Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-18
MAH00D AND F0LKES
These the Chief Witnesses Before the
Sons Committee Last Night.
THEIR VERSIONS Do NOT AGREE,
Fact That The Dispatch Sent No Mes
sage Fully Established.
MIR. WEST STILL IN NEW YORK.
his Counsel Asks for Continu-
nnce. hut II Ia Denied, Though Mr..
Ducc's Further Testimony Is De-
fcrred-Brother OF MIR. Foikes
scores the Committee.

scores the Committee.
The Sons OF Veterans history invest'-
CATION. though full Of interest last night
was not near so sensational as the large
crowd Of eager spectators assembled In
Lee Camp Hall expected 1t would be-
The committee was i'm session for near
ly four hours. A half dozen or more
witnesses were examined, without much
new evidence being brought out, and at
tho close OF the session Hon. Elvin G.
Folkes. who appeared as the counsellor
~ his brother, Minetree Folkes, rallied
the dispensing crowd and made short
address. in which he roundly scored two
members Of the Investigating Committee.
The evenings sitting began in the
small han Of the Lee Camp building
but the Ancient order OF Hibernians'
who held their regular meeting in the
,ssembly-room below, adjourned very
early, as courtesy to the committee
Even the larger hall was crowded, such
was the interest In the investigation
and all that was said throughout the
evening was listened TO with earnest
attention. Not long before midnight the
committee rose. to meet again tonight
q, o'clock. when the taking Of tesu-
r,onv will be resumed. There are many
,rnnortant witnesses 10 be heard, ana
several more nights may be consumed
WOULD NOT WAIT LONGER.
Hon George ID. Wise appeared last
night as counsel for Mr.. c. r. west
whose name was given unpleasant promi-
,o,ce IN the statement of Mr.. Duce' on
which the investigation is based. Mr.
West left for New York on Saturday
last. expecting TO return yesterday Dut
no did not come. He had telegrapheo
cantain Wise to get the hearing post
poned as he could not get back until To-
6av hut the efforts of the ex-Congress-
man I'm this direction were futile. III
was decided. however out OF courtesy lot
Mr. West, not TO hear the further eVl-
5ence of Mr.. Duce and other witnesses
whom the latter will have introduced 10
hear out his statement until the former
is present, as he is expected to be To-
night.
The most important witness examined
last night was Mr.. f. w. Mahood' VINO
had come from South Carolina to go on
the stand in support of the charge made
in a letter written by him that Mr. Folkes
had represented to him that the Dispatch
wished the Massey resolutions dropped
because to press them would injure the
Democratic party. Mr.. Folkes, in the
course OF the rigid cross-examination to
which he was subjected, declared that he
had not intended TO convey the impress
sion apparently formed by Mr.. Mahood'
and IL was fully established that no such
message had ever been sent. The line
OF questioning followed with Mr.. Folkes
clearly indicated the nature Of several
circumstances which an effort will be
made 10 prove.
DOWN ON THE COMMITTEE.
The most sensational feature of last
nights proceedings was the speech of Mr..
Elvin c. Folkes, member-elect OF the
House of Delegates from Richmond. IN
his address, which was made in the camp
hall Immediately upon adjournment, MI
Folkes defended his brother against the
asnersions which he contends have been
placed upon his character, and in most
y1eorous manner attacked the commit
tee. asserting that two Of its members
were prejudiced against his brother, and
were endeavoring by means of their pow
er as committeeman to blaoken his oha-
racter and ruin his good name for selfish
purposes.
one of the spectators present-Hon.
Julian Bryanf an eX-7nember of The
House Of Delegates-took Mr.. Folkes 10
task for his utterances, and said that
the gentlemen present would stultify
themselves in listening to Mr. Folkes'
remarks. which he characterized as SLAM
der OF the committee. The crowd APP
plauded Mr.. Bryant as he walked from
the room, but Mr.. Folkes. nothing daunt-
ed. continued his speech. until Commander
Cox. of the Sons organization, inter-
rupted him, and demanded that he sub
stantlate the charges Of prejudice which
he had preferred against the committee.
This Mr.. Folkes promised to do in good
time, whereupon he left the platform, and
the gathering dispersed.