The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-19

belonging to a ring. and as the mead o
the independent movement In Washing
ton county. j would like 10 make a per
sonal explanation as TO the motives ina
prompted me In my action. and N the com
mittee will allow me 10 DO so l VIII p'
as short as possible. / first desire TO sa,
that / have all my iife supported the
nominees OF the Democratic party, unti
the last election, and machine poiitlcs
showed itself so plainly IN the selectios
of delegates to the nominating conven
ton that 1 would not take part In the
meeting. Parties were sent out into th'
neighborhoods. where all know, that pre-
tended TO know anything Of politics OF
Washington county. live parties. whC
have to be bought OF election day AND
brought a great many OF this kind to at.
tend the meeting at Abingdon precinct
These parties had whisky to start on, and
they were TO meet at the spring in the
east end AZ Abingdon, where watermelon:
and whisky were free; and they were
marched at the time OF the meeting. not
TO the courtroom, but to the clerks
Office, and when the voting commenced
they were let I'm through a window. ]
declined then TO take part.
More Objections.
Mr.. Boykin: / renew my objection.
Mr.. Mushbach: ! also renew mine.
The Chair: A motion Is made TO exclude
the further reading Of the statement OF
the witness.
Witness: II you exclude any part. ]
prefer that you exclude the whole.
Mr.. Cooke: | move that the request OF
the witness be granted.
Mir. Downing: ! think II would be proper
TO let II go into the record, 10 snow
80 L. Lxtnn fgt0nA Ngif III
under the plea Of personal explanation.
Witness: / don't want to trine with your
committee. You let men come here and
accuse me OF being head of a ring, and
| want TO set myself right.
Chair: Then the statement will appear
i'm the record as far as II was read.
ct appearing that the stenographer did
not get the statement, the Chair asked
the witness to give IT TO him. but wit
ness declined, saying II all OF 1t could not
go on the record. none should.
The part OF Mr.. Litchfield's statement
which was ruled out by the committee
was as follows:
And / determined not 20 vote for any
man that would accept a nomination
under the circumstances, as | was sure
competent man you'd accept the nomi-
nation. The nominees Of the delegates
so appointed were Messrs. Kindrick and
Tomney, and known in our county as
the watermelon ticket. General j. j.
Imboden. without any effort or request
from me. declared himself an independ-
ent Democratic candidate. as did Robert
H.. Gray. The Populists had Messrs.
Talbot and HUTCHINSON for their candi-
dates. With these before me, l and
more thar loo others voted for General
Ipnhnnan aud Erax Aonpnfng a. haCt FOR
the Democratic party, as we would not
vote for the watermelon ticket. And ]
now say that / weuld rather be dis
f~ranchised than vote for candidates
brought out by such methods.
The charge that / belong to a ring IS
not true, as / have always had the
courage TO 10 as / deem best, without
regard TO rings, cliques, etc. The LOO
or more Democrats that were independ-
ent enough 10 repudiate such methods
voted and worked for the Democratic
state ticket. m would have been sue
cessful in the independent move hut for
the fact that the negroes at Abingdon
voted almost solidly for the watermelon
ticket~3l6 negro voters, as taken from
the registration books the morning after
the election.
/ would not have made this abatement
but for the testimony of Mr.. Tomney.
and l wanted the true Democracy Of
Virginia. with whom l have been assoc
ciated. to understand why | should be
voting for Independent candidates.
] have nothing TO regret except that we
were not successful i'm the effort TO have
the Democracy of Washington county
properly represented. and not by men
by the use of whisky and money
all, or nearly all. the precincts in
The county.
q. DO you know n 3, of your own
personal knowledge. as to any improper
means or methods being used in the cleo
ton of candidates for the General AS
i'm the last election, for the pur-
OF inducing them to vote for any
particular candidate for the United States
A. Not to my own personal knowledge.
No, sir
q. DO you know whether any improper
means or methods were used before or
AZ the caucus?
A.. | was not here at the caucus at an.
know nothing about that. sir.
During the progress of the examination
! paper was passed 10 the witness by
one in the rear. The Chair OBJ
ected to the witness reading it while on
he stand.
After concluding his testimony. he raid
o the Chair: May l read the note-when
get upy
The Chair said, certainly, amid much
augnter.
Lee Again,
General Fitzhugh Lee next took the
tand.
Q. (By Chairman: General, have you
.nything further to say on the subject
( the investigation?
A. VIII you be kind enough TO have
ny testimony read; l do not mean my
testimony, but just a portion Of
which | will designate,
The stenosrapher stated that his notes
T General Lees testimony were not 1T
and, having been sent to his brother for
transcription.
Witness (continuing). Well, as i remem-
er it, l was testifying as 10 the position
I the members of the Legislature who
Iad declared their preference 10 vote
or one man for United States Genator.
nd who had voted for another. ] Instance
he case Of Or. Priddy. A mention was
of some letters written by him.
Sow. upon reflection. / do not care 10
private letters, though | have them,
nat If DIR. Priddy stated that it was not
rs intention 70 vote for me. 1 shall he
cry glad TO produce letters. Al any
ate, | think his evidence woul be that
e did, as a matter Of fact. intend 20
ote for me. Mr.. Ellyson writes Mr..
tina MIR. J.. S. u. Thompson
ave Mr.. Priddy some money, and that
Ellyson knew nothing about It until
next day. AS a matter of fact. DR..
'riddy. Notwithstanding the resolution
'hich had been passed by the mass-meet-
~ OF his county, votes for another gem
eman for the Senate. / think that was
ne subject | was talking about when !
IT of.