Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-19

q. Did you see Folkes about the reso-
| Iutions7
| A. Yes: on the day they were publish
| ed In the. Times saw him at his Office.
and told him Mr.. Chestcrman was very
angry because the Dispatch didn't have
| the resolutions, and asked him to zee
Mr.. Chesterman. and explain that It was
| not my fault. and Folkes went to see him.
q. What was Mr.. Folkes's explana-
| tion7
| A. That Werner must have taken them
| from the table.
q. You had various conferences with
Mr.. West; you said you followed him
| up Bank street?
A. Not Saturday.
| Q. What day?
| A. Tuesday or Wednesday.
| q. What was your statement OF the
proposition made to him at that time?
| a. That the investigation was the out
growth of my unwilling statement, and
| that was terribly distressed. and would
do anything to get him out OF 1t, or
shield him in any way.
@. Didn't you tell him to get money
| from the American Book Company for
you?
A. Yes.
| Q. SO you did make proposition to
him? How much did you ask him for?
A. One hundred dollars; so that could
| leave SIS with my wife and children and
| take SOS and go away, explaining that
the whole odium would be upon me.
WILLING TO BEAR THE ODIUM.
Mr.. Lecky: Why were you willing to
| bear this odium?
A. Because | felt that by thoughtless-
[ Iy speaking l had betrayed two OF my
| best friends. and / was willing to make
onv coorfhca IN SAW them
O. Did you think when you made the
proposition that you were playing the
! martyr?
A. No but was willing to do any
| thing to save West.
@ Didn't West refuse to entertain
| this proposition?
A. Yes He said 1t would look as If
the American Book Company had bought
| me Off.
@. Well, didn't he tell the truth?
| A. Yes.
O. When you made that proposition to
| him didn't you make a proposition TO
deliberately squelch the truth?
A. / didn't feel that way about 1t. 1
felt that / had betrayed two of my best
friends, and 1 wanted to try and save
| them.
Here witness began to show signs Of
| emotion, and the crowd gave vent to
| loud cheers.
When order had been restored Captain
Wise resumed his examination.
THEY WE'RE HIS FRIENDS.
O. Do you mean to say that two men
guilty of bribery were your best friendsF
A. Yes. sir; both have done me service
| and / esteem them as my friends.
@. Did you feel 1t incumbent on you 10
remain true TO Mr.. west AFTER ne hao
I'll
A. l saw no reason for interrupting our
| friendship.
q. Did you feel under obligations 10
make a sacrifice for such man!
A. felt that l had gotten him into
trouble and was willing to get him Out.
O. What was your idea In going away
So that the committee could not get
me to testify before them.
O Didn't you know that you could pro-
| tect Mr.. West in another wayT
A. No other way occurred 10 mo At
| that time.
o. Haven't you found another way
since?
O. O. Didn't you hear Mr.. werner's tes-
timony?
A. Yes sir. 60
o. Didn't you know you could refuse 10
testify?
A. Yes; know 1t now.
| q why did YOU come after sending that
| affidavit? H.
= had spent all the afternoon IN
drawing IT up, and as the result my work
| at the Dispatch office was greatly pehilu
hand. / received a summons 'ni .n1i,
Mr. snence. and said / would like to tank
With Mr.. Boykin over the telephone ne
oanna and advised me to come up ana
| ,es,,fv I then communicated with Colo
J noI Cowardin. and he told me 10 please
myself.
A, this point in the proceedings MI
povk,n rose and stated that he had tele-
Showed ~ Mr.. Duce TO come because Oh
| the fact that Mr.. Noel had been FORCED
20 teu all he knew of the matter,
and that his statement had been evident
| w considered as inconsistent with the
afidavit. II told Mr.. Duce when he got
10 the hail." said Mr.. Boykin, that mat
| ters appeared very serious, ana that 4.
| would be best for him to go on the staha
| and tell all he knew. Belore uoihs 80,
however I asked him IT, in his statement
20 me made some days before. he had
| told me the truth. He replied that ne
| nod and then told him TO tell all and
| to shield no one"
CAPTAIN Wise resumed his examination
of the witness and asked:
O. What did you tell MT. Boykih'
A told him that / would.
n Was Mr. West present when you
made the statement under oath TO me
camp?
A. He came in later.
q. Was Mr.. Folkes PRESENT.
A. Yes
q How came you to have converse
/
A He was a friend Of mine. and want
| ed his advice.
| O. Advice about what?
A About the trouble l was In.
| n What trouble were you in?
felt that l had betrayed the conf
aanca NJ Mr.. West, and felt aggrieved
| thereat. -
natter TO the Dispatch Company, put
you didn't do it.
| A. No.
| Mr.. Lamb: Why did you not DO SO?
| A Because Mr.. Vests position was no'
very well assured there. He was rather
| In disfavor, and didn't want 10 DO any
thing that would cause his discharge
Mr. wise: You refrained from carrying
| out Mr.. Noel's advice because MI. west
didn't stand very well, and you did not
| want to hurt him!
n Did YOU conhde In any one else save
Mr.. Noel?
A Yes; / told Mr.. Boykin.
o Before the committee met!
a Yes. some days before.
O Did you tell Major Brander, too7