Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-30
From the Newport (R. l. News.
Senator sim ous-Xich Develop.
ments

In the course of the trial now progressing be
fore the United States Circuit Court i'm this citv
in which John Norris seeks to recover for servi-
ces alleged to have been rendered the Providence
Tool Company, ia negotiating contract with
the United States Government for the manufac-
ture OF muskets. the following signi dcant facts
were ELECTED and sworn to. The Treasurer of
the Company. John Il. An hony, ESQ. was
placed upon the stand and testified that the Com
pany had contract with the Government to
manufacture % 900 mu~kets, negotiated by the
assistance OF Senator Simmons and several
others, among whom WAS Senator Anthony. sim
ply supposed ont OF irIe1dly desire on
the part OF those gentlemen to help their friends.
There was not the slightest bargain made with
any of them in reference TO any remuneration
for any assistance rendered
Mr.. Anthony further testified that after the con-
tract was negotiated Senator Simmons met him.
and remarked that the company ought to make
him handsome present for that contract. Mr.
Anthony thought the Senator was testing At first
aud paid but little attention to the matter. Soon
however, being waylaid again to the same pur-
pose. Mr.. Anthony said he was not authorized 10
do any such thing. and could not do it, Senator
Simmons then went 10 work upon the directors
aud whenever he met any OF them insisted that
the company were in his debt and claimed the
specified sum OF i've thousand dollars. But they
all and always repudiated his claim He further
testified that the first contract the one for which
Senator Simmons claimed bonus) was uuproft
able. because the machinery necessary TO manu-
facture the muskets cost much more than was am
ticpated. and so much to render the contract
an Improbable one That the fact made the
company very anxious to negotiate a second CON
tract, by which they could be reimbursed for
losses on the first contract. Senator Simmons
was aware OF this fact. and after irwin. the bG.
ton hole process ON the Treasurer and Directors
with Indifferent success, he concluded % euter
upon little sharper Practice by treading ON
the cOmpany's corns. So, whenever he met the
Treasurer or the Directors. re intnated that if
they wanted his influence in negotiating second
contract. tbey must come down with cool FIVE
thousand And that finally Senator Simmons
being about 10 engage in some business
specu'ations told him. the witness, that he
needed the money. aud If they would not give
il to him TREY must lend il to him. or he would
only not lend them his influence in negoti,
ting second contract, but would use il against
them This had the lies rel effect, and Mr. An
him for five thousand dollars. which was subse
quenrly charged upon the books OF the Company
and that afterwards upon requesting of Senator
Simmons his note as evidence and securit, foe the
money loaned, he treated by the Senator
with very discreet silence But Ito give the
devil his DUE" We must add that the Company
succeeded in negotiating second and more
profitable contract with the Government and that
Senator Simmons did assist them by his influence
with the Government, and did, Ike Oliver I visit,
ask for more money. and kept asking for more
which he did not get. o. Tempora' o, Mores.