Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-11
MIR. STRATT0N DENIES
Hs Says III. Honasl's Stitsnslt Hls
not Tfua
LEE CAMP WILL NOT INVESTIGATE.
The Veterans Say the Allegation 5 o.
worthy Of Such notica
Col. stuart before the Body-Hs De-
liver. an Excellent Lecture on NE
Life and Services Of Maary-A
Large Audience Greets Him.

Captain J. Taylor Stratton, adjutant %
Lee Camp Confederate Veterans whose
character was somewhat aspered by J.
w. womack. tho American Book com-
pany's agent, will not be investigated
AT meeting Of Lee Camp Inst night
Mr.. Stratton made statement which
his comrades accepted, and they there
upon decided that Mr.. womacks state-
ment was not worthy OF an investigation.
The camp met at the usual hour last
night, and in view OF the fact that Colo
mel William II. Stewart OF Portsmouth.
was TO make an address on the Life and
Services OF Commodore Matthew +.
Maury," q large audience Of ladies' and
gentlemen was in attendance. As soon
as this was concluded and the outsiders
had dispersed the camp was called TO
order for business, and Mr.. Stratton
made his statement I'm regard TO tho
testimony of Mr.. womack before the In
vestigation Committee yesterday, which
testimony, as before stated. tended 10
measure to implcate this efficient officer
of Lee Camp In the unsavory rumors
which have been afioat for the past few
weeks as to improper conduct on the
part OF members OF the History Com
mittee.
woMAcKs STATEMENT NOT TRUE.
| Mr.. Stratton stated that he had heard
| that Mr.. Womack. the agent OF the
| American Book Company. had made ~
statement on the stand TO the efrect that
! he (Stratton) had approached him, seek
| ing employment from the samo publish-
| ing-house. The Adjutant said, as far as
4 Al a.. ,.s1 hA had
noon spoken to Mr. Womaek as TO his
| testimony on this subject, and In the
| presence Of Mr.. Dunn. the former had
| stated that nothing he had said In any
| way implicated him (Stratton). He then
! read the testimony OF Mr. Womack.
Witch he had obtained from the steno-
grapher's official report, and which ap-
| peared In this paper in connection with
| the proceedings OF the Investigating Com
| mittee.
| Mr.. Stratton said that the statements
| made by MFR. Womack were not true
| What he did say to the agent OF the
| American Book Company was that hs
(Stratton) as an individual. thought tina,
these textbooks should be regulatedt
that he was as much opposed to some
of the readers as he had been Tor u
long time TO the histories; that ne nac
never made any proposition 10 Womack
|
| mack met him ON one occasion wnen ne
/ (Stratton) was going in Murphy's Hotel
| and Womack had just come out; tnat
the latter asked him how he was getting
ON He told him "only tolerably''; that
ltimes were sometimes good and some
times bad; that the work OF seihns
books by subscription, which business ne
(stratton) was engaged In, was very un-
certain: that he wouid liks TO get reRu-
lar employment. and thought that he
| ought to be able to get place at $lB per
month.
lie said he had had no conversations
with any one In regard to employment,
except a MIR. Thompson. who stated tnat
he represented Dr. Joness history, ana
that he (Stratton) stated that ne was
omen for. any legitimate employment IN
an honorable manner; that he would no'
work for any concern except in a legiti-
mate way. Mr. Stratton asked permis-
sion of DIR. Jones, who was present. to
| make n statement in reference 10 the cor-
respondence between them In relation TO
the publication OF DR.. Jones's history.
DIR. Jones gave permission. and MT. STRAIT
ton said that he had asked the Doctor
In this correspondence II he was con-
formulating making change as 20 the
niblishers of his history. he having heard
that such was the case. IL so, he asked
| DR. Jones If he would cOnsiueT poH"-
sition from the j. l.. Hill Printing So'
OF this city DIR. Jones replied that 80
had already made arrangements with the
UniN,raty Publishing Company.
sPURNED THoMPsoN's OFFER.
Mr.. stratton stated that he had been
approached by Mr.. Thompson, who asked
him 10 use his influence against the adop.
ton OF the Massey resolution. He had
daily refused to do this. Mr.. Thompson
again met him few days later. and
asked him II he would accept salary
OF si5O per month for specified time
He had replied: "No, not for hfty mil
lions. IL you have specific work for me-
70 do. but am open for a proposition
If YOU have legitimate work for me- Ihs
Adiutant said that Mr.. Thompson tnen
left him, and did not approach him again
ana that was all the connection ID
fStratton) had had in regard to working
for any book company.
Mr.. Stratton, In concluding his remarks
said that he courted the fullest inyesu
CATION so far as he was concerned. II
any implications OF improper conduct
He asked his comrades to make II, and
he would not shrink from any punish
mont or make any plea for mercy or In
1 Ina