Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-18

STATEMENT OF JOHN E. MASSEY.
Mr.. Editor,-I have iust seen statement from Mr..
Parr. of Patrick, Ill the Wing of yesterday, which
ty duty.
am sorry his duty to party overrides higher du-
will not characterize this statement as it de.
but gle your readers rel d correct OF
Hon. John F. Lewis Captain John s. Wise. H. H.
Riddleberger and were all candidates for election
to the United States Senate.
Each had interviews with their friends. All tn 9
candidates except Riddleberger preferred the cleo
ton of either Of the others to that of Riddeberger
All knew. however, that Riddleberger was Mahons's
candidate, and that Malone would likely control
Each candidate had interviews with his respec
tive friends The first formal interview remember
to have had with any of my friends was in my room
Judge LyDrook and Mr.. Parr, of Patrick; Mr..
Young, of Franklin; MI Dickerson, Of Floyd and,
think, some others were present. / cannot now
| remember certainly who they were.
The two most earnest advocates Of my election
P Of Mr. desred
was the choice of his people that he intend ed to
stand by me and do ali he could for me, and said
the old gentleman and elect him"-using these iden
ical words and other similar expressions Mr. Parr
vas equally and I think still more emphatic in his
declarations Of determination to vote for and
do everything in his power to induce others to do
So far as know both Of these gentleman would
After fairly canvassing the matter and my friends
d
majority of the caucus that there chance Tor
the election of any one but Riddleberger and with
after Ihdd aoithdrd,ca from the contest knowing
there was no chance Tor my election. but remember
ing the deep Interest Mr.. Parr had manifested in
my behalf and having heard that he was suffering
some pecuniary embarrassment. felt DESTROYS Of
showing my appreciation OF his friendship and do
precate the interest You have manifested in my BE-
half, and if can do you kindness it will afford me
dollars for year or so you can get it, think these
Ny brother. J. T. Massey had just sent me
draft he had received from the North for one thou
sand and twenty dollars, which he requested me to
invest for him. I had deposited the money in the
My only thought and purpose Was to lend Mr.
ed him to make it perfectly secure AS he did not
about it..
The thought of offering him an inducement for his
vote or Influence never entered my mind. or the
thought that he could SO construe it,.
Why should have done so? had then withdrawn
from the contest Even If it had been before had
withdrawn, why should have offered him such an
inducement to vote or work for me. He had assured
me in the most positive terms of his active support.
What more could have expected OF him Do
men buy that which they have already without
The nomination of candidate for Auditor of Pub
co Tor two months after the election Of
United S ates Senator Several vote were TAKEN
and tp w gS nd
grading rules of the caucus. Why did he do this it
he thought had offered to bride him why did he
not go before the investigating committee and ex-
pose me il he thought had done wrong, instead OF
supporting me in the caucus persstently for two
months after :?
The only fair solution of the matter is that his
statement was an after consideration and prepared
to order.
During the contest in the Legislature over the
election of Auditor Of Public Accounts. after the
joint order for his election broken. Mr. DECKER
soN. of Floyd. seemed to be the chief agent of the
ether Mahoneites in getting tine Joint order reesab
MljOr Hale and caused him to vote differently from
the other big Four on that occasion. From
some cause unknown to me he changed over to
Malone
heard of his whispering around to the other
members that If they knew what he did they would
net support me, but would not tell what 1t was.
had heard and insisted if he knew or had heard
anything to my prejudice he ought not to 1t in
that secret way but state it openly He gave me
no satisfaction at first; and seemed DESTROYS to
would wait until he could "see certain man."
without telling me who the ''certan man. was, he
would see me again.
and learned for the first time that my offer to do
Kindness to one who supposed would appreciate
it had been MiscOnstrued expressed my surprise
ment have thought me capable Of doing that which
would be contradictory Of my whole past life. They
both expressed themselves as satisfied and heard
nothing more OF the matter until but recently.
One other fact. Some miscreant alleged that Mr..
Dickerson and other highly respectable gentlemen
had been offered money to influence their v0tes.-
He was summoned before the investigating commit
tee and testified that the statement was untrue =
Why did he not, when upon his oath, give the COM
mittee the information he now gives the world? Is
lit not wonderful that the Malone collar so demora
gets 1t fastened on her neck?
Feli0R.ciHze have giYen Y0u Q plain and