Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-19

| VI 4 ~-~''
West, and we walked up to Broad street
and along Broad street to the City Hall.
Mr.. Lecky: That was the conversation
| that ended at the City Hall?
1 A. Yes, sir.
| Q. Have You any reason to change your
testimony from that presented?
/ A. No.
Mr.. Lecky: Well, the committee will
skip over that. Now, the second con-
| versation?
| A. The second conversation was In the
Lee Camp Hall at night. Mr.. Brander,
| the adjutant of the Grand Camp, Sons
| Of Veterans, had Mr.. Folkes's resigna-
| ton as a member of the History Com
| mittee; / copied that. l was there to
| report the meeting Of the Sons OF Vete-
rams; copied the letter. Shortly after
| | had done so Mr.. Folkes came into the
| hail. We talked on the floor OF the
| camp, and we went back into the lava
| tory OF the camp and talked about 1t.
| have no reason to change my testimony
about it. From the fact we were In the
| lavatory there, Mr.. Folkes suggested
| that we had better not be seen together
| and we had better leave In different
| ways. went in the front way and he
| went In through the commitsee-rooms
where the janitor OF the Lee Camp and
| the doorkeeper Of me Sons OF Veterans
and another gentleman we're sitting-I
| am not sure whether / knew him or not.
Q. That was on Monday?
WHAT MR.. FOLKES ASKED.
A. Yes; Mr.. Folkes asked me, in print
ing his resignation, to make the state
ment In connection with II that he was
prominent lawyer of Virginia, and that
his practice, which was increasing very
rapidly, might lead him to have transac-
lions with book companies, and there
fore his position on the History Commit
tee was not to be thought OF, and he re-
signed It, as 1t conficted with his busi-
ness.
Mr.. Lecky: Q. Did you have any fur
Their conversation with Mr.. Folkes during
that meeting?
meeting. .
G. With Mr.. Folkes?
A. There was a committee OF the Sons
of Veterans.
Mr. Lecky: Q. Did you put in the paper
the facts that Mr.. Folkes asked you TO
place there?
A. / asked Mr. Folkes II / might write
II up as an interview. and he said, Under
no circumstances He wanted me to
make the plain statement, and 1 didn't
see how very well L could make the
statement, but i put In probably what
we agreed on.
Q. What was published was agreed upon
between you and Mr.. Folkes?
A. Yes; that was the result OF 1t.
O. You had conversation at the con-
clusion of the meeting Of the camp?
A. Yes, sir There was committee Of
the camp in session that met in the back
of the hall; Mr.. Fokes sat near the
committee. and 1 went down to him and
spoke to him.
O. What did you tell him or what did
he tell you?
A. He made use Of the expression, re-
ferring to his letter: Some people amt
half smart" 1 remember those words.
Q. Did you agree with that proposition?
A. Yes; think so.
O. Mr.. Duce, you had no further con-
versation with Mr.. Folkes on that night?
A. No; my impression was that the eff
feet of Mr. Folkes's resignation would
be to do away with the need for the in
yestigation. But you don't want my
opinions.
@. Did Mr.. Folkes tell you he thought
his letter Of resignation would do away
with the investigation?
A. No. he did not tell me so In so many
words.
Q. Did you make your report to Mr..
Woodfin or to Mr.. West when you got
back to the Dispatch office?
Mr.. Duce: To Mr.. Woodfn. When DO
you mean-Saturday?
Mr. Lecky: No; on Monday
Mr. Duce: Yes; to Mr.. Woodfin.
Q. Did you have conversation with
Mr.. West that night?
A. 1 can't remember.
THE INVESTIGATION INEVITABLE.
O. Well, now, we have gotten through
with the camp meeting and we have got
ten on to Tuesday. Now, tell US what
was told you between that Tuesday and
the Friday that you testified?
A. On Tuesday afternoon, or Wednes-
day morning, / think ii was Il am not
sure which,. 1t became evident that the
investigation would be proceeded with
without any particular notice being taken
of Mr.. Folkess letter think there were
publications TO that effect.
Mr.. Lecky: Did you have any converse
ton after the publication Of those resolu-
lions? | will state for the benefit of the |
spectators that this committee did meet, |
after allowing several days to elapse ar |
ter the receipt of orders from General |
Cox; that IL was our purpose at nrst TO |
await the action OF the Veteran Commit |
tee of Investigation, but having waited |
what, I'm our opinion. was sufficient |
time and as we stated in those resolu- |
lions we were unwilling that our men, |
bers should rest longer under the sus- |
picion, we decided to take the investiga~ |
ton up single-handed and alone and let |
the old men take care Of themselves, and |
IL was the publication OF the resolutions |
to that effect that Mr.. Duce refers to.
Mr.. Lecky: Q. Were those the resolu-
lions you refer TO?
A. / don't remember any particular |
resolutions; / only remember the fact /
that it was evident that the committee |
was going to proceed. 1 forget why. |
There was something in the newspapers.
WAS WILLING TO GO AWAY.
Q. After you got evidence that the
committee were going to proceed. did
you have any further conversations with
Mr.. West?
A. Yes.
@. What did he tell you?
A. went up Bank street. Mr.. West
went out of the office and / overlook
him. We stood and talked for long
time. We walked up to Ninth street
and stopped and talked for long time,
and went into Ruegers. i said: West
| am afraid / am going to be summoned
in this investigation" and I was afraid. |
that the investigation was
the outcome of some remarks L had |
mazda in going around getting data for |