Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-03
THE WATSONINQUIRY
Mr.. COBB SPEAKS IN viNoicATioN OF
HIMSELF FROM THE CHARGES
Sharp Passage at Arms Between Watson
and the Chairman of the Comnittss-
The Hearing Eaded.
[nr telegraph 70 ths plspa.eh.l

on the nOOr OF tue IlCu5c was VA ~A-N 49,
sion during the silver debate.
MR. COBB IN HIS OWN DyrEyE.
Mr.. Cobb then took the stand in his own
defence. Chairman Boatner read inc
charges from the book in question ana re-
quested Mr.. Cobb to make any statement
he saw fit. Mr.. Cobb prefaced his etate-
ment by remarklng that he intendeu 70
quote from his address on that evening 20
show that "he was not maudlin drunk or
rambling in his talk" MIR. Cobb read
copious extracts from the original notes OF
the stenographer reporting his address ana
the various questions put to him and ms
answers during the debate. At the begin
ming of his remarks on the floor he SAID ne
had appealed to the House not to inter
rupt him. His request was not heedeu,
and several times he was questioned oy
several members. This was particuIally
making strictly legal argument ana olu
not wish 10 be interrupted.
ASKS NO INDULGENCE FROM ANYONE.
"In regard 10 this matter of drinking"
SAID Mr.. Cobb, "let me say that L am not
asking any indulgence from eny one be-
cause [ may look like weakling. for am
not.n For several days before. the night
IN auestion, Mr.. Cobb said, he had been
engaged in laborious work gathering mate
rial and preparing his argument.
He had worked late and early, and as
result when he began his argument on the
floor he was not in his usual physical con-
dition. His throat. he said, was partlcu-
larly weak, and in order to relieve sore
ness IN it and alleviate the annoyance OF
tickling, he had requested an employee OF
the House. before beginning his remarks,
to bring him o cup OF beoi-tea'
"Surely beef-tea is O mild and non
intoxicating llquid," said Mr.. Cobb,
land it was frequent thing for
members to refresh themselves with
il during a speech" He had called Tor
beef-tea because it was warm and soothing
to the throat. From time. TO time he had
had the cup sent back and replenisheu III
order to exchange the cold tea for not Tea,
and from that circumstance he thought an
the trouble had grown. II was not true, ne
said. as mad been asserted by MIR. Watson,
that he had said 70 page, Bring me some
more whiskey."
one could have heard me ask page TO
bring me some whiskey; for L never SAID
it,"
DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY SUBSTITUTE.
Whether whiskey was brought by page
and placed on his desk for the beef-tea he
did not know. He was too much engaged
at the time in his argument to notice who
placed II on his desk. Whether page OF
a " friend" whom he had requested to get
him some stimulant had brought 1t he was
not prepared to say. Mr. Cobb ac-
knowiedged that some whiskey was
brought him during the course of the eve
ming and placed on his desk. 1t bad been
brought by O friend, and he bad used i
only TO relieve his throat. IL it affected
him in voice or manner he was not con-
scious of it. He was as sober then as he
was now. II was true he had drank lit
tie beer during the day.
Mr.. Watson at this point interrupted the
proceedings by asking Judge Cobb bow be
indicated that the beverage was out and
that he wished the cup replenished. 70
which the answer was that, so far as he
(Mr. Cobb remembered, he had said to
friend that he wanted little whiskey OF
some stimulant. He hardly thought,
though. that his remark was loud enough
to be heard any distance. Anyone who
said he had asked page to get him whis'
KEY was mistaken. When the whlskey was
put before him he had slipped 1t two OF
three times, and when he conciuued nis
remarks be took another sip, but he was
not made drunk by it, nor did his state
approach intoxication.
He was fully persuaded tbatif in his re-
marks there was anything unusual 1t re-
suited from one OF two causeS-eltnel
from his anxiety to put before the House
every legal point In the cause. or because
he had occupied the floor too long and wa:
anxious to complete his remarks.
his MANNER OF SPEAKING.
Continuing, Mr.. Cobb said bis manner OF
speaking was nervous. He liked freedom
of faction he liked to DO free from hls
desk, &C., that he might gesticulate and
emphasize bis assertions. Summing up
Mr.. Cobb stated that he was IN no wise re,
sponsible for the Investigation and he had
not wanted it, but as the House had or.
Gered il be courted the fullest inquiry. In
fact, he thought it was nothing more thar
aIepetitIon of the story of the three blaeb
crows.
Mr.. WATSON EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Watson then made statement IN
reference to the paragraph in the oooa
which has caused so much discussion, saw
ing that it could not bo understood tho
roughly unless the whole chapter was taken
into consideration. He then paid tribute
TO the character of MIR. Cobb, and stated
that he had never meant TO draw the gen
tleman into the difficulty. Nor had be
aimed at him individually, in his refer
ence to rambling or maudlin drunkards
on the floor" HIS book, he asserted, was
compiled for campaign and political pur'
poses, and he had no intention when ,ht
wrote il of bringing odium upon MIR. Cobb
Now. If you did not intend to reflect
upon MIR. Cobb, who did you intend to re-
feet upon! 2" said Chairman Boatner.
To this pointed question Mr.. Watson
gave eyasIye answers. but at last. upon Mr
Boatner insisting that he confne hl'
answer to the question, Mr.. Watson said h'
meant it to apply to tho members OF thu
House.
did you mean to arraign the House y
said Mr.. Boatner.
Yes, did," answered Mr.. Watson.
PASSAGE AT ARMS.
Mr.. Watson then proceeded to argue a.
some length in explanation of tho para
graph in the book, the substance OF his ar
gument being that 1t meant to infer tha
the House had not kept any OF the pro
misses of the Democracy. and that 1t haC
been virtually dereiiet In its duty to th'
country. His dissertation. however, wa
cut short by q colloquy between himsel
and Mr.. Boatner, in wnieh each accused
the other OF discourtesy in the course o
the investigation. The bad feeling between
them was particularly manifest during. Nit
Boatner's close cross-questoning TO draw
from MIR. Watson a statement as to whethel
his paragraph referred personally 70 Mr
Cobb or the House IN general and Mr
Watson's seeming indisposition to answer
do YOU mean for me to answer thai
question! ?" said tine gentlemen frou
Georgia.
AZ certainly do" said the chairman.
Then" SAID Mr.. Watson, with mucf
emphasis and with evident feeling, " an
ready to sanswer you right now or at any
other time"
MIR. Boatner was apparently annoyed az
Mr.. Watson's sharp retort. and replied
that he had always tried to treat the gen
tleman with courtesy.
Il am glad to hear you acknowledg'
even that" came back Mr.. Watson. Al
through this investigation you have acteo
the part of the prosecutor"
But" said Mr.. Boatner. II don't ex
actly catch the drift of your remarks. :.
Nor do believe You have and DOM
think you want TO. and don't think yot
will, ;" SAID Mr. Watson.
$50 you mean 10 arraign the member:
of the Housel" said Mr.. Boatner.
You have it." was the answer.
This ended the colloquy.
STILL BELIEVES COBB WAS DRUNK.
Concluding, Mr.. Watson, after testifyinE
as to his admiration tor Mr.. Cobb. II
answer To question put by the char man
reasscrted his belief that Mr.. Cobb hac
been drinking on the night Of the debate
but modified his statement somewhat bi
declaring that after all 1t might only be
matter OF opinion, and that it was quite
difhcult matter for men To agree whether