The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-02-15

[FRON OUR OWN CORRESP ONDENEl
THE BROCK INVESTIGATION CoNTINUED-A FORMIDABLE
ARRAY OF CoUNsEL-GREAT EFFORTS To SUPPRESS
Observation-Disclosures OF MEsSRs. BEALE, BARTON,
CARTER, wILMoT AND oTHERs--A DISINTEREsTED
CITY CONTAMINATION PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE BRO
KENUP, &C., &C.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. H. 1860.
The investigation in the matter of the Travers-
Brock railway grant has been going on all day,
and is not yet concluded. J. Douglas Hambleton,
ESQ.,, appeared to-day for the opponents of the
Brock charter, and Ex-Governor Pratt, T. S. AL
exander and j. Mason Campbell, Esqrs., for Brock
Governor Pratt is said to have fee of S25 900 con-
tingent on carrying the Brock bill through, in ad
diton to a retainer large enough to cover all ex
penses, &c. The great effort the part of Brooks
counsel has been to limit the investigation by the
application Of the strict technical rules which gov
ern the production of evidence in Courts of justice
in suits between private parties. This Mr.. Ham
bleton strenuously resisted contending with great
earnestness that the ordinance itself on trial
and any fact showing it to have been carried by
corruption ough to come out. Mr.. Legge, a mem
Der of the committee, sustained this view, and said
that the first question to be determined was how
the ordinance was passed-theH the inquiry might be
extended so as to embrace Brooks connection with
it. This question of private right, said Mr..
Legge, to which of two parties shall be permitted
to plumber Baltimore. 1t is the duty of the Legis
lature to guard the peoples interests. The wit
nesses examined to-day were Messrs. Browning
McPhail, Barton, Beale. Sangston. Wilmot ard
Carter. Mr.. Browning knew nothing about the
matter-was perfectly disinterested and forth.
Mr.. James l.. McPhail admitted that Barton had
endeavOred to secure his influence for the Brock
ordinance-whereupon Brooks counsel suggested
that Barton himself ought to be put the stand
and so, after much argument, it decided. Bar
ton being put on the stand asked whether he
pOdpa VOrpH Mcph1IHS 1Otupupa mr.
Brock. Brooks counsel asked whether Brock had
authorized him to do Barton said no. and
counsel insisted that his evidence ought not to be
admitted unless Brooks completely was shown.
After much discussion, the Chairman of the Com
mittee, Mr.. Goldsborough, decided to vary the
| form of interrogatOry thus: he asked Barton
| whether he offered the editors of the Baltimore
| Clipper money as an inducement to support the
| Travers' ordinance. Barton said he did-that he
offered Col. Whitley $4,000, and Bull and futile
| 50, 900 apiece-in all $4,000. He was then asked
who authorized him to make the offer-to which
question Brooks counsel strenuousy objected. The
| objections being overruled, Barton answered that
| neither the grantees nor assignees had authorized
| him to make any such offer-that he made the
proposition, simply, as a friend of Mr.. Gardner,
CLERK of the Criminal Court and that after Bull
& futile had rejected it, he mentioned it to Gard
| ner, who told him that he had done wrong. Gard
| ner had told Barton that he would make it his in
erest to go for the Travers grant. Barton accord
| ngly lobbied for the bl-he offered no money! but
used has influence. He conversed with most of the
members on the subject. When asked whether the
| Clipper people would have been paid it they had
accepted his offer, he said that he thought that he
| could get the money for them from Gardner. He
thought that tne grant would be worth great deal
| of money-there were good many outside parties
to be paid, and he didn't suppose that the grantees
toeuld keep all to themselves. During the whole of
Bartons testimony, Brooks counsel exhibited great
uneasiness, and the witness greatly agtated.-
Barton is at present receiver of the City Passenger
| Railwav-receves the money from the conductors
&c. William E. Beale was next examined
and proved very swift witness for Brock
& Co. Without prompting or questioning
the witness went into long history Of the City
| Passenger Railway grant. Witness had been APP
preached by the friends of each of the three inca
| sures pending before the Council. Durus Carter
of the Carter Smith bill had offered him three
thousand dollars of the stock to support their BILL
Mr.. Clarke of the Brooks & Barnum party had
called upon him to use his influence in their favor
and offered anything he wanted, any situation or
contract that he might desire. Witness virtuousy
rejected every offer and gave his entire and disnte
rested support to the Travers bill-because it was
the best and made the best offer for the of the
cars. Witness had no confidence in the other bills
considered them bogus measures. The three cent
measure came too late, and was only introduced to
kill the Brock bill There was nothing in it. Mr.
Montague came to witness and said "Uacle Bill,
won't you support this bil?'' Witness said no
couldn't do it. The Brooks party offered him
money. The Carter & Smith party offered him
money-but the Travers party?-"No, sr--on my
honor-not a cent.-Witness accordingly voted for
the Trayers bill. Mr.. Sangston was next examin-
ed in reference to the publication of the Philade-
phia correspondence relative to the polit-
| cal antecedents of Brock and his associates
| Mr.. S. desired TO make n personal expla-
natiou-had obtained copies of the letters from Mr.
W. 7. Walters, of Baltimore, and had authority
| from Mr.. Gordon, member of the Committee to
publish them. Gov. Pratt crOss-examined Mr.
Sangston-asked if Mr. Walters not Director
in the Northern Central Railroad Company; a
| road owned by Simon Cameron; whether he was
not put there by Cameron, and whether Cameron
was not the blacklist of Black Republicans To
all of which Mr.. Sangston responded that he did not
| know.
Durus Carter was examined in reference to Beale's
charges against him. MIR. Carter said that he went
to see Beae, who promised his support and sent him
| to see two others; also went to Mr.. Thompson,
| the Mayors Secretary, who told him that it would
cost $4,000 to pass his BILL Mr.. Carter replied that
he had no money, and Thompson said that there was
no use then in talking about it; witness never made
| Beae any Offer at any time, for his support.
| John u. Wllmot was next put upon the stand
and testified that on the day of the meeting of the
| friends of Three Cent Fare in Monument Square
| Gardner sent for him at Guys and offered him $50
to preside at the meetings raised the offer to 500:
! but witness would not consent to put himself in
| ridiculous position. Had a conversation in refer
ence to the meeting with Gardner and Alfred D.
| agreed that witness should be called out to make
speech in favor of the Travers' bill. Witness &C
cordingly went to the meeting to be on hand, but
| there was meeting held; attempt even to Or
ganize. Had one been made it could not have been
successful. Messrs. Talbot and Wood, of the CITY
| Council, we're there, and crowd of persons who,
| as soon as it was dark, threw down the torches