New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-29

OUR TERMS
s such So 20 nys The attention AID paessse of the public
Per Square Of Ten Line, in 90
on ss Second Psss . new .S d.y
discount be made With those who advertise by
ALI Adysr!ssnent. marked viii be passhsd month";
The Bribery and Corruption Investigation.
The report of the testimony taken before the
Joint Committee appointed to investigate the
charges of bribery, ETC., against members of the
Common Council. we give below It was pub
men in the official journal on Wednesday last
TESTIMONY H. MADDOX ESQ
Witness knows of but member of the Common
Council who has been approached and whom he supposes
TO have been bribcd (from what he learned from Mr.
Egeron) to vote in favor of the Mobile and Pontchartran
Railroad Witness states that in conyaraatou he had
with Mr.. Egerton about the Mobile Railroad and while
passing over the names Of the members Mr. e. told him
that he had secured the vote Of Mr. Bennett by promising
to discount his note in the Southern Bank Several
after wards Mr. told witness that he felt some
ness in relation to Mr. Bennetts vote the note
offered by him had been rejected be understood that
Mr. Bennett was enraged and denounced and all
parties concerned and had publicly that he would
vote against the ordinance Up to the very day of the
passage Of the ordinance witness understood that Mr.
Bennett abused the road and Mr. Egerton and asserted
that be would vote against it, few days before how
ranged the matter with Bennett aud that his vote was
secured for the road that witness that the
note had been discounted for Egeton had stated wit
ness that he would have to discount the note to bring
back Bennett to the railroad All that witness knows Of
the matter was obtained from Egerton and HenDen. Z
MI Egerton stated TO witness that every thing would
be safe II certain in the city could be induced
to give his influence to the road The gentleman alluded
to Col Garland City Treasurer He further stated
that be thought witness had some influence with Col
Garland and that $4,000 or s200o would be Willingly
given to him Co Garsnd) to his influence to tbs
road or if that could not be obtained, to keep him
silent and quiet. That money object at all il the
road could be carried Mr. Egerton also spoke to witness
Of the necessity of using money with the members the
Council Mr.. Hennen sent for witness day to call
and him at his office. He there stated to witness
that having the highest opinion of his Judgment he was
anxious that witness should take charge of the whole
matter with the Counc saying further that wherever it
would be necessary witness could from $500 to $1,000
to secure the vote Of member This proposition was
rejected it was repeated several times afterwards and
always rejected It evidently the desire and nten
tion Of Mr. Hennen to use money to apy amount when
ever and wherever necessary to carry the rarosd Wit
ness believes that 100000 must have been spent to
other name of the members of the Council except the
one already mentioned. having been bribed Witness
avoided having any conversation about the bribery
Witness thinks that Mr. Hennen and either Mr. johnson
or Mr. Walker were present at conversation he had with
Bennett. - ~, :,
Witness does not know whether the parties opposed to
the road used money to defeat it. J.H. MADDOX.
Ill
5.1s54. #@ E w. A. GoRpoS,
Chairman of Committee of Board of Aldermen.
Z. L. TRACY,
Chairman of Committee Board Assistant Aldermen
TESTIMONY Mr.. coNAsT.
friend of witness mentioned to him that if he wished
to make thousand dollars he could tell him how to make
that if he promised to say nothing aboutt Witness
having promised his friend stated to him that if he would
vote for the railroad he would get him check for $1,000
The gentleman who made the proposition had no
ton with the road with the parties at the head Of it,
that the money to be furnished by parties
nected with the Pontehartrain Railroad
Witness refuses to give the name of his friend Has
not heard that money had been spent by the
nents Of the road to defeat 1t before the Council
Sworn to and subscribed before me, July 5, 1854.
Chairman Committee of Board Of Aldermen
Z EAE- * e. L. Tracy IL
w., g Chairman Committee of Board of Assistants
~ TESTIMONY EGERToN.
Witness does know of single member of the Coun-
ell who influenced to vote in favor of the ordinance
does not know of who influenced to vote
against the ordinance
Witness called several members of the Boards bht
only spoke to them of the merits of the ordinance
other did he attempt to influence their votes
Does not directly or indirectly, know any thing that
could put the committee in the way of discovering if
improper influence had been used to obtain the
members either in favor against the ordinance Mr.
Bennett offered note in the Southern Bank which was
rejected Witness did not discount it individually Mr.
Bennett withdrew his account from the bank Witness
told by several parties that if the note discounted
ordinance
Witness declined discounting the note.
Mr.. Egerton studously avoided to make any promise
to any body locating of depots to mix himself in
any way make promises either as an individual or
President of the bank railroad contingent on the
success of this measure
Witness cognizsnt of any promise made by the
agent agents of the road. sz=.s -azs{ NJ
Witness believes that he had accepted the proposition
of Mr. Gordon to adopt the line of the Mexican Gulf Rail
road in connection with the extension of the Pontchar
train Railroad to Mobile, that Mr. Gordon would have
voted for the ordinance Witness further that Mr.
Gordon considers that line the and cheapest mode
of communication between New Orleans and Mobile and
that he would advocate it before the Council not as an
individual but as an Alderman believing it to be to tht
best interest of the city. -t
only require issue of 500ooo bonds instead Of 81 00
ooo which 100000 would be required to purchase tbs
Mexican Gulf Railroad and $500 900 the continuation
Of the road to the Nine Mile Bayou.
Mr. Gordon further stated to witness that if his propo
sition accepted he supposed the ordinance woult
meet with no opposition from either Board
Mr. Egerton does not know of any offers either directly
or indirectly made to any member Of the Boards by Mr.
Hennen
No such conversation as related by Mr. Maddox tool
place in relation to bbing securing Mr. Benefits yo
by discount in bank. 1t is not true.
W. H e. J. EaERroN.
Sworn to and subscribed before me- this day July
1854 W. A. GoRpos
Chairman Committee of Board of Aldermen
d. L. TRACY,
s. Chairman Committee of Board of Assistants
Mr. Gordon stated that the only conversation he ha
had with Mr. Egerton the subectof the railroad too
place incidentally before the matter had been
either in the papers before the Council and before
notifications had been made to the original ordinance
That in saying if the plan changed, he thought
would meet with little or opposition he governe
solely by the fact that the objections that urged
members opposed to it not to the construction of
road to Mobile but to the difficulties of the
the great cost and the unness to the city of the pa
proposed all of which he thought would be obyiated
another line which, for the sake Of the city, he much
greted not adopted That the plan reerre
TO- and terms of purchase of the Mexican Gulf Railroad
published in almost all the newppapers of the cit
for the general inspection and that but for the fear of
miseOnstruction of his motives he would have urged il
adoption with far earnestpess than he did. l5
Gus CLAIBORNE. Secretary.
TESTIMONY TAYLOR.
Witness knows nothing that can aid the committee
this investigation nothing but reports that did
Germ MIR. Dobear more than any other member,
lzs..ll1niz- SEwELl. 7. TAYLOR.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this day. July
| 1861. W. A. GORDON,
II e. L. TRACY.
TESTIMONY
Witness says that in oculuar manner he had stated
the presence Messrs Dolbear EEeron and Others
he had no interest to for the road but that if
some residence the other side of the lake pr
sented to him. he might be induced to give support
the road The next day Mr. Dolbear called and stated
witness that his observation of the previous day
very proper and by another remark which witne
cannot remember. the impression was made his min
that MI Dolbear with the intention of brbipg hin
Witness did permit him to go to be able
say with certude that he with that intention bu
he believed it, from Mr. Dobears manner and
ton and answered with indignation that he would
Mr. Dolbear's Mr.. Egerton's throat If such dshono
able propositions made to him. Witness ths
he very angry at the time Witness regretted the
and ever since and will that he did not allow NJ
IN ha milo bavp rad he ple