The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-02-09

FOUND
LETTER
THAT ELLIOTT WROTE TO
JOHN W0RTHINGT0N, THE
GAS MAN, AND LOST.
GENERAL CURTIN AND RAN
D0LPH STALNAKER BOTH
SAW HIM HAVE IT AND
READ 1T.
stathers VIII be Summoned TO Tes-
tify Before Investigating Com
mittee How 1t Came Into His
Possession.

Charleston, W. Va, Feb. 0-At
.the third session of the Elliott let
ter investigation committee last
eyening little that was new was
brought out except as to who first
found the letter. The question
with the committee seems TO be
whether there was anything in the
charges of corruption stated by El-
lott in his letter.
General George W. Curtin was
the first witness called.
He said Friday evening, January
~, after returning to my room, DR..
w. Il. Stathers said | have some
thing to read to You and read a let
ter addressed to Worthington and
signed by Elliott. I said YOU had
Ibetter be careful and not let it get
out of your hands.
! went home Saturday and knew
nothing more till ] returned. Wit
ness said Stathers didn't state how
he got it, or what he was going 10
do with it. Stathers later told him
it was in the hands of newspaper
men.
Randolph stalnakcr testified that
he had heard the letter read in
Smiths room Saturday evening and
that he then said he didn't care il
it was published in every language
in the world. Don't know how
Smith got it or Elliott lost it.
Asked as to reference to him in
the letter as being Gin close touch
all the time" the witness replied.
that he didn't know what Elliott
had meant by it. Said he had no
interest in the gas bill. Denied that
he knew anything of prediction
deal between Dawson and the Stand
ard Oil Company.
Attorney General Elect-l[ay de-
clared that he was not involved in
any legislation and did not know
what Elliott meant bv his insinua-
ton. He stated that he was not in
terested in the gas bin and didn't
know anything about the letter.
Said that he didn't know ANYTHING
Improper on the general talk. Said
|he knew of no one going into a con-
Ispiracv with Elliott to defeat the
gas bill. May said he had been on
posed to the gas bills and that Ell
lott was an active lobbyist Asked
II Dawson was not an active lobby
|ist, he replied that he never knew
of Dawson working as a paid lob
byist.
Speaker Grosscup was next called.
Said he was interested in the Gas
bill but never knew of the existence
Of the bill till the judiciary commit
tee Of the house had reported il
favorahly. Said he was interested
in its recommittal. because it affect
ed his business. He said he had
asked members fthe bin to give
1.-THE opposition hearing on the bin
and that he had asked McCamic to
make the motion to re-commit it and
had told Worthington and Others 10
appear before the committee. Said
he had talked to Elliott; that Elliott
had asked his judgment about the
bill and he had answered that he
thought it should not pass and was
going to try and have it re-commit-
ted. Said he was connected with
the Kanawha Light, Gas and Fuel
Manufacturing Company.
Delegate McCamic was at the last
meeting. He told about the bill ia
committee and his talk with Gross
cup, but told nothing new or vitality
important. Said Elliott had talked
with him about re-committing the
bin.
J At the conclusion Of the hearing.
"a list Of additional witnesses 10
summon was prepared. A disagree
ment arose between the committee
over whom to summon. The lisi
contains the names Of Auditor
ISeherr, Attorney General Freer. w.
2. Stathers. 7. G. Brady. John T.
MeGraw, W. 0hley. Elliott North
lcott, G. +. Wells. Governor p
lWmte. Governor-Elect Dawson. q
?. Elliott, who is to be recalled and
Senators Elkins and Scott.
DR.. Stathers viii be required ia
tell how he came to have the letter
lin his nossassinn