Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-10

| other member OF the committee
A. None sir; not any member OF IN
/ old committee.
| q. Ycs. / moan OF the Confederate vcte
rams. That IL the committee We are IN
! Vsst.gatlng. You are very FAMILIAR VIII
| the object OF this Investigation. ana an
! very sure. from what know OF you. ina
| YOU would desire the whole truth 10 conn
| ont Have YOU any reason TO believe o.
! your own knowledge or from Information
that has come TO you, that any othe
member OF the Confederate Veterans
History Committee has had any cOnnec
tiou directly or indirectly, with any pub
fishing house?
A. None, sir.
Q. will ask you that II YOU have an!
other information you would Ike TO give
NJ TO which you have not been specii'
cally questioned. TO give 1t; the commit.
tee would be glad to hear II.
A. have not at this time. sir.
The Chairman: Well, sir, that is al
we desire TO ask you.
Judge Christian Tcstlfies.
a. the request OF Chairman Woods,
Judge George J.. Christian took the stand,
aud testified as follows.
@. by Chairman Woods: We VIII Re'
you. please to state your official position
IN the city. of Richmond.
a. have no official position in the city
Of Richmond now. sir
q. What position have you heldy
a. was Judge Of the Hastings Court
at one time
O. VIII you please state whether you
are a member OF the Grand Camp of Con-
Tolerate Veterans Of Virginia?
A. l am a member of Lee Camp OF this
city. and in that way l suppose l am a
member of the Grand Camp.
q. l Will get you TO state II you had any
connection with the resolution passed on
the 5th day OF November last by x. IL.
Lee Camp, No. l, in the way of suggest
ing amendments 70 il. and what you may
know Of the statements made in that
resolution.
A. ON the morning before that reso-
luton was offered at night, in Lee Camp,
Just as ! was getting in my buggy in
front Of the National Bank of Virginia,
of which ] am president. Major Brander
exhibited 10 me a resolution which ne
said ne proposed TO offer that night at
Lee Camp. l read it over very hastily,
and suggested at that time to Major
Brander that it was as full as il ought
TO be.
81, like Major Brander, had heard these
rtmors about the History Committee that
had been floating through the city, but 1
knew nothing about the facts in connec-
ton with them, and had little or nothing
TO say about them. / knew nothing about
the facts set forth in the resolution, one
way or the other. | think he (Major
BrandeD stated to me at that time, i'm
response TO a question as 10 what was
the basis of the resolution, that they had
some testimony; j think possibly he re-
ferred 10 the checks that had been seen:
but whose checks they were, or to whom
they were payable, or the amount OF
them, was not stated at that time at all.
CHANGED THE PREAMBLE.
THAT night l came down to the camp.
ana very shortly after l got in there
Major Brander's resolution was read.
The point was made by some member
IF the camp, / think it was MIR. Dickin-
son, that the camp ought not to act on
mere rumors. which was the form in
which the preamble was couched. and /
'oncurTed with Mr.. Dickinson entirely.
said at the time that if any person had
any Information about any member OF
he committee. the camp ought to have
he benefit Of IL and sthat 1t ought to be
IMPRESSED i'm the resolution. In response
% that somebody. / think either Major !
or Major Brander, said that |
'everal were involved. Then / said that |
thought the preamble should say that |
he camp had information on which il |
.cted; and think ] suggested to put in |
hat the camp had information upon |
which it acted; and hurriedly. in mo- |
nent, just going to the secretary's desk. |
drew the resolution in the form in /
which IL was voted on The change was |
ccepted by Major Brander. and il was |
dopted by the camp. That is about all |
Know about the matter. one way or |
he other"
'APTAlN CUSSONS'S RESIGNATION
q. You spoke OF the fact that you had
eard rumorS touching the History Com
llttee state whether those rumors that
Gu heard were prior to the 5th day of
november. 1897 or in connection with the
Meeting held at that time; whether in
our Judgment. ii was proper to the MEM
ers of the History Committee that there
hould be an investigation?
A. L don't know that / heard these
umors prior 10 the meeting of the Grand
amp here, or during the meeting of the
irand Camp at all. My impression is
hat the rumors grew out of the resigna-
ION OF Captain Cussons as chairman OF
hat committee From my knowledge OF
optan Cussons, both as a Confederate |
older and as a gentleman. 1 felt con-
.raiped, as did everybody else who knew
Inn, to believe that he had some good
Jason for his resignation. 1t was ru-
lored that he did resign because of the
Jnnection OF some member or members
the committee with the American
ook Company; whether that was the
Of his resignation or not 1
ever knew, and do not know to this day.
g. DO l understand that the rumoPs.
)mments, and criticisms touching the
ommittee. growing out Of the resigna-
on or Captain Cussons from the COM
littee. were general or restricted IN
leir nature?. Was the,matter comment
on generally in the city or not?
IT WAS FREELY TALKED OF.
A. That is a very hard question TO an
ger. 1t was certainly very freely talk
/ about among the Confederate soldiers |
lat 1 met; but whether it was talked
bout outside of the Confederate soldiers. |
not, l don't know.
q. Have you any information on your
Hn account, or direct knowledge or
ave you received any information from
hers, which would lead you to think
lat any other members of the History
ommittee have any connection with
ny publishing house. or are under any
improper influence?
a. None whatever.
Major Brander: Mr.. Chairman would
ke TO have a letter read that Judge
hristian received.
Chairman Woods: Have you received
~ communication bearing upon this SUBJ
HAD NOTHING TO CONCEAL.
A. l received a letter from Mr.. Stubs
few days ago That was a private let
r.. take it, l will read 1t, with Mr..
uebs's permission.
Colonel Stubs: l want everything
ought out: whatever you know. | have ,
1thing to conceal.
Judge Christian: / will state TO the :
mmittee that the evening before / re-
iyed this letter from Major Stubs,
ajoT Brander and Major Randolph had
He'd Judge Leake and myself, as friends
10 conference about this matter; and on
u night OF the 3D. just as | was leaving
y Office, received this letter from Mr..
ubbs which i VIII read TO the commit :
g, ana read my answer at the same | /.
me. IN consequence of my personal re- :
tons with Major Randolph and Major ,
lander. and especially I'm consequence ,
the interview had had with them the ,
ening before, / thought IL was due to =
EN- that they should know / had re- :
wed this letter. and know what reply | :
a made TO II. Therefore, | exhibited /,
Is letter 10 them. and my reply. The =
ter OF Mr.. StubbSs is as follows .
p n