The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-19
WILL NOT ARREST
EPPs OR jones L
Chief Of Police Says He
Has No Trustworthy
Information. In :,'l i !,
MASS MEETING TO
BE HELD l'O-NIGHT
Mr.. NV. Bowe Will Preside,
and John Stuart Bryan, Mr. j.
n H. Drake, Jr., and a Proni-
nent Clergyman Will
Speak Crooks and
Crookedness.'

The political war wds carried into
Africa with vengeance on yesterday,
when runors were circulated freely to-
the effect that warrants had been sworn
out against Mr.. II. Claiborne Dpps. one
OF the defeated candidates for city SER
geant, and Mr.. Mao Jones' one OF tho
defeated candidates for the House 81
Delegates. Both Of these gentlemen, 1t Is
said were active in bringing about the
grand jury Investigation which eliminated
In the suppressed Baughman report.
which in turn caused J; the call for the
great mass meeting to be held tonight
In the Capitol Square.
The storyinoised abroad was that both
Of these defeated candidates had used
money unawfully during the recent pri-
mary, and that Mr.. Epps had paid the
poll tax OF a man named James Walsh.
who. In return for this favor, had cast
his vote for him. 1t was also stated that
which he stated tk6ta Mr.. Epps had asked
him to vote foi him and had said that
he would pay! his poll tax. That he
g(Walsh) had replieds that he would vote
for him (Epps), but that his tax was
already paid: that thereupon Epps had
said 'ltBwas paid with my money" and
had given him q ollar n n 81
Sensational Reports.
1t was stated that this. Q ffidavit had
been handed: to Chief Of Police Werner,
but later this was denied. aisE 5s5s
The affidavit was. and Is said to be
still. in the possession Of the original
owner. u 81 ssj,i 81. l2yy5gs sS$5 !, II III 4 SSs
Ono OF the sensational rumors that was
spread broadcast was that Mr.. William
l.. Royal, In the absence Of Common
Yealth's Attorney r ichardson, would act
as commonwealth n s. attorney, and as such
would prosecute MI. Epps. whose sattor..s
noy, It. was stated he was. This was
denied positively last night BY Mr.. Royal,
who said III, ,3s sFs. III III 4 u, n
) ~ am not counsel for Mr.. Epps, nor
have ever been his counsel ( in any
thing 4 si, '55 * 4, @ IL q D II e 81
& Mr., Epps, as soon as he heard the
rumor teephoned Sergeant Brooks, at
the Second Police Station, asking Ii there
was a warrant out for: his arrest. and
stating that he would come at once to
the station as 4 soon as he was notified
that he, was wanted. Sergeant Brooks
replied that he knew OF no warrant
Epps's Strong Statement.
When seen at his residence, No. 1419
Howard 4 Steet, Mr.. Epps handed The
Times Dispatch man the following reply
to the charges that appeared against
him In the two afternoon papers:
."The statement made In an afternoon
paper by James Walsh 10 an Infamous
lie. The man did not vote for mo. He
told mo he had voted for j.. G. Smith. |
That ls all. u know about Mr.. Walsh.
He asked for ton cents to buy drink
six weeks before the election and re-
fused 70 Give II to him. As to the charge \
that ! told him that my money had paid
his poll tax and that ! gave him dol.
lar, assert that II Ia a malicious lie,
circulated by my enemles.
mo warrant has been served upon me,
| sincerely trust that II will be served,
so that may show TO the public the
honesty Of my canvass, and also show
up those who have taken upon ther,.
selves this means OF dIvertlng public
opinion from the crooked methods used
by them In tho Iate campaign.
{sIgned) SY'H. CLAIBORNE EPPs."
What Mr.. Jones Says.
In reply to n request that he furnish
The Times Dispatch with a statement re-
earding tho charge made that he had
used money contrary to law In the late
primary Mr. w. Mac Jones gave out
the following:
"lf there 10 any truth In tho report that
q warrant has been sworn out against
mo for violation OF tho election or any
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