Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-03

bank selected for these purposes.
/ Qnes How did you aid him in this
and by what means?
Ans. The Ultimate plan adonted wa,
Ihat we would have passed a resolution
or bal through the Legislature leaving Il
70 some one or moro of the State Execu-
tive officers TO designate what banks
should be the fiscal agents and deposito,
RES OF the State, and would get poIical
friends so to indorse US as would SCENE
the first appointment, and thereby insure
large deposit and great influence this
pan ultimately succeeded, and we se-
cured the passage of bill to that effect
the forty-third section of the act passed
May 70, 1866, being the general appro.
priation bill, give the power and author
ity to the Treasurer 10 select the de
posters, taking a bond for two hundred
thousand dollars; the bond was given by
MIR: Rutter, approved by the Governor
and received by tho Treasurer; desire
20 say that 1 did not get any Of these
funds, nor did L ever 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
iuiiy as safe in the Tennessee National
Bank as where it was.
quest. What influences were brought
to bear upon members, OF what means
used to secure the passage of this 43d
section, and what was the history of its
passage, and upon what members I?
Ans. VI course We became acquainted
with members, and in a social way sought
lor their good opinion, rendered services
in the way of drawing resolutions, bills
and charters in short, adopted all the
means usual to lobbying. In addition to
these, We made promise to many mem
bers, (and to others for their influenced
Offering to discount their notes or
lend them money as they might need
IL. There never was, SO far as l
know, any money given directly in con-
slderatiOn of a specified note or direct
bargain made to any member to the effect
that If he voted for a certain resolution or
bill he should have so much money.
We gave promise and extended fayors
pending these negotiations OF transac-
tons, with the following gentlemen: s.
N. Arnell Of Maury, received part in con-
slderation of note discounted, and part
IN cash. cannot state the proportions
hity>five hundred dollars, rs loan, be-
lleye. b. s. Richards, Of Shelby, partly
In consideration of his note discounted,
and partly in cash, received fifty>
five hundred dollars. know
that five hundred of this was in
cash sent by Mr.. Rutter, all as a lean.
Mr. Withers of Montgomery, received
twenty-five hundred dollars. | don't
know whether he ever gave any note OF
not. He said he wanted to speculate in
some lands in the Northwest. James
Mullins, OF Bedford, to my knowledge re-
ceiVed only five hundred dollars in cash.
| don't know that he ever gave any note.
W. h. Hall, Senator, received one thou
sand dollars for which he executed his |
note, with some gentlemen from Ken
tccky, think, as indOrser. All these gem /
tlemen promised to return the money at
some time, or something to that effect.
There was young man who was fire.
quently with Mr.. Wilson Duggan, Of Sc
yier, who came to me and said if would
give him one hundred dollars he would
secure Duggan's influence. | gave it to
him. What he did with it don't know,
nor do l remember his name. | saw Mr..
Rutter present DIR. Mulloy with a suit of
clothes. Gen. John Eaton, Jr., told me
that he was in the employ of Mr. Rutter
to secure the passage of the bill. We
consulted together frequently. He re-
celved one hundred dollars at one time to
pay travelling expenses. All these trans
actions were had pending the passage Of
the bill, and before it passed. discussed
about thirteen thousand dollars to Vari-
Gus persons outside the Legislature TO Sc
cure influence. am now sued for the
money. ID -- -. -s. -..-.
Quest. State whore the thirteen
thousand dollars was deposited, and by
whom actually paid out.
Ans. II was never deposited at all l
paid out some from hand to hand. For
other amounts drew checks on the Ten
nessee National Bank, and | would hand
the check to some one, frequently third
party, and saw the check ne more. Gen
orally | received actual cash, and paid it
out myself, great deal for drinks, sup
pers, drives, loans, etc.
Quest. Who did you regard as the
warm friends Of the measure?
Ans. The warmest friends were Ar
nell, FusOn, Mullins, Duggan, Donald
son, Mulloy, Patton, Wines and many
others-these were the gentlemen who
consulted together. In the Senate were
Hall, Cypert, Mckinney and others.
Cues. From your letters you express
some doubts as to Richards. w. j. Smith
and others. Were these gentlemen enc
mics of the bill ?
Ans. They both were enemies of the
bill, for time. They afterward became
friends tOit and so expressed themselves.
During the investigation afterward, Rich
ards made the best speech on the side of
the bank that was made in the House. |
never made the initiative to these gentle
men (Smith and Richards). They ap-
preached me as CO workers and friends of
Rutter's.
CUES. You have spoken of moneys that
you have diSbursed. Do you know of
any other persons paying out any to the
same end
Ans. The moneys | have heretofore |
spoken Of were those discussed by myself |
and Rutter, and are such az come within
my personal knowledge. | heard Rntter |
say that be had given S. X. N. Patton |
some money. don't remember the
j think four or five thousand dol |
lars also Barbour Lewis, General Eaton, |
John Martin and Judge Leonard. | I'M
derstood him to say and mean that these |
gentlemen had been paid for services rem
dered in getting the State deposits and the
fiscal agency for his bank. | heard him
speak of having paid out other moneys,
but can not state the connection. News
papers were paid for inserting articles IA
Vorable to the bank. These articles were
usually written by outside parties, and the
papers paid to insert them as editorials.
know that the Press and Times was paid
for inserting an editorial which / wrote,
the passage of such bill
a was finally passed. The Banna was
paid for inserting an article, As editorial,
bat / do not remember the substance; /
.hink it was TO prevent the passage Of
iscal agency bill, differing from the one
We passed. All these transactions took
place two years ago, and have not recalled
hem since.
Quest. What bank in Nashville usually
.ook your checks2
Ans. Mainly Wing, Toby q Co., though
hey we're taken by several banks and per-
'Ons. MOst Of the checks drawn by me
vent to Memphis by private hands
CORRESPONDENTS
The following are copies of kilograms
md letters, or portions thereof, addressed
1y Parham to Butter:
NASHVILLE, February 5, 1S66.-Al is