The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-14
WILMINGTON, N. c., TUESDAY, DECEMBER A. 1897.
ASKED TO RESIGN.
The Virginia Veterans Committee Find
Against Him-Their Repors-Mr. stubbs
Refuses to Resign-Denounces the Mat
ter a Foul Conspiracy.

ter as a Foul Conspiracy.
Richmond, Va. December 1.-THE
committee appointed to investigate the
grand camp, Confederate Veterans his
tory committee scandal, this afternoon
submitted their report. This report
was made to Colonel James y. Stubs
who as grand commander appointed
the committee under the resolution. and
who has figured SO prominently in the
investigation. The report after citing
the resolution calling for the investiga-
ton and summarizing the work of the
committee reads:
1T is the unanimous opinion of the
undersigned, after full and careful in
vesigation Of all the evidence taken,
that the conduct, association and rela-
tions of Grand Commander James N
StubDS, While a member Of the history
committee. with the agent of one Of the
great publishing houses of the country,
has been such as to render ii improper
that he should remain member of the
history committee of the grand camp
Of veterans and that his further con-
nection with said committee would be
Incompatible with the best interest of
said camp and of the Confederate Vet
Grams Of Virginia and of the south
Therefore, the undersigned recommend
to the grand camp that Grand Com
mander James n. Stubbs be removed
from said committee as soon as prac-
ticable, and that he be requested to re-
sign the position of grand commander
Of the grand camp of Confederate Vet
Grams, department of Virginia.
I'VE, the undersigned further report
that no evidence was adduced in the
course of the investigation tending di-
rectly or indirectly to reflect on the
conduct or charcter of any other men,
Der of the history committee, or to raise
even suspicion that any other membe
of said committee had ever had any
improper dealings or intercourse with
any publishing house, or any agent or
representative of any publishing
house."
Shortly after receiving the report.
Colonel Stubbs issued the following
order:
The report of the investigating COM
mittee, having been handed me, l de-
cline to accept it's conclusions as final
or to be guided by it's recommended
tions. / am now thoroughly convinced
that this is the outcome Of a deeply
laid and we'll executed scheme to blast
behind it all is concealed the hand of
powerful interests, alike Indifferent to
the honor and interests of the COnfed-
crate Veteran AssOcia ton and to the
character and reputation of the individ-
ualS composing these bodies. The fun
dAmental idea Of these associations is
NUT ual comradship and brotherly love,
and I, now declare that the whole pro-
ceedirg has been in violation of the
fundamental principle of the organiZa-
ton. Instead of proceeding in accOr-
dance with the principle Of the broth
erly love, my accuserS have, in viola
tion Of the laws Of decency and morali-
ty, secured by means of theft or rob-
berry, the supposed evidence Of guilt in
the shape of two checks adduced in
evidence, and without notice to me of
the nature of the evidence they sud
denly called upon me at trial to explain
these transactions of more than three
years ago.
by the report of the committee,
am condemned by the single circum-
| stances of these checks, which must
| have been procured by the most disrep-
utab BILE means, inasmuch as the holder
of them refused to disclose the source
| from which he obtained them, whilst
| admitting that he knew he had no right
| ask right here whether it is better to
| obtain by means of theft the weapon by
| which to stab a cOmrade in the dark
or to be found aSsOciating with the
| agent Of a book company.
Il call attention to the fact that
| appealed in vain to the committee tc
| let in the light upon the disreputable
| transaction connected with the procur-
| ing of these checks, and it turned Out
| that the committee appointed to inves-
| tigate, refused to investigate, save ir
| one direction, and in the direction OF
| my supposed guilt. Was the single cir
| cumstance of my associating with &
] man of good reputation at that time
| but who has since been brought into
| bad repute, sufficient to call down upor
| my head, the cruel and harsh verdic
| rendered against me?
| Il shall not submit to this judgment
but shall appeal to the judgment of th'
| advisory council and to the Virginia
| public. I shall fight to maintain m!
| character and standing amongst m.
| comrades and my fellow citizens gen
| orally, confident that their sense o
fairness and love of justice will finalI.
| bring me vindica ton from the grav'
| charge made against me. In what
| have said, l discraim any reflection
| upon the personal character of the in
| dividuals composing the committee
but simply decline to submit to thei
judgment. decline to resign either a
grand commander or resign my plac
upon the history committee. and
challenge my enemies to appear befor
the bar of public opinion. / will forth
with convene the advisory council o
the grand camp of Virginia and Ia
the whole proceedings before them.
| [Signed.1 j. n. STUBBS."