Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-12-16
The Investigation.

dAU especially ny LIS OWu cNluCuC0
have been such as to render it impro-
per and inexpedient that lie should re-
main member OF the History Com
mittee of the Grand Camp Of Virginia;
and that his further connection with
said committee would be incompatible
with the best interests of the said
Grand Camp and of the Confederate
Veterans of Virginia and OF the South.
Therefore the undersigned recon-
mend to the Grand Camp that Grand
Commander James N. Stubs be re-
moved from the said committee as soon
as practicable, and that he be request
ed to resign the position Of Grand
Commander of the Grand Camp of
Confederate Veterans. Department of
Virginia.
The undersigned further report that
no evidence was adduced in the course
of the investigation tending directly
or Indirectly to reflect on the conduct
or character OF any other member of
the History Committee, or to raise even
a suspicion. that any other member of
the said cnmmittee had ever had any
improper dealings or intercourse with
any publishing house.
Respectfully submitted,
MICAJAH WOODS,
o. B. MORGAN,
w. A. SMOoT.
WASHINGTON TAYLOR,
BERRYMAN GREEN,
Committee.
On the finding Maj. Stubs wrote the
Committee the following letter:
Richmond, Va, Dec. II, 1897.
The report of the Investigating Com
mittee having been handed me / de
cline to accept its conclusions as final
or to be guided by its recommends
lions.
l am now thoroughly convinced that
this executed scheme to blast my rep
utation and character and that behind
it all, is concealed the hand OF power
full interests alike Indifferent to the
honor and interests of the Confederate
Veteran Associations and to the char
acter and reputation of the individuals
composing these bodies. The funda
mental idea of these associations il
mutual comradeship and brotherly
love, and now declare that the whole
proceedings has been in violation oil
the fundamental principles of the or.
ganization. Instead of proceeding in
accordance with the principles of the
brotherly love. my accusers have, 10
violation of the laws of deceDcy and
morality, secured by means of theft Or
robbery the supposed evidence of guilt
in the shape of the two checks adduced
in evidence, and without notice to me-
of the nature of the evidence they sud
denly called upon me at the trial to ex
plain these transactions of more than
three years ago
DISREPUTABLE MEANS.
The dictates of comradeship and
brotherly love should have induced my
accusers to first seek me with the evi
dence calculated at best only to thro W
suspicion upon my conduct, and to ask
an explanation before dragging me be
fore the public, and plugging me into
this public investigation. By the re
port of the committee am condemned
by the single circumstances of these
checks. which must have been Drocur-
ed by the most disreputable means in
asmuch as the holder Of them refused
to disclose the source from which he
obtained them, whilst admitting that
he knew he had no right to have them
in his possession. Let me ask right
here whether it is better to obtain by
means OF theft the weapon by which
to stab a comrade in the dark or to be
found associating with the agent of a
book company?
call attention to the fact that ap
pealed in vain to the committee to let
in the light upon the disreputable
transaction connected with the procur-
ing of these checks, and it turned out
that the committee appointed to in
vestigate, refused to investigate, save
in one direction and in the direction of
my supposed guilt
Was the single circumstance of my
associating with man of good repu-
tation at that time, but who has since
been brought into bad repute, suffi-
cient to call down upon my head the
cruel and harsh verdict rendered
against me?
SHOWN NO CONSIDERATION.
have not been treated with the
which would have been
accorded to the commOnest criminal in
the land. 1t seems that it has been
from the beginning that was
guilty. l have allowed my accusers to
their own committee and their
have condemned me, their
upon evidence that would
have not sutficed in u court of law, to
convict any human being, however dis
in character To damn nv
in this manner is far worse
than to convict and condemn to the
inflicted by law, the M can
est criminal who could suffer punish
Inent at the hands of law. shall not
submit to this judgment, but shall ap
peal to the judgment of the Advisory
Council and to the Virginia public. +
shall fight to maintain my character
and standing amongst my comrades
and my fellow citizens generally, con
ident that their sense of fairness and
owe of justice will finally bring me
from the grave charge
made against me. In what have said.
disclaim any reflection upon the per-
onal character of the individuals com
posing the committee, but simply de
line to submit to their judgment: 1
lecline to resign either as Grand Com
nander, or resign my place upon the
history Committee, and | challenge
ny enemies to appear before the bar
public opinion.
l will forthwith convene the Lieu
enant- Commander and the Advisory !,
'ouncil OF the Grand Camp OF Virgin
), and lay the whole proceedings be-
ire them. J. n. STUBBs.