The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-07

Store NJ West Johnston & CO., ana was
occasionally I'm there when he happencd
to Inc fan the city There was set apart
for his use "a small table with drawer
ina il. I'm which he was accustomed TO
keep his papers.
some time prior TO the failure OF 'ne
firm in 1895. Mr. Womack had given up
his headquarters. but had ieil n.h'n"
him "a lot of papers Of different hlnus.
shortly after the failure of the house MT.
West instructed his porter 10 bundle up
AN The old papers in desk used 10y some
of the emDlovcs of the store and also ln
the drawer of the table formerly used by
Womack. and take them mp lo ms 'Mr'
Vests house.
TIE porter carried the papers of Whlch
there was a large bundle, up 10 hI'
Vests house as directed. ana theie lhey
law for "a number of months Then, I'D
some manner the two checks came To
the attention Of Mr.. West and shortly
thereafter. Just before the last Weetlhs
of the Grand Camp OF Confederate Nete-
rams I'm this city they passed into inc
hands Of Mr. Baughman ana unahy
came no as evidence I'm the trial oi Grand
Commander James y. Stuhbs.
When Mr. West had concluded nus
testimony Mr. y. w. Nomack. Tie isnet
of the al cks. was called into the Grand
Jury room. where he remained for haii
an hour giving yolumin9us testimony on
the subject
MIR. WOMACKs STATEMENT
Mr. Womack had prepared his tesu-
monv ina manuscript form. which ne le'u
m tba Grand Jury. prefacing it by say
ing that ho had carefully dleested "ii
fhat thc written statement contained, ana
was sure that an the points advanced
bv him were facts His evidence, lh
part. was as follows;
when the checks Boa question We're iis.
sDruug. ] was of the opinion lhal Ha'
never had my bank account written UP,
and had not therefore received the 'H,'
from the bank and consequently n''
never seen The checks from the time 'h'y
v-er. drawn tim the moment they were
banded me for inspection Dy the chairman
off the Grand Camp Investigating com
1oittoo. while ; was on tine witness s'""",
| i was undoubtedly mistaken ln tnis. anu
! h. be- uo,y u0oucstiCnablc that ! had inem
I'm nv desk at West. Johnston q GO s..
and tnat they were taken ont OF ll"l
desk. and since Mr.. Montgomery Ne"'
turncd these checks over 60 Mr.. BauGn-
man. it rests with him 20 prove no" He
obtained possession Of them.
"This desk was turned over TO me ln
| tbo carly part OF 1894 together with the
| kew 10 same by Mr.. West himself for my
rri,.sfa and exclusive use. and ! kept it
under lock and key always n my an-
sence Such private papers OF value "a
1 had i'm Richmond were kept locked up
ina this desk except perhaps TOT lew
,nornerts while j was across the street
at lunch. There was not an empioye ol
tine firm at the time ] think hut that knew
mat desk was for my private use ana
that / always kept 10 locked I'm my ao-
sence. ,,,,,,
VALUABLE PAPERS.
.KVheu West. Johnston * CO., lalien
some two years ago. l cleaned OUT NY
desk and took all my private papers
away and took them 10 my nome In
Petersburg. and locked them mp IN
frnnlx There were no checks among these
rlp.rs and il IS preposterous to gay ln"t
4 thr..v my che-'l book and checks away
and I'D Il therefore they were iouna among
waste plper as has been iutimated lh
the newspapers from time 10 time. ire
checks Were valuable 90 me- as receipts
for the amount each represented ana lh'>
| we're the last things should nave
| thought of throwing away.
And inconclusiOn l would IKE LOT
this Jury 10 ask Mr.. West where are
the other checks and the bank book that
must have been put away and taken
with these two CHI cks.'
BEING questioned further Mr. Nomack
said that he had the desk from the carly
,,,t of 1904 till the firm failed Before
| MAJ he aid not have headquarters nc
VT Johnston &. cos though he occa-
| eionoliv dropped in there as he did az
! other places and wrote letter he
! stated that he never had any private pa
ners There before he got the desk. ana
| could not have had the checks anywhere
exceDt locked M i'm his desk.
Mir. Womack explained that ihe way
he came to establish Headquarters 'ncie
| i'm 1894 was that Mr. West OF red MN
| the desi, and that after that. Mr.. west
came TO him appealing - him To urge
his house to eXtcad them 'Nes l. Johha''"
! & Coz further credit 20 enable thehl 10
null through stating that II n Wouia 40
! this. he West IN the event OF t"'ui,.
| would see that his house shouid pe pu'
among tho first preferred ereui'oIs 3,
| Tbge exnlained in part az least, ne SAID
| NJ Vests desire % have him there.
KNEW NOTHING ABOUT 1T.
| TIL tbird ana last witness examined
NO., Nr / NJ skinner. for q long time
| n member Of the firm Of West, Johnston
&. 90 II was said that Mr.. Womack
| IA asked that AIR. skinner be summon
\ "a before the Grand jury. expecting 10
! ,,~,,,. La him that the drawer OF his ta-
| he l,a1 always been kent locked. Mr.
| s,,t,,,or however was unable 20 give any
| tnforrition whatever on the subject. and
! 1fa NOT know anything OF the history
~ the checks His examination, there
| fore vas very hriei
| MIR. S.unner completed the list or wit
| nesses and the Grand Jury. after hold
| i,g a consultation lasting only about four
mfnutes. announced tfat they were