Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-18

West. The committee agreed to gran.
this request, and recess was taxen
for ten minutes. In order tnat o'ne'
witnesses might be summoned.
Would Not Repeat Gossip
When the committee reconvened Mr.
r. r. Golden was called. He SAID ne
preferred not to testify, but at tne
earnest request Of the committee he ala
so. He was asked to TESTIFY concerning -,
any rumors he might have heard as TO
bribery Of any member of the History
Committee. Captain Wise objected 10
this line OF questioning, saying rumor
was the biggest liar in the world. MT
Golden was asked IL he had heard any
thing that connected Mr.. West with the
American Book Company.
II have moral scruples against re-
lating idle gossip" 49,,
"Do you know of his connection with
the company
"I decline to answer.
Mr.. Golden made some exceedingly
humorous replies TO Mr.. Lambs queries
and refused most positively 10 testiiy'
He said that all the gentlemen con-
cerned in the investigation were MS per-
sonal friends. and he did not propose 10
make enemies The committee ASKED
him all manner Of questions, but he de-
cIined TO answer any Of them, and was
finally given up as q bad JOB, though
the committee thanked him for what he
had testified to.
HIS EXPLANATIONS NOT THE SAME
MFR. w. d. Chesterman, managing editor
of the Dispatch. was then called to the
stand. and questioned, as follows:
O. Did Mr.. Folkes come down to see
you about the Massey resolutions any time
after they were published in the Times
newspaper?
A. Yes. sir; the very day they were
published In the Times he came to see me.
Q. Why?
A. am under the impression he came
TO see me about another matter. He did,
however make an explanation as to how
the resolution got in the Times.
@. What explanation did he make?
A. Really, I cannot remember.
NOT THE SAME EXPLANATION.
O. You heard the explanation tonight;
was It the same?
A. No. sir. That was the first time l
have ever heard that explanation. IL l
had heard that explanation that day L
should have been very angry, and do not
| think he would have come to see me any
more. but as ii Is, he has come there
since to see me about personal matters.
O. That is not the explanation he gave
you?
A. No.
O. Have you had any conference with
any of the members of the History Com
mittee as TO- these rumors?
A. No. sir.
O. If was to call the list Of the COM
mittee. you would recognize the names.
A. Certainly.
WAS OF NO CONSEQUENCE.
The names were then read. At the men
ton of that of Mr.. Folkes Mr.. Chester
man said: "You know about Mr.. Folkes."
Witness said the conversation he had
with Mr.. Folkes was of no consequence.
with no man on that committee SAID
he. with the exception of Mr.. Folkes'
have / spoken on that subject. He came
| to see me in connection with this cxpla-
| nation"
| Mr.. Fokes here questioned Mr.. Chester
man: What explanation did make
your" he asked.
A. I cannot remember; have been try
ing to recall it.
o. Did I not tell you that Mr.. Werner
swiped the resolution off the desk?
A. No; sir.
O. You do not remember the converse
| ton very well?
A. remember that part very well. Be-
cause say II you had told me what you
told Mr.. Mahood tonight that would have
been the last you would have heard OF
me. Because, then. / would have under
stood that they were gotten through pre-
arrangement with you. But as 1t Is, you
came down there TO make some excuse
for Mr. Duce, who had been assigned to
that work.
Q. You do not remember the exact ex-
PLANTATION that was made?
A. I remember that 1t could not have
been the explanation made here Tonight
Mr.. Werner Is Reticent.
Mr. C. Werner. of the Times. was
next sworn. He testified that he attend
ed the meeting OF the Sons on the night
the Massey resolutions were introduced.
He said he got the resolutions for the
Times in a perfectly legitimate manner,
and further than that, he would not
say. Being asked If he got the resolu-
tions through Mr.. Folkes's Instrumental
fly. he said that he would have to de-
cline to say any more. He was piled
with questions as 10 how he came into
possession OF the resolutions. but de-
clined to give any information on that
subject. Major Randolph asked witness
IL he didn't tell him that he got the
resolutions from Mr.. Folkes and re-
turned them to him, and witness said
he did not recolect having made any
such statement, but If he had made
such a statement he would not admit 1t
now. Several hypothetical questions
were propounded to him, but all result
ed as had the previous questions, in
elicitfng no information.