever
called upon TO sign :; petition to the Board
Of Public Works for the
APPOINTMENT OF Il. K. ELLYsoN AS STATE
DIRECTOR
in the Richmond and Petersburg railroad
and if so, when:
4. was, sir: think it was a few days
after the meeting of the stockholders
which made the change in the officers OF
the company-l don't rccollect the date.
.. state by whom the petition was pre-
sentcd, whether YOU signed it or not, and
what your motive was, if you did sign it.
A. The paper was presented by MIR. Chas.
l.. Workman, Of the firm of Davenport Il
Co. signed it. In regard to the motives,
my feelings towards MIR. Ellyson were very
KIND, and on personal grounds / signed it
witha great deal Of pleasure. l had this
reflection, however, that rs far as | knew
aooutthe management Of ivc-foot gauge.
examined the paper to see the names on
1t, and saw many who held the same views
that did, and my reply to Mr.. Workman
WAS that would sign it with great deal
OF pleasure.
z. After Mr.. tllyson's appointment TO
the position of director did he ever express
TO YOU any desire as to who should have
The management and control of the Rich
mond and Petersburg road! and if SO, state
who II was.
A. A few days after signed the paper
had Il conversation with Mr.. Ellyson, and
mentioned TO him that had signed it. His
reply TO Inc was, that he desired the road
10 come under the administration of Gen.
M1hone, but the time for it had not at
flVcd-of something to that amount.
something Of very different character,
We are authorized to say, which will be ex-
planned when Mr.. Ellyson is again called
before The mmittee.-REPoRTER.