Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-20
SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION.
The Senate investigation committee

the stand again and said that he had
nothing else to state, but that the Times
received letter yesterday from gen.
tleman, whose name he did not care to
give but who was known to MIR. Miles
Martin, and that he would like TO offer
to the committee as evidencean extract
from the letter. The paper was read
by the committee and they agreed to re-
ceiye it. 1t read as follows: II have
information that a check Endorsed by
Thomas S. Martin for $3.50 was receiv-
ed and used by DR.. A. S. Priddy just
prior to the primary in Charlotte coun-
ty in July last, and that another check
for $3.50, Endorsed in the same manner,
was received and used by DR.. Priddy q
few days before the election. Mr.Priddy
was nominated in olose contest over
Mr.. Henry c. Rice, and was elected.
He voted for Thomas S. Martin for
Senator in the caucus contrary to in
structions.
DR.. Priddy being present was request
ed to take the stand and read the paper.
He said it was false from beginning to
end. He further stated that he never
received q check of any kind or nature
during the campaign and that he never
violated any instructions whatever.
Mr.. C. Y. Meredith, q member OF the
democratic State executive committee,
was called and Chairman Nicol told
him that if he had anything else to
state in connection with the investiga-
ton he would be glad to hear him.
Mr.. Meredith replied that any state
ment that he could now make would
be similar to that made yesterday by
General Lee. 81 would like to say this
however" continued Mr.. Meredith,
"when the canvass began | told
Mr.. Ellyson that l would not
serve on the committee if any
money contributed for campaign
purposes were distributed in any
other way than through the chairman
of the democratic party. Mr.. Ellyson
told me that he did not anticipate any
trouble in that line. After the election
was over he met Mr.. Ellyson on the
street and asked him what about the
reports that he had heard that money
had been distributed by the railroad
companies. Mr.. Ellyson replied that
there was q preliminary fund over
which he had no control.
Mr.. Ellyson then took the chair, and
stated that though he had been in poll
tics long time he had never known o
canvass conducted more fairly than the
last, and that there was not one single
l.. hot hn
unwilling should be told to the COM
mittee or the legislature. He an
nounced that he was ready to answer
any questions asked by anybody, but
no one propounded any query.
Mr.. w. A. Glasgow, jr., said he knew
nothing Of any improper methods hav-
ing been used 10 influence votes for any
candidate for the u. 8. Senate. He said
he furnished Chairman Ellyson with
an itemized statement of the distribu-
ton by the Norfolk & Western road.
The money was sent to every county
in southwestern Virginia except Rus.
sell and Tazewell. Mr.. Martin was
his personal choice for Senator, but he
distributed the Norfolk & Western
fund in accordance with the instruc-
tons from the officials who gave him
the money.
When asked why the Norfolk &
Western desired him to distribute the
money instead of its going through the
regular channels, witness hesitated a
moment and then said he would an
swer the question. The official who
gave him the funds said he had received
letter from person who intimated
that he had some suspicion Of the State
committee, and the Norfolk & Western
being DESTROYS simply of helping the
nominees of the democratic party, and
not aiding senatorial candidates, asked
him to make the distribution. He so
distributed the money, and without
any conference with Mr.. Martin. Mr..
Glasgow gave list of the counties to
which help was given, and it appears
that in about half of these the Senators
and Delegates chosen voted for Lee.
The statement that the Norfolk and
Western wanted Mr.. Martin to be
elected Senator because then the Rich
mond and Danville would withdraw its
objection to the entrance Of the Norfolk
and Western into Washington, witness
said, was entirely without foundation.
During the testimony of Mr.. Glasgow
he stated that Mr.. Miles NJ. Martin told
him at the Exchange Hotel that he was
satisfied that the Norfolk and Western
roads contribution was fairly distrib-
uted and without regard to the prefer
ences of the candidates to be helped.
He asked Mr.. Martin to write him a
letter to that effect and Mr.. Martin said
he would do so. Mr.. Martin be-
ing present, made person
al statement to the effect that what
Mr.. Glasgow had said was true, and
he did not write the letter because he
subsequently learned from General
Lee what the latter had intimated in
the paper he filed yesterday. In con-
clusion he said II would like also to
add that I had many talks with Mr.. ].
S. B. Thompson from time to time DUR
ing the campaign, and it is due him to
say that never at any time heard him
suggest that any money should be
used in effecting the election of men
with reference to their senatorial views.
| would not have inflicted so long a
statement upon the committee, but de-
sired to set myself fully Alright upon all
these points"
There was other testimony, but ofno
general interest.
The investigating committee held an
executive session last night, at which,
it is understood, matters connected
with their forthcoming report were dis
cussed.
OF the investigation the Dispatch
says: "The result has been that the