Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-29

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son than those spoken of who received
money in consideration Of services
rendered TO secure your bank as fiscal
agent?
Al paid W. H. Pearne some
money TO go up and e Bosom in
reference to the bank matter. | met
Thomas H.-Pearne on the cars be-
tween Nashville and Bristol, and
when he found out that l was going
to "let out" on the party, he advised
me to leave the State and go up in
Virginia "for my health" he being
into all the little party "fiagrancies."
Q.-Do you know any other or
further fact of interest or benefit to the
State in connection with the subject of
inquiry before the committee?
Am answer to that, allow me
to file the following statement:
GEO. r. RUTTER.
STATEMENT OF g.. r. RUPTER, GIVEN
aui1 tGu by HIMSELF.
NASHVILLE, TENN, April = 1870.
Hon. VIM. Green, Chairman, ETC.:
In compliance with the request
made by Hon. --, l hereby give
YOU a brief statement OF the deposit
called the school fund in the Tennessee
National Bank of Memphis. This
bank was organized in January, 1866,
under favorable auspices, and at the
time received the State deposits; was
making money, but as soon as it be-
came the victim Of political manipu-
IatiOn its future became sealed. 1t was
agreed among leading Radical politi-
clans of the State, among whom ares.
NJ. Arnell, James Mullins, Gen. John
Eaton, Jr., Barbour Lewis, Smith &
Co., that if this bank would stand
up to the Radical party all the
weight and power of the party
would be brought to bear to
favor it by any and all means, TWEEN
ty thousand dollars was advanced to
them by which to pe~rpetuate their
power in Memphis through the Me-
tropOlitan Police of that city. Con-
slant applications and assessments
were made upOn me for money to
support the party in its manipulation
of State and local politics. A good
deal of money was used by the agents
of the bank and myself among lead
ing and prominent members Of the
Legislature OF 1867, as also among
leading and prominent Radical poll
ticians in other sections of the State,
in the appointment of this bank as
fiscal agent. Some of these men,
among whom are Spence, Nc
Elwee, Mullins, Arnell, Eaton,
Lewis, ETC., when l had become
so completely mixed up in the
filthy messes (meshes) Of political cor
ruptiOn, became so persistent
in their demands for money, that
black mail and every species of fraud
was resorted to by some of them to
obtain money, which was distributed
among Loyal Leagues, paid out for
the sustenance of negroes transferred
by General Smith and sam. Arnell to
send them to Congress. Honey was
paid out to sustain and support Gen
eFal EatOn's paper, the Memphis
Post. The Press ard Times, the Rad
ical State organ, was paid money to
assist US in the passage of the bill.
Richards, Speaker Of the House, was
furnished with money to pay his Pat-
rimOnIal expenses to Chicago. Co.
side of nay own statemenA
it will be seen by reference to
the last report, that not only
did leading men of this party vote
for the bill creating fiscal agents, but
advised the Treasurer to deposit this
fund In this bank, which was fully
covered in this bill. am satisfied
that their secret purpose was to take
this fund from the hands Of the Comp
troIler, Secretary and Governor, and
place it where they hoped to manipu-
late it. Col. Bosom, I feel satisfied,
introduced a bill in the Senate to es-
tablish q State National Bank for po-
litical purposes, but it Jailed, and the
Tennessee National Bank was used in
its stead. 1t appears that Arneil
wanted to nOneOncuF in the passage
Of the fOrty-third section. The reason
was that he wanted to insert the name
of the Tennessee National Bank and
f. i as the fiscal agent beyond doubt,
for | sat ReaF Aim during its discus
sion.
The written testimony of all the
witnesses is now in the hands of the
committee, subject to the order of this
General Assembly. And your COM
mittee, having fully, fairly and i'm
partially discharged the duties as
signed to them, without any wish or
desire to criminate any one through
malice or i'll will, and with the same
desire to array all the facts in the case
without any GolOring taken from pO-
Htical taste or feeling, ask to be dis
charged from the further consideration
of the matter referred to them.
Respectfully,
JAMES WHITE,
Chairman on part of House.
s.. L. WARREN,
W, 7, NIXON,
VIM. GREEN,
Chairman on part of Senate.
N. A. ID. BRYANT,
j, MORRIS.