Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-17
Arnslls Share Of the School Fund.

In the House yesterday, Mr. Taylor, o
Carter and johnson, Chairman of thu
School Fund Investigating Committee
submitted some additional testimony, Of
which the following is a synopsis:
| J. j. Noah sworn: Mr. ArHell stated
I 10 me that the sum of $500 had been
lodged by Mr.. Rutter in Mr.. Mullins
hands for the purpose of making that sum
present to him (Arnell). Ee desired
to ask my advice as to the propriety oi
the acceptance of this sum This was
while Mr. Arnell was a representative in
the General Assembly. Iinqnired if the
sum was intended as O fee for attorney 8
services, to which Mr.. Arnell re piled that
he thought not. | then counseled him
not to receive the said amount, as it
might be improperly construed. Mr..
Arnell stated that be concurred in my
view, but that there was nothing wrong
in the affair. Subsequently Mr.. Arnell
requested me to see Col Mullins, and
desire him (Mullins) to pay the $500 over
to E. P. Cone, which ] did. Mr.. Mullins
seemed surprised at my knowing any
thing about it, but stated that he would
comply with Mr.. ArnelPs req aest.
What became of the $500 / have no
knowledge. / subsequently, told ANr.
Cone what had transpired about tn e
payment of this $500 to him.
l desire to state that Mr.. Arnell's con-
versation with me about the $500 was
stated by him to be confidential, but was
not placed before me as his lawyer-sim.
ply as his friend. / therefore give this
evidence involuntariy.
ID. 3. French, cotton and commission
merchant, of Nashville, sworn: Witness
was shown at his warehouse on Clark
street a letter purporting to be from s.
M. Arnell, dated at Washington, D. G.,
and addressed TO DR.. D. A. Davidson.
Thought this was about December, 1861.
Gathered from the letter the following
facts: That $4,000 had been RENTED
from Memphis to DIR. Davidson for
Arnell, and that the money came from
the man who took the School Fund to
Memphis. Also gathered from the letter
that Arnell was expecting to get $4,000
or $l0,0 at Washington for supporting
some measure-either on the impeach-
ment matter, or the whisky tax, or some
financial measure; that he and Davidson
were then to go to banking, and that
Arnell was in this manner TO proc ure
his part of the fund necessary to carry
on a, bank.
George W. Goodwin, clerk for Mr..
French, sworn: Was present when DR..
Davidson was in the warehouse. Saw
the letter but did not read it. Gathered
from the conversation between Mr.. |
French and DR.. Davidson that the S. |
BOO obtained by Arnell from Memphis |
was either part of the School Fund or
in some way connected with it. DR.. !
Davidson was speaking of establishing
bank in Columbia.
James Irwin and F. A. Irwin, of this
city, substsntiated the statements made
BY Messrs French aud Goodwin.
DR.. Davidson, of Maury county, sworn
Was about the Legislature in the spring
If 1866. Arnell had borrowed money of
him, and tried to get some money from
he Peoples Bank, but failed. Was sub
notified by Arnell that $4,000
would be expressed to witness for him
ArnelD, the understanding of witness
,eing that the money was to come from
autter's bank. This money was subse-
luently handed to witness by Arnell, on
he Public Square at Columbia, and wit
less paid greatest part of it out satisfy
ng debts owing to himself and others by
Arnell. Witness showed Mr.. Il. s. French
! letter from Arnell about the time men.
ioned by Mr.. French in his testimony.