The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-07-31
THE WATSON CHARGES Up.
WAS HE IN ERROR: IF SO. HE
STANDS DISGRACED
The Matter Looked Into and ii Now
seems They will be Proven
ntrue.
y telegraph to the State Chronicle.

I ntrue.
By Telegraph to the State Chronicle.
WASHINGTON, July 30.-The special
committee appointed to investigate the
charges made by Representative Watson,
of Georgia, in his book, and reiterated
yesterday upon the floor of the House,
continued lis investigation to day. Mr..
under which the committee is working
was read. Mr. Boatner then called his
attention to the paragraph in his book
saving that ''drunken members reeled
about the alsles," " e+c., and asked him if
he was the author Of this charge and if
it was published under his supervision.
Witness replied that he was the author,
and that it was from personal observa
ton. Mr.. Boatner asked him if
he could give the names of the
members who reeled abont the
ais!es He replied that he could, but
did not wish to do so unless compelled
by the committee. He had no desire to
mention the names, but on the contrary,
was willing to screen them. He was
willing, however, to give the names if
the committee insisted upon it. Mr..
WolvertOn asked him how many mem
bers had reeled about the aisles under
the influence of liquor. Mr.. Watson
said that personally he had seen two
members do so. He had heard Of others
The occasion on which he had seen the
two members he referred was on the
first night of the silver bill This was
~ Il
if the charge against the House was
based upon one incident. He replied
that this was the one he had in
mind when he wrote the paragraph
referred to- Mr. Boatner then called his
attention to the paragraph in his
book saying that drunken speakers ad
dressed the chair, etc, and asked him
when this took place. Witness replied
that it was during the Nooys Rockwell
contested election case and that in his
opinion the speaker referred to was in a
state of intoxication. He was quite close
to the gentleman when he was speaking
and had interrupted him several times TO
: ask him questions. Mr.. Boatner asked
him if it was because the speaker asked
the chair, "Where am at?' that he con
cluded that he was intoxicated. Mr.. Wat
son said thatit was not. 1t was from the
general conduct and appearance of the
member His conduct and painful con
dition, Mr.. Watson said, became the
talk of the House and remarks were
passed on it in the galleries. He was
E sorry for the gentleman. Representative
Otis, Of Kansss; Miss. Bessie \ Dwyer
: newspaper correspondent; representa-
q tives White. of Iowa; Butler, of Iowa
! Schell, Of South Carolina; Golver, o
: Kansas; Davis, of Kansas; KEN anc
Baker, of Kansas; all testified in sub
: sanitation of Mr. Watson's charge
Representatives Rockwell, of New York
! McKaig, of Maryland Turner of Georgia
, Oates, of Alabama; all said they haC
not see any drunken members on tn,
floor Representative Oates testified
that he had not seen any drunken mem
bers reel about the aisles nor hear(
d drunken members address the House
e When asked about the Noyes Rockwell
o case. he said he had heard some tall
le about it and he knew that the gentle
@ man referred to was his colleague, Judg
l, Cobb Mr.. BOatner Interrupted hin
d and asked him not to mention any names
Sc as the committee had prohibited thi
A. heretofore. Judge Cobb being in tn
Iv room asked the chairman to allow hi
name to 90 in as every one knew he wa
the person referred to, all he wante
was an opportunity to meet the charge
He wanted it unnerstood that b
N was the man referred to, an
st wanted the committee to fully IL
le vestigate the matter. He had no
Z. hing to conceal and nothing to evadt
u He preferred to let his rame stand I'll
le less Mr. Watson came forward and witt
le drew the charge, (which he will not do
r interjected Mr. Watson Mr.. Watso
said that he had withheld the name {
Judge Cobb at the request of MIR. Ba
Il. ley, of Texas. Continuing, Mr.. Oatt
said, he was present during the Noye
ne Rockwell case and heard Mr.. Cob
at speak During his speech he becan
.li exhausted before he completed and sou
ls one sent him drink of ''tOddy," i
h did not know its composition, b'
lo thought that there was liquor IN
e Judge Cobb sippeo it and he thought
in enlivened him. He went to Judge Cot
and suggested that he had covered a
the points and had better conclude b
argument Judge Cobb was not drum
:, What he drank may have stimulated hi
"a some but it did not intoxicate him. NJ
VI Watson was recalled and said that
W o' referred to Judge Cobb, of Alabama,
70, the member who was Intoxicated and
NC such condition addressed the chair
~, the Noyes- Rockwell case. Al this poi
~ ~ in the investigation the committee a
~ iourued until 10 o'clock Monday MOI
ing.
Weekly Bank Statement.
px7 TeIocranb tn the State Chronicle