The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-02-12

and my acquaintance has continued to
the, present time. 1 .+,l
Quest. Please look at the affidavit
here shown YOU and marked exhibit Is
of Rutter's deposition, and also made
exhibit B ofyour rdeposition,. and state
the circumstances under which 1t was
made also state al you may know re-
lative to the truth of the matter there
swo to also look Mt letters G, d, 1,
+ and G here shown you and marked
exhibits, and state all you may know re-
lative to the contents and truth of the
statements made in each of said letters,
the circumstances under which the let
ters were written, who wrote them, and
all you may know relative to the trans
actions disclosed, either in said affidavit
or said letters. ....'I ..'-r. . H.
Ans. The affidavit shown me is mine,
made OIL the day it bears date; made
it at the request Of Mr., Rutter: he had
previously written statement of mine
to the same effect: the statements made
therein are true; | might have been
mistaken as to the given name, or the in.
itials of the person; in every other re-
spect the affidavit is correct and true,
the letters shown me are in my hand
writing, and contain the version of the
transaction as it occurred from day to
day, Of which took this means of it,
forming Mr.. Rutter from time to time.
Quest AT whose instance did you
come to Nashville, and when and under
what solicitation, etc. tt' .-i r't'
Ans. came to Nashville first in jan
uary, 1866. j had started to Nashville
on business personal to myself | met
Mr.. Rutter on the road and he employ
ed me to assist him, in defeating Mr.
Cherry, the President of the Merchants
National Bank of Memphis. in his efforts
to have that bank appointed Fiscal
Agent of the State ON deposit. Mr..
Cherry was here and actively Mt work
for that purpose. and had resolution.
or other legislative means pending look
ing to that end. After these were de-
feated. Mr.. Rutter then employed me
in having his bank selected for these
purposes. .al ~ s.' .il 'tt.
Quest. How did you aid him in this,
and by what means? .u 'u.'.
Ans. The ultimate plan adopted was
that we would have passed resolution
or billthrough the Legislature leaving
it to some one or more of the State Ex-
ecutive officers to designate what banks
should be the fiscal agents and deposit
tories of the State. and would get polit-
ical friends so to indorse us as would
secure the first appointment. and there
by insure large deposit and great in
fluence; this plan ultimately succeeded,
and we secured tile passage of a bill to
that effect the torty-third section Of
the act passed May 26. 1866, being the
general appropriation bill, give the
power and authority to the Treasurer
to select the depositors, taking a bond
for two hundred thousand dollars the
bond was given by Mr.nRutter, approv-
ed by the Governor and received by the
Treasurer; / desire TO say that did
not get any of these funds. nor did see
them, nor did know that the fund
would be hazarded at that time, or
know when the deposit was made; |
thought that it would be fully as safe in
the Tennessee National Bank as where
it was. tlIps , Hi 4ufi..t Ht .,u
Quest What influences were brought
to jbenr upon members. or what means
used to secure the passage of this 43d
section, and what was the history of its
Ans. OF course we became acquaint-
ed with members, and in a social way
sought for their good opinion, rendered
service int way Of drawing resolu-
tions. bills and charters in short, adopt
ed all the means usual to lobbying. In
Iadditionsto these, we made promise to
many members, (and to othors for their
intluence.) Offering to discount their
notes orlend them money as they might
need it. There never was, so far as |
know, any money given directly in con-
sideration Of q specified note or a di-
rect bargain made to. any member to
the effect that if he voted for certain
resolution or bill he should have so
much money. We gave promise and
extended tavors pending these nego-
tiatiOns or transactions, with the follow
ing gentlemen. s. NJ. Arnell. of Maui
ry, received part in consideration of 4
note discounted, and part in cash. l
cannot state the proportions-tilty-five
hundred dollars, as loan, ! believe.-
F.,S. Richards, ofShelby, partly in con-
sideration Of his note discounted, and
partly in cash, received tilty-tive hum
dred dollars. i know that five hum
dred Of this was in cash sent by Mr.
Rutter all as loan. Mr.. Wines OF
Montgomery, received twenty-five hum
dred dollars. don't know whether he
ever gave any note or not. He said he
wanted to speculate In some lands in
the Northwest. james Mullins, of Bed
ford. TO my knowledge received only
five hundred dollars in cash. / don't
know that he ever gave any note. w.
X. Hall, Senator, received one thousand
dollars Tor which he executed hisnote,
with some gentleman from kentucky.
think, as indorser. AL these gentle
men promised to return the, money at
some time. or, something to thai effect.
There was "a young man who was fre-
'quently with Mr.. Wilson Dusgan, of
SEWER, who came to me and said if !
would give him one hundred dollars he
would secure Duggan's dinfuence. II
gave ii to, him. IVY hat he did withiit |
don't know, nor do remember his
name. j I,saw1Mr Rutter present DR..
,Mulloy with suit of clothes.l Gen.
John Eaton, Jr., told me that he was in
the employ Of Mr.. Rutter to secure the
passage of the bill. We consulted to-
gether frequently. He received one
hundred dollars at one time tonpqy
travelling expenses. All these transac-
,tions were had pending the passage OF
the bill, 'beforcit passed. disbursed
about thirteen thousand dollars to vari-
t,,. 10 1, Il ,ltt n