The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-05
ALDRICH-ROBBINS
CONTEST CASE
Sensational Testimony Comes
Out in Investigation.
A CONSPIRACY CHARGED
Ell UP By Aldrioh That There Was a
Plot Against His Life, and That
His Witnesses Were
Inundated.
CONSPIRACY CHARGED

Mr.. Robbins was the democratic nominee
for congress in the Fourth district and Mr..
Aldrich the republican nominee. In the
general election Mr.. Robbins was declared
the winner and Aldrich will contest his
seat in congress. There has been a contin-
ual row on and several personal difficulties
have resulted.
A portion of the testimony is as follows:
VIM. F. ALDRICH VS.. CASTOR "A.
ROBBINS.
Edmund Fl. Dryer having been duly sworn
by the commissioner the 14th day of
April, 1885, to speak the TRUTH the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, testifies
as follows:
direct Examination by Hon. Cecil Brown,
Counsel for the Contestant,
w. F. Aldrichl
(omitting the question as to place of resi-
"Q.-What, if any. connection have you
with this case?'
Al am one of the attorneys for the
contestant, w. F. Aldrich.
"If you were present during that visit,
when any conversatio was had by and be-
tween any one or more republican citizens
of Selma and Mr.. Aldrich or yourself i'll
which conversation any information was
given by such citizens with respect to any
threats or any proposed or alleged attack
made upon Mr.. Aldrich, state when such
conversation took place and the substance
of it?
(Contcstee objects to the question and
will move to exclude the answer the
ground that it is hearsay and illegal and
irrelevant)
ION that Saturday afternoon, previous to
the visit to Mr.. Wills Craig's Office which
I have already spoken about, 1 was pres
ent at a conversation a republican gentle
man had with Mr.. Aldrich. The substance
of it was this gentleman told Mr.. Aldrich
he had been reliably informed that there
had been conspiracy previous to the cleo
ton to take his (Aldrich's) life; that a man
with shotgun had been placed lin a GER
tain second story room of a store house in
Selma for the purpose of shooting him when
he passed along the street; and that the
only thing that saved his life when he did
pass there was that another man accom-
panied him and that man was between him
and the place of concealment of the man
who had the shotgun. That was the sub
stance of all that / heard but when we
went to leave the room Mr.. Aldrich was
called back by this man and the door shut
behind him. I did not hear what more
passed between them"
(Now the contestee moves to exclude all
of that answer and for grounds of such
motion says, etc.
Were you afterwards informed as to
what was communicated by that man to
Mr.. Aldrich upon the occasion of his being
so called back into the room by him. and
If so, what was it?'
(Contestee objects to the question etc
Il was informed by Mr.. Aldrich afterward
that the gentleman told him he was reiia-
bly, informed that a conspiracy was in ex-
istence at that time to kill him before he
left town."
How long after this conversation took
place was it before you, Mr.. Aldrich and
Mr.. Deans went to the Hotel Albert, or
about how long?"
According to my best recollection, 1t was
about four hours"
Estate whether or not, In your opinion.
from facts and circumstances above testi-
fled to by you and other facts and circum-
stances in your knowledge OF information,
it would have been possible for contestant
to have taken or caused to have been taken
his testimony in support of this contest in
the city of Selma, or within Dallas county
Immediately after the personal attack made
on him, soon thereafter"
I'm my opinion he could not have taken
his testimony at any place in Dallas coun-
ty."
Estate whether or not that opinion was
shared in and expressed by Mr. Aldrichs
friends and advisers universally, after full
consultation and expression thereof"
(Contestee objects to the question, etc.)
"Was it for that reason in whole, or in
part, that contestants witnesses were ex-
amined at Stanton, Chiffon county, Ala
bama?"
att was decided that it was not possible
to have anything approaching the dignity
of a court in Dallas county; that the wit
nesses would be afraid to testify If they
came, on account of fear of arrest on pre-
tended charges of perjury and that, on ac-
count of the condition of affairs then exist
ing in Dallas county, we would go as near
the county as 1t was possible to have any
accommodation, open the court there, and
do everything possible to get out all the ev-
idence which could be taken at such a
point from the witnesses out or Dallas
county,"
(contestee moves to exclude this answer
because it is illegal, incompetent and irrel-
evant.)
'tState whether or not there were any
facts or circumstances that came to your
knowledge during the taking of the con-
testants testimony at Stanton that showed
or tended to show whether or not the wit
nesses summoned on behalf OF contestant
were terroriZed to such an extent as to- be
unwilling to publicly state facts WITHIN
their knowledge which tended to show, or
which did SHOW, the existence of a conspir-
acy in Dallas county to prevent the free
delivery of testimony in behalf of contest
ant in this case; If so, state such facts and
circumstances
Contestee objects to the question, etc.
"A number of colored witnesses asked me
for my protection to the extent of not ex-
aiming them on any lines which would
tend to dlseredit the honor or character or
white men living in their respective pre-
cincts, saying, that if white man of Mr..
Aldrichs character and standing was
treated as he was treated in Selma, what
would become of a niger when he Went
back home in Dallas county after so tes-
tifying about such white men,"
Contested moves to exclude that testi-
mony because 1t is hearsay.
State whether or not you did. on account
of such request, refrain from bringing out
any of sudh testimony from such witness?"
(Contestee objects to the question, etc.)
"I refrained from examining those wit
nesses on those lines"
Cross-examinaton by Hon. A. D. Pitts,
attorney for contestee
Are you the same e. III. Dryer who ran
for congress two years ago in this dis
lot