The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-14

| OK TO post myself as thoroughly ~
! possible upon the matters now In dispute
aud In consequence have reireshed my
| memory on certain points which / VIII
| rclate
I desire 30 say I'm the beginning as /
/ believe ] said last week. that J have been
on very pleasant terms with Mr. Epps.
| I cid rot believe that Mr.. Epps had done
anything conscientlously wrong. IL was
/ true that he borrowed 500 from me, which
hc paid hy note
In answer 20 q question from Mr.. Mere
dith last Tuesday right / refused to go
into details ] now propose 90 give
statement Of everything az well as / can
rceoiect as 90 the details OK the trip and
why I went. and answer some Of the
testimony az reported by the papers. our
memories are so conflicting. / deem II
proper.
Tho statement that 7 was requested. by
Mr.. Starke. TO accompany the committee
on their trip North 90 represent him and
that my expenses would be paid, is abso-
iutely true / now quote Mr.. Starke's
testimony as reported in the Dispatch
and then refer 10 his letter. which I
think win speak for itself as to whether
30 was true J went North with the com
mittee in the interest OF Mr.. Starkes
company or not.
Mr. Guigon remarked that he under
stood Mr. Starke desired 20 make an
additional statement. and on his motion
that gentleman was allowed % speak.
Mr.. Siarlte said that he had learned that
Mr. Kelvin had testified that he went
North with the subcommittee as the
representative Of himself and that he
OStarkcl was 90 bear n certain part Of
the expenses OF his trip. Mr.. Starkc de-
MED That this was q fact, or that he had
ever paid any portion Of the costs of that
trip. The witness said that so far as he
knew Mr.. Bcvin had no connection with
the FcntOn Company except as far as
permission TO put In a duplicate bid Of
his own was concerned. He thought Mr.
B00z and Mr. Bcivin had arranged this
between themselves.
And now / viii read "A copy OF . letter
addressed TO me, the original Of which
have with me here.
Richmond Va. Dec 90. 1892
''Mr. Preston Belvin. Governor street,
city.
Dear sir.-As you know sub-com-
mittee OF the Council is going North 10
look after furniture and filing cases for
the city Hall Finding f. impossible 10 10
ourselves, We write To ask YOU 20 go and
represent us. We spoke 10 Captain Curtis.
chairman - the committee. and ne said
10 would DE satisfactory 20 him and hts
committee. or course the company will
bear your expenses on the trip.
Mr. Booz. the general agent Of the
company. viii also accompany the COM
mittee as well as Mr. Waddey. or his
representative. who represent rival
house, and probably two members OF the
Council and Mr. Charles Goddn. clerk
OF the circuit court"
Hoping you can make il convenient 10
20, we IAmain. yours &c.
lSgned) II. ". STARKE & co"
The committee will see that this letter is
written upon Mr.. Starke's business letter
head, which speaks for itself
Now. Mr.. BoOZ did not arrive I'm Rich
mond until the night before or the morn
ing the committee left for the North. /
saw him about an hour before the train
Ieft / was under the impression that
every one on that trip knew that / was
there IN the interest Of the Fenton Me
tailic Company as represented by Mr..
StarKe' and when requested by any one
ON that trip ] always stated 10 them the
TACT that was going in the interest of
me Fenton Metallic Company. which was
represented by Mr. Starke
ON our arrival at PHILADELPHIA we regis
tered al Green's Hotel II was agreed
that we should 20 TO a theatre on Broad |
street. Mr.. Jewell, representing Mr. Wad- |
dcy, went mp TO the ticket Office and pur-
chased box for the party. This I also |
can prove n necessary. The next day was |
spent in visiting the City Hall and other 4
places. The following day was spent NJ |
harrisburg inspecting metallic flies. Then |
20 Reading, then 10 New York where we
stopped az the ST. James Hotel. II was
agreed that we would 20 10 the Casino
Theatre. I suggested that as the pro-
pn"tor had charge Of the loof garden.
That he could probably obtain better
seats That we request him 10 buy them
TOT u.s. ln approaching him he said we
had better invest the money I'm one box.
and as one box would not De large enough
that he would present with his compli-
mcnts 60 The committee another box.
which would Accommodate all. which
proposition was accepted. all OF which 1
am ready 20 prove.
About what / am going 10 state now the
question viii naturally arise why was il
That Nr. Epp5 told me ne had borrowed
800 from Mr.. Waddey or his representa-
uNe' There must have been some reason
for II.
This ! VIII explain as follows. on re-
turning 10 our room that night Mr. Fpps
remarked that originally Il was not his
intention 10 tell any one his opinion Of
the different metallic files but after
looking them an over he thought that
Boozs chat is Starke'S) were the best.
bat that he was worried about matter
that occurred before leaving home. Mr.
Waddcy, or his representative. bad called
on him ana stated that If he did not have
the money convenient for the trip ne
would loan 70 10 him O1pps). Mr.. Epps
replied 10 the effect that 10 would cramp
him 90 use HIS own money al that time:
hat he would let him hear from him.
Next day Mr.. Epps called on Mr. Mount
castle and stated the proposition that
had been made 20 him. and was informed
hat the same proposition had been made
10 him Mountcastle). They decided 10
accept the loan. which he then stated |
be- regretted very much and would like
To- be In a position 10 return 10. ! stated
hat ] thought that ] could arrange IL
or him. Representing Mr. Starke and
no. Mr.. Booz. / thought II nv duty 10
Tell Mr.. Booz that Mr.. Epps was
adorable 20 his company: about the
Naddey loan and about returning that
oan, which I did Mr. BOoz replied
hat he was glad that Mr.. Epps favored
MS work. and that he would be glad 20 /
dvance the money 10 me TO loan Mr..
1pps which he ala the next day i'm Phil
delphia. IL having set I'm showing so
iard the committee abandoned their trip
o Boston and the two factories.
Mr.. Epps Expressed Opinions.
on other occasions did hear Mr. Epps
peak favorably OF Booz's work: once on /
mr. rofurp 70 DIffa1.1,.Hfo oftr- q