The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-02-02


ers who put Mr.. Lesncr and his friends
sonaeshlng of ~. kind. asserts T.
d Lesner. happened While TTaT1-s : =
George Tucker was a candidate for
the gubernatorial nomination against
Judge william II. Mann.
At that time. Judge Mann was the
vice president of the Virginia Anti
Saloon League
Young Lesner declares he collected
this money and spent it. and he fur
nishes the names of more than 100
voters whose poll taxes he says he
paid for Senator Lesner.
f. d. Lesner has In his possession
receipts for these taxes, and he has
signed statements of various county
officers showing how much money
they collected. Expense accounts for
liquor and cigars were allowed county
constables while they were collecting
campaign money, according to the
documents in Mr.. Lesner's possession.
The affidavit was sworn in the Office
OF L. a. BilisOly, secretary and treas
urer of the Commission Government
League, and the documents to be used
as evidence are in his possession.
This is only the opening gun" said
Lesner as he signed the affidavit; I'VE
can support every charge we make
with documentary proofs. and there
are some surprises in store for Sena-
to John I-esner and his friends"
Statement Sworn TO by T. ID. LcSner.
The statement made and sworn to
by T.. d. Lesner, in part is as follows;
II have read in the newspapers that
John A. Lesner, State Senator from
Norfolk county and Portsmouth, re-
SCENTS being called a fusionist. or class
ed as such, and stating at the same
time that he never voted other than
the Democratic ticket, and only voted
for such as were Democrats. that
composed or were to make up the fu-
sionist ticket; in other words, scratch
ed all who were Republicans.
1T is a fact that only a few years
back he received the nomination in a
Republican convention. The delegates
DanvIIle "I3Iind Tigers Raided.
at~that convention were composed OF
blacR,as we'll as white men. and nomi-
mated lhim for their treasurer or COM
missioner of revenue for Norfolk
county. After receiving the nomina-
ton, for some cause or other. his name
was dropped. The records of the
party Will show this to be a fact.
1T is also a fact that Mr.. Lesner
attended meetings of the fusionists
land helped in many ways to gain a
VfcSory over the straightout Demo-
Gratis. The records viii show this to
be fact.
cit is also true that the said Mr.
Lesner several years ago was a Re
publican deputy sheriff under John
/ Lesner ST., who fvas Republican sher-
ktf for Norfolk cNSintyaunsneSaINi ghtea@
s2Ts. FurthsrS n cleo
- OF Norfolk
Finley Cromwell
against Alvah X. Mar
ssS-eINSDlican, John A. Lesner was
ran active supporter of Mr.. Martin, and
persuaded me to cast my vote for
| him
"On the day Of the primary to nomi-
nate Democratic candidate for the
state Senate from Norfolk county and
ortsmouth, A, G. Cromwell. Demo
Zaic leader of the fusion party, was
ASOne OF mis- strongest supporters; and al
the time he was elected and during the
time he was in office, he lived In the
CITY or Norfolk, in the Seventh Ward
et the residence of F. M. Isaacs /
went to his sick room and ate dinner
AWlth him several times and am posi-
SS~at the time that he lived at this
Sse ana not ~ Norfolk county. al
~ - =, liSSSsq his residence in
q NorfoTk conntv $50, in.ss
room on Washington Avenue, in Hun
tersvile
Attended Meeting OF yVhiskey Dealers.
'RegardiRg Senator Lesners politi-
cal activity IN Norfolk county politi-
y. ca rlatters, he came to my house
and asked me TO be sure and be at
the Rathskeller of the Consun ers'
bFewing Company as he was gc -~
10 have meeting of the whiske.
dealers, and be sure to bring my
NNptAo PERTAINING 70 the voters OF . tltF-
ner Creek district. Upon my aqri, al
St the meeting the gentlemen present
We're as follows: John a. Lesner,
Maurice G. Long. W. Church Lewis,
& II. e. Savage. Leon Hosier, Wallace
81 Arnold, J. w. O'Connor O. b Gallup,
and several others. whose names I do
not recall.
At this meeting these gentlemen
were asked by John A. Lesner to con-
y tribute an amount of money to a
4 fund for the payment of poll taxes
q for the voters Of Tanners Creek dis
trict He started the contribution OF
3with 500 from the Consumers Brew
AG Company. ] cannot say whether
IS WAS paid or not but the follow
lie wiA show those that did agree
1tributes, and the amounts:
leon f2ozier. S25; o. B. Gallup,
Fl. p. Guy & Co, s25: J. w
pnnor, $25; W. Church Lewis, S25;
liilin, SO; I. ii. Wade, $50; J. NJ
bins. $12.5O; u. Murden, through
Rrch Lewis $40; ]. w. Buchan-
TO- IL p. Savage, $3.50; Hos
s ewing Company, $25; Schiitz
Company, $25; ed. Quillin.