The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-24

must nave Oc8H Ot0E 30 yS&11 @o~s
and / have no recollection of the cir
cumstances at this late day. That l
held the position OF deputy shertn
under a Republican regime frankly
Admit, butt was then under ~ years
OF age, not voter, and was appoint
ed to the once by my father.
To what extremes must my political
enemies be driven when they are COM
PEELED to resurrect from the dim past
Of twenty-three years ago such an
cient history.
In conclusion, I challenge the per-
sons who instigated these false charges,
or any of my political enemies, TO pro-
duce any proof or evidence which will
connect me in any way with the pay
ment OF poll taxes or illegal methods tn
politics.
Statement From Contributors.
The following statement was made
by men who attended the rathekeiier
meeting:
COPY
We, the undersigned. emphatlcally
and categorically deny the allegations
made by f. d. Lesner. as published
in the newspapers OF Norfolk on Janu-
airy "a. 1911. that we contributed to
fund intended for the payment OF poll
taxes.
We further stamp an unqualinedly
false the allegation that we were asked
by Senator John A. Lesner or any one
to contribute funds for any such pur-
pose.
We frankly admit that we contrib
uted to a fund at the meeting referred
to with the expressed purpose and
distinct understanding that this fund
should be used for the purpose Of en-
pioying men TO call upon the citt-
zens Of Tanners Creek district and
urge them TO pay their poll taxes and
to afford them such legal assistance as
might be necessary.
We further state that we were con.
strained to take this action in order
to legitimately protect ourselves and
our business as far as lay In our power
from the attack of the political faction
which threatened a local option cleo
ton. tSigned)
J. W. o'coNNoR.
LEON HOZIER,
o. b. GALLUP,
WALLACE ARNOLD,
l. 8. QUILLIN,
J. NJ HAUCHINS,
j. M. SMITH,
JOHN A. LESNER,
NJ. G. LONG.
Another Lesner Testifes.
Norfolk, Va. Jan. 80. 1911.
l hereby certify that I was present
at the meeting referred to by my
brother. +. D. Lesner, In an affidavit
published in the newspapers OF Nor
folk on January %, on which he al
leges that John A. Lesner stated at
this meeting that the funds contribu-
ted were for the purpose of paying
poll taxes, and positively assert that
John A. Lesner, or any one else pres
ent at the meeting. did not make such
a statement, and unhesitatingly pro-
nounce the allegation as false and
without foundation.
W. H. LEsNER.
State of Virginia,
| City of Norfolk, So:
Personally appeared before me. l..
p. Matthews. a notary public for the
| city of Norfolk. State of Virginia,
William n. Lesner. who. being duly
sworn according to law, says that he
gave his brother, E. d. Lesner a sum
OF money IN the fall OF 1903, from his
personal funds. with the request that
the same be used to pay his real and
personal tax, and that he was later
informed by the said E. .. Lesner
that he had paid all OF his taxes, but
that the said r. D. Lesner never gave
| him his personal tax receipt though
he had asked for It several times,
and the statement, insofar az Il In
Guides him in the lis, of those whose
taxes were paid by any fund" Is
false and without any foundation.
| Given under my hand this 23d day
of January. 1911.
tSigned) l.. p. MATTHEWS.
Notary Public.
My commission expires Oct IL.
1919.
Senator Lesner's statement Is con-
cluded with a number of copies OF at
fdavits from men who swear that
they gave Edward D. Lesner money
! from their own personal funds with
| which to pay their poll taxes, and
that amy statement to the contrary
is false and without foundation"
/ Those Who Made Affidavits.
/ Persons making these affdavits, &C.
! cording to the copies in the senator
statement. are F. X. Lesner. a half
/ brother of the senator: NJ. w. White,
Clayton G. Nugent. william 8. Blount.
| r, f. Arnold, r. +. Lee. W. L. Ar
mold, j. T. Addison, w. r. Nelson, r.
p. Butler, w. A. waterfieid.
A number of the Opponents also
swear that they requested Edward w
Lesner to turn the receipts over to
them after they had given him the
money to pay their poll taxes. and in
some instances the receipts were re-
turned and others they were not.
The statement IL concluded with a
certificate from the following persons
who assert that they gave Edward D.
Lesner their own personal funds with
which TO pay their poll taxes with an
f'order On the county treasurer to re-
ceive their tax payment: J. r. Holmes
l.. II. Creekmore, W. II. Pailett. Z
A. Busby. W. p. Solomon. J. n. Tom
lin. w. A. Kemp. ]. e. Cochran. c.
A. Burreii. William Hoye. L. C.. Moo.
dy. c. Hanson. o. L. Freeman. T. q
Browning. J. Burton and p. J. Became
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