The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-11


as possible to the subject OF the investi-
CATION we arc making and not bring IN
general matters.
General Hundley: shall certainly do so.
HISTORY or THE CHECEs.
The Committee Declines To Ask Mr..
Ysuchman to Reveal IL.
Mr.. Greer u. Baughman then took the
stand. and was Intercepted as follows
by General Hundlcy;
O. Mr. Raughman YOU are n member
OF the book concern Of Baufhman Broth-
ers e. Company, are you nWY
A or the Baughman Stationery Com
pany.
O. believe. " understand the evil
dcnce I'm this case. that the possession OF
the checks which have been produced In
evidence here. has been traced 70 you
originally?
A. Yes. sir
o. ] will ask now sir. without further
preliminary. that you state 10 the com
mittcc who you got those checks from
A. That shall have TO decline 10 an.
sw,r gave nv word 10 the party got
them from that he should not DE DROUGHT
an and unless he releases me from that
promise I shall be Obliged to decline an
swering that question.
O. As a business man. YOU must kno"
that those checks ought either to be IN
the possession of the bank upon when
they are drawn. or Of j. W. Womack; Is
not that SOL
A. | think so. sir.
Tho Chairman: (After consulting with
tho other members Of the committed IL
Is the opinion Of this committee mat we
have nothing 10 do with how these checks
tamc before us. They are here. ana
they are admitted as Geuine. we think
that Il is irrelevant to trace the cheeks
sur,her IN vlcyy OF the fact that they are
admitted.
General Hundley: Does the committee
MAKE that decision. or will II reconsider?
Judge Green: We will hear you.
GENERAL HUNDLEY ARGUES.
General Hundley or course, as some
Of nv friends here know. | never like to
argue against the opinion of the court as
expressed. but I think y proper That
should give the reason why want 10
ge. at this information. and then the
committee after hearing them can form
their conclusions. or perhaps arrive al
their decision with more light 1t is
rule OF equity as all lawyers know that
persons coming into a court OF equity
should come I'm with clean hands. Now
this is serious attack that has been
made upon the character and reputation
OF gentleman of previous good charac-
ter unassailed. | say IL is serious at
tack made upon II. and II Is mucn
easter matter TO besmirch the character
az any man than to clear ii after II has
been soiled or besmirched. Now If you
want to have all the light that ii is pos
sible to obtain on the subject. IN the eyes
OF this committee. and of the public. my
friend and client here ought TO stand
md a
these gentlemen stand. until any charges
rhev seek to prefer have been substan-
tiated: i'm other words. he should be pre-
sumed TO be innocent until proven guilty.
In all courts-crminal courts-and this
court is sitting so far as II has the power.
fn that capacity for the object of this
investigation is 10 fasten upon this gen
tleman a moral crime. and this court Is
sitting 10 try moral question: In all
courts OF which have any knowledge IT Is
not only legitimate but IT is of the ut
most Importance that We should know
the motives-not only the motive attribut-
ed to the accused. but the motive Of the
prosecutor | am not here 10 charge any
improper motive upon these gentlemen;
far be IT from mo, for they are my com
rades and some Of them my valued
personal friends: but | want TO know.
when these geutlemen come into this
court TO try this moral question. how
they came into po. session of checks
which rlghtfully do not belong TO them?
And II | mistake not, this people-the
Virginia people-if mistake not the SEN
timent of the Confederate soldiers or this
comrade. they want the light thrown on
this question when you undertake TO
throw suspicion on the character of this
,-entleman they want to know, where did
YOU get the EVIDENCE which you introduce
here to asperse him? How did you come
by ts Under the laws and the rules OF
business. YOU are not entitled to 1t? No
man will stnd here and say that you
are. Now, where did YOU get 1t. and
where did YOU come by 1t? Either In one
OF two ways-either legitimately or illeg-
Ultimately. II YOU did not acquire II illegi-
tlmately. say so. IL you did say so. If
ilIegitimatcly. who was the party. ana
what were his motives. II you nave none
but the good of the Confederate Camp
What are the motives of the man who
dropped this evidence here 10 damn the
reputation OF this comrade? 1t is per-
fectly competent for the gentleman In
this court (Which has no power under the
law TO compel an answer 10 refuse 10
answer. but | appeal to the lawyers who
sit on that court now 20 answer me
whether II would be competent fer this
gentleman. II he sat on the witness stand
in a court. under the laws OF this Com
monwealth TO refuse TO answer this ques-
ton.
Judge Green: Are you appealing 10 us
TO answer that now?
WANT THE WHOLE TRUTH.
General Hundley: | do not want the
court TO q ink that am putting them on
the witness stand. | say that In my
humble Judgment. II is my opinion as a
lawyer. II we're In n court of law trying
this case as counsel for this gentleman.
] would be allowed. and I would not fear
TO state the proposition and argue II,
would be allowed TO 80 into this qnesuon
OF motive and compel the witness 10 an
swer where he got this evidence from
admit II the committee please. that
the fact az TO where this evidence came
from and how they came into possession
of il, does not affect the fact that the
checks were given, and received. ana
used: but this committee sitting here Is
only representing the great public all
this goes out To the public. and they
cit in judgment on this grave question.
Now l have heard II asked hundred
times since vest arday where those
checks came from. and how they came
into the possession of these gentlemen.
Shall this witness be permitted TO an
swer? or when this gentleman. claim
the rights az "a EonfeIcraIp sol