The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-13
THE BALL SET ROLLING.
THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEES INVESTIGATION.


Hand, but Nothing Against Them So
Fer-Mr Driscou Not Present-The
Basis of His Charges-Capt. Gordon
and the Interviews-Tracing the
Unauthorized Tick .Gordon's
Position-The Investigation to be
Resumed Tonight.
The special committee of the Democratic
County Executive Committee to investi-
gate the conduct of the legislative candi-
dates at the October election met at Metro
politan Hall last night at O'Clock, and
after session of two hours and half, ad-
journed to meet at $50 o'clock tonight at
Masonic Hall The adjournment was
owing to the absence of Mr. John Driscol,
the mover Of the investigation.
There were present at the meeting last
night the full committee: W. G. Cam, T.
McAuliffe and Isaiah Solomon. Rapr asenta-
tives Gordon ard Reilly were present, AID
Col George A. Mercer, George W. Ovens
Esq, ". W. Fraser, Esq, Maj. G. III.
Ryals, Justice NJ. F. Moli a, and quite a
number Of friends of II ssrs. Gordon and
Reilly besides the array of witnesses, only
three of whom were called to the stand.
Senator duBgnon and Representative
Clifton were not present.
MR. pRISC0LL WAS NOT THERE.
Chairman Cam read the resolution of
inquiry, a copy of which was sent to
Senator duBignon and to the representa-
tiveS. He also read a letter from Mr.
Driscoll the author Of the resolution, stating
that owing to the death of his uncle he
would not be present at the investigation,
but enclosed copies Of the MORNING NEWS
and Erening Times of Oct. 4th, which
contaiae ed interviews with Messrs.
Gordon and Reilly. Mr.. Driscon
also enclosed a republican ticket
with the names of Mathews and Peasants
scratched, and the names of w. W. Gordon
and Peter Reilly written in pencil at the
bottom. which ticket he claimed TO have
obtained from Lemuel Wade. On this doc
umentary evidence Mr. Driscoll said he
based hi charges, and it was upon this that
he presented the resolution of inquiry. He
had no other evidence.
Capt Gordon said that he desired Mr.
Driscoll to be present at the investigation
He had made reflective charges against Col
Reilly and himself, and they insisted upon
being confronted by their accusers, u der
oath, so that they could be cross-examined
THE 'tTIMEs'n INTERVIEWS.
Chairman Cam ruled adversely to Capt.
Gordons request and decided that the
investigation should proceed. To this ruling
Capt. Gordon protested, but the ruling was
not reversed. The Times interviews with
chair, and Mr.. g. Hartridge was called as
the first witness The chair stated that the
committee, while it had decided to reque
the witnesses to be sworn, would not reject
the evidence if they declined to be sworn as
1t had no power in the matter. To this
ruling objection, and finally protest was
made by Cap1. Gordon, 10th the latter and
Col Reilly stating that they were willing to
give their statements under oath, and they
insisted that the witnesses should be sworn.
Mr.. Hartridge declined to make ANY
sworn statement, and when questioned he
said that he knew nothing of the publ hei
matter except that Mr.. Frank Weldon, a
Times reporter, had written it,
WOULD NOT BE SWORN.
Mr.. Weldon was next called. He de-
clined to make any sworn statement. He
said. however, in answer to questions hy
the chair, that to the best of his recollec-
ton the interviews were Substantially the
statements of Capt. Gordon and
Col. Reilly. Mr.. Weldon was cross-exarn-
ined first by Capt. Gordon, and he wavered
when some particular sente ces were
brought to his attention. He stated that he
was positive as to some of the state rents
attributed to Capt. Gordon; but he said that
he is not infallible, and did not want to be
understood as saying that he had given the
exact language, but that in general it was
as he recollected it at the time of writing,
and as he now recollected it as in sub stance
IN the lire of the remarks he had attributed
TO Capt Gordon, and to which the latter
had consented at the time. Capt. Gordon
asked TIE witness if the language in quota
tons had been stated by him IN the inter
view.
THE USE OF THE QUOTATIONS.
To this Mr.. Weldon would not answer
categorically, but when pressed said that it
was, as he recollected it, in substance. and
when asked if the quotations did not infer
that it was the exact language he replied,
it was customary to use quotation marks
where the substance was given. On all the
statements alleged by the interview TO have
been the statements of Capt. Gordon, upon
which { latter crosS-examined Mr.. Wei
den, Capt. Gordon said he denied their &C.
curacy.
In the cross-examination by Col. Reilly.
MIR. Weldon was mot positive as TO the
accuracy OF some of the statements alleged
to have been made by Col Reilly. The
latter denied that he had said that he had
gone to Messrs. Clifton and duBignon the
day before. that he had said II indorse the
movement (allud' ng TO the effort to get
on the split ticket, but that he did say he
was responsible for it. He al o
denied that the language Of the
boomerang" statement was given as he
had stated il, and, when closely questioned
Mr. Weldon appeared to be absolutely posi-
erang" had been used, but he was not so
positive whether it had fitted into the SEN
tence according to the eternal fitness of
things. The cross examination while on
this subject created some merriment.
THE SPLIT TICKETS.
Chairman Cam asked Col. Reilly if he
could justify the putting out of the split
tickets. and Col. Reilly replied that he will
answer that whom he goes on the stand.
j. j. Sullivan was next called, and when
the Bible was handed him he wanted to
make a statement before being sworn. 1t
was not permitted, however, but Mr.. Sui
livan persisted and managed to say, while
am willing to be sworn l am not going to
swear that the Times is reliable evidence"
Mr.. Sullivan when questioned knew nothing
of his own knowledge. He was not per-
mitted to give hearsay evidence.
"You can only testify t. what you know
of your own knowledge" said the chair
man.
Mr.. Sullivan replied: ''Of my own linowl-
edge don't know anything / have no
witnesses here, and l ask for further time
so that / can get them here. have n
enemies to punish nor friends to reward. l
favored investigating the members of the
committee and then the conduct of tho
candidates but / have no interest in the