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

Mr.. thompson. | think TX was e"S
ing before the caucus.
Mr.. Downing: WAS Can't. Shepherd inter
ested in the caucus that you know OF
Mr.. ThOmpsOn: 1 don't know whether
he was or not. 1 understand mat ne was
a friend Of Gen. Lee.
Mr.. Tredway: Was any other legislative
candidate on the Democratic TICKET III
your county except your
Mr.. Thompson: No, sir.
Mr.. Tredway: / understood you 10 say
that you got this money from the county
chairman. and that DR.. Hughes gave TINS
money TO you. Did Or. Hughes couple
with that money any condition mat you
should vote for any one?
Mr.. Thompson: No.. sir.
Mr.. Downing: None Of this money was
paid TO you directly. you say. put IL all
came through the county chairman
Mr.. Thompson: Came through the county
chairman there.
Mr.. Nicol here read the following let
ter from Mr.. j. Taylor Ellyson:
Richmond. Va, Dec. Is, 1875.
Hon. &. H.. Nicol. chairman,
Dear Sir. / beg leave to call your at
tention TO the enclosed communication
from Danyille, which appeared In the
Richmond Times OF yesterday. / res
pectfully request that you promptly sum-
mon the author Of the article 10 appear
before your committee. and that he be
instructed TO bring with him any mol
vidual or individuals from whom ne Cd
tanned his alleged information. denounce
the charge as cruelty false and outra-
geously libellous as any statement coulu
be made Respectfully yours,
j. TAYLOR ELLYSON.
Chairman State Democratic Committee
The statement in the Times referred to
was as follows:
This letter, the author Of which is one OF
the most distinguished lawyers IN Nir-
ginia, was telegraphed TO this office last
night:
DANVILLE, VA, Dec. 16.-SpeciaL-To
the Editor Of the Times: Nothing has
been done so bravely and honestly In Nir-
einia politics as the bold stand Of the
Times in favor of purity in elections, state
and legislative. The people are with the
Times in its hatred TO fraud and corrup-
ton, and desire hat not even a suspicion
should sully the fair name of Democracy.
1t looks as IL the joint committee APP
pointed TO investigate the recent senate
rial contest, intends TO hurry through the
important duty committed to II by an
examination Of such witnesses as Mr..
Withers, who has declared. in advance Of
being summoned, that he has no know
ledge of the matter 20 be investigated,
and reporting on such evidence that the
fears and beliefs Of the people are with
out foundation. This will be a grave mis-
take, and must lead to the overthrow OF
Democratic a~scendancy. Let us have a
full, complete, and thorough investigation.
To this end, ] beg TO say that there
are rumOrs in this section of the state
that Mr.. j. Taylor Ellyson, our party
leader, has declared tina il is absolutely
necessary for the LEGISLATURE to elect
Mr.. Martin TO the United States Senate,
and give the railroads what they ask for,
as the railroads furnished most of the
money with which he conducted the last
campaign. If this be true, the people
should know it. and | suggest that the
committee summon Mr. EllysOn, and in
quire as to the facts. ClNlS.
Mr.. W. l.. Royal, one Of the editors
Of the Times. being present. was asked for
the name Of the author Of the article.
lie said he would give the name only II
the committee compelled him 10 do so. lie
had no idea that the author objected 10
his name being given. but as n was i'm the
nature Of a private communication. he did
not feel at liberty 10 give the name OF
the person at present. The committee re-
quested Mr.. Royal to communicate with
the gentleman and ask him 10 attend the
investigation with witnesses. which he
said he would do.
Captain Ham Shepherd then took the
stand.
Mr.. Nicol: Captain Shepherd. please tell
us any conversation you had with Nr.
Thompson.
Captain Shepherd: I first saw Mr..
Thompson on the Tuesday before the
caucus. on Tuesday. which think was
the 5th Of the month. ne visited my
room with a letter Of Introduction from
an acquaintance Of mine and a dear
friend Of his. and I'm our conversation he
stated that he intended to vote for Gem
eral Hunton On Thursday I visited him
and asked him how be was going 10 vote.
as General HuntOn was out Of the way.
He said: - suppose. for Mr.. Martin /
said: '"This letter states that you said that
you would not vote for Mr.. Martin" He
said: That IS true. Captain Shepherd;
/ did make that promise" Then / said:
"Mr. Thompson, you are a young mar
just starting I'm the Legislature; I will
tell you what / heard this morning. 1
heard that DIR. Priddy carried money TO
your county with the express purpose 10
be used for Mr.. Martin. Did you know
anything about it2' He said: 81 got a
letter from DR.. Priddy, in which he said
he had been TO my county and had left
money there 10 be used for me. with the
express and positive Chose We're his
words. with the express and positive I'M
derstanding that ! was TO vote for Mr..
Martin | said: "Have you that letter.
He said: "NO. / tore il up" said: "Will
you write me n statement Of what YOU
said 10 me?' He said: mo. / will not"
l said: May I bring n friend I'm here.
and will you repeat what you said to
me?' He said: 81 had rather not He
said: Il will do this, Captain Shepherd; l
will not vote for Mr.. Martin The words
! have given here We're exactly the ones
he used. and / have a good memory. 1
asked him aid he know that Or. Priddy
had gone 10 his county with money to be
used for Mr.. Martins interest. He says:
Il will tell you" and then repeated ex-
actly what / have said here, from the
letter he received from DIR. Priddv. He
said that the objection that he had 20
making II public was that il would in
volve "A man I'm his county. lie did not
give any names. and / did not ask him.
Mr.. Downing: You heard Mr.. ThOmp-
sons statement on the stand. As / under
stand. there is a good deal Of difference
between you.
Mr.. Shepherd: In the language he used.
he used the very words. Positive and
distinct understanding that was 10 vote
for Mr.. Martin" Those were the words
he used 90 me-the very words. II struck
me as something very remarkable. /
asked him for the letter. and he said he
had torn II up. I asked hin 10 write
IL down He said he would not. | then
asked him would he repeat II in the pres
ence OF some friend Of mine. He said
that he had rather not. He then said
that he would not vote for Mr.. Martin,
and said: "The reason ] had rather not
make IL public Is. Il might involve some
citizen Of my county
Az mNEa- ~. Ill