The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-02-08

Charleston, w. Va, FeD. S-Ihe
joint committee Of investigation of
the C. d. Elliott letter, reconvened
at e:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon.
At that time Charles Brooks
Smith appeared and presented the
famous letter.
Mr.. Smith was interrogated fur
thcr as TO how he procured the let
ter but could shed no further light
on that interesting phrase.
c. d. Elliott was the next wit
ness. He was shown the letter. AZ
ter reading it over, very carefully,
he said he had written the letter.
In substance he said further: 81 do
not know how the letter got into
possession Of Mr.. Smith; do not
know how lost possession of it; /
wrote the letter in my room, 80 at
the Ruffner, did not mail it, did not
give it to any one for publication;
on going through my grip at Point
Pleasant Friday morning, | found
it missing"
Asked what he meant in his letter
when he stated that he was not in
."Close touch with Maxwell" he said
that it was only "a general remark.
Acknowledged that his purpose was
to defeat the bill in that form, but
that he had not intended to appear
before the committee had the gas
bill been recommitted; asked as 10
whom he meant when he referred
to "The Original Eleven" he replied
that he had in mind those senators
on Billiards. side and those who fav-
ored Marshal's election as president
of the senate. and named those seven
senators, saying he wasn't sure about
the others, Baker, Caldwell, Colcord.
Hill, Montgomery, White and John
son.
He said he meant by "our fellows"
those who had voted for Northcott
AT that point, Herndon, Republican,
objected to the character Of the ques-
tions Senator Fisher, Democrat. was
propounding to Elliott, and Fisher
replied in a hot speech, declaring
that he would not be a party TO a
half-starved investigation and that
if the Republican members didn't
intend TO go into it TO the bottom.
he would resign.
The investigation proceeded; FL
lott said he had been in the city
couple Of days preceding the organi-
zation of the senate and had taken
part in its organization. 81 was a
supporter Of Northcott for Prcsi-
dent" he said. Said that he and
Dawson had talked it over and that
Dawson was supporter of North
cott; stated that no senators or dele
gates to his knowledge had been
guilty of misconduct or Of accepting
bribes; said he had had several talks
with speaker Grosscup about the gas
bill; said he hardly knew in what
connection the word "we." used in
the letter, when it said ''we" can
hold the bill up in the comlaittee.
was used.
Was not employed BY any cor
poration during this session and that
he had been advised by his lawyer
that this investigation did not refer
to any other session; said that he
didn't believe that the measure
should pass and that he had talked
in general way against the bill and
that he had though there should be
a recommittal of the bill: said he
was directly working with no ono
against the bill !; in a general way he
had talked with Governor-Flecf
Dawson about it, but that Dawson
himself could state his position in
the matter; said he had simply adj.
dressed his personal views Of the
situation to Worthington. Elliott
could not answer what prompted
him to do so: the same as 10 the al
rEed talk between Blizzard and Nc
%srrnott witness said he wasn't pres
ent. but that Mr.. McDermott hat
told him Of the conversation.
Asked if his talk with Dawson
was along the lines of making in
dncements to the Original eleven
to recommit The bill, he replied: q
u viii not pretend to speak for Mr.
. Dawson. Ny talk and conversation
with Mr. Dawson was to urge tina
conservative action be taken alont
the line. Mr.. Dawson agreed will
me that nothing would or ought +