The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-02
AN "UNRULYPEN"
Continued from First Page)

Continued from First Page)
on TO explain. Then Colonel Stubs clear
ed up that matter by explaining that the
checks We're genuine. but that for his
life he could not explain when. or why.
or by whom. or for what consideration.
they were given 20 him. The Examining
Committee urged him. for his own sake,
20 recall II possible how he came by the
checks. But he could not remember any
thing about them, and so the committee
adjourned for the purpose Of affording
him an opportunity 20 refresh his men,
DRY. with a view 70 obtaining fuller ex-
plantations on the morrow
Next morning Colonel Stubbs appeared
with another lawyer. General Hundley.
as his counsel. and q was then hoped that
explanations would be forthcoming which
would still more exhaustively explain.
The two legal gentlemen soon got 70
work. and with lawyer Hundley 20 put
the questions and lawyer Stubs h an
swer them. Il was presently developed
that at the Birmingham Reunion Colonel
Stubs. Chairman of the Confederate
History Committee. was the roommate
OF Mr.. J. w SVomack, agent OF the
American Book Company. and OF Captain
Henry. agent OF the University Publish
ing Company. and that the agents of the
rival publishing houses had got into a
game OF poker with Colonel Stubs, and
that Colonel Stubs had won the money.
which was the consideration Of the checks
fin question. from Mt J. w. Womack.
agent Of the American Book Company.
but that Il was not from Mr.. J. w WO-
mack as the agent Of the American Book
Company that Colonel Stubs had won
tho money which was the consideration
of the checks. but that 1t was from Mr..
J. W. Womack strictly and solely and ex-
clusivelv in his personal and individual
capacity
The explanation now seemed complete.
and afforded n fine Illustration OF the
facility with which the trained legal mind
can evoke order out OF chaos. and turn
into living light all which had appeared
20 be so shadOwy and obscure.
STILL ANOTHER.
But. alas, there was another expiainer
60 be heard from.
The committee was about 10 make its
final Announcement when there came
telegram from Mr. J. w Womack, stat
ing that he would arrive on the o'clock
train and would explain all. SO the COM
mittee appointed an afternoon session.
and Mr. WOmack promptly arrived and
went on tho witness stand. And then. 20
the dismay of his colleagues and the In
finite diversion OF the spectators. he went
on TO unfold an explanation which fatally
crossed and blighted the explanation
Of Messrs Hundley and Stubs The two
hundred dollar check. according 70 Mr..
]. w. Womack. did not represent a gamb
ling debt at all. but was return OF
money borrowed by the agent OF the
American Book Company for the use Of
the agent OF fine University Publishing
Company. who had been robbed AT his
hotel, and that neither OF the agents OF
the rival publishing houses could use
their own checks because they were
strangers in a strange city. having gone
10 birmingham to meet friends whom
they had not seen for years, and that
they therefore applied for funds 10 Colonel
Stubbs who was their friend and room
mate. ard that he kindly lent the two
hundred dollars q Mr.. Womack for Mr..
Henrv's use. and that the Stubbs-Womack
check for that amount was drawn in pay
raent OF the loan thus made, and that IT
was paid by Mr.. Womack and not by Mr..
Henry because Mr.. Womack owed Mr..
Henry a corresponding sum OF money.
Now. these are the explanations given
respectivelv bv Mr.. WOmack. the drawer
OF the check. and by Colonel Stubs. the
pavee. And so IL would seem that instead
OF there having been too little OF an OPP
portunitv for explanations. there was
really too much. or course either Of the
accounts would be perfectly satisfactory
II considered in itself; but even General
Hundlev must admit that Il is uncom-
monty difficult for anyone 10 accept the
two accounts in combination. Il Ia a law
in phvsics that two bodies cannot occupy
the same place Il the same time. And
IL is no less true that the human mind
is so constituted that II cannot accord
Simultaneous credibillty TO two antagnos-
tic propositions. II therefore devolves
upon General Hundley 10 dlscredit either
the one or the other Of his two conflicting
witnesses: for 10 do less than this Is 10
demand from the public larger exercise
of faisA tnan has ever been required by
either prophet. priest or pope.
"ONLY HALF OF \ GREAT TRUTH"
General Hundlay again insists that the
Confederate Camps are merely organizi-
tons for the promotion OF "brotherly
love and comradeship." but he must per-
nit one 70 say that he Is stating only
on.-half Of a great truth. The Confed-
crate veterans have been iaboring for
many years, strenuously. with q pathetic
earnestness. 10 rescue from infamy the