The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-17
THE INVESTIGATORS.
CONTINUED from second page)

t TU0o1- HFTTV
whether any money was sent TO him o
contributed from any source, on condito
that he should vote for any particula
candidate for United States SENATOR
A. do not sir / know, on the othe
hand. and have no hesitation I'm sayin
So that aid was given 20 Henry COUNTY
| without any condition. or without an.
expectation or any intimaton or desir
TO know, as to how the delegates from
that county stood on the question.
O. This charge was that you furnished
money 10 Mr. Haines. OF Franklin, e
| influence the vote Of Mr.. Eanes.
A. 1t is a complete falsehoOd. and
have no hesitation in saying so. / vii
| tell you, furthermore. II you want me 10
| I talked with Mr.. EllysOn q great dea
| about the canvass. and about the hell
| that was needed in the canvass, and did
all I could to help the situation About
| Henry county, particularly, / remember
| Mr.. Ellyson told me he had n letter from
there saying they must have a certain
amount Of help. Mr. Shepherd had heard
from there. and had conference with
our party friends. 1 told Mr.. Ellyson that
he ought 10 see that that situation was
properly assisted.
Q. BY Mr. Tredway: But Il was not
furnished 10 assist Mr.. Eanes
A. Not a bit OF Il, sir. You can Just
put this down and remember It, that
everything | could do 10 contribute to-
wards the Democratic victory on the 9TH
Of November ! did.
Q. Irrespective Of who was going to be
voted for?
A. Yes, SIR. irrespective Of who was
going 10 be voted for.
@. You have read the charge in this
memorandum against Mr. Eanes. Of Hem
~, as TO certain money having been fur
nished through Mr. Haines, in order 10
influence his vote for United States sena-
tor. State whether or not that is true or
untrue?
A. l state It is totally untrue.
@. By Mr.. Cooke: state whether. IN dis
tributing that money, you distributed It
Irrespective Of how the delegate or sena-
tor was going 10 vote?
A. Unquestionably. l have no hesitation
in saying this, that in helping I'm certain
localities there may have been cases that
knew of where the men had declared
their positions. ] could not keep my ears
stuffed with cotton in going around the
city OF Richmond. or the State of Vir-
ginia, but In the rendering of any aid
/ rendered it alike TO the friends Of one
candidate as TO the friends Of another,
and the fact that any man was I'm favor
Of any particular candidate had nothing !
TO do with the assistance I rendered.
@. 1 understand from you that the con- |
duct Of this campaign was not different /
from any other campaign?
A. In no sense whatever. In other |
words, everybody went to work to elect /
the Democratic candidates to the Legisla-
ture. If there was anything improper IN
this campaign it never came to my
knowledge.
The Letters.
Following are the letters referred to by
ir. Thompson.
j. S. =. Thompson Esq,
1y Dear Mr.. Thompson:
1 cannot let the campaign Of 1893 pass
nto history without expressing TO you
ny most grateful appreciation OF all your
lind sympathy and help. l simply could
.ot have done without you.
There is no one in all the State who has
endered me the valuable services that
'ou have, not merely in raising money
,ut what / appreciate quite as much,
ound advice and kindly sympathy.
L shall always cherish grateful memories
T your kindness. Yours truly,
J. TAYLOR ELLYSON
VIRGINIA STATE DEMOCRATIC
COMMITTEE, Richmond. Va, Nov, q,
1893.
5. b. Thompson, Esq,
My Dear Sir: l have read with much
urprise the editorial in the Times OF
esterday on Improper Influence OF Legis-
ltors," in which il has been charged that
here has been improper interference as
D the election of some members Of the
legislature for the purpose Of securing the
lection Of certain candidate for the
-nited States Senate, and that
nat interference came only from
ne of the subordnates OF one
the railroads. / am informed that you
re the person TO whom reference is made.
desire 10 repeat what / wrote you the 2
ay after the election-that L DO not
now any one in the State to whom I am
} much indebted as yourself for valuable
ssistance rendered during the campaign.
GU were always among my earnest help
IS and you enjoyed to the fullest ex-
mt my confidence and esteem, as / did
ours. Our intercourse was constant and
timate, and l never at any time saw
lything TO warrant the statement that
III were using any Of the funds entrusted
you IN the interest of any particular
lndidate for the United States Senate
deed 1t Is within my personal knowledge |
AT you again and again urged that as
stance be sent to candidates whom You
lew 10 be friendly TO otner candidates
an the one who was your personal
oice. l can say that at no time did You
~ funds In the interest OF any particular
ndidate for the United States Senate.
deed, II seems to me in all YOU said
ID ala whenever such questions were I'M
4 consideration in my presence that
~ sought TO do what you believed 10 be =,
st for the interest Of the Democratic "
rty without any reference 10 how II
'uld affect the prospects OF any particu-
candidate for any Office at the dispo-
or the Legislature. In regard TO the II
arge made that you used any money in -
lded Tor the campaign fund of the Exe-
i've Committee in furtherance OF a cam
late for the United States Senate of
UT personal choice, / desire to say that -
'eheVe you incapable Of diverting from ~
ieslumate channel any funds intrusted
you Tor any purpose whatever. / do
hesitate 10 say that such an intima
uoes you grossest Injustice and
Iuily satisfied that every dollar sent pr
oush you Tor the campaign fund was
iNeied as directed. We were ar All
les III Kun accord as to the Distribution
any contributions which have been 10
ue py those whom you represented. ana
oyed In all those matters nv fullest fo
nuehce i was never associated with
one III any campaign who has en- ID
ou III larger measure my heartfest CO..
% VIII ana most cordial esteem. l oa,a ! 1t
10 you because I felt that Won de-
yea II, and l believe that Won recf,
ated that confidence by keeni,g ~
y ADVISED as 10 whatever YOU did in
ueIIhs assistance 20 candidates in on, n
Ton Of the State. 40 any th
I'm renewed assurance ~ ms, ,,.,. 10Y
49, a" Very sincerely. +