The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-06
c,pr nuuGARDynR's sTA7rzENT
First Expression of the Treatment nc '''
cetyed ut Amherst {. IL

q
..r-.,-,-,rO>- VA oct. 5.-Speciai.-
,a,l,ain lanes Bumgardnor, Jr., OF this
800, VINO Is widely known in virginia as
. ctounch Democratic worker and man
- the most high-tOned scnu-
noonts and conscientious prlncl-
nlos has heretofore declined 10
10 any statement for publ
cation Of the indignities visited on MN
-, the silverites at Amherst Courthouse
wren he went there to speak on SOUND
money in tie interest Of the Nauohai
Democracy. -. .,,,,,,
lie has. however. received large num-
hers of letters asking about Inc occur
ence and reluctantly consented to the re-
ouest OF The Times special correspondent
visiting this city TO make statement Oh
the occurrences of that day
Many Of the letters received are from
those OF his friends. who oppose nm on
The financial question, and they all resent
bis treatment al Amherst on that day.
cant. Bumgardner's statement is as
follows:
ION Monday. the DIST day Of September
1905 went TO Amhert Courthouse 10
sneak as appointed When the time Tor
eneakinc came a stand was placed Tor
me in the street leading 10 the court
house ward and q short distance from me
entrance to the courthouse yard, ana 1
was introduced 20 the audience by MT.
T. J. Harris. Of Amhert Courthouse Inc
moment the introduction was over
number Of persons rushed up 10 'he
vicinity Of the stand. yelling, kissing ana
shouting that no Id goldDus shouu
sneak there. / asked them If they were
ofraid 10 hear q speech from my side
and if they were afraid FOR other people
10 hear me speak / told them ] did not
want to speak 10 any one who did not
want 10 hear me. and that IL they oid
not want 10 hear me there was plenty
Of room out doors 10 get beyond the
sound Of my voice and that 81 there was
any one present who did want 10 hear
me. I irtendc- to stand there and speak
10 him. If ] had 10 stand there Til Gabriel
blew his horn.
Several questions were asked me by
persons in the crowd. 1 asked them 10
hear my answers TO thcir own questions.
They did not allow my answers 10 be
heard / then asked the parties asking
the questions to come near enough 20
hear my replies This fsy did not do.
After some while Nr ilon. "a Young law
YER and a free silver supporter Of Mr.
BRYAN. got oh tID stand and Indignantly
rclukcd the crowd for their conduct. ana
asked that / should have q hearing. the
crowd paid 10 attention to him. After
Nr. Allen had tried earnestly for some
time 10 shame the crowd into decent be-
havior. ! told him that 10 was evident
that he was creating this trouble and
asked him TO desist. IIo did so very re-
luctantly. IL was evident 20 me that 10
was the purpose Of the crowd % friehten
me from tho stand and prevent me from
speaking. After Mr. Allen left the stand.
I stood for some time. either silent Or
talking 10 persons near me. The noise.
ycils and cries. that no goidbug should
speak continued Tor some timo-I suppose
from twenty minutes 20 half an hour,
and then the crowd either because they
were tired. or seeing that did not intend
10 leave the stand left the vicinity OF the
standard left an audience Of perhaps
2n persons. 10 whom ! spoke az length.
and without interruption. except by Qucs-
lions which were respectfully asked and
10 which I replied.
JAMES Br-MGARDNER. JR.