Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-13

witness said. had come 10 him and said
that he had been the victim OF a joke,
and had made a fool of himself. Being
closely questioned by Mr.. Lamb. witt
ness said he would prefer that the COM
mittee should send for Mr.. Duce.
Mr.. Lamb asked witness IL Mr.. Duce
had not told him that Mr. West had
received a telegram from the American
Book Company. authorizing him to
draw on them for any amount to de-
feat the resolutions against Mr.. Massey.
Mr.. Noel could not recall any such
statement, and suggested that Mr..
Lecky be called to testify. as he had
received as much information from Mr..
Lecky as from Mr.. Duce.
HAD NO INFORMATION.
Mr.. Lecky was called to the stand
but on motion OF Mr.. Lamb, a recess
was taken. and Mr.. Duce was sent for
TO testify in his own behalf After a
short wait Il was decided to put Rev.
Mr.. G. NJ. Chumbley on the stand. He
testified to being member OF the Lee
Camp Sons History Committee. He OBJ
jected. he said in the camp. 10 the con-
sideration of the Massey resolutions on
the night they were introduced. When
the resolutions were taken up on the
next meeting night and defeated, he
said, Mr. Massey was present. and that
the commander OF the camp said he
was there by his invitation. He had
read in the press Of rumors concerning
undue influence which had been brought
TO bear on the History Committee, but
knew nothing Of them of his own
knowledge.
MR.. DUCE ON THE STAND.
Mr.. Duce made his appearance at this
juncture, and being sworn. took the
stand. His affidavit was shown him and
he identified it,
"Mr. Duce," Mr.. Lamb asked. you
have made a statement that money was
used by the American Book Company
to influence members Of the Sons in their
action on the Massey resolutions. VIII
you kindly tell this committee all you
know of it?
Yes. sir" replied Mr.. Duce. ION the
night the Mahood resolutions were Of
fered i'm the Sons meeting, or rather on
the night they were debated, / reported
the meeting. After the meeting / went
to the Dispatch office with my report.
was asked by Mr.. Clyde West what the
result was. / told him that the resolu-
tion had been Overwhelmingly defeated,
and the Sons apologiZed abjectly TO Mr..
Massey. Mr.. West seemed 10 be de-
lighted, and said that 1t meant 500 IN
his pocket. He said. when i asked how
that was. that he would explain later in
the evening. He met me later, and said
when the resolution was first offered he
had communicated with the agent of the
American Book Company, and had been
authorized to use his influence 10 OPP
pose il. He said that he had used some
money, and enlisted men in the camp
against the Mahood resolution. ! under
stood that three members had agreed to
oppose it, and they were to be paid. The
only member that l am certain Of was
your commander, Mr.. Folkes. Two days
after Mr.. West showed me the check. !
thought that it was for $50, but j learned
later that II was for $l25. i understood
the amount of the check was divided
among three, and that he also was tc
| get a portion for his part in the action
-Four days ago Mr.. West came to me
| and said that i was laboring under an
entire misapprehension, and he Drough'
witnesses to show that the check was a
| loan, and there was an obligation now
| In a bank at Norfolk 10 cover H.
| SUPPOSED PAYMENT TO MR.. FOLKEs
on the cross-examination, Mr. Duce
| said: II understand that Mr.. West paid
| Mr.. Folkes $50 and that 1t was for the
| purpose Of defeating the Massey resolu-
| tions. Mr. West said that he going to
II
| Nothing was said about attorneys. Mr..
West was not altogether responsible at
| the time for his action. Mr.. Womack,
as / understand IL, was indebted to Mr..
West I'm the sum of 500, and this check
was given TO pay the amount and IN ad-
dition a loan to Mr.. West, who gave MS
note for the difference. This Information
came to me from Mr.. Woodhn, who had
received an explanation from Mr'
| Womack."
Mr. Duce was asked If the affidavit had
| been got from him by the use OF pres
| sure. and emphatically replied in the
| negative.
DID NOT WANT WOMACK.
| At this juncture, Chairman Lecky called
| the name of Womack. There was no
| response. Then the chairman said:
| "If MIR. Womack is here, l want TO
| cav that we do not want him in our
| midst"
Major Randolph spoke up "Womack
| is too sharp to be here himself but may
| he he has representative here. II there
| ie such a person here, l demand that he
| come forward"
Chairman Lecky here questioned wit
| ness and asked: "Have you been ap-
| proached by any member OF the History
| committee since these rumors began
Mr. Once: | had a conversation with
Mr. Folkes but with no other. MI
| Folkes came into the Office one MORN
ing and saw Mr. West. He SAID:
have found $50 on my desk. nave uoho
nothing for it, and can't accept IT,
didn't see him return II. -
Chairman Lecky: Has MI rolhes nau %
any conversation with you since the
publication of his letter reslghlhs lroih
-. IIfetorV COmmitteeI
Mr. Duce: Yes. and he felicitated him
self that the letter was stroke OF
nolicv and said that ii had been written
| 20 shield others This left the impress
| sion that II would do away with the IN
vestigation. Mr. Folkes said that MI.
West and / must stick to him ana pun
him through, and If everything came
ont ALI right he would give me money
| and entertain me at the Jefferson Hotei'
| I told General Brander this.
MIR I,ecky: That's where your trouble
hegan. | am going TO break commence
| I had a conversation with you, ana you
| told me that two members haf been
approached
Mr. Duce: Yes, three names were men
toned to me, but j can recall but one
Mr.. Folkes.
MR.. FOLKES ASKS QUESTIONS.
Mr. Folkes. who was a close listener
m Mr.. Duce's testimony, spoke up ex'
citedlv: II would like to ask the witness
a few questions"
81 came here as witness" went on
Mr. Folkes, dramatically, but L md tha'
/ have 10 defend myself.
MIR. Folkes was then allowed to ques'
tion Mr.. Duce, MI