The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-17
William IL. Sands.

NTT- TTTTITI y
forward. and answered the questions OF
the committee in the following manner:
Mr.. Nicol Mr. Sands. state anything
you know in regard 10 the subject Of this
investigation.
Afr. Sands: / don't know anything about
Hhe investigation except what has been
said by Captain Binford. and l didn't
get in I'm time 10 hear all that he said.
! would like for the stenographer 10 read
1t.
Here the testimony Of Mr.. Binford was
read 10 Mr.. Sands
NJ Sands Last Monday morning the
information reached me that the Sunday
= before Mr. BinfOrd asserted that l had
offered him four or five hundred dollars
Tor his vote. l came 10 the House imme-
diatcly to find Mr. Binford. / failed TO
Gee him here and returned 10 my office.
on the way there ] met Mr. Binford on
1he street, and stopped him and said:
"Mr. Binford. | have information that
you have asserted that / offered you $500
moi TO vote for General Lee and TO vote
FOR Martin. | want TO say that / pro
nounce that an infamous lle" For five
or six years / have been the chairman Of
fhe committee to solicit contributions
Every dollar paid I'm Henrico county for
the Democratic campaign fund during
that time has passed through nv hands
H.
This year a great many people thought
that Mr.. Binford had been nominated i'm
properly. and did not contribute as they
had been doing. When / met Mr. Bin
ford Mr.. Martins name was not men
toned. I said TO him: IF you are not
pledged to any one, and will not support
General Lee. ! am willing TO work and
solicit contributions" ! did not then so to
work TO solicit any funds. He did not
saw or do aDVthfper fxcnrt 80 .,,to l..
had made up his mind, and under the
circumstances I did not solicit for him.
Mr. Nicol: Why did you decline to raise
any money for him.
Mr.. Sands: ! saw that while he pro-
nounced himself not TO be pledged 20 Cen
eral Lee, my better judgment indicated
20 my mind that that was his purpose
10 support General Lee. had no per-
sonal Interest in going around and beg
ging money for him of people who We're
not the friends Of General Lee. All this
was done without any conference with
Mr.. Martin or Mr.. Barbour Thompson,
and 70 this day l have not seen either
one of them.
Mr.. Mushhach Were all these sub
scriberS anti-Lee men?
Mr. Sands: l win say this. that of All
the subscriptions I have collected pre-
cious little has come from any man now
known as a Lee man.
Mr. Mushbach: Your offer to help him.
then. was based upon the idea that he
would not vote for General Lee?
Mr. Sands II was.
Mr.. Mushbach: When Won found ont
dhat he would vote for General Lee. Won
did not undertake to get any subscrip-
lions?
Mr.. Sands; No. sir only to get my own
subscription.
Mr. Nicol: You were in favor of Mr..
Martin for senator?
Mr.. Sands: Undoubtedly so.
S~nA'or wickham.
Mr., Henry Wickham then took the
stand.
Mr. Nicol; State to the committee any
tnnhs mat you may know in regard TO
".c sun ct-matter Of this Investigation.
Mf, Nickham: I know nothing In the
world Of the matter Of my own KNOWLEDGE
gentlemen. | have heard these rumors'
ana that Is all Being connected with one
OF the railroads. 1 must take no part an
the management OF the canvass of any
body ] was a friend Of MIR. Martin OF
many years standing. When a varancv
occurred Ia the United States Senate ow-
ing 70 the death OF the Hon J. S. Bar
bour, i formed one OF the majority OF
the General Assembly Of Virginia, which /
requested the appointment OF Mr.. Mar |
TN l considered that 10 bind me morally
- t'N SUPPORT OF Mr. Martin, and ! have /
rendered him. from that day 10 this my |
nnfaltering support. I did so, / believe |
rather AGAINST the wishes OF gentlemen |
prominently connected with my railroad !
pht ala 80 as private citizen in the |
exercise OF my rights as a citizen OF Vir- |
s'ila' ana, as ! stated before. with the /
matter OF the active MANAGEMENT OF The /
"details OF the canyass I had nothing TO /
90, ana Know nothing whatever.
ar Nicol: 20 you know whether or
Not amp improper methods or mea rs were |
nsed IN e.eeting delegates to the General
assembly, IN the interest OF any candi-
eeale or candidates. for the United States
Mt WtcSham: / 90 not, sir.
Mr Nicoi; DO you know whether or not I
eny IMPROPER means or methods were
psed N the interest OF any candidate mr.
eesnaiantes for the nomination OF United |
sss'ss senator, at the caucus OF the