The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-08

say 10 tntS cOm&n]ttcc, VINO nave heard thls
evidence, and who are still further to hear
evidence, that the gentlemen is very
EXPERT WASHER IN DIRTY LINEN,
but he will have his hands quite full if be
will take care OF the filthy linen he is now
employed to wash. I say, sir, this is the
truth, and when this bill containing these eX-
traordinary provisions is brought before the
General Assembly of Virginia for its sane
tion, | say these are grave and important
facts, which 1t would be amiss upon your
part to ignore because stockholders have some
rights. Minority stockholders have their
certificates which evidence their interest in
the property and franchises of the corpora
ton; and if those franchises and properties
are to be stricken down by All act of the
General Assembly Of Virginia, it must be
| done over their protest and not with their
consent. Now, sir, let me read this petition.
MIR. Page then read the petition again, say
ing very emphatically Mt the end Of each sem
tencc, .....sf-.,....
| THAT is FACT.
Mir. Page: Gentlemen of the committee,
you can very easily verify that statement by
sending to the clerk Of the Circuit Court Of
the city of Richmond and getting the bill
which those parties filed and If that was
not the object and purpose Of the suit, then
I don't understand the English language.
| MIR. Lyon: 1t don't say fraud Ia 1t ONCE,
Mr.. Page: Well, sir, they state things
which mean fraud; prefer to
| CALL A srADE spAps.
Mr.. BroadnaX came here to the city of
Richmond, and he tells mo that he applied
to Judge Crump, but the Judge told him
that it was too late; that the compromise
had been effected between the parties, and
that he could not get the benefit of a decree.
Judge Crunp, is not that so? .."
,Iuuge Crump: 1t is SO long ago that cam
not remember distinctly. [ rather think
that Mr.. Broadnax did speak to me about
, holding some 900 shares, and l think that
was after the compromise had been closed.
About those matters, however, my recollcc-
ton is not very correct. .......-
Mir. Page: / will say this, that when that
compromise became the judgment of the
court. in less than one weeks time after that
went to Mr.. Lyon and Mr.. Pegram anu
MIR. Stringfelow and asked them to buy my
stock; that we did not wish to embark in
; litigation; that did not wish to oltigate with
Ragland; but if he would give us what lie
gave the others We ....,
!. WOULD WASH OUR HANDS OF THE STOCK.
, Mr. Ragland told me that at that time there
could bc iio negotiation for the purchase. Hc
said if / would wait abont sixty days he
would be in better state Of mind for nego-
T tiutions. waited sixty days, and from that
day to this ! never had any offer except
from Mr. Lyon, when he proposed that the
company would issue second mortgage bonds,
and that they would give us those bonds to the
amount Of our stock. We declined that propo.
sition. Nov, sir, we are MOTTO be prejudced
because we were anxious TO avoid this litiga-
ton, to avoid coming before this body and
compel them to listen to our complaints, to
, be saved the necessity Of giving heavy bonds,
which perhaps we were unable to give, il
that Is an offence lam responsible for 1t, for il
was my advice to those gentlemen. was
most anxious TO sell this stock. but will tell
Ragland and Lyon now that my clients are
willing to spend every dime and every dollar
of it before MIR. Ragland shall ever lay his
hands upon it. We have. exhausted entreaty
and persuasion; we have presented our
claims in fair and candid way; we have
toll them that we wanted no quarrel with
them; but if they choose to make that issue
with us, lay on, and
"DAMNED BE HE WHO FIRST CRIES HOLD,
ENOUGH"
We are ready to fight ii out on that line if
it takes all our stock and all this winter.
hope the gentlemen will excuse ME for these
unprcmcdtatcd remarks. l certainly did
not expect petition referred by the General
Assembly of Virginia would be SO saYagcly
assalcd upon its introduction to the COM
mittee, and that is my apology for consuming
their time. 1t is my petition. If it had been
the pleasure of the committee to have heard
me in support Of it, either by argument or
with evidence, should lave complied with
tthe request Of the committee. l have only
this to say, further, that If the gentleman
docs not teign to pay any respect to the mat
ter will Just ask the committee to take it
without his reply, and do with it as they
think proper. 1t occurred TO us that when Mr..
. Ragland's transactions touching this railroad
were being investigated it would be very
proper for me 10 come before the General
Assembly Of Virginia aud show them what
sort of man Ragland was, what sort of dc.
mands he was making, and at what sacrifice
those demands were to be granted at the ex.
pense of private stockholders who had in.
= hcrited this stock and held it Us an invest
mcnt for twenty years. / thought that was
very appropriate, and that this body would
listen 10 me with respect and attention; and
if any further discussion Of this matter is 10
be had | will ask leave of this body to ap.
pear before them and present my views an
ertenso. ... ... E... -
Mr. Lyon! 1t Is hardly necessary for Inc
to state, what was so manifest under the
circumstances, that when that petition was
presented here to-day it stated that it was
presented to the Assembly yesterday; if i,
: was presented it was not put in the newspa
pers; at least, had no knowledge of il
until it came upon me
LIKE TnUNDER-cLoUp.
: Now, sir, have recovered my accustomed
good humor and tranquility, and therefore
have persuaded my friend the President o
the Petersburg Company to keep still, and
to let me speak for him. Upon the second
reading of the petition / saw that the coun.
: sci dwelt upon the words ...
"sTock-JoBDING SPECULATION" ....
r glanced around the room, and from the
! number of brokers that | saw here it seems
to me they are watching the result of the
experiment upon this market. No doubt II
will be quoted in the market as soon as the
result is known. have only to say this,
and wish to say it in all seriousness: that
Major Page comedies, what presume, that
Mir. Robinson and his counsel have no part
in this matter; therefore Mr.. Ragland, III
recognizing by my advice the committee oil
the Senate (Which is purely political body
as not exactly representing a court of con-
science, my idea is that Mr. Ragland shall at
, ,, once and forever decline their jurisdiction,
with profound respect to the committee, and
positively refuse to answer any lnterroga-
tory whatever upon this subject, or to enter
into any discussion, or to make any admls-
sion or -denial'of those facts alleged 10 be
set forth in the petition. If Major Page
wants to entertain the committee upon the