The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-12-21
HEARING EVIDENCE.
The Senatorial investigation Com
menced Saturday.
GEN. LEE TO BE HEARD.

From the Richmond State, Oct. 10th.
The investigation of the rumors of al
legged questionable methods used in the
Senatorial contest was commenced to-
day in the Senate chamber.
There was not over two dozen persons
present at the hour set for the hearing
to begin, but the number gradually in
creased. At no time, however, were there
anything like the number of spectators
that have attended former public inves-
LEGATIONS at the Capitol.
Up to this time no positive lnforna
tion of fraudulent practices has been OBJ
tanned.
Chairman Nicol called the committee
to order at 1910 O'Clock and read the
resolution authorizing the investigation.
Mr.. A. f. Withrow, the Delegate from
Bath, Allegheny and Highland. the
author of the resolution, was the first
witness called. He said all he knew
about the subject of investigation was
that about two weeks before the election
ha was in attendance upon Allegheny
County Court. He was walking along
the street with Mr.. G. +. Moore, and was
invited by him into the office OF Mr..
John Delaney, an attorney at law
When in there one of the gentlemen, Mr.
Moore, he thought, asked him to define
told them he had accepted the nomina-
ton without committing himself. Mr..
Delaney then told him that if he would
pledge himself to vote for Mr.. Martin
they could get money to run his cam
paign. He asked him where the money
would come from and he was told that
Mr.. Martin would furnish it. Witness
told them he was strongly inclined to
vote against Mr.. Martin. The standing
of Messrs. Moore and Delaney in their
respective communities, Mr.. Withrow
said, was as high as that of any man in
Allegheny. He did not regard the cons
yersation as in any way an attempt to
bride him. Messrs. Moore and Delaney
gave him their cordial support and the
former canvassed the district with him.
The gentlemen did not tell him that they
were authorized by Mr.. Martin to offer
| to contribute to his campaign if he
would support the Scottsville gentleman.
Mr.. Withrow said he did not determine
how he would vote until he came to
Richmond.
Mr.. Withers, the delegate from Dan
vile, was next called and said he knew
nothing of his personal knowledge of
any improper methods having been used.
He told why he did not offer the resolu-
tion he had prepared. His resolutions
Mr. w. s. Copeland, one of the editors of
the STATE, said he, was the first person
who suggested to him that he ought to
offer the resolution, he not having taken
the part of either of the leading candi-
dates. Mr.. Copeland, like himself, knew
nothing personally. but took the high
ground that the Legislature ought to
clear itself of the suspicion it was under.
Mr.. Withrow also was of the opinion
that witness was the proper person to
introduce the resolution. Mr.. Withrow
had talks with Messrs. Bryan and Royal
of the Times, and Mr. Miles M. Martin,
but the result was that he could get no
positive information upon which to base
his request for an inquiry. The I5naes
people, like Mr.. Copeland, argued that
the Legislature was under suspicion and
should for the sake of the Democratic
party clear itself.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan, editor and owner
of the Times, was sworn and stated that
his position was such that he had come
into possession of many communications,
all of which he could not remember.
He said his suspicious were aroused to-
ward the latter part of the canvass,
when he received information that
money contributed to the Democratic
campaign fund was distributed through
sources other than the Chairman of the
party, and he was made unhappy by the
discovery. Mr.. Bryan submitted the fol-
lowing letter:
ABINGDON, VA, Dec. 8, 1898.
Editor of the Times:
Allow me to thank you for the stand
taken for reform and l see that you call
for an investigation of the bride offered
Delegate Withrow. I would say that
the report is current and is undOubted
to my mind that Thomas s. Martin fur
nished money for the campaign in
Washington county for which he was to
receive the votes of Kendrick and Tom
ney. believe the money was furnished
and the delegates did vote for Martin.
If this is Democracy the less of it the
better. You can state the facts and give
me as authority. An investigation with
Judge w. r. Rhea, Judge Ct. w. Ward.
Mr.. Mccoy (banker), Bristol, Virginia
Mr.. Pitzer, d. G. Cummings, Clerk OF
the Court of Washington county, as wit
nesses, would make plain case.
Yours truly.
G.. V. LITcHFIELD.
He also read this letter:
ABINGDON, VA. Dec. 12, 1898.
Mr.. JOSEPH BRYAN:
Dear &r:-Your telegram came yester-
day when I was away from home-I re-
articles for publication and when do I
like to be very careful in all that l say
and how | express myself. In my letter
of the 9th while the statements are true,
vet | may have SO made the statement
that it would admit of denial. For
instance: l may have written that Mr..
Martin furnished the money on the
agreement of Kendrick and Tomney men
to vote for him. He mi !yht say he had
no agreement At the same time he
might have had an understanding i'm.
piled as to the money being furnished
and used, in my mind, there is no shadow
of doubt. | was told this morning by a
third party that he had been informed
that Martin put $500 il the canvass in
Washington county. have a man work
ing this up, SO as to have the man to tell
me directly, instead of coming through
another, and if I succeed | then may
write an article for publication. In the
meantime do not wish to retract one
word of my letter of the 9th and will
stand by it.
g. V. LIcHFIELD.
Mr. Bryan said he made inquiries as
to Mr.. Litchfield and ascertained that he
was gentleman of high standing. Sem
ator Green, one of the members of the
committee, remarked that Mr.. Litch-
ueIu was OIle u CIlc large COAL uedIGFS OF
the Southwest and gentleman of high
standing.
Mr. Mushbach asked Mr. Bryan as to
the custom of the State Democratic
Committee in distributing funds, but at
this point Mr.. Downing offered the fol-
lowing which was adopted:
ResokUed, that in the prosecution of
this Investigation the inquiry should be
confined strictly to the question Of the
Senatorial canvass both before the cleo
tion held on November 7, 1893, and the
caucus on December Z. 1898
1t was decided to summon the gentle
men named in the letters of Mr.. Litch-
| field.
Mr.. Tomney, one of the Delegates
from Washington county. asked the
privilege of testifying and was sworn.
He said Mr.. Litchfield belonged to a
ring in Washington county and that ring
failing to control the convention that
nominated himself and Mr.. Kendrick
headed the independent movement in
the county. Witness said Mr. Martin
did not contribute any money to his
campaign fund. The only money used
| was raised by the Democrats of Wash