Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-07
STATEMENT BY W. s, HILLES.

Editor ofThe Gazette: | deem II
but right that public statement
should be made by me in anewer to
statements made by John W. Goodwin,
Jr., in his testimony before the Senate
committee in the Ross McNulty con-
test. i say unequivocally that all
statements or insinuatiuns of this wit
ness which in any way attempt to CON
meet me with any improper proceed
ines are absolutely false.
The exact facts OF the case are these !;
Until Monday, the 2lst day OF Janu-
AIRY, l never knew or had any reason
to suspect that there was anything Inn
proper about the afiidavits in this con.
test. Sometime 10 the morning of that
day information came to ME that some
of these atfldavits had not Eeep signed
by the persons whose names appeared
therein. | Immediately endeavored in
every way to ascertain the truth of the
matter, and sometime in the afternoon
of that day / was tod that seven Of
these alfidavits were fraudulent.
Immediately directed that they should
be ascertained and thrown out, and not
used IN the contest. Later on the az
| ternoon of the same day Howard ID.
Ross and john W. God win, Jr, came
to my office, without any previous
knowledge on my part that they were
coming. j soon learned that the ppr.
pnse of their coming was to give fur.
ther information about the afiidavits,
and Ross and Goodwin took the affida-
Wits for the purpose OF removing any
| which Goodwin knew we're fraudulent
Goodwin having said that he knew Of
| no others than those which were then
thrown out, was asked by me WHETHER
he was present at the time and knew
that the imperstA ation was being
| practiced. He stated that he was, and
did know it. then said to him, why
in the name God did you do this
thing9" He replied that he bad moth
| ing to do with it. Mr.. Ross thsn stated
that he would rather his contest were
lost than that such thing should
happen. Goodwin then said to me, II
suppose you won't need me for wit.
ness" / said to him that under the
circumstances which he had just mar.
rated his testimony certainly would dc
Mr.. Ross's case more harm than good.
Goodwin then said that for some time
he had been intending to go upon q
hunting trip to Virginia, aud that II
Mr.. Ross did not need him TO testify
| III bio Oooc NO tuouRut uo WOuiu X
now, to which l replied. and think
my recollection CT the language is cor
rect, II don't give damn whether you
go or not. !" This was said Just as Ross
and Goodwin were leaving my Office.
At this interview, which was the
only interview ever had with Goodwin
on this subject. neither Mr.. Ross nor
myself, directly or indirectly, suggested
to Qodwin that he should go away, OF
made any OF the statements which have
been testified to by Goodwin other than
the above. at
cannot believe that this statement
on my part IL necessary, but make II
in order that there may he no doubt
about my position In this matter. lii
Goodwin was summoned by the con
testant for the purpose OF proving
among other things that all OF the
fraudulent afiidavits had been thrown
out. When in bis testimony before the
committee, Goodwin intimated thai
there might be other fraudulent atfi.
davits, thing which was then for tht
first time known to us who were Mr..
Ross counsel. we were unanimous in the
opinion that the contest should bs
abandoned. William s. Hilles.
Wilmington, Feb. 4tb, 1901.