Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-17

lions OF the parties towards him after
thc convcrratiou-M MIR. Moore canvassed
Tor hm--and when he came Ia Richmond
ne was undecided az 60 how he would
vote on the question OF United States
senator
Mr.. Withers Knew Nothing Himself.
Mr.. Eugene Withers, the delegate from
Danvtlie, was next sworn. He said that
every report, every charge. and every
rumor OF which he had any knowledge
was based upon Information derived from
other persons. Jie knew nothing OF his
own knowledge No effort had beer
made 90 influence his vote All money
contributed TO his campaign was contri
butcd by the people % Danvine through
the Democratic Committee OF that city
When he came TO Richmond he wa,
undecided as 20 how he would vote
except that under the instructions OF tff
convention which nominated him, ana
with what he had heard he could not
vote for Mr.. Martin He knew Of both
MT. Nlihrow's and MIR. Btnford's state.
men;s. He had a conversation with Mr.
Royal and Mr. Bryan. OF the Timoa
and MIR. Miles Martin. in which other
statements were made. but mono Of thes,
statements were suhstantated by wit
nosses who knew them 10 be true.
HIS RESOLUTION.
As TO the resolution IT was stated h,
would Introduce looking to an investisa
ton, he had a conversation with MIR
W. =. Copeland, OF tho state in which
Mr.. Copeland expressed the opinion thai
there should DO an Investigation, anC
as ne (Withcrs) occupied a neutral posi-
ton & would be eminonty proper fol
him TO start the investigation. He re-
piled that he would do 80 Il he could
get facts 10 substantiate charges. Mr.
Wthrow also expressed the opinion thaI
u would be proper for witness to intro
duce the resolution. lie did not thinl
that Mr. Copeland had any more de
sire than himself 90 hit at any one bu
sought the NluGlC3ti0n OF the State anl
the General Assembly. Mr.. Bryan anl
Mir. Royal took the same position.
what Mr.. Bryan Knew.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan being sworn, saiJ
his position IN association with Ia,
Times had been such that he had beer
the recipient Of q great deal Of talk anJ
correspondence that he could not posi-
bly, state lie was on The Executive Com
mittoe Of the Democratic party. As IA
as his Information there went he hae
no reason to believe that any Impropel
influences had been used IN the election
except that he learned that some none,
That he thought would be distribute
| through the regular executive head o
the party had not been so distributed
This he did not learn until the Saturday
night before the election. when in con
ycrsation with Mr. Thomas S. Martin
| he referred 90 the fact that a subscrip
ton which was expected from certain
| railroad people had not come
THAT RAILROAD MONEY.
Mr.. Martin informed him that he wa
mistaken; that $500 had been used b.
Mr.. Barbour Thompson, which. 20 far a!
he (withcss) knew and believed. was IN
known 10 the chairman. That was sur
prise 10 witness. as the party was har,
up. This condition OF affairs RENAME,
until he got a letter from Charlotte
which was tho basis Of an editorial u
the Times touching the distribution o
| funds, which created some stir. Tn
claim made by the Charlotte correspond
emit was that money had been imuroperI1
| used in that county. and that H.
wishes OF the people Of Charlotte woui,
not be represented IN the General As
s'Whly. Tie morning the editorial an
| pearcd ne got letter from Mr.. Tbomn
| son. backed by letter from Mr.. ELY
/ son. stating that Mr. Thompson hf
used no money in any way i'm whicl
II was not designed. and had bee
entirely impartial lie then felt that pa
| hld made charges against Mr. Thomp
son which might 30 him Injustice. an,
| mat De should withdraw the statemon
contained IN said editorial.
THEN THE WITHROW CASE.
This was followed up by a communi
| cation regarding the Withrow matter. n,
I then got a letter from Mr.. G.. v Iitch
ield' ~ Abingdon. claiming that money
/ had been used improperly in the canvas.
/ IN Washington county to secure the vote.
| u Messrs. Eeudrick and Tomney foi
/ Martin, and stating that Judge Rhea, G.
W. Ward, Mr.. Mccoy, air. Cummings
and Mr. Pelz,r were witnesses who cOull
/ make a case.
/ In answer 20 questions from member.
\ OF the committee MIR. Bryan stated tina
/ Mr.. Litchfic.d was a man Of character
Z that he said that Mr.. Martin put 500 ir
( the canvass, and that he CwitnesO die
not know OF his own knowledge of any
/ corrupt means having been used in thC
canvass.
THE LINE OF INQUIRY.
During Mr. Byan's testimony the ques-
don arose a. 10 the methods Of distribu-
ting money generally employed by tbs
party. and quite a lively discussion oc
CURED. Mr.. Downing claimed that II
was not competent TO 20 into this mat
! ter Mr.. Boykin backed Mr.. Downing
and said II the committee went into thai
question II would take years 10 sci
through Nj Mushbach said the com
mittee WIS bound to get through by
Tuesday. az n vote for United State
senator had 10 be taken on that day
| Mr. Downing offered the following resO
luton. which was finally agreed to:
Resolved. That in the prosecution OF
this Investigation the inquiry shall b,
confined strictly to the question Of th'
senatorial canvass botn before the cleo
ton held November 7, 1893, and the eau
Gus held on December T. 1888.
Tho letters 10 Mr.. Bryan from Mr.
Luchneld were filed with the stcnogra
pher 1t was moved ana adopted thai
Messrs. Iitchheld, Ehea, Ward Mccoy
ana others referred 10 In the letters filec
by Mr.. Bryan be summoned.
Mr.. Tourney Testhes.
Mr.. Tomney, Of Washington county
appeared TO make a personal explanation
He SAID MT Litchneld was the leader
ON the Independent ticket in the recen
election and opposed the regular nomi
uers. lie had done great deal to breal
LID the Democratic party in that county
having belonged 90 a ring that had con
trallau WASHINGTON county for many
wears. Mr. Tomucy knew Of no money
that had been improperly expended II
the fcit. lie said be did know that there
was "A private fund which was gotten uI
hv the citizens OF the county He was MOI
instructed TO vote for anybody for JnlteC
St,tes senator. and he knew OF no money
that h.d been spent IN the campaign by
AFR. Martin with a view Of securing ms
SIr W. w. Archer. Of the state. was
called and testified that he knew no
thing hearing upon this question, eX
COM what he had read and heard II
rurpor form IL was upon these Things
tbat he state based It's demand for al
uvestisation.
Mr.. Royals Memoranda.
Mr. w. L. Royal, of the Times, sale
he knew that Mr.. Barbour Thompson
was an important witness TO come be
f.r. the committee. He had learned tina
M letter had passed from Mr. j. Iayloi
Fuyson 10 Mr. Charles Y. Meredith stains
MAJ Mr.. Thompson had distributed &
snn OF money-a large amount-in th'
interest OF legislative candidates and Una
he also --- ,..., o,4
The witness was here interrupted. anc
,b. committee decided that he shoulC
e,,t,,it such statements as he had hearc
In writing, that the committ'ee nlIsi
r,es mon them Here Mr.. Royal pro
duced several written statements WhicI
he had already prepared. they were a.
follows:
THOMPSON or PATRICK: