Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-02-10

IdlIdCu you thC Pooo'
\. Yes, sir.
O. Who?
a. Mr.. T. NJ. Henry.
Q. When he handed it to you did he tell
you who to go it?
A. Yes, sir; he pointed the men out to
me and introduced me to them
Q. Was Governor ]. K. Vardaman of
the number?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did any of these parties pay any fare?
A. No, sir.
Q. None of the parties mentioned on this
pass paid any fare?
A. No, sir.
o. They all travelled from Jackson to
Gulfport the pass?
A. Yes, sir.
This concluded the examination of Mr..
Rufin. The next witness called for examina-
ton was Mr.. J. A. Weaver, a conductor en-
ployed by the Gulf & Ship Island road. Ouse-
toned by Judge J. H. Neville, general coun-
sci, he said:
Q. You are a passenger conductor on the
Gulf & Ship Island Railroad Company?
\. Yes, sir.
Q. What train did you handle out of Gulf
port Wednesday night, the 23rd day of March
1904?
A. Train No. 2.
Q. That is the fast passenger train be-
tween Gulfport and Jackson?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Leaves here at seven o'clock in the
evening?
a. Yes, sir
Q. l hand you a pass Please state the
number of the pass 1 hand you.
\. Number eight hundred and sixty-four.
Q. Read the names of the persons on the
pass?
A. ]. X Vardaman, T. R. Henderson, ].
II. McGehee, o. L. Mckay, w. A. Martin,
T. Y. Murray and c. E. Miller.
Q. Did you handle that pass between Gulf
port and JaeAson2
a. Yes, sir.
Q. Who presented it to yeu?
A. Governor Vardaman.
Q. He handed you the pass?
A. Yes, sir, Governor Vardaman did.
Q. Turn the back of that pass l see.
.ceording to the rules of the company, you
equred one, as you should have done.
o sign that pass?
A. Yes, Sir; when Governor Vardamar
anded it to me, handed it back to the Gov
to sign, and he signed it himself.
Q. You know Governor Vardaman?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. He was one of the gentlemen named
I the pass?
A. Yes, sir. All of them didn't go back
Jackson that night The rest of them went
ack the next morning.
Q. Governor Vardaman went back that
light?
a. Yes, sir.
Q. And he presented that pass and signed
is name the back there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. He rode on that pass?
A. Yes. sir.
Q. He didn't pay any fare?
A. No, sir.
Q. Is that your punch mark here on the
,ass?
\. Yes sir
Q. You turned the pass into the auditor.
pffice?
y. Yes, sir.
This concluded Mr.. Weaver's testimony
md it ought to remove any lingering doubt
hat may exist even in the mind of Mr. Var
laman. concerning the manner in which
Round Trip Pass No. S64, issued March 21
904. used.
Incidentally, these statements from the two
onductors were taken few days after the
Dass had been used. They have not been re-
emily acquired for campaign purposes. 1t
evident that the Gulf & Ship Island of
icials thought it bit singular, to say the
east of it, that Governor of the State O.
Mississippi who had been in office less than
wO months, was so willing and ready to ride
rround on free transportation in fragrant vio-
alton of the law.
III.
And if Mr.. Vardaman, after reading the
bove plain statements, is still inclined to
iO,,h that he 81, tr;,> C,-If-
eturn, cite him to the following extract
the Daily News of March %, 1904
md hereby extend to him permission to ex-
lmine files in order to ascertain its
authenticity:
Governor James K. Vardaman and a party
If the Sons of Veterans who have been work
ng in behalf of the establishment of the SOL