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

49,
he might possibly break zip the party
On Saturday at o'clock Mr.. west ca,ne
IN see me and stated that at the ADVICE
of Colonel Cowardin he had decided 10,
| To take his trip to the Horse snow, anu
wanted to know II II would be possible
| for the committee TO continue It's examl-
nation at an earlier hour than on Wednes-
day night. We stated that our witnesses
were testifying through courtesy; tna'
| we dared say good many OF tneih'
based upon the announcement tnat 'he
proceedings had laid over until Wedhss-
day night, had made other engagements,
| and this committee. with every one Oh ..'
| witnesses. has tried to accommodate IL
| self 70 the particular case Of that wit
| ness. At 8 o'clock on that same day Mr..
| West came and said Of his own mouon
| that he had decided TO go to New YORK.
| hut stated that he would certainly DC
back In time for the Wednesday examl-
| nation. On Wednesday he was repre-
| sented by counsel, who stated that ne
| desired further postponement OF twenty
| four hours stating that Mr.. West was in
| Norfolk for the purpose OF procuring EVIL
| dence which would be or assistance TO
| this committee In arriving at the truth.
| Now tonight We are confronted with an
| effort to postpone the proceedings OF this
committee. and this time 1t comes from
the parent.
COULD NOT DELAY LONGER.
All OF us OF the committee have the
| tenderest feelings for our parents, those
of them that are living and those OF
them that are dead: but We must also
have consideration for the members OF
| the History Committee and their parents,
and must insist upon a speedy conclu-
sion Of this trial. All OF these young
men have relatives and friends who are
near and dear to them; and, as we
stated at the outset, we intend that this
examination shall proceed. Mr.. West
has had due notice Of our examinations.
We have conformed our meetings TO
comply with his desires, and this COM
mttee as much as they dislike to dis
regard the appeal OF parent will pro-
coed. However, Mr.. West Will be given
an opportunity TO place witnesses upon
the stand for cross-examination, pro-
yided he reaches the city before this
committee concludes it's testimony and
begin the preparation of report TO the
organizations under whose orders they
are now working. With that statement
from the committee we will proceed with
the examination Of Mr.. Duce.
WOULD WORK NO HARM.
Mr.. West: AS / stated in the begin
ming, there Is nothing to lose by any
body, because the witnesses are here in
the city, and will be as soon as my
son arrives There will be great deal
to lose, provided there is the least
statement or act by which the charac-
ter of one innocent person should be in
iured by his not being present. II there
was any probability OF my sons not be-
ing here tomorrow, or to attend an
other nights session, 1 would not ask
anything; but to proceed In his absence,
when his character is at stake, IL does
seem to me that IL can be but fairness
to wait, because the public cannot suffer
much. There is nobody interested or
can be injured except the two parties,
that is my son and Mr.. Duce, or proba-
bly, Mr.. Folkes. q beg pardon for
leaving him out) They are the only
parties that can be injured, and l do
think that they ought not to assail or
take the chance of assailing my sons
character without his being present or
having some show of protection. / do
not think he can have 1T without being
present, and If anything should occur
that he should not be here, l would be
as much mortified In the delay as any
body would. But i do think that the
delay asked by me might be granted
without the public suffering at all, mas
much as it may injdre an innocent per-
son, and do think that the court might
grant this request.
CAPTAIN WISES EXPLANATION.
Captain Wise: 1 don't want to appear
as sitting here o. an occasion like this
without making an explanation, and l
am going to make one. l make it
rule never TO be inconsistent. l asked
you last night to postpone this exami-
nation until tonight. and you did. l
don't think that i can ask for its post
ponement any longer, and that is the
reason why I have not said anything
before. (Applause)
ONLY HIMSELF TO BLAME.
Mr.. Lecky: We are very sorry that
we cannot grant Mr.. Vests request, for
the reason that il his son is injured,
which has not yet been established, he
will have no one to blame but him
self. He has seen fit before he
left the city to employ the most
emminent criminal lawyer within the
confines of our city. We think that
with his counsel, Mr.. Vests interests
as TO REORGANIZATION will be duly pro-
tected. And since the counsel and this
committee made an agreement on last
night that this case should proceed to-
night, and had that agreement not been
made, in justice, as l said, TO the men,
bers of the committee, who are now,
and will be until the report OF this COM
mittee is filed, standing charged with
these rumors before the public, not only
of this city, but, because Of the excite
ment II has extended throughout the
entire State, we shall insist that this
testimony be given in and this report
concluded as rapidly as possible. IL we
find that we can conclude these proceed
ings by continuing this meeting until a
late hour tonight, we shall do so. The
first meeting that we held, as you know,
extended late into the night, and we
shall repeat that plan II we find We can
finish our work on this occasion.
MIR. BEVERIDGE TOLD HIM.
Mr.. Lamb: / just want TO state for
Captain Wises information, and in JUS
tice to Mr.. Chesterman, that Mr.. Ches-
terman did not inform me about Mr..
Werner having made the statement that
he testified to here, but that Mr. William
II. Beverage did.
Mr.. Beveridge from the back of the
halD: l am prepared to say that the
conversation between myself and Mr.
Chesterman was not OF a confidential
nature. or you would not have heard 1t.
Mr.. Lecky: Captain Wise. IL you de-
sire TO cross-examine Mr.. Beveridge, you
can do so. Qaughter)
MIR. DUCE TELLS HIS STORY.
He Is on the stand n Long Time, and