National Republican., 1884-04-08
DANvILLE INVESTIGATION.
DeLendorr Exhibits His Sore Toe ant
Llfts His Voice DismaIIy.

DeLcnuorf BhhtbttB HIS sore Toe and
Llfts His Voice DismaIIy.
The examination of b. b. Mumford, mom-
Dor of the Virginia legislature, was continued
by the Sherman subcommittee yesterday.
He said that before the election of members
readjuster candidates were required to sign q
pledge that they would go into the readjuster
caucus and stand by the readjuster party and
its principles. Measures and acts of the
character mentioned inspired the democrats
of Virginia to make one strong united effort
for relief
Mr.. J. ID. Blair, member of the city coun-
Gil of Danville, was sworn. Witness was
asked If in an interview with Mr. Dunuell,
of the New York Times he said that the Dam
vile circular was an exaggeration and would
not stand close construction, but that it was
a political document, however, and as such
was justifiable.
Witness said he thought Mr. Dunnell had
not reported him exactly. AS near as he
could remember, he had said that the circular
was substantially true, but that some of its
details might not bo literally true. 1t was,
perhaps. little painted. Witness was presi-
dent of tho club which ordered tho prepara-
tion Of the circular. His firm had signed it,
and he had assisted in preparing the subse-
quent statements affirming its correctness.
Ex-Congressman John +. Dezendorf, of
Norfolk, said, while he believed that Of
the colored vote of Virginia 900 out
of every 1000 would vote a regular
republican ticket il left to exercise their own
volition-yet since the advent of Gen. Ma
hone as the controlling power the colored
vote had been manipulated and controlled to
q greater extent than ever-even to going as
far as sending out circular purportng to be
signed by the President Of the United
to support the readiuster ticket. Wit
ness believed there had been more perse-
cution Of republicans by Malone than there
had been just after reconstruction by the
bourbon democratic party. He entered into
an analysis of the political issues Of Virginia,
and was proceeding at some length to discuss
J them, when objection was made by Senator
Lapham aud Senator sherman. The question
was asked him. did not the democrats
themselves indorse tho Riddleberger bill and
say that that question had been settled?n
81 have no doubt they did,
Now let mo ask whether the coalition
was not based upon the fact that they hoped
to have strength enough to secure free and
fair elections. and to secure the dominance OF
republican principlesW
when you talk of free and fair elections,
l don't think there ever was AN election in
which there was so much that was unfair as
in the elections of 1882"
Another objection and another colloquy
ensued, terminating with tho statement by
of his opponents were. The examination took
the form of q political debate
Senator Sherman said TO witness: "You
complain that q republican administra-
tom"
II don't complain at all. say it was n fact
that they turned out those who supported
them, and put in those who worked against
them and who spent their money against
them, and not only that, but who spent
money contributed by republicans"
"They worked for the SUCCESS of the coali-
tion party"
"Yos. sir, and if Hancock and English
had been elected they would have been in the
democratic party to.day-Mahone and all Of
them?"
J. M. Shelly, of Petersburg, was called and
described the drawing of pistol by Butler
Malone ON election day and his subsequent
arrest and fining by the mayor for carrying
concealed weapons.
The committee then adjourned until next
Monlo.y