Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-19
SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION.

iect under investigation except what
Mr.. S. A. Thompson, the delegate from
Patrick, had told him. 1t was decided
that he should not say what he hau
heard from Mr.. Thompson, as that gen.
tleman was present and could TESTIFY
for himself. The witness was asked II
the mode of conducting the late canvass
differed in any way from the manner IN
which former campaigns had been con-
Quoted He replied that he knew very
little as 10 what Was done in the recent
canvass. He knew some time before
election that it was all one way, that
the democrats would get nearly every
thing.
Mr.. Thompson, of Patrick, stated to
the committee that during the canvass
a friend told him that money was need.
ed in his county and he could get it II
he was favorably inclined to Mr.. Mar
tin for Senator. This friend was DIR.
r. S. Martin, member OF the State
democratic committee. Previous to
this he had received letter from Con-
gresham Claude A. Swanson, bring.
Inc to his attention the qualifications OF
Mr.. Martin for Senator. Mr.. Swanson
said something about getting money 10
nut into his canvass, but said nothing
about doing this upon condition that he
would support AIR. Martin. Therefore,
when he was approached by DR.. Mar
tsn he told him that he had been writ,
ten to by friend who recommended
Mr.. Thomas S. Martin very highly ana
was very favorably inclined to the
Scottsville gentleman. Later on, III.
A. $. Priddy, of Charlotte, came 10
Patrick but he did not see him. Sub
seuuently DR.. Fri dy sent to the county
chairman $3.50, which he said was Tor
use in the canvass, upon the assurances
he had received that the witness was
for Mr.. Martin for Senator. This money
was sent to DR.. Hughes, the county
chairman who gave witness S24 OF IL anu
disbursed the remainder himself. Dr'
Hughes was, said the witness, a part
per in the drug business Of DR.. Martin.
Mr. Thompson stated that nothing was
said nj the time the money was gwen
10 him that he was expected to- vote
for Mr. Martin. Sometime alter the
election DR.. Priddy came to patrick
and he had = talk with him in the drug
store of Martin & Hughes. The doctor
told him he was glad to hear that ne
was flvorably inclined to Mr. Martin:
The remainder of the conversation wa
with regard to Mr.. Martins qnalillc"
| tons. ~. an five
hoilots in the car~.s he voted Tor
o n ~ .n -. me sixth supporte Lee.
G C ..h Shepherd, he said, was the
(, frst person who suggested to him that
what had occurred was an indirect bid
for his vote.
Capt Shepperd was recalled and stat
ed in substance that after Mr. Thomp-
son came to Richmond he had talk
with him when the latter told him that
the money had been sent to Patrick
county with the distinct under
standing and assurance that he
would vote for Martin. He asked
Mr.. Thompson if he would consent to
another gentleman being called to hear
this statement. Mr.. Thompson said
he preferred that this be not done and
if the captain would not insist he
would not vote for Mr.. Martin.
Mr.. Thompson again took the stand
and stated that Capt. Shepherd certain.
ly had not understood MIN. He did
not tell him that the money was left in
Patrick with the assurance and under
standing that he would vote for Mar
tin. He did say that he thought that
what had been done was an indirect
bid for his vote.
General Fitzhugh Lee was called and
permitted to read the following state
ment: Having determined to be a
candidate. before the Legislature for
United States Senator, and having
heard that in the campaign of 1891
money contributed by certain railroads
in Virginia was not entrusted to the
chairman of the State committee, but
was put at the disposal of and distrib-
uted by Mr.. Barbour Thompson and
Mr.. Thomas S. Martin, l endeavored
to prevent similar distribution in the
late campaign. first wrote to Mr.. In
gals, president Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway, and stated that while |
did mt ask for any assistance or sup
port from his road, would ask tina t
he would see that any funds contribut-
ed by his company should 60 into the
hands of the State chairman, and
not into the hands Of anyone
else and had from him the positive
assurance that such should be the
course pursued as to any funds contrib
uted by his road. Later in the summer
l went north with Mr.. Ellyson, at his
request, to solicit campaign funds.
While there, saw Mr.. Spencer, of the
firm of Drexel, Morgan & Co., and one
of the receivers of the Richmond and
Danville Railroad. l made similar
request of him and received from him
similar assurances. l then asked Mr.
Ellyson not to let the funds be circulat-
ed in the interest of any Senatorial cam
didate. He replied that he would, be-
cause in the previous campaigns others
had received credit that he thought
should come to him. AS to the result
of our trip Mr.. Ellyson received sever
al thousand dollars for the campaign.
On our return Mr.. Ellyson asked me
if had any particular localities that l
would like the funds so raised to go to.
l replied no-that | am now attempt
ing to prevent campaign funds from
being so used for the benefit of Mr..
Martin. I have only to request that
you will dispose of this money where
it will do most good to the party in
general without reference to the candi
dacy of any one. Some days after
wards, when l was going to speak in
Senator Stubbs's district, Mr.. Ellyson
Cd mo I q tell the III RIM N Of that dis