Evening journal., 1901-02-04
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE
Mr. RilIes EXPLAINS

Ml' miles LNDdlnS
To the Editor Of the Evening Journal.
Sir: / deem it but right that a public
statement should be made by me in an
swcr to statements made by John w
Goodwin, Jr.. in his testimony before
the Senate committee in the Ross Nc
Nulty contest. ] say unequivocally that
all statements or insinuations of this
witness which in any way attempt to
connect me with any improper proceed
ings are absolutely false
The exact facts of the case are these:
Until Monday, January n, / never
knew, cv had any reason to suspect.
that there was anything improper
about the adidavits i'm this contest.
Some time in the morning Of that day
information came to me that some of
these affidayits had not been signed by
the persons whose names appeared
therein. / Immediately endeavored in
every way TO ascertain the truth of the
matter, and some time in the afternoon
OF that day was told that seven of
these affidavts We're fraudulent = inn
mediately directed that they should be
ascertained and thrown out. and not
used in the contest. Later on the after
noon of The sama day Howard ID. Ross
and John w. Goodwin. Jr.. came to my
Office, without any previous knowledge
ON my part that they were coming. !
soon learned that the purpose of their
coming was to give further informa-
ton about the afiidavits and Ross and
Goodwin took the affidavits for the pur-
pose of removing any which Goodwin
knew were fraudulent. Goodwin hav-
ing said that he knew of no others
ia sf..r,
cut, was asked by me whether he was
present at the time, and knew that the
.mpersOnatiOn was being practiccd. He
stated that he was, and did know it, /
then said to him, why in the name
Of God did you do this thing?' He re-
piled that he had nothing to do with it,
Mr. Ross then stated that he would
rather his contest were lost than that
such a thing should happen. Goodwin
then said to me, 81 suppose you won't
need me for n witness" i said to him
that under the circumstances which he
had just narrated, his testimony GER
tainly would do Mr.. Ross case more
harm than good Goodwin then said
that for some time he had been intend
Ing to go upon a hunting trip to Vir-
ginia. and that If Mr.. Ross did not need
him 10 testify in his case he thought he
would go now. 10 which I replied (and
] think my recollection of the language
is oorrecD. 81 don't give a 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 subiect neither Mr.
Ross nor myself, directly or Indirectly
suggested to Goodwin that he should go
away, or made any of the statements
which have been testified 10 by Goodwin
ether than the above.
I cannot believe that this statement
on my part is necessary, but I make 20
i'm order that there may be no doubt
about my position I'm this matter
Goodwin was summoned by the con-
testant for the purpose of proving
among other things. that all OF the
fraudulent affidavits had been thrown
out When in his testimony before the
committee Godwin intimated that there
lanight be other fraudulent affidayits. a
thing which was then for the first
time known 20 us who were Mr.. Ross
counsel, we We're unanimous in the
opinion that the contest should be
3bsudoncd WILLIAM s. HTLLES.
Win ngton February 4, 1901.