Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-19
COLONEL oowARDIN's STATEMENT.
He Reviews His Conference With
Mesars Once md West.

ness. stated that IT was unnecessary TO
ask for information as TO whether Colo
mel Cowardin was president of the Dis
match Company. He then commenced his
examination. asking:
O. You were present at the interview
between the officers OF the Dispatch Com
pany when this statement Of Mr.. Duce
was considered?
A. Yes, sir; / was.
o. You have heard Mr.. Duce's statement
on the subject?
A Yes.
o. Now. the two questions you have al
ready asked him: Are there any further
statements you have TO make in that
connection?
i have none other than this: That
would like to make clear his connection,
as l understood 1t. When these two gen.
tlernen appeared before me never knew
~ this investigation, nor did 1 know of
the Mahood resolutions. / had never
heard anything on the subject. The only
knowledge / had at all was by inference,
when Mr.. Lewis Brander met me on the
corner of Sixth and Franklin. That was
probably three weeks ago. Mr.. Brander
intlmated 20 me that there had been
something crooked; that some one mad
received a bride, and he finally told me
he had gotten the matter in confidence;
that one of our reporters had seen
check passed. / asked his name. He
said Duce. He said he wished l would
not speak of IL; that they did not want
10 appear before the country In the light
OF having their members questioned or
prov I to be in the pay OF the American
Book Company. IL 1t could be done other
wise / told him he might go TO Duce
70 hnd Cut for himself. l would be glad
TO assist him further In any way L could.
HIS FIRST INITIATION.
From that time until last Friday morn
ing / never heard anything of IT. Then
I received a note from our city editor,
stating that there was some trouble con-
nected with the history matter. and he
would like 10 see me at II O'Clock. re-
oetved that on going TO the office. Before
Mr.. Woodfin came, however. Mr.. West
came, and told me his version of what
had happened. He led me to believe shat
Mr.. Duce had probably misunderstood
him end / must say that the effect OF
his statement to me made me think mat
probably Mr. Duce was wrong Mr.
Wdo6fn came 20 me. and gave me all the
Information he could on the subject,
much of it hearsay. He had the two
gentlemen down there about O'Clock to
see me- I must say that Mr.. Duce has
adhered 10 his statement that Mr.. West
did get that check, and did tell him
that II was to pay somebody. / asked
Mr.. Duce very emphatioally when the
two were face to face: do you say that
this man told you that?" He said: Eyes,
I did" Mr.. West said: you are mis-
taken. Mr.. Duce." He held TO that for a
long time Then / said: How could you
write an affidavit of that knd?" He said
"I believe Mr.. West is telling me the
truth"
URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS
Colonel Cowardin here stated that Mr..
j. Taylor Ellyson was not called in. He
merely happened TO come in the office,
and l said to him: Since you are mere
you had better listen TO what is going
on
Continuing. Colonel Cowardin said: but
time and time again, l cautioned Mr..
Duoe. / said your statement should con-
tain the truth. and nothing but the truth.
If you think short affidavit covers the
fact that you believe Mr.. West had told
YOU the truth in correction of your mis-
apprehension, then IL may be all right,
but do not tell anything but the truth
in your affidavit.
STATEMENTS IN CONFLICT.
After this statement on the part OF
Colonel Cowardin the committee began
questioning the witness, as follows:
@. Did Mr.. West admit that ne had had
a check of the American Book Company
passed through his hands?
A. No; he told me he had received
personal check OF Mr.. Womacks. The
only point / could not reconcile was Mr..
Vests statement that he did say,
when Mr.. Duce arrived from reporting
the meeting of the Sons Of Confederate
Veterans, who had taken action upon the
Mahood resolutions, and heard that they
had failed, "That means a hundred dol
lars In my pocket" j said: How could
you say that?' He said: 81 do not know
what made me say il, or why said If"
These are the irreconcilable statements.
one 10 the other.
Q. DO you know whether Mr.. Womack
has been 10 the Dispatch. office or to see
you since last Monday?
In answer, Colonel Cowardin said he
had seen Mr.. Womack three times since
last year; that he came to see him about
the time OF the meeting Of the Grand
Camp OF Confederate Veterans 1T was
Just after he had received a copy of Colo"
mel Cussons's circular upon this ques-
ton" Continuing, Colonel Cowardin
said: 81 was much interested In IL, when
Mr. Womack came TO my Office, and
twitting him, / told him, We are at last
going 10 get rid OF your old history
Continuing, Colonel COWardn Said.
That Monday week ] was very busy.
Mr. Womack came to my room j said,
i cannot see you. am very busy. Please
excuse me- These are probably the only
two occasions have seen him since last
year. except that on last Monday
received telephone message from Mr..
Womack, asking for an interview.
told him i was too busy. He said II
was very important, and was OF interest
70 me and others who had been connected
with me. he phoned me again In the
afternoon i told him II he called at
O'Clock / would see him. bat wanted him
20 understand that ! would receive no.
thing in confidence whatever. and nothing
that could not be made public. He said
he did not want condolences OF anybody.
q. VIII you tell us what he told you
at that time?
A. IL would be a very long story.
WANTED ONLY THE TRUTH IN
THEM.
The substance OF Colonel cowardin's
evidence after this was that IL the pre-
paration OF the affidavits he had insisted
upon these young gentlemen telling the