Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-20
M'KENNEY'S ANSWER
IT WAS SERVED ON THoRP YesTER.
DAY At lAWRENCEvlLLE.
A Singing Rebuke 10 the Republican Con-
testant--Iiis Political Rccord-Rela.
tions With Geueral Malone.

PETERSBURG. VA. January 49,
Especially 1.-The answer Of Hon. w. r. Nc
Kenncy. contes,ee in the contested-eiec'
ton case from the Fourth Congressional
District Of Virginia, was to-day served
upon Mr. n. T. Thorp. the contestant, at
Lawrenceville. Mr.. Thorp, as the read
ers OF the Dispatch we'll know. was the
late Republican candidate for Congress
In this district and was defeated by a.
majority Of SEA votes by Mr.. Mckinney,
as declared by the Official returns.
Mr.. Thorps notice OF contest was
served upon Mr.. MoEenney on the 2ith
of December last. which. apparently, was
no surprise to the contestee or 10 his
friends. Mr.. McKenney was the unani-
nous nominee Of one OF the largest ana
most enthusiastic Democratic conven~
tons ever held In the district and that
he was the unanimous choice OF the De-
mocracy of the district there was neVei
any doubt.
In his answer to Mr.. Thorp, Mr.. Nc.
kenney says: Before was nominated
as the Democratic candidate, and cer-
tainly many times after | entered tn,
field, both you (Mr. Thorp) and your
white and colOred canvassers and heute"
nants announced from the stump through'
out the district your purpose 10 contest
the seat OF the Democratic candidate. IL
he should be declared elected. and II the
Republican party should have majority
In the Fiftyfourth Congress.
WOULD DO NO GOOD.
I'm fact. some Of your CMr. Thorp's)
canvassers went step farther. and as
serted that they expected me 10 he
awarded the certificate Of election, but
claimed that the certificate would do me
no good, as a Republican majority IN
the next Congress would never allow me
to take my scat. The truth Is, that all
through the canvass neither you or your
supporters seemed 20 have any faith In,
or hope Of. your being declared elected
on the face Of the returns. Your only
dependence seemed To lie your confidence
In the Idea that a Republican majority
would take assertion for proof and seat
you. because you were a Republican
and l d Democrat.
AS A POLITICIAN.
"Of course" says Mr.. Mckinney, Hf
this is to be the standard by which the
merits OF this controversy are TO be de-
cided, then IL were hardly worth Gus
while to 20 through the form of con-
test, for in spite OF your earlier history
as n politician. I do not doubt that you
might be considered Republican and
a Democrat. I have never been anything
but a Democrat. You have been "a
Democrat. then a Readjusier, then a Ma
eadjuster-Repubiican, then an an
ti-Langston- Republican, and now you
might be called simply a free-silver Re-
publican ana while your ideas as 10
the currency may be In direct conflict
with all the financial plans and pur-
poses and principles OF the Republican
party. and while you supported Popu-
list for the Fiftv-third Congress. you
are, in name, at least, n Republican. IL
Is true that you were nominated CONTRA
~ TO the advice OF the State Republican
Committee of Virginia. Of which General
William Malone is the recognized head.
Ii is true that General Malone and the
balance Of the State Committee of your
party ala not think 1t expedient that any
Republican should be put into the field
I'm this district. II IS true that IL was
more than two months and half after
you were nominated before General Ma
hone indicated. by word or act. to the
voters OF this district that he wouls
even vote for you. 1t is true that II was
two months and sixteen days before Il
single Republican from outside OF the
district gave You the least aid or COM
fort. and then this aid and comfort came
from but one Republican-Judge Edmund
Wadd!ll. OF Rlchmond-who. in a short
speech on October u. 1894 spoke In your
behalf at Dinwddie Courthouse"
COVERS EVERY MATTER.
Mr.. McKenney's answer 10 Mr.. Thorp's
notice Of contest covers every matter
fully. Indeed. II Is one OF the fules.
and most complete papers OF the Kind
over prepared.
Mr.. Thorps multi-record as n pollti-
clan is fully exposed HIS allegation,
and claims as TO Democratic frauds are
fully answered, and the tables are turn
ed upon him with powerful effect His
Inconsistencies are exposed. and he Is
shown up In Hight that would hardly
be agreeable 10 an honest gentleman. Mr..
McKenney. In his answer. denies in
general and in particular. every allega-
ton and every claim made by Mr. Thorp.
and boldly and openly declares these al
legations and claims 10 be untrue. He
further declares that Mr.. Thorps alle>
cations are technical IN the extreme.
and in most instances absurd and with
out merit.
OF RARE INTEREST.
Mr.. McKenney's answer covers sixty
beginning TO end II Is q paper OF ex-
IRENE interest. lie concludes his paper
with an endorsement of the Walton law
az good. when properly administered;
and that while there may be some crudi-
ties and imperfections whal might be
remedied by amendment. IL Is 10 say
the least, step in the right direction.
and calculated 20 insure TO the people
OF Virginia "a free ballot and q fair
count"
AN ESCAPED MURDERER.
The readers Of the Dispatch will re-
member that some months ago Claude
Brooke, n farmer Of Surry county, shot
and Killed negro woman whom he al
legged had committed an uniustifiable as
saUlt upon one Of his daughters. The al
legged murder was committed in the field
where the victim was at work The
murderer escaped. and though the most
dilicent efforts have been made by the
officers Of the county to capture the man,
he has so far escaped arrest. He has, Of
course, left the county.
A PAINFUL ACCIDENT
Mr.. Anthony Harrison. aged es years.
q wcll-known and respected citizen. met
with a painful accident at his home. on
Commerce street, this morning. While
descending the stairs from his chamber
10 the breakfast-room he slipped ana
FELL and fractured the thigh-bone OF his
right leg.
The new Commercial Club Just organ
tied. will open its apartments on Bank
street on Monday.
A NATIONAL FLAG.
The Junior Order United American Ne
chanics is making strenuous efforts to
have placed over every public-school
building a national flag. and to have the
Bible read regularly each day to the
scholars. The several branches OF the
order in this city have appointed COM
mittee to look after the matter.
1t is understood that the citizens OF
Petersburg have to-day subscribed suf-
ficlent amount OF money 10 guarantee
the organization Of first-class baseball
club.