The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-02-10
That is About All Brought Out by
His Evidence Before Committee
Except That He Had Confabbed
With Observation-Disclosures Tried
to Get Standard Oil Company's
Support.

Charleston, W. Va, Feb. 10-Be-
fore the Elliott letter investigating
committee last evening DR.. W. q
Stathers was the star witness. His
testimony bore a striking resemb-
lance to that Of Charles Brooks
Smith, the original promulgator Of
the letter Like Smith, he stated
that he found the letter in the draw
er of dressed in the room occupied
by himself and General Curtin, and
had no idea how it got there.
He admitted reading it to other
persons but positively declined to
say who they were. Subsequently
he placed the letter in his pocekt.
from which it disappeared in short
time, he could not say how, nor when
nor where.
After Illuminating the subject by
this recital he went into the details
Of a conversation which he had with
Col John T. McGraw about two
weeks ago in. which McGraw said
THAT there was some sort of an agrees
ment between W. NJ. O. Dawson and
certain coal and oil companies, by
which these companies agreed to
support Mr.. Dawson for governor.
He could only repeat the substance
af McGraw's conversation, which
amounted to no more than canard
which appeared in several Demo
cratic newspapers a few days before
The election, and which has never
been sustained by a particle of eyi-
dence.
He said he found the letter in
General Curtin's room in a bureau
i'm which he was placing some cloth
ing, the general having asked him
to share the room. Afterwards he
Host The letter and was not consult
led about its publication.
Stathers found it Friday evening
before going to dinner and read it to
General Curtin the first time. He
was not sure how close he was to the
room Charley Elliott had occupied
and did not know but what it was
the same room.
W. 4. 0hley was also examined
with reference to his efforts to de-
feat the gas bill. He made clear
and frank statement, admitting that
he was counsel for the South Penn
Oil Company. was opposed to the bill
because he believed it to be inimical
to the interests Of the state as well
as 10 the various gas companies op-
Grating in the state and had spoken
to several senators in regard to it,.
but lie stated positively that he had
used no improper means, and knew
of none being used to defeat the bill.
lie furthermore stated that he knew
81 no improper conduct on the part
Of any senator or member of the
house Of delegates, or on the part Of
Mr.. Dawson with regard to any leg.
islation affecting the interests of the
gas or oil companies.
Ohley said he was employed by the
legal department Of the South Penn
l0il Company and tried to defeat the
bin. He was asked to tell about the
politics Of the Standard but did mol
ldivulge anything though admitted
going over TO New York with o. S.
Mckinney TO enlist the Standards
support in the campaign.
At the conclusion Of General Oh
Iley's testimony, Mr.. Herndon, Of tho
investigating committee, sent the
lsergeant-at-arms for Mr.. Dawson,
but as it was then nearly ten o'clock
he could not be found in the state
house.
The sitting then adjourned until
s p m, Friday, at which time Mr..
Dawson win be examined and an
other opportunity viii be gwen the
Democratic members 10 produce
their testimony il they have any.
So far thege has been a complete
vindication Of all the persons men
TONED IN the letter. The only navs.
terv remaining to be cleared up j.
how the letter was transmitted from
fone to another. so that no One coult
tell whence came nor whittier i
went.
J Elliott Northcott appeared befor,