The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-17
v1Ra1N1A's sENAToRsRIP.
The Alleged Corrupt Use Of Money Be-
ing Investigated.

ing AAVeSlAaEcus
Richmond, Va, Dec I6-The Joint
committee Of the legislature, appointed to
investigate the alleged charges that
Thomas S. Martin had been nominated
for United States senator by the demo-
cratic caucus through undue influence,
met in the Senate chamber this morning.
Delegate Withrowe, of Danville. testi-
fed that prior 10 his election he had been
offered monetary assistance in his canvass.
provided he would commit himself to
vote for MIR. Martin.
Mr. Bryan, editor OF the Times, testi-
fed that he had found out that the money
contributed TO the democratic canvass did
not pass through regular channels, i. e..
through the chairman Of the state COM
mittee Prior TO this testimony he gave
history of the basis of an editorial in
his paper, urging that an investigation be
held.
W ". Archer. editor Of the State,
knew nothing Of his personal knowledge.
W. ". Royal. assistant editor OF the
Times, proceeded to testify when he gave
way temporarily to Charles V. Meredith.
This gentleman testified that he knew of
no fraud of his personal knowledge but
that he could give the committee the
names of parties who could tell them one
thing and another, which being put to-
getner would give them Circums tantial
evidence, which was the best kind of evil
dence, that money had been used outside
Of the chairman of the state com
mtttee in the interest of MIR.
Martin. Il can't give you specific
cases, but you can trace the matter
yourselves" He then testified that the
Richmond and Danville and Chesapeake
and Ohio railroads had each contributed
5000 to the canvass, a portion of which
failed 10 pass through the hands of the
oh Of oa toto
also gave the names of Gen. FitZhugh
Lee, j. I. Ellyson, chairman of the state
committee, J. Thompson Barbour, Miles
Martin, Delegate Diggs, Senator Hickman,
Delegate J. b. Moon. S. S. Epps and
others as suitable witnesses.
The chairman announced that they
would all be summoned. The names of
tons of the state were given in by Messrs.
Bry an and Royal.
MIR. BRYAN SUBMITS LETTER.
Mr. Bryan submitted the following
letter
Abingdon. Va. Dec. O., lss3-Editor OF the
Times: Allow me to thankyou for the stand
taken for reform, and see that you call for
egate Witherow. I would say that the
report is current and Is undouhted to my
mind that Thomas s, Martin furnished money
for the campaign in Washington county. for
drick and Towney. l believe the money was
furnished and the delegates, did vote for Mar
tin. If this is democracy, the less OF it the
better.
You can state the facts and give me as au-
thority. An investigation, with Judge w r.
hhea, Judge G.. w. Ward, Mr. Mccoy, a
banker at Bristol Va, MT Pitzer. and d. c.
Cummings, clerk of the court OF Washington
county, as witnesses, would make a plain
case. Yours truly. G. V. LITCHFIELD.
He also submitted recent letter from
MIR. Litchfeld, in which that gentleman
said he would stand by the letter of Dec.
9. Mr.. Bryan said he made inquiries as
to Mr. Litchfield, and ascertained that he
was gentleman of high standing.
Senator Green, one of the members of
the committee, remarked that Mr.
Litchfeld was one of the large coal dealers
of the southwest and gentleman of high
standing.
Mr.. Mushback asked Mr.. Brown as to
the custom of the state democratic commit
tee in distributing funds, but at this point
MIR. Downing offered the following which
was adopted:
Resolved, That in the prosecution OF this
investigation the inquiry should be confined
strictly to the question Of the senatorial can
Vass, both before the election held on Nov. T.
1893, and the caucus on Dec 7, 1898.
1t was decided to sum mon the gentle
man named in the letters of Mr. Iitch-
field
Mr.. Towney, one of the delegates from
Washington county, asked the privilege
of testifying and being sworn. He said
Mr.. Litchfeld belonged to ring in Wash
inRton county and that ring failed to con-
troll the contention that nominated him
self and Mr.. Kendrlck who headed the
independent movement in that county The
witness said Mr.. Martin did not contrib
ute any money to his campaign fund. The
only money used, was raised by the dem
ocrats Of Washington county.
Mr.. Towney said he did not know how
he would vote until he got to Richmond.
He knew nothing of any corrupt prac-
tees.
During Mr.. Meridith's testimony he
said that 81 900 was contributed by the
Chesapeake and Ohio and Richmond and
Danville companies, and of this amount
only s3, 500 was distributed by the chair
man of the party. He thought if the
committee wanted light on the subject
they could getit by tracing this money
that never reached the chairman