Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-04
EXPLAINS HOW he GOT THEM.
Mr.. Womack Left Them I'm Mr.
Vests Desk, Though His Attention
Was Several Times Called To Them.
Thrown Away mt Last, and Rescued.

found, as indicated in the Dispatch som
weeks ago, amongst lot of old papers
and that they had been turned over {
him by Mr.. Montgomery West.
Just at whose instigation the inquir
was made is not known, but 1t is pre-
sumed, in the light of the evidence ad
duced, and still to be brought forward
that the Commemorative Attorney
having heard the charges launched some
what promscuously at these unknown
persons. who were supposed to hay,
brought the checks to light, wished t
clear that matter up.
LEFT IN HIS DESK.
The two checks, il appears, were lef
by Mr. Womack in a small desk III the
store OF Messrs. West, Johnston * Co
The agent Of the American Book Com
pany made his headquarters there wher
in this city, and used the drawer in a
small writing table provided for the con
venience of some score or more gentle
men, who, like himself, were in the habit
OF conducting their correspondence from
that office.
Several times during the year 1895, IL
is said. Mr.. Womacks attention was
a
had left in the drawer of the desk, and in
this bundle were the two from Petersburg
drawn in favor of Colonel Stubs He
was asked to remove them, but neglected
TO do so, and when the firm of West,
Johnston & Co. failed in 1896. these chicks.
together with a lot of other papers and
letters. were removed by Mr.. Montgomery
West.
The checks passed into Mr. Baughman's
possession last October, just before the
meeting OF the Grand Camp. At that
time there was a strong undercurrent OF
feeling against the election of Colonel
Stubbs as commander of the camp, and
Mr. Baughman rescued these checks from
n pile of rubbish which Mr.. West had
cast aside from his old desk. 1t is said
that it was intended to use them at that
time in event that Colonel Stubs was
nominated for the grand commandership,
bit Captain Cussons was reelected. and
II was thought that he might be induced
to accept the Office for another term, but
events took a sudden and unexpected
turn. and Colonel Stubs was elected at
the night session of the camp. when his
opponents were not prepared for the
emergency.
This much was said yesterday by the
parties most nearly interested.
TALK WITH MR.. WEST.
Mr.. Greer Baughman was the only wit
ness examined by the grand jury yester
day. The case was the last one called,
and the jury adjourned for its consdera-
ton from the courtroom to a room on
the top floor of the building. After Mr..
Baughman had been heard, the grand
Jury asked the permission of the Court
to adjourn until Thursday morning, when
the case will be taken up.
Another witness has been Summoned
to appear at that time, but who il was
could not be learned. One thing is GER
tain. however that if ii is not Mr.. Mont
gomery West, as might reasonably be sup
posed. that gentleman will ask for
hearing.
Mr.. West said last night that he would
take this course, and intended to apply
to Judge Witt to-day for permission to
appear before the jury and make his
statement. He is not at all alarmed at
the situation, he says. but is annoyed that
the checks should have been used as they
were. He has been on friendly terms
with Mr.. Womack for over twenty years,
but has never met Colonel Stubs. He
understood that the checks were TO be
used to defeat the Grand Commander, II
he were proposed for the chief office.
Mr. West said that he could not give the
full details of the matter until he had
made his statement to the grand jury.
but he had not the slightest hesitation in
saving that there was absolutely nothing
hat was dsgraceful or even reprehen-
;ible i'm the affair as far as
ne and Mr.. Baughman were copcerned.
Mr.. Baughman declined at first to dis
,uss the matter Of his appearance before
The grand jury, on the ground that ii |
night not be proper for him TO reveal |
what transpired in the jury-room. When |
ne learned however that the circum- |
stances of the case were generally known |
he confirmed the report that he had tes- |
flied that the checks came TO him |
through Mr.. Montgomery West, and thas |
hey had been picked from quantity Of |
I'D papers which had had a place In |
lr. Vests desk. All the notoriety of |
he past few weeks had been most pain
al and distasteful to him, he said, but |
'e did not regret his action in the |
slightest, for next to his home and his
'hIrch, the Confederate organizations
leh the tenderest place in his heart. and
lie would bear much. if by so doing he
ouh contribute to their purity ana ire
'roaehableness. Mr.. Baughman will be
me Of the many gentlemen members of
he local Confederate organizations who
vill De present at the meeting of the
advisory Council in Lynchburg on the
9th instant.
The statement made yesterday that
dajor Randolph and Major Brander
would be called upon TO appear before the
rand jury on Thursday appears TO De
rroneous, for neither Of the gentlemen
ave been summoned, and neither of
hem are acquainted with the circum-
tances under which Mr.. Baughman
ONE into possession of the checks.