Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-12-10
HISTORY INVESTIGATION.

the GrauO CaulP VI OOdieuciatc YoS'
eyans on that day, was as sensational as
Chairman Micajah Woods the previous
night intimated it would be. The scan.
dial in the rumors connecting the names
of mem bers of the history committee of
the Grand Camp with being at the
same time representing the American
Book Company of New York is the
most unusual occurrence in the history
of the career of the veteran organlza-
ton of the South.
The committee, which is composed OF
Hon. Micsjah Woods as chairman and
Bergman Green, Washington Taylor,
w. A. Smoot and o. B. Morgaa, bsgan
their work yesterday morrirc with the
determination to 60 TO the bottom OF
all the facts connected with the rumors
rejecting upon certain members of the
camp.
There were ten witnesses examined
yesterday. They were Major Thomas
A Brander, Major N. V. Randolph, DR..
J. William Jones, Capt. NJ. w. Halle
wood, Mr.. Greer II. Baughman, Col.
John Cussons, Col. H. II. Boykin and
Judge George L Christian and Grand
Commander James n. Stubs, the men,
of the House of Delegates from Glou-
cester county. Mr.. Stubs, who has
been member of the history commit
tee ever since its organization, more
than ten years ago, was the person re-
fec,ed upon in the rumors. His evil
dence was looked forward to with more
interest than that of any preceding wit
ness.
The committee produced two checks
drawn to the order of ]. n. Stubs,
grand commander of the Grand Camp
and chairman of the history committee.
They were signed by ]. w. Womack,
agent of the American Book Company.
Before the introduction of the checks
Commander Stubs declared that if
they contained his Endorsements they
were forgeries This is steno-
graphic report OF his testimony after
the exhibition of the checks.
The Chairman,-"You characterize
these Endorsements as forgeries, un-
derstand ?"
Mr.. Stubbs.-"I did before I saw the
checks. / will say this to you, Mr..
Chairman, that I did not want to see
them. l was under the impression that
the checks were of recent date and
sirca see they are in 1894 I still say
that l know nothing about them, al
though the signature on them is very
like mine That is what l want TO say.
What they were given for cannot con
ceive, but l must have received credit
fer them at bank. That is all can
possibly answer. ]. w. Womack may
have sent these checks for some reason
/ don't know, but I do know that it
VS. for nothing connected with the
American Book Concern. He did not
sign them as agent. That is all that /
can say. 1 have never had any init
macy with MIR. Womack in any way,
shape or form.''
TIE Chairman.-"In view of the
great importance of this matter to your
self, to your friends and the camp, is it
not possible, now that you know the
dltes OF these checks and have seen
the Endorsement on them, that you can
refresh your mind, sir, as to how that
money came by to morrow morning? ?"
Mr. Stubbs-"Mr. Chairman, I could
not possibly tell you unless l was at
home. l may be able to tell you at
home. l cannot imagine, cir, what
they were for"
Further on the chairman said to MIR.
Stubs: 1.-The committee is excee ding
ly anxious to hear any explanation
aid would be very glad to receive
satisfactory explanation. You admit
that you got credit for $3.50 in bank.
Can't you tell by an inspection what
use you have made of the money?
You do not remember, you say, for
what purpose it Was given you or Oh
what account ?"
N1r. Stubbs-"I could not say, Mr..
Chairman. suppose 1 have used the
money" Continuing, MIR. Stubs said
he knew that these checks were not
given for anything connected with the
Book Concern and that Mr.. Womack
did not draw these checks to him in
payment Of any consideration as an
agent of the Book Concern. He went
on to declare earnestly that there was
nothing in his record to show that be
had ever been connected with any
northern book concern. On the con-
trary, be declared, he had always been
active in the interests of southern COM
panies. Colonel Stubs denied ever
having been intimate with MIR.
]. w. Womack. He knew him,
he said, as everybody else did. but
had never held confidential relations
with him nor received any propositions
from him. He also declared vigorously
that all his life be had kept himself free
from everything that might throw sus-
picion on him. Iu twenty.eight years
as member of the General Assembly,
he had never even been in candidates
room nor partaken of banquet. He
had never had any connection with the
American Book Company in any way,
shape or form, and was satisfied that no
member of the history committee had
ever done anything that be should not
have done. Colonel Stubs subse-
quently stated that the signature was
his, but he was unable to remember
what the checks were for. The com.
mittee then adjourned until ten o'clock
to day in order that he might refresh
his memory.
Colonel Stubs has for thirty years
been a prominent figure in Virginia
politics. He was defeated by Judge
Bakey for the Senate from Gloucester,
Middlesex, Essex, King and Queen
and Mathews counties, and was return
ed to the House from Gloucester coun.