The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-29
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
The GueTaTd-RuSSell Investigation
Strictly Private.

The Committee VIII Submit It's Re
port at the Meeting of the Citizens
Club To-night-It Declined to Give
Out Any Information at the Investi-
cation Some of the Witnesses Who
Were Examined.
The investigation by the committee
appointed by the president of the Citizens
Club Of the charges brought against Mr..
Waring Russell by Mr. r. d. Guerard,
that the former had demanded of him
5000 as a condition to securing his nomi-
nation and election to the state Senate
from this district, was held yesterday
morning with closed doors.
The letter of Mr. Russell to Mr..
W. W Osborne president Of the
Citizens Club, demanding an inves-
tigation of the charges, stated es-
pecially that the investigation should
be held with open doors, Ito the end that
such investigation may be so complete
and thorough that it will command the
confidence of the entire community" to
quote Mr.. RusselIs letter.
MR.. GUERARD ABSENT.
AS announced in Yesterdays MORNING
News would be the case, MIR. Guerard
did not appear before the committee, his
letter to MIR Osborne, published in the
MORNING News, stating that he had al
ready said all that he desired TO say, and
that he had nothing TO add to or retract
from it. MIR. Guerard had previously
announced his determination OF appearing
before the committee, but after confer
ring with his friends decided that il
would no host III r n do n Tho baee
of the committee being all members Of
the Citizens Club, which was indirectly
attacked in the attack upon Mr.. Russell,
Mr. Guerard felt that it was not likely
that any evidence which he might pro-
duCe would be accepted as sustaining the
charges against Mr. Russell, while on the
hand there were various reasons why he
thought the committee would be inclined
to favor MIR. Russell.
WAITING FOR THE INVESTIGATION.
At II o'clock, at which time it had been
announced the Investigation would begin,
there was small crowd gathered in the
offices of McAlpin 4 LaROche, composed
chiefly Of interested members of the Citi-
zens' Club who had been summoned as
witnesses, and newspaper reporters. The
committee seemed in no hurry to begin
its work, and the crowd whiled away the
time by discussing state ana local politics
in a good-humOred manner The members
of the committee clOseted themselves in a
private Office, where they conferred with
closed doors After awhile MIR Russell
was called in. As he remained in the
room for some time the reporters con-
cluded that the investigation had begun,
and in response to their inquiries as to
what had become Of the public
investigation, they were informed that
il had been decided to hold
the investigation in private. No
reason was given for this decision except
that the committee had decided that it
would be best. The information was no
surprise, and in fact had been more than
half way expected.
THE COMMITTEE.
The members of the committee in at
tendance were Col John Screven, chair
man; DR.. L. A Falligant, Mr.. w. p. La
Roche and Mr. c. A. Lamotte. MIR.
Henry McAlpin, the other member of the
committee, was in attendance upon bust
ness at the superior court. Mr., Russell
remained in the room nearly half an hour,
after which he came out and was sue
ceeded by Mr. T. ID. Rockwell Mr. Rock
well, as is well known, has been Mr..
Guerards friend and confidential adviser
upon political matters during the last few
months Exactly what his testimony
was is not known, but his voice arose
sufficiently high at times to penetrate to
the adjoining room and he appeared to be
making rather warm replies to the ques-
tons of some of the committee.
The next witness was MIR. John Power.
who was also one of Mr.. Guerards conf
Dental advisers, but whom the latter
says has now gone back on him. The
other witnesses were w. G. Cooper and J.
j. Dooan, DR.. b. +. Sheftau, l. G.
Schwarzbaum and Justice Frank McDer-
mott. The testimony Of the witnesses
fal 4
Thomas
NOTHING TO GIVE OUT
As soon as the committee finished with
the witnesses, a MORNING News reporter
entered the room and asked regarding the
investigation. The chairman, Col. Screven,
replied that The committee had nothing
to give out
1.-The evidence has all been taken down
by a stenographer," Col. Screven said.
at will be written out in full and will
then be reviewed by the committee
which will make up its report and submit
1T to the meeting of the Citizens Club
Tuesday night. The report of the com
mittee and the evidence will then be made
public for all VINO care to see them"
"Will the testimony of the witnesses be
read at the clubl" Col Screven was
asked.
II think not, 3" was the reply.
THE REPORT TO BE PUBLIC.
"Will the evidence be open to anyone
who cares to investigate it after the com
mittee makes its report}" he was asked.
Il should think So" Col. Screven re-
piled
1T has been agreed" announced DR..
Falligant, that none of the committee
shall give out any information concerning
the investigation until after the meeting
of the club tomorrow night
Col. Screven explained that it had been
thought best not to increase the confusion
in the public mind with regard to an al
ready badly muddled matter by holding
a public investigation, in order that the
committee might sift out the facts at its
ease and report to the club ut is proba-
bly, club matter" said Col. Screven.
land we think this the proper course to
pursue"
NOT MUCH SICKNESS.