The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-19


LESS has investigated the charges. of
discrimination against Virginia ia the
book contract and found them uu-
founded. Witness ther testified that
from his knowledge of Mr.. Massey since
he became acquainted with him In 1881
Ills reputation has been good.
TO Capt. Wise Attorney. General
Scott SAID he never understood that
The March meeting Of 1890 was a final
adoption Of books that year: witness
heard about thnt time that Mr.. Massey
was unduly prejudiced in favor OF some
books, and he (Scott) snid at the time:
Give me tho evidence and I'll attend
to it, but it was not given.
Capt Wise then asked the witness if
Mr.. Massey's reputation since 1881 has
been as good ms his (Scott's).
The witness snid that the only differ.
ence between MIR. Massey and himself
in that period has beeu that charges
have been made against Mr.. Massey
and none have been made against wit.
ness.
TO Mr.. Thom, said that he practically
put out OF his Office the man who said
Mr.. Massey had been bribed, as the mau
could net produce the evidence to
support his statement: that he has been
alert rs TO MIR. Massey since tho charge
was made aud had no reason to believe
the charges trne.
GOV. e. T. o'FERRALL.
When Gov. O'Ferrall came down
from the judges beuch to testify, there
was hum of voices sil over the house.
and the crowd drew nearer to see and
hear Nlrglnlas gallant Governor. He
said that he had read the article in the
Pilot several tlmes. He snid he
knew as we'll as Mr.. Massey that
there were competing book agents
III Richmond in 1891. There were
great many agents for book houses
IN Richmond the latter pnrt Of the
Legislature in 1894, Mr.. Byrd was
there AS we'll ps Mr.. Womack and 9th
ers. These agents came into my Office
at all times without knocking aud un.
bIdden. Anybody who knows of book
agents know what kind of men they
are. Ihere was no uuseemly haste III
the adoption OF 1894. ! had the same
time to prepare myself on the book
question that the other governors
hnd, He SAW nothing i'll MIR. Mas
sey's conduct that would cause him
to think that Mr Massey was any
more anxious to get through with the
book adoption than we're the other
members. He said the reason for the
adoption Of 1894 was that the School
Superintendent wanted four changes,
aud furthermore, tue hard times would
have made IA change oppressive ubon
llcved be would Lave been doing the
people of the State great wrong had
he favored IA radical change.
MIR \pplr gayaraI br
from the article III the Pilot aud asked
If there WAS any star chamber proceed.
ing, and the Governor said no, unless
the refusal to let the book agents in
made 1t so. lie had examined the CON
tracts of the various States, and was
satisfied that IN no proper sense had
there been any discrimination against
Virginia IN the book contracts.
In regard to the charges subsequently
made by the Pilot, that the Governor
and Attorney General III their exumi.
nation OF book matters i'll the various
States had omitted some States, he
found that i'll those States referred to
therc were no State contracts, but on
further Investigation he found that the
Pilot had been comparing purchasing
prices in those States with selling
prices in Virginia.
The Governor was next questioned
MS to tho vnlue of the books sold in
Virginia, also the exchange list. In
reference to MIR. Massey controlling
the Board the Governor said MIR. Mas
sey was equal to either of the mem.
bers OF the Board, bnt that two beats
ono us eight beats seven. He had
found MIR. Massey considernte aud
defereutlal. He considered Mr.. Mas
sey's general reputation good; had
known him since 1863; would believe
him on onth or OIL oath.
The Governor said he talked with
Mr.. Massey about the suit and told
him he ought TO proceed criminally as
well AS civllly, aud that MIR. Massey
replied that he had already decided
upon the course he would pursue
To Judge Heath the Governor said
he had never charged MIR. Massey with
dsroputnble conduct, but had heard
others make the charges.
Judge Heath asked if he thought
MIR. Massey's reputation was as good
as his Ohe Governor).
He said AS TO any difference of
reputation between himself aud MIR.
Massey. that the only difference he
knows is that he (Mr. Massey has
been charged with things which he
twltness) has not; that it is easy to
make charge. but harder to prove IT.
Gov. O'FerralI, when questioned,
refused to make any comparIsou of his