Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-02-27

Mr.. Price-Be careful, sir.
MIR. Price-F hen did you see Cap
tain Coburn2 =.
SARGENT spoke to him just
as quickly as I could, notsa minute
and a half afterwards, I believe.
Price-Mr. Sargent, did you
tell any one else about this?
SARGENT do not recollect.
Mr.. McGrew says did, and if Mr..
McGrew says so I-believe it.
Price-What is your impress.
sion about this offer of Mr.. Mason's2
Sargent-My impression is, a.
bout the matter, that he knew I had
some influence with Captain Coburn,
and suppose he thought 1 could
pull the wool over his eyes, and 1
was not going to do it.
Captain Coburn interpolated again
here, he has in the habit of thinking
for himself.
MASON on THE STAND.
Mr. Mason was the next witness to
come before the improvised COURT
He came in easy and assured. He
had been in once before, on the i'm
pression he was wanted Immediately,
and on being told he was not needed
yet, but could stay if he wished, he
responded, mo, sir, L do not wish to
hear the statements of anybody else.
When they get through will fire my
shot" Mr.. Mason having taken his
seat and MIR. Chairman Price having
made the usual preliminary remarks
explanatory, Mr.. Mason spoke as fol-
lows:
L do not care to know, I repeat,
what has been stated. Being one of
the attorneys for the gentlemen who
are agents of the creditors of Vir-
ginia, it was necessarily known in this
community, that could have Mt my
disposal vast sums of money. know
perfectly well that it is the lament
able condition of West Virginia that
her legislatures are regularly lobbied
by persons who exposed vast sums of
money, and therefore 1 knew in JUS
tice to my clients should it be once
suspected money could be obtained
for surreptitious actions. there would
be demands which would bankrupt
the Bank of England. 1 knew per-
fectly well it was impossible for the
State of West Virginia to attempt
anything or do anything to provide
for the debt she owed, did it trans
pire there was any indebtedness, I'M
less the tax laws of the State were
overhauled. KNEW the very moment
any intelligent man attempted to I'M
earth and bring to light the state of
things which have existed in West Vir-
ginia for the last fifteen or twenty
years, every influence which could be
brought to bear would be brought to
bear to prevent the investigation
Under these circumstances collected
all the available information that was
accessible to instruct this Legislature
as to what legislation should be ac-
complished. 1 was conscious that an
effort was made to defeat this inves-
tigation by connecting it in some way
with the proposed payment of the
debt. 1t was my plan, therefore, to
approach in person the most intel
ligible of the members of the Legis-
lature, and to explain to them exact
ly the condition of affairs.
There was one gentleman, Mr.. Co.
burn, who boards at the same hotel
with me; man who struck me to
have considerable intelligence. NY
opinion of him was such that I was
satisfied if I could rid his mind of the
SANDERS which had been set afloat 1
would get him to earnestly support a
bill which l had urged upon the FL
nance Committee of the Senate to in
troduce. 1 had a dozen talks with
Mr.. Coburn. found that although
man of excellent judgment, for some
reason he thought something was hid
den in that bill, and therefore I went
to Mr.. Sargent, man whom 1 have
known very well. went to Sargent
and said to him about this: If this bill
passes the House and Senate, rs it will
pass-I am satisfied it will pass-yet
if men like Mr.. Coburn go back home
with the idea there is cat in the meal
tub, it will give the investigation 4
black eye, from which it will be diff
ficult for it to recover. 1 told him 1
had talked to Mr.. Coburn repeatedly.
but was satisfied without success. I
think this was after the vote in the
Senate, which showed Mr.. Coburn in
tended to vote against the bill. lex
planned to Mr.. Sargent the effect this
Investigation would have on the county
of Barbour, which was an agricultural
county, that it would exoneratc the
farming interests and put due pro-
portion of the tax on personal prop
erty. / asked him if he knew Mr..
Coburn well enough to make him know
there was no connection between this
movement and the debt. which was
represented by my clients.
TIE TALK WITH SARGENT.
1 said Sargent, if you will see Co.
burn tonight and give him the facts
and figures about Barbour county, and
show how largely this bill is to the in
terests of Barbour county, will give
you the best hat in the city of Wheel
ing. He said So was nothing. Before
he left my room, exacted from him
the promise if he would End MIR. Co
burn that night, he would present the
views had expressed to him. and also