The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-16

that there was avery large number OF Yuiers
1 who had heretofore voted with the Conserva,
tive party who were now greatly dissatisfied.
with the way the nomination OF Bradley T.
johnson had been obtained, and thought 3.
reasonably strong Republican vote would,
with the dissatisfied element Of the Com
servative party, defeat the nomination.
That was pretty much all that happened at
that interview. Several interviews were
held subsequently to this of similar import.
Question w hat reply was made by the
Republican Committee or any one who as
snmed to speak for them to these oYertures
or General Imboden? = E-s> k5ssi14s5
Answer: No answer OF o perfectly posi-.
tive character was given; but after an inter-
!. change of views among the several members
i Of the committee then present they sepa-
rated with the implied understanding that
the influence of that committee should be
exerted in favor Of the Independents.
CAMPAIGN MoSEY. -. :
Question: Was there any money agreed to
be furnished to the Republican Committee by
the Independents, or parties REPRESENTING
their committee, to be used for the purpose
Of getting out the Republican vote for Knight
and Starke? II so. how much, and how and
by whom disbursed?
1 ARSWGT. St6tSA luoetac
Independents were willing to pay for all ne
cessary and reasonable expenses incidental
to the election. An estimate was made at
that or some subsequent meeting OF the com.
mittee II don't recolect which) of the amount
Of money which would be necessary TO de-
| fray said expenses. The amount of the esti.
mate was about five hundred dollars. more
| or less. Of this estimate between four hum
dred and FIVE hundred dollars was paid-1
think about four hundred and fifty dollars.
1t was disbursed by myself by order of the
Executive Committee.
! COLONEL NoRMANp SMITH.
| Question: Was there anything said ct any
of these interviews about the support 10 be
given to Colonel Normand Smith, or any
other nominee Of the Republican party, by
the Independent, party? Was it or not
part of the implied understanding arrived at
that such support should be given!
| Answer: There was an understan ding
that some support should be rendered
! Colonel Smith, but the amount and character
of said support were entirely iBferential.
| Question: " hat do you mean in your an
sWer By the word ipferential"?
| Answer I mean this: The committee
! stated to General Iuboden the desirableness
of Colonel Smith receiving the support Of
/ the Independents. General Imboden replied
| that be had no authority to speak defnitely
| on that subject, but he inferred that Colonel
Smith would receive fair vote of the 1nde-
pendents. .@.
Question: By whom were the tickets with
| Colonel Normaud Smiths name on them
prepared and circulated? -
Answer "A portion we're by myself (Bo-
| honon). Beyond that / do not know, but
believe j. S. Wise did. He says he did.
oveRTUREs TO THE REPUBLICANS.
Captain Bohonon reexamined by Mr..
Wise for Colonel Knight:
| Question Did the overtures made to the
Republican party proceed from the lndepend-
ents alone, or did they come from other
sources also?
Answer: AS far as know the overtures
| for the party TO act as party did come from
| the Independents. Any solicitations from the
Conservative party were of private and
unofficial character.
Question: Do you not know the fact that j.
r. Popham and l. II. Shields, both representa-
tive Republicans, were active to secure Re.
publican support for B. T. Johnson?
Answer: Colonel Popham, TO the best of
my belief and knowledge. was. l cannot
speak with such degree Of precision re-
garding Colonel Shields, but my impression
is that he favored the election of General
Johnson.
question: Is it not the fact that many
colored men were employed ,Dy General
Johnson, or his supporters, to solicit the
support OF colored voters or induce them TO
stay away from the polls? -
Answer: I know of several col0red men
who we're very jealous in support of General
johnson, and did hear them say they in.
tended to advise their colored friends If they
could not vote for General johnson not to
vote at ell.
TEE WITNESS INTERVIEWED.
Question by Mr.. Wise Will you state
whether or not few days before the elec-
ton General johnson solicited an anterYiew
with you, in which he sought either to Sc.
cure your support or to blunt your opposl-
ton to him; and il SO, what occurred?
Answer: General johnson did solicit an
interview with me about week previous to
the election, in which he stated that the OPP
position to bis election had been bitter and
violent, and further stated that he would be
gratified if would give him personal sup.
port and whatever influence had with the
Republicans in the city. told him could
not promise. AS party.man, my party
had could not give him whatever political
influence might possess. Quite lengthy
conversation ensued, In which asked him
the cause of this deepseated opposition
from the members of his own party. He as.
signed several reasons, the principal one of
which was that he was from Maryland
and not native-born, and that there were
class of-Nirginians who were opposed to
anybody and anything not Virginian; that
this class were opposing him most vigorous.
ly, and would any one else not born in Viz
ginia. ,s.a
CAPTAIN BoHoNoN's POSITION.
Q1estion: Did General johnson when he
solicited YOUR support know that for some
time previously you had been actively at
work to defeat him if so, what did ne say
on the subject?
Answer: 7 infer from what be said he did
know that had.been working for the elec-
ton of the Independents. He said he re-
gretted could not help him, for he desired
to be elected by large majority; and he
thought il could use my influence with the
Republican party he would be elected by .
decisive majority.
felt your influence against him wherever he
had zone to secure Republican support, or
some such similar expression
Answer: He did say thatin each ward In
the city he had felt my Influence Win Inc
Republicans, and owing to said influence ne
was anxious for my support. 5f
OTHER POINTS. So. f..ss Il
In response to further questions, Captain
Bohonon said Most OF my interviews con-
cerning the campaign for Knight and starke
were held with j., 81 Wise ORD. d. lmboden.