Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-07-11
THE MAssEY-PILor SUIT.


The Pilot on its own behalf pleaded
truth and justification aud went in tc
prove its charges. The evidence offer
ed is, of course, circumstantial. They
showed that Just before the book con-
tract of 1890 was made with the Ameri-
can Book Company, Mr.. Massey's
friends urged his election on the ground
of his poverty, and that soon after the
contract was made, Mr.. Massey depos-
tied $4,000 in Planters National Bank
of Richmond. That he invested this
money in the "boomn and presumably
lost it. That he had other money from
time to time in the bank after that time
amounting to about $1,500, but that
| after the contract of 1894 was made
with the same company, he bought q
house and lot in Charlottesville for
which he paid $1,000 in cash.
1t was also shown that Womack, the
agent of the American Book Company,
asked Senator Morris to nominate Mr..
Massey for the position he now holds
and an intimacy between Massey and
Womack has been established. The
defence has also tried to show conspir-
acy between these two, but the court
has said from the bench that that at
tempt has failed. There has been a
persistent attempt along this line to
prove that Womack was a briber as
shown in the Indictment against him in
Washington State. But it is admitted
that this charge against Womack was
dismissed and it is said that Mr.. Wo
mack can show that the alleged attempt
to bribe the Washington man was a
trap set for him and that he was caught
-thatis to say that a bogus check was
given him to tempt him and that he
took it and tried to collect it.
The defence has also tried to prove
that Mr.. Massey was briber and to
that end ex-Delegate James, of Franklin
county, was introduced to show that
Mr.. Massey offered him a bribe in re-
adjuster days to vote for him for Audi
tor against the caucus nominee. 1t is
claimed, however, that the plaintiff can
break down this testimony.
1t is generally conceded that nothing
has bee n brought out in the evidence of
the defence to show that there is really
any discrimination against the State of
Virginia in the charges for school books
under the existing contract with the
book companies. Mr.. Byrd, the author
Of the famous article, confessed that he
was in error in some of these charges.
Such is brief epitome of the case Of
the defence, and it devolves upon Mr..
Massey to explain how he came in pos
session of the money he is known to
have had just after the book contract
was made in 1890 and again in 1894.
1t should have been stated also that
witnesses have been introduced to
prove that Mr.. Massey's reputa-
ton for truth and integrity was bac /,
and Mr.. Massey will introduce otht 7
witnesses along this line in rebGttal.
The first of these was eX-Sheriff Macon,
of Albemarle, near neighbor of M.
Massey. He gave the old man q good
character and he testified that Mr.. Mas
sey has been a successful farmer, max
ing some money every year out OF his
Albemarle farm.
Capt. ]. A. McCreary, an ex-Confed.
crate and a brother of Mrs. Massey,
was introduced to show that his sister
received from him and his brother some
$4,000 in 1894 to pay for the Charlotts-
vile house. He said that they were
well-to-do, that they were worth about
$4,000 and had always been liberal
with their sister. But Captain Nc
Creary proved to be a poor witness.
He faltered much and John S. Wise
confused him sorely, especially when
he produced the McCreary tax returns,
showing taxable value of only about
5000.
Witness Leach, of Washington, prints
a card from Ex-Governor Perry, stating
that Leach reported to him an attempt
to brlbe him, and he instructed Leach
to take the check as evident against
the persons who offered the bribe.
Witness McCreary, Mrs. Massey's
brother, was again under fire yesterday
and Mr.. Wise annoyed him no little
Witness's tax return of January, 1894
showed no cash on hand, and yet HI
testified that he gave his sister 81, 400 il
April. He finally confessed that his ta2
return was ''a mere matter ofform" ant
inaccurate. 1t was brought out, how
ever, that the whole estate was assess
ed in different years at from $4,000 tt
| $14,0 900, and that McCreary & Co.
credit was good for $4,000.
Ex-Collector Helm and other citizen
of Franklin testified they would not be
lieve on oath e1.Delegate James, VIII,
said Massey offered him bribe.
Ex-senator Wingfeld, of Albemarle
/ and other prominent citizens testified {,
the personal honesty and integrity 0
Mr.. Massey.
A False Diagnosis.
La Grippe is confounded by many person
with aiseyere attack of catarrh, which in som
respects resembles the former The individ