Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-11


said: L want $125 q month, and guaran-
teed work for twelve months.
Chairman Woods: Is he a member of
the Grand Camp OF Virginia?
A. Yes, sir; think SO. He Is secretary
of Lee Camp. l think.
General Hundley: Mr.. Chairman, can we
ask for that name?
The Chairman: One minute. Committee
confers.)
The witness: He stated: 1T want en-
ployment for twelve months at $125 q
month, guaranteed. and continuation
thereafter for good services" He mem
toned also his travelling expenses.
said: wouldn't you be willing TO take
penses He said: mo" I said: Why
He said. Because / can get $l2o n
MONTH" I said: You'd better get It,"
The Chairman: We cannot go into that;
pens outside of the Grand Camp Of Vir-
ginia.
Judge Green: The witness said that a
member OF Lee Camp was the secretary
Of that camp. Judge Christian, i ask
Camp?
Judge Christian: do not know sir.
The witness: Mr.. Stratton Is the man.
General Hundey: l think the gentle
man said that he was member OF Lee
Camp, and Lee Camp instituted this In
vestigation. Therefore, / think II Is per-
fectlt proper that his name should be
given.
The Chairman: He has called the name.
The witness: 1t was Mr.. j. Taylor
Stratton.
ONLY GRAND-CAMP MEMBERS.
The Chairman: / will state that this
investigation that we are charged with
affects the members of the History Com
mittee of the Grand Camp OF Virginia,
and affects any other member OF the
Grand Camp of Virginia, and no other
individual No do NOT nrOnOQQ tn go
into investigations as TO what occurred
between members of subordinate camps.
1t makes no difference TO what camps
they belong. 1t is not contemplated that
this committee should go into investiga-
lions of conversations between Confede-
rate soldiers belonging to different camps.
But you can go into the question as TO
whether any member of the History Com
mittee OF the Grand Camp Of Virginia,
or any member OF the Grand Camp OF
Virginia. Is in any way connected with
any publishing house or under it's infiu-
ence.
General Hundley: Permit me to ask
II there is any such thing as membership
of the Grand Camp, except that IL Is COM
posed of the subordinate camps?
The Chairman: l may be mistaken, and
If so Judge Christian and other gentle
men who are here can correct me. My
idea Is that the members Of the Grand
Camp of Virginia are those who are en-
rolled as such and pay their dues. There
are thousands of Confederates in Vlr-
ginia who belong 20 subordinate camps
whose names are not enrolled son the
Grand Camp books, and who do not pay
dues to the Grand Camp. ! may be mis-
taken in that, but will state here that
this committee does not propose to take
tween Mr.. Womack, or anybody else, and
members of subordinate camps.
WANTS ALL THE LIGHT.
Judge Hundley asked to be permitted
to argue the question, and after some lit
tie delay he proceeded, saying:
1t is not my purpose to reargue ques-
ton already decided, and therefore the
committee will bear me out that when
the statement was made by the Chairman
few minutes ago, l simply arose ana
entered my protest against the state
ment that this question as to where
those checks came from, and how they
got into this investigation, was a matter
of curiosity. knowing that we had been
over that ground this morning, and that
had been heard upon it, simply en-
ment-and there are many things in this
case that have astonished me-to my
amazement, the fact has been brought
out that the secretary Of Lee Camp, the
camp that instituted this investigation,
has sought this witness with a view or
obtaining from his company employment
at $l2o q month.
If II be said that that gentleman has
ndu no cOnnGCIlOn Win InlS lnNeSllSdliOU,
do not think it will be said that he has
had no part In instigating 1t. and | do
not think it will be said-QnterrupteO
Major Randolph: will say it; that Mr..
Taylor Stratton has had nothing TO do
with this investigation. He is not q men,
Der of the Grand Camp.
General Hundley: Then / will say this,
that to my certain knowledge Mr.. STRAIT
ton has been very active in this invest1-
cation. Cloud applause)
AN APPEAL FOR ORDER.
The Chairman: Gentlemen, as l stated
means OF enforcing order. All that We
have to depend upon in that matter is the
courtesy OF all Virginia gentlemen. ZAP
plause) All L have to say is that these
demonstrations are unpleasant to the
men present will refrain from them in the
future.
General Hundley: 1 will state that af-
ter the first gentleman asked to serve on
this committee had declined, I'm passing
Staunton, Mr.. Stratton came into my
presence, and said: I'VE had better take
tossession of General Hundley while he is
here, and put him on that committed"
Major Randolph: Was that said as Mr..
or as the adjutant of Lee Camp?
General Hundley: L do not know.
Major Randolph: l will say this: That
as adjutant OF Lee Camp, Mr.. StrattOn
had nothing to do with this investigation,
except writing the papers on that table.
AS an Individual know nothing Of what
he has done. But / will say this: That
the charge made against him by Mr.. Wo-
mack some time ago will certainly be in
vestigated by Lee Camp.
General Hundley: will say that would
not have INTERCEPTED what Mr.. Stratton
said to me, except for the statement of
Major Randolph. / held aloof from this
Investigation until was called in by my
fria hot fInA
But, having undertaken IL. / shall defend
him as long as ! can stand upon my feet
against those aspersions with all the
power that Is in me. And now, address,
ing myself to that proposition, once in
the history Of this world, ii was said:
let there be light" and there was light.
And l supposed that, when this investi-
cation was started. it was in humble
imitation of that Divine command; and
that this committee and this camp were
Gods Heaven that could be pro-
1uced. And when this morning
ieeming it my duty as a man, and as
q lawyer-and l have been practicing my
profession for more than twenty-five
years-seeing the Importance OF investi-
eating first the great question OF how II
is that this camp, which comes here 10
asperse the sacred honor OF citizen and
a soldier, came by the evidence with
which they seek TO blacken and damn
him. I called for evidence on that point.
and argued that such information should
be furnished us. That Is not my position
alone. | have talked with some Of the
best lawyers In this Commonwealth,
friends OF mine; and some OF them do not
even know my friend Stubs; and II is
the concurrent opinion of every lawyer
with whom 1 have talked that that Is
matter OF the utmost consequence
Now / do not mention that with the
intention Of rejecting in the slightest
upon any member OF this committee, for
you gentlemen know me too well to sup
pose that / would do that. Two of you.
certainly, have been my friends for many
nj oil of u0tf no m