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

subject was with Mr.. Charles V. Mere
dith. / met him on the corner Of Eleventh
and Bank streets, and he told me that
he hoped I would not let anybody make
me believe that the Martin people were
furnishing all the campaign funds: that
General Lee was then I'm the State of New
York raising campaign funds. and the
money he raised would be turned over TO
the committee, and that money would be
used and distributed equitably 10 the can
dldates for the Legislature: that he Mere
dith) was on the Executive Committee,
and he would see hat / got money to
run my campaign in the county. laugh
ter and applause.) i desire. further. gem
tlemen, TO state that was on the stand
| the other day and | stated then that no
undue influences were ever offered 10 me
i'm this election. / desire TO reiterate that,
and emphasize 1t. That there were some
indiscretions INDUCED in l think l can
! safely say.
ga Dirty Trick"
There was an occurrence that happened
IN the Exchange Hotel. Mr.. Meredith
came TO me the next morning ana TOOK
me into one of the rooms and told me
that ne hoped / would not think that ne
had anything TO do with that occurrence
He characterized IL as "a low, dirty
trick" and l think he emphasized II Win
an oath.
Mr.. Downing: Did that occurrence D"i
unon this investigation?
MIR. Diggs: l hoped that 1 would not De
asked ON that subject. but since l nave
been asked, l will give 1t. Socn atte: l
! got my supper that night, ] walked down
n the lobby. There were q great many
people there. and Mr.. Minter, a represent
tative of one Of the papers here thlnk
the Dispatch. came TO me and said that
Senator Sands desired 10 see me. / told
him that / would be glad 70 sec Mr.. Sands.
knew that Mr.. Sands was interested IN
tie election Of Mr.. j. G. Mitchell as super
fntendent OF the ~penitentiary, and l want
cd Mr.. Mitchell TO have that position my
self. Mr.. Minter carried me into a room
unstairs. Mr.. Meredith was in the room
with several other gentlemen, and he was
the oniy one of them I knew, and he in
reduced me 10 the other gentlemen. NJ.
Sands was not in the room. Mr.. Meredith
opened a side door. and asked me 10 have
a drink. l thanked him and told him that
I did not drink I then found that was IN
Gen. Lees headquarters-carried there
against my wishes. / excused myself un-
der the circumstances, and got out, and
that was the trick that Mr.. Meredith char
acterized as a low. dirty trick" and did
not want me to think that he had anything
10 do with 1t. l told him that my eXpe-
rience with him would make me know that
he never had anything to do with it. Mr..
Minter has passed me on the street seve-
raj times since then. and has never spok- |
en-. Mr.. Meredith has never SPOKEN 10 me
since until this morning, when / approach
ed him and asked him for that letter. /
desire 10 say in justice 10 Senator Sands ]
that he was not there when | went into !
that room. The Dispatch or the Times, |
one or the other. stated that / asked Sena-
tor Lovenstein TO record my vote for Cen
eral Lee. Senator Lovenstein has just !
called my attention to that statement, 4
and made this statement-absolutely cor
rect-that he gave everybody q fair chance
to record their votes. In that ne IS correct.
He did act perfectly fairly as secretary.
My statement on the stand the other
day was 10 this effect: That after the
ballot had been taken and the friends OF
Mr.. Martin saw that he had received a
sufficient number Of votes TO elect him.
there was considerable applause and 1 did
not hear my name called; that during the
confusion 1 could not hear myself rec
by the chairman Of the caucus
I'm order that l might record my vote.
After the vote had been announced. /
went 10 Senator Lovenstein and asked
him IL my vote could be recorded for
General Lee; and he told me that as the
vote had been announced. my vote could
not be recorded. Senator Loyenstein said
that is correct.
Mr.. EIIvson Again.
Mr.. J. Taylor Ellyson then took the
Mr.. Ellyson: II seems that there IS some
discrepancy between a statement Of Mr..
Priddy's and mine about the preliminary
fund. / thought | was perfectly plain on
yesterday. / repeat now that my letter
appear TO me a complete answer to all 7.
the questions propounded 70 me by Mr..
1 said I'm that letter, and re-
peat it now. that the first intimation
had concerning the contribution OF cam
oaign funds TO Charlotte county was that
given By Or. Priddy I'm my office. In re-
gard 10 my statements I'm regard to the
preliminary fund, l stated that ! was in
that there was a preliminary fund.
think that is a clear statement. II you
do not understand me, | Will
je very glad If you will tell me how 10
il. / said on yesterday, with as
much emphasis as possible. that there
s nothing in my administration Of this
,ampaign Of which /, or any other Vir-
yinian. has cause TO be ashamed. ZAP
llause) There is nothing TO my knOwl-
,dge that l am not willing 10 state to this
or the General Assembly. /
been many years in politics, and 1
never known any campaign 10 be
.Onducted by it's committee SO free from
Inything I'm the slightest degree objec-
ionable. and / ask that II you desire TO
Isk any questions remove all barriers: /
m here to give you Information. and |
will give It chcerfully. 1 feel that IL is
duty to give any that you may de-
nand: and not only my duty, but my
pleasure. and I will do so without any
mental reservation.
W. A. Glasgow.
The committee. not desiring TO ask any
Of Mr.. EllysOn. called Mr.. w.
/. Glasgow. Jr.. 10 the stand.
Mr.. Nicol: DO you know anything Of this +,
n~vestigation2 {
Mr.. Glasgow: In a general way. ,
Mr.. Nicol: DO you want the resolution
cad? ,
MIR. Glasgow: / had rather hear II. ,
Yhe resolutions under which the COM :
aittee IL acting were then read to the ,
witness. ,
Mr. glasgow: Well. sir, l know nothing ;
bout either OF these. about the improper =
So OF money in the election or in the 4,
aucus.
air. NicoI: Are you attorney for the 4
sorfolk and Western railroad? =
sir. Glasgow: Yes, sir. All L know =
bout IL is that the contribution OF the {
,erfolk and Western Railroad Company :
ras distributed by me. with the know y
Of Mr.. Ellyson. Before the day .
2 the election / furnished Mr.. Ellyson .
,Ith a detailed statement OF the distribu-
on as made. II was distributed to every G
ounty In South vest Virginia. except {
--.f --If,L \ ha1flNg from tnfOrmn-