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

men in whom l have the utmost reliance.
q. They have talked with thess wit
nesses?
A. Yes. sir.
No Personsl Ends.
Witness, continuing: / think that pos
sibiy wherever you do not think the
statements bear upon the question at is
sue, they can be very easily excluded.
or you can stop me from reading. Ihaye
no personal ends 10 serve IN this matter,
and only want to give out information
which / have.
@. (By Mr.. Boykinl 1t seems that others
think Is proper and admissible TO admit
evidence. which to me seems improper to
admit, and l shall voice my sentiments.
even though the majority OF this COM
mittee differ with me-, and ! shall feel sus-
tanned In my purpose and desire TO dis
charge my duty as a member of the Gene
raj Assembly and OF this investigating
committee IL Gen. Lee says he talked
to any nan, and knows Of the matter per-
tanning to this investigation, a. matter
which shows that any member Of the
General Assembly was improperly in
iuenced or attempted to be Influenced in
his vote. then, !, for one. say that it is
our duty 70 summon that man here and let
him testify before this committee. but I
DO not, for one. propose in the
discharge OF the high duties which to us
are entrusted. TO trace the Promethean
sources OF rumor, or TO search the mazes OF
conjecture. | understand he has not spok-
en- 10 one single person, but that the in
formation he has was given to him by
some other person. | object 10 that
character Of investigation. ! believe. as
l stated on Saturday. that our duty
VIII he so extensive that we cannot serve
our constituents In the respective bodies
10 which We are elected. | do not believe
u was the intent Of that resolution. and
L. Tor one. do not propose TO search rumor
To It's source.
Chairman: You have heard the obiec-
lions to the reading OF the paper Of Gen.
Lee, what is the decision OF the Com
mittee?
The question was put and MIR. Mush-
bach called for a division. The vote re-
suited as follows: In favor Of allowing
Gen. Lee to read the statement, Cook,
Mushbach, and the chairman; against the
motion. Downing, Boykin, Tredway, and
Green.
BY Mr. Tredway: move that
Gen Lee be requested to furnish the
committee with a list Of the names of any
gentlemen whom he thinks can prove
the facts in his communication.
BY Mr.. Mushbach: | move TO amend
that Gen. Lee be allowed to furnish the
communication itself to the committee.
Nr. Boykin: As a part of the record?
MT Mushbach: No, just as information
to the committed.
Inc question was put and carried.
Gen. Lee, continuing: My sole object is
to give the committee information on
whlch they can proceed. ! understand that
that was the object for which they
were appointed, to examine all matters
l came here N ca 10 .ot cnr.r.~a.. -.
mat / have no ends to serve, If any
damaging facts should be brought out and
the caucus should assemble again TO con
sldef It's action, my name should not go
before that caucus. Cheers.
Beyond Personal Hands.
II has passed beyond personal hands. It
must be decided whether these methods
are going to be allowed to prevail.
MIR. Tredway: That Is nv idea. Mr.
Chairman, In asking for this memorandum
TO get at the facts.
MIR. Mushbach: Aud then have the
memorandum returned 10 Gen. Lee.
Mr.. Tredway: Yes. sir.
Chairman: Gentlemen, are YOU willing
10 submit the memorandum on that CON
dition?
A; III 1T viii go on the records. That il
what want to do with it. but If IL is
not going to be allowed in the records I
intend to give it to the public in any
event AS l understand IL. then, the pa
per, II 1t is filed, goes on record?
Mr.. Downing: No. sir: as I understand
1t this has been voted down; but there Is
another motion TO give il TO the Chair.
man, and If the committee so decided Il;
will become a part of the records: II not.
1t Will he returned TO you to be used as
you may see tit.
UNftpacu. UTb,., AN a. -
badly consider the question?
Chairman: II will be considered imme-
diately.
The committee then retired 10 read the
statement OF General Lee, and after about
ten minutes returned. and the Chairman
announced that they had decided to allow
General Lee TO read the paper, which was
as follows:
The Statement.
l submit the following statement as
affording means OF information to the
committee: / have been reliably informed
that the following witnesses can give in
formation which would throw light upon
the object had in view by the Legisla-
ture In ordering this Investigation, pro-
vided the witnesses are examined upon
the lines herein suggested;
First. Mr.. j. Taylor Ellyson can testify |
that MIR. Barbour Thompson claimed TO
have a fund which he called a 'pFelimi-
nary fund" and which he did not turn
over TO Eilyson. Mr.. Ellysen stated this
both TO Mr.. Charles V. Meredith and
myself. as he will testify.
Second. That Mr.. Ellyson will testify
that Mr.. Thompson did distribute money
without consulting him. and that when
Mr.. c.. ". Meredith asked him TO give
him a list Of the counties In which Mr..
Thompson had distributed money he re-
piled that ne could not, as Mr.. Thompson
had pot kept him informed as TO the
counties.
Mr.. EIlyson will so testify II YOU Will
only read TO him Mr.. Meredith's letter
now before your committee. ASK him
whether each and every statement therein
contained is not correct?
80. Mr.. Ellyson will testify that Mr..
Thompson only turned over TO him $500
Of money given by the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway, and $1,lO given by the
Richmond and Danville.
4th. Mr.. Thompson can tell what he did
with the difference between $4,000 which
the railroad officials told me they con-
tributed and the $500 which Mr.. Ellyson
received.
9TH. Mr.. Thompson can tell from whom
he received his orders not to turn over
any larger amount to Mr.. Ellyson.
6th. He can tell why he was ordered to
retain the balance, S.40, and what dis
posal he was ordered TO make of it.
7th. Mr.. Decatur Axtell, of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railway. will testify that,
after the eleetio9. when told by me that
Mr.. Thompson had only turned over $500,
above mentioned, that he expressed great
- - a. - III ~ a.