Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-07-26

was nothing in Mr.. Massey's conduct upon
these occasions to call him into question.
There were likewise no ssstar chamber pro-
ceedings'' about these meetings. The book
list was not completed at the meeting OF
March 25th Major Scott said that there was
nothing adopted finally until the June meet
ing, according to his understanding. He did
not remember about this.
Major Scott had read the publication in the
Pilot Of December 23d, 1894, and knew of
nothing to warrant any such an article. With
reference to the allegation as to the putting on
the list of Webster's dictionary. Major Scott
said that he was greatly in favor of Worces-
ters dictionary, but that the Governor and
the Superintendent were in favor of Webster
publication. Other features of the article
were gone into, but the witness could find
nothing to justify any such allegat ion.
Mr., Wise then took witness and ross-ex-
amined him rigidly.
"Major Scott said he ''you have said that
the general reputation of Mr.. Massey for
truth and honesty, within certain restrictions,
was good Do you mean to tell me that even
within these limitations Mr.. Massey's gener-
al reputation for truth and veraclty is as good
as your own,' with great emphasis on the last
two words.
This was a very notifying question to
Major Scott He started to answer with great
hesitation, but Mr.. Wise said: 81 will
not press that question" IL had rather
not answer that question" said Major Scott,
II will say this-that have never heard of
my character being questioned by anyone. /
have heard charges made against MI. Massey.
This is the difference. SO far as I understand
it,
Mr. Wise further cross examined the At
torn ey- General as to whether or not he had
not heard Mr. Massey accused of bribery in
1890, in connection with the book contract OF
that year. Major Scott said he did have a
vague recollection of something of this kind,
but did not remember who it was who called
his attention to the matter, as the party had
not furnished any proof, as he (Scott) had re.
quested.
Mr. Thom-'' Scott, when this party
MI. Massey and could not produce any evil
| ucIlCG, ulu you HUI SIlUW ulill Gllc uOOl
81 asked him to excuse me anG (holding up
his hands) showed him the door,
Major Scott again said that in so far as he
knew there was absolutely no corruption in
the award of the back contracts of 1890 and
1884, If there was he (Scott) was as much re-
sponsible as anyone.
GOV. O'FERRALL ON THE STAND.
Gov. O'Ferrall, President, eX-officio, of the
State School Board, was put on the stand.
With reference to meeting of the board in
1894, the Governor stated that there were
several book agents in Richmond who both
cred the board considerably but that there
was no unseemly haste in the book adoption.
He said he saw nothingin Mr.. Massey's act
that would cause the most suspicious person
tie think that Mr.. Massey was more anxious
than the other members to get through with
the book adoption. His reasons for the book
adoption of 1894 were that the School Super
intendents wanted but few changes; and,
further, the hardship on the patrons of the
schools had radical change been made in
the books then in use under the circumstan-
ces he would have felt that he was doing the
people of Virginia great wrong had he fav-
ored radical change. The proceedings of
the board, said the Governor, were by no
means of the ''star chamber order.
Judge Heath-Governor, have you at any
time OF pla ce ever charged the plaintiff with
conduct unbecoming gentleman? Al
have not"
Q.-Is Mr.. Massey's general reputation for
veracity and honesty as good as yours? A
That is very delicate question and hardly
know how to answer it. Politically l have
been charged with number of things but
don't think that bribery is one. although
charging man with an act and proving it are
two different things. Every high official.
from Washington down has perhaps been
charged with corruption.
The question was repeated (this answer not
being satisfactory and while the Governor
was talking Capt. Wise said: II want you
to answer the questisn, not to dodge it." The
Governor quickly responded 81 am not a
dodger. Capt. Wise as you we'll know
The Governor then, in answer to questions,
said that shortly after the publication Mr..
Massey called on him and In conversation
he (witness) had suggested that he Massey
owed it to his friends generally and to the
board in particular to sue the paper, both
civiIly and criminally. He said that Mr..
Massey had told him that he (Massey) had
already determined upon his course and
would pursue it to the bitter end.
Mr.. Thom-Governor who was it who first
charged. to you, MI. Massey with corrup-
ton?
Governor-Mr. r. E. Byrd.
He then testified that he had heard charges
in Virginia against Mr.. Massey but that he
never heard of any charges against him as to
corruption In connection with the school de-
partment until Mr.. Byrd said to him
(O'FerralD that Mr.. Massey had been bri-
bed in the 1890 adoption of books. This ex-
PLANTATION was made to explain previous
statement of the Governor that he (O'FerralD
watched Mr.. Massey at the 1894 adoption. AS
a result Of his watching he said that he does
not believe that Mr.. Massey is either a BRIDE
giver or a bribe-taker. and that he certainly
would have watched anybody else under the
same circumstances.
He said, in answer to Mr.. Nicely that, after
a thorough investigation he found the child
rem of Virginia getting books as cheap as
anywhere else and later on he said that he
had written to almost every Governor in the
United Steted and found that the American
Book Company's statement was correct He
concluded this by saying that the gentleman
who wrote the article of December Esd, rel
alive to this matter, had no information what
ever concerningit. This ended the Governors
examination, and he was excused.
JUDGE KIRBY OF sTAUNTON, ON THE
STAND.
Judge J. l.. s. Kirby, Of Staunton, was then
put on the stand by plaintiffs counsel to
testify as to his knowledge Of Mr.. Massey's
general reputation. The witness, in answer
to questions by MI. Thorn, said he had been
knowing Mr.. Massey for a long time and that
his reputation for veracity and honesty was