Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14
COKCRESSMAE.AT-LARCE CONTEST.
Some Interesting Details Of the Old
Fight Of 1882 Crop Out.
THE PLAINTIFFS FiNNN'"''
Many Bright and Amusing ''"'
md Incidents fcsterd"'' ""'
NIL. the proceedings We're OF
n.tbcr Monoionous Character

u
,5,,,tlsr has been on the stand all day'
and has been subjected to a most ris.u
o,A tedious cross-examination by his oid
,,,oncu, I'm poltics-John 5. Nise-'ne
,rocoedlngs have. "a a rule. been OF
.e,,v and unnteresting character, dealing
slpos, entirely with the pecunlary afais
NJ Nr. Massey from the first Of 1890 when
,. eas first elected Auditor of the State
OF Virginia. TO the present
Some old matters were gone into' ana
NJ times sharp words passed between the
examiner and the testiiier. Frequently
Judge Prentlss had TO speak plainly 10
both counsel and the witness, because they
were straying OF from matters at issue
Court convened promptly at 1880 O'CLOCK
rnd the scene was "a most unusual one
While the spectators were not so many
rs on the day previous, there were present
Governor O'Ferrall. eX-GOyernOrs Nc
Kinney and Cameron. Secretary-of-the-
Commonwealth Joseph y. Lawless. and
a number Of judges and lawyers and
Others OF prominence.
CLOSELY QUESTIONED.
The witness was closely questioned by
Mr.. Wise concerning his transaction or
80 with W. y. James, the ex-member or
the Legislature from Franklin county.
Mr.. Massey said that he gave Mr.. James
v check for the so in May, 1881, when he
niassey) was a candidate for the office
pf Governor. and was beaten IN the con-
yentlon by William l.. Cameron. In the
letter IN which Mr.. James wrote 10 Mr.
Massey asking him # he could loan him
Canes) 500 that gentleman stated that
he Games) was doing all he could 10
help Mr. Massey out In his canvass. Mr.
Massey denied that he had sent the money
10 assist I'm defraying the expenses of dele
yates to the convention who were favora-
bic TO him Massey. The witness SAID
that he sent James so and took James's
uote. James's friendship for the witness
tcased shortly afterward. Mr.. Massey
had destroyed the letters in this contro-
versy.
Mr. Wise questioned the witness closely
Is TO his connection with Amos Dicker-
BON. Edmond Parr. and James. and asked
PIN II he and the others Cameron and
Nise) were running about over the State
looking for votes.
you may have been, sir" said Mr..
Massey. emphasizing the you"
Wasn't your asked Mr.. Wise, sharply.
IL was
b1 HIN I'LL MN.
"You don't like to be put in such close
connection with nv, do you, MIR. Mas
Sey?" questioned Mr.. Wise.
II used to think very well OF you. until
you turned your back upon the state Of
Virginia" replied Mr.. Massey. with great
Emphasis.
Mr. Wise here grew warm, and said,
using the language of the plaintiff in an
article In the Richmond Dispatch five
years ago. IF Brother Massey said that
ne wise had ever denounced Virginia.
he should be consigned to the place where
Mr. Massey said the man who wrote the
World article would go"
Judge Prentiss raped loudly for order,
and reminded both counsel and witness
that they must confne themselves to
questions ami answers.
Mr. Wise then resumed his cross-exa;ni-
nation OF the plaintiff, taking up the
legisla tive investigation of the charge Of
Mr.. Massey's railroad travel upon free
passes. while charging the railroad fare
to the state. The witness said he re-
garded that the passes had been given
60 him as personal compliments and not
70 the State of Virginia. He admitted
that he did travel upon passes and charge
the State with railroad fare, but said that
he had always considered that this was
perfectly proper and legitimate. lie
said that the Governor, Attorney-General,
members Of the Legislature, and others
rode upon railroad passes.
THE ALABAMA TRIP.
Mr.. Massey was rigidly questioned con-
corning the Alabama trip which came
before the Legislative Committee. He
said that he gone on South TO marry,
and that Immediately upon arriving there
he was summoned back 10 Blacksburg
where a very important meeting of the
Board Of Visitors OF the Virginia Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College was TO
be held The witness continued. by say
Ing that he did not care 10 marry and
have 10 10 Immediately out upon such
u mission. The marriage was then post
poued, and he at once returned to Wiz
fiuia. and went direct 10 Blacksburg,
where there was dreadful state OF
thlncs. The witness did not think that
he should have been put to the expense
az making two trips 10 Alabama, when
there were no regular meetings Of the
board 10 occur, and the business calling
him back was such as had arisen in the
mean time. He therefore, charged the
State with about so Of expense incur
red by that fruitless trip.
THE LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATE IN
Further reference was made TO the
legislative Investigation, and the resolu-
hon offered by Mr.. Flood was read.
Mr.. Massey stated that Mr.. Flood. who
was an attorney for Mfssrs. CHM q Co..
Started this investigation He denied
that he had asked AIR. Stubs TO intro
huce a bin in the Senate making the
superintendent OF Public Instruction an
tX-oificio member OF the Board OF Visi-
tors Of the University OF Virginia, as
Nir. Wise intmated in one of his Ques-
lions
Mr.. Wise questioned Mr.. Massey very
closely with regard 10 his travels about
through the State upon passes and the
charges ne made TO the Commonwealth
FOR expenses. lie asked him (Mr. Mas
sey) II he had not been aware that he
cOuid have bought some round-trip tick
tts I'm connection with his travels about
through the State on official business.
The witness replied that there were very
Few instances in which he could secure
round-trip ticket
But II you were TO buy n round-trlp
or an excursion ticket upon these occa-
fions. you would save money to the State
Of Virginia, would you notY' asked Mr..
Wise.
Il guess that Is fact, hut the matter
co6ts the State no more and no less be
cause l had passes" replied Mr.. Massey.
"But are you getting paid TO ride abou;
the State upon free passes rejoined Mr..
Wise
"Did you no, ride on passes and charge
your transportation TO the government
while you were In Congress- interrogatcc
Mr. Massey OF Mr. Wise
NO SIR" answered MIR. Wise promptly
you know that the Richmond, Freder-
lcksburg, and Potomac does not give
passes / tried hard 10 get one. but
failed. Did you ever have pass owes