The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-20
ELECTION METHODS.


Nf. DAVE. AZ petersburg.
Nr. Nicol: Have you any information
that ought 60 be communicated 10 thls
committee?
MIR. Davic: ! came 20 the Times Office
his morning TO see Mir Royal and make
p statement 10 him about statement
made to me by Mr.. J. &. Smith. the
chairman OF Dinwiddic county. and Mr.
Royal insisted upon my going on the
stand | know Mir. Smith Intimately ard
De said 60 me that there was a matter in
rccard 10 the vote OF the delegate from
IHnwitdie county that he thought tended
no show the methods used in this cah-
Mass. Mr.. Smith states that a, the con-
ycnhon that nominated Mr.. Thompson.
written Instructions had been prepared
FOR the delegate 10 vote for General Lee.
fFc said the sentiment % Binwiddie coun-
IS IS woll-nigh unanimous for General
Ice: that nineteen twcntieths OF them are
f1r him. Tie said that Thompson init
mated that hc preferred not 60 be in
ftructod. and left them under the i'm
preston that 81 would be his pleasure 10
vote rsfcnerai Lee. Before the meeting
Of the Legislature. Mr. Smith stated that
an cmissary. he first used the word al
forwards messenger was sent % MT
Thompson. and urged him 20 vote TOT
ST. Martin. on the ground that MT. hhS-
son had been unable 10 set any money
AVID that all the money used In Dih"idole
county In the election was contributed
hv Mr. Martin and his friends, ana that
DE was urged 20 vote for Mr. Martin on
thaee grounds He SAYS that the CONVEX
cation took place in his presence and that
a. rould name the man who WIS sent.
Nr Nicol: who was the man Who was
gent?
1fr. Davie; Tie didn't ten me that
ar Nic6T: Air. Smith can give this IN
Mr Davie. That is the statement he
made TO me, not once, but about three
times
Nr Nfcoi: Where does he 1--we?
ST. Davie: In Petersburg.
Wr Nicol: Who IS the representative OF
Inwildie?
Mr Davie Mr. Thompson.
Nr Nic0l: How ala he vote in the eau
rHs3
alr Davie: For Mr.. Martin I am in
formed
Alr Nicol: What reason was given for
thlt2
Alr Davie: / cannot say. Mr.. Smith
ts.s that "a messenger was sent to Mr.
Thompson ana he was urged TO vote
f1r Sir Martin on the ground that Mr.
Fllrs0n had not furnished him with any
money. and all the money used in Din
wdlic county had been raised through
che influence Of Mr.. Martin and his
friends As 1 understand that, it was
before the Legislature met and after the
election that Mr. Thompson was urged
t1 vote for Mr. Martin.
Mr Nic0l do YOU know. OF your own
knowledge. 81 amy improper means or
methods being used On the interest of any
candidate or candidates for United States
senate 10 influence the vote Of any mem
Der % the General Assembly at the cleo
ton or in the caucus?
Mr Davie I do not know anything
about the election except casting my own
vote. I had no idea OF appearing before
this committee. l simply wanted TO make
my statement 10 Mr.. Bryan, and Mr..
Royal had me summoned.
Judge Hairston then took the stand.
The conversation of Mr. Meyer with the
witness WAS read 20 him.
Judge Hairston I had the conversation
referred 70. and told him that I had heard
these things; but as ] had heard that the
committee did not want hcarsay .esti-
mony I did not state IT ON yesterday.
That Is all I desire to state.
Mr.. Lovenstein.
Senator Lovenstein took the stand.
Mr Nicol: Were you the clerk Of the
caucus1
A. ! was.
SIR. Nicol: Did YOU keep roll Of the
ballot7
A. Yes SIR.
q Have you the roll with you?
a. 1 have AN except the last ballot.
q. Where is that:
A. lent that 10 DR. James 10 be pub
li.hed. ana Sac hos not rc-U.Ho0 g.
d. VIII YOU get the list of tine rolls?
A. Yes. sir. ! have all the other ballots
% How many ballots did Mr. Diggs
vote on? Did he vote on the hrstt
a. think not, sir.
O. Did he vote on the second!
a. Yes, sir.
@ For whot
a. For General Lee.
Q. Whom did he vote for on the third:
a. General Lee.
@. Did ne vote on the fifth?
A. NO sir.
O. Did he vote on the sixth?
a. No, sir j have him recorded only
on two ballots. Mr. Diggs made a state
ment this morning at my request; he
did not ask me to- pat his name on the
ballot until after the caucus adjourned,
and ] told him that could not be done.
q. Have you anything further 10 state?
A. ] want 90 state this. and the mem
hers OF thIs commitee. and every mem
Der Of tle caucus. viii bear me out, that
/ was very particular in the last ballot
and asked every gentleman 20 pay par
tiDuIar attention. aud see that he was
properly recorded. and j read the ballot
out so as TO give every gentleman a
chance 90 make amy correction he might
wish. so that 30 might bee verified.
senator {. q. sands
Senator Conway r. Sands was then
called 90 the stand.
Mr. Nico: state anything you desire.
Mr. Sands: i heard that a remark was
made here by Mr piggs. 10 the effect
that he Was sent for to 20 TO General
Lees room at my instance. 4 want to
say that whoever made that statement
ala SO without any authority from me.
j took no part in General Lees cam
paign until the night Of the caucus. Per
sonallv / was ian favor Of Mr.. Martin. but
niv people were for General Lee. and 1
informed Mr. Martin that 1 would vote
according TO their wishes, and prior to
the caucus only one man knew how l
would vote. and / sent for no one 10
General Lees room.
lfr. BoySin He distinctly stated that
SOU were not there.
Dr. Knox Thompson.
Ur Knox Thompson then TOOK the
sand.
Mr Nicol: Is there any statement YOU
would Ike 40 make?
Or Thompson: ] was a member OF the
legislature preceding the present, and
was one of the members who signed the
per asking the government TO appoint
Nr Martin for the unexpired term. In
the last canvass ga one precinct ont Of
fifteen instructions came 10 instruct me |
% vote for General Lee. ] told le gem I