The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-01
FULL PROCEEDINGS
OF NIGHTS SESSION
Mr.. Stuart, Chief. Witness, Tells
Why the Lanier Charges Were
Not Made Public.

1900 Elal
Why the Lanicr Charges Were
Not Made Public.
Tho committee met at three o'clock in
Tho afternoon, but at once adjourned an
III eight o'clock last night when the
session began with Commissioner Stuart
on tie stand
Mr.. Byrd tchairnlan)-
Mr. Stuart. will YOU continue your
settlement?
Mr.. Stuart
In my testimony yesterday, when I
suspended. ] had just reached the point
where Mr.. Irarfax and / consulted Mr..
~Tft3ilton on the 18th day OF May, regard
ing the request of Mi. Royal. asking us
to furnish him q copy of the "chargcs'
nade by Mr.. Tps!iur against Major La
nier. Mr.. Hunton had advised that the
charges were "~privilosed,' and that
j had determined to request Mr., Enshur
to allow us to furnish the charges. We
agreed. Mr.. Fairfax and L. to get Mr..
t7psiiur TO agree to allow us to furnish
the "charges" TO Mn. Royal.
Ques, Vas Judge Crunip present?
Ans. No nc was out of The city. Mr..
Royal. on the 18th sent us another letter.
AR. Fairfax then was out of town, but
fudge Crunp who had returned. II 1
agreed TO 20 ahead in the matte with
oit Mr.. Fairfax. as ! knew how NJ
Fairfax felt. Mr.. Upshur seemed To
think that the manner ia which we had
asked for Major Lanier's resignation. did
him (Upsiur) an Injustice. Major La
slier's counsel also objected to the man
ner in which his client had been dis
missed.
Would Not Be Harsh.
we did not desire to deal hershly with
Major Larier, nor did wc desire to lniu-c.
AIr. Upsiur.
We called Mr.. %tipstt,r into my office.
Judge Crlmp being with me. on the
AFTERNOON of the 18th. and stated to him
that Atr. Royal had made tho request
that n copy Of the ''charses'' be fur
nished him. and also tnat cittEr Mr..
Royal or Major Lanier had said that 4
suit for libel was to brought against him.
Mr.. Upshur then said to me:
nj Stuart, do you know what
would have done had | been a member
OF this commission and MIR. Royal had
come here and asked for a copy Of a
privileged communication"
j paused, but said nothing.
Mr.. Upshur continued:
- would have shown him the door,"
I then asked MIR. Upshur If he would
be willing 10 make certain "elinina-
tons" from his charges. cutting out the
d~enunciatory parts and leaving only the
charges
Mr.. Upshur replied: 81 would do any
thing in the world :or you. but that I
cannot do
II seemed. however. to bce willing To
agree to consider what VIC wished. and
asked me to take a pencil and mark out
the parts Of the charges that l thought
should be stricken out.
what Was Marked Out.
u did strike out certain parts. What
7 suggested Was that there should he
stricken out all tenunciations. epithcts,
conclusions OF his own and expressions of
opinion. / did strike oat these. and Mr..
Tfpshur took tho paper and said he would
consider the matter and let me hear from
him
who we discussed the matter / as
sised leaving out these sentences. as they.
we're merely dcnunciatory expressions Of
personal opinion:
.'ro my mind. unless at once cor
rected, the existing state OF affairs
will not only bring this commission
into contempt and iisrepute. but will
be a stain upon the fair name of the
State. the commissioners and the Gov
ernor. ] wish ii to be distinctly un-
derstod that no personal feeling other
than contempt and adherence is ami
iSift4AN LAfE AZ llihIltS lNlS report. r."
which is to be construed as official
only. and to lay the several matters
before YOU. and to express my ioath-
ing and contempt and most outraged
sense OF praprieties. and to lay bare
the most fragrant malfeasance OF office
which has. e.yerscome TO my personal
notice.
As To the following sentences, h,
feigncd surprise nj my refusal, and a
an in~ducement had the .sudacity to tel
me that Judge Grump, the chairman o
This commission, had gone over the mat
tor with him IN ali It's details and no,
only approved ~ the scheme, but would
become financially Interested In it ane
lend it his support and give 1t his as
%Fistance. You may imagine that l did no
believe thia statement, for it was 10,
Hionstrous 10 give to 1t even a; passing
thought"
said 10 him: M. Upstiur. xtcl. Ian.
aisagc IS not only the expression OF YOU
pSgp opinion. but OF an entirely erroneou,
onc, FOR Judge Crumn Vi financially IN
s~erc:ted and Il stakeholder in tho vir.
sinia Corporation Company"
Expression Of Opinion.
again / adsised leaving out this OK
prcssicn OF opinion
The confidence thus rcposcd In him
by tho chairman Of the commission
was Immediately betrayed by ut once
beginning the prostitution Of Ills pub
lie Office 10 his private gain, ana 10
tho detrinieut OF similarly chartered
companies, and placing himself and
tho Virginia Corporation Compal-..
Incorporated. in the attitude OF a ban
dit. holding up for tribute any ono
that he might be able 20 draw into