Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-10
EXPLAIN THEIR ACTS.
---~--~-@----------
Members Who Were Counted On, But
Did Not Vote for Lee.
PITCHER WAS UNPLEDGED.
Was for Hun.on and Kept tho Con.
ference Secrets.
STUBBS AND GIBSON.
Both Say They Never Committed
Themselves for The General.
CABELL CLEARS HIMSELF.
lie Reviews the Circumstances Attending
His Nomination-Acted a. lie Deemed
for the Public Good.

Sn the nominations had thinned out into
anagnihcant proportions yesterday. but
whenever there was group OF either
members or advocates the recent soma.
sorial fight was almost sure TO be broached
md discussed.
IL has been generally known that after
the senatorial caucus General William II
Payne spoke vigorously TO Mr. T. c.
Pitcher, the delegate from Fauquier, in
condemnation Of the latier's vote. which
was for Mr.. Martin; also, that I'm the
caucus there came near being scene
between Senators Stubs and Washington
on account Of the latteT's voting the
same way. These last-named gentlemen
had for years been warm. personal
friends. and the next day explanations
were made which restored entirely their
hmicable relations.
As bearing upon the Payne-Pllcher cpl
vode. and the charges that have been
current that the Lee men were deceived
~ n number Of members upon whose
xotcs they confidently counted, the Dis
patch publishes IN another column this
morning a special telegram from It's
Iyncbburg correspondent containing an
interview with Captain Ham. Shepperd
who was one Of General Lees managers.
" also gives the other side AS stated
10y Delegate Pitcher Senator Stubs, and
Colonel Cauett Gibson. the three gentle
men mentioned by name in the Shep-
lerd interview.
Nhat fir. Pitcher Says.
Delegate Pitcher did not attend inc
Fesslon Of the House yesterday but IN
Sha afternoon he was In the lobby OF the
Exchantc. and freely discussed the sena-
sorial contest and the position he had
taten an The matter. lie complained OF
feeling badly.
While liking with several Of his ac-
uuainta pcs the representative Of the Dis
patch approached him and showed him
the statements Of captain Ham Shop
Nerd. Mr. Pitcher called several OF the
members Of the Legislature aside. with
the remark. Lets see what they've been
saying about me" lie requested the re-
porter 90 read the interview aloud to
lin. The gentleman from Fauquier said
nothing "a all until that part Of the
parnrrauh containing the words of Gem
erai Payne was reached. When the news
iapcr-man read the lines. Don't speak TO
me. sir: 1 feel that The touch of your
hand would disgrace me-" Mr.. Pitcher re-
marked: Il told him l didn't give d
s. No. didn't speak"
when the pcrusal Of the publication
was finished the Fauquier representative
said nothing, ana the reporter asked him
81 he had a statement 70 make or II he
cared 10 publish an explanation OF the
matter
WAS A IIUNTON MAN.
NO. feel too badly" said the dele
gate. d0lefully resting his head on the
amor0cco-back OF the seat.
Mr.. Pitcher looked like man who had
a headache, and as he seemed unwell
She reporter suggested that he should
confer with some Of his friends and get
them 10 prepare statement. This he
promised TO do, after which he continued
20 discuss the matter with the gentlemen
standing around. lie denied that he at
Sended any OF the Lee conferences.
blr. Nicol. one of Lees lieutenants.
Nho labored most faithfully in behalf of
Me General. called Mr.. Pitchers atten-
ton 10 the fact that he was present with
General Hunton's friends who assisted in
bringing about the withdrawal OF the
Senator for the purpose of electing the
Ex-Governor.
Yes. but that was Hunton meeting"
said Mr.. Pitcher,
II know II was" retorted Mr.. Nicol.
shut after we settled the matter about
siunton tho meeting resolved itself into
o. Lee conference"
The Fauquier representative didn't seem
90 look at the thing that way.
did you pledge yourself TO support
General Lee?' asked the reporter.
mo, l did not" said Mr.. Pitcher.
'Of course you didn't" said Mr.. Nicol,
'but you were taken into our confidence
3ust the same for you acted In such a
way that we counted on you without a
doubt, l didn't pledge myself to Lee
either. IL wasn't necessary. l don't sup
pose young Eppa Hunton pledged himself
20 support his father for tho short term.
but he represented him in such u man.
ner that the very circumstances indi-
rated his interest. That was the way with
Sou."
Mr.. Pitcher didn't appear 10 consider
these cases analogous.
"Yes." continued MIR Nlcol, "you were
taken into our confidence. and you knew
Bill our secrets"
81 have those secrets yet" replied Mr..
pitcher II have disclosed none My vote
didn't make any difference, anyhow" he
added.
MIR. Nicol expressed the opinion that
IL did. 1.-THE Lee men were SO absolutely
certain OF you" said he, "that when your
name was called and YOU responded for
Martin they necessarily thought some
Thing was wrong"
LETTER FROM MR.. PITCHER.
Mr.. Pitcher last night addressed the
Following open letter to the Washington
Post. which contained similar telegram
20 that published in the Dispatch:
My attention was directed 10 a state
ment from Captain Ham Shepperd made
at Lynchburg. and published In your is
sue OF the 9th. For my vote I'm the sena-
torial caucus have no apology 70 make:
that responsibility rests with me and my
constituents. whose highest interests /
Tried TO serve.
Representing their will. honestly SID.
ported General Hunton as long as his
name was before the caucus; after that
was under no obligation 10 vote for Gen.
eral Lee
AS 10 the statement that attended
the councils OF Lees friends: I assert
without fear of contradiction that did
not attend any conference OF General
Lses friends organized In that name /
eonferrea with the Hunton managers fire.
sHently. Of which shepherd was one. and
aid not understand that they were Or
eahzsd In tho interest or Lee while pro-
Tossing TO DO for Hunton. I was In the
Hunton caucus. and that In ell there was
IN X told no man connected with Gen.
sfai Lees management a. any time that
= would vote for him--anything In Shep-
eefds statement 10 the contrary notwith-
standing"
The whole trouble seems to 10 that
.Nse who expected TO deliver my vote
Wei found they had reckoned without
aur hest. and that FREEMAN could
assert his rights
sURPRisH TO HIS People.
ar. Pitchers vote Is said 70 hnrs been
profound surprise to his F'auQuler
shsu1uents an II was to the friends
GENERAL Lee. a prominent gentleman
,0m his county who has always been
position 70 know the wishes 81 the
.auisr people. told the Dispatch repre-
uause last night that there was not
woman. or child Ia that section who
y .sa Martin for the Senate. "But
hot what we are mad about" added
~, .ssn.taemsn, FER he had right to vote
c.as ssasr candidate he chose. but We
,s,sss ths course thar he adopted with
49,, nse 70 casting his vote. Up 70 the
- nuw almost we thought he Yves for
> understand that e. he was going
~ Wv tAuoVo that YAM .x.~