New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-21
THE CREDIT MOBUIER.


AN INTERVIEW WITH MCOMB-WHY TIE TBSTI-
MONY WAS MADE PUBLIC-NO POLITICAL
SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DIsCLOSURE-WHO
QUIGLEY IS-INTEREsTING FACTS.
The following interview with Henry S. Nc
Comb by Gath OF The chicago Tribune, reveals con-
siderable interesting information concerning the Credit
Mobier scandal:
rand to get from you the impartial truth as to the
revelations OF late made concerning tho of Credit
MObier stock allotted to members OF Congress ABOUT
the year 1863. You have the published extracts
and the printed memoranda made by upon the back
or 5000 shares respectively, set down to these per
sons Blaine. Cofax. Boutwell,, Garfield Kelley, BDg-
ham; Senator's Patterson OF NewHampshire, Fowler,
and Henry Wilson; ScO1eld and Kelley the deceased
member Eliot, and Henry l.. Dawes. / wish to know II
80 much been said already, to the testimony"
Col. McCOmb-" have given my testimony before the
The letters from Oakes Ames in my possession, and
copies OF them have been taken in the testimony. But
was surprised the letters and several columns OF
the testimony printed here In the public papers and dis
claim any agency In that revelation IL would not be
proper to give an order 70 see the testimony
unless Mr. McMurtrie, counsel for the defense, con-
Cured" ,,
cast they not parts OF the testimony to do INJURY
toeninent ana innocent peopleP
Col McCOmb-"TD eY are parts or the testimony, ana
that the why can have no hand In anticpat-
ing Their inevitable publicity somebody in your pro-
script and taken that part of the evidenceGometimes
copied 1t with haste aud often without accuracy, and
again attempted 10 condense It. He has besides copied
injurious parts without the link between But what Is
printed is Substantially there endeayored to keep the
names OF those gentlemen back but Mr. Cakes Amos was
perfectly Indifferent TO the exposure OF his friends He
Is about to retire from Congress life, and will take no
step TO cover unybOdy's nakedness."
"'HOw did you seek To avoid this disclosure I"
Col McConbi me nfst place - tTied 10 nave me
mssioners. 10 DO named by the Court both parties %
the suit conenting. They had all along been saying
that my suit merely a blackmail operation and.
when brought IL to trial, and expressed my Willingness
10 nut IL in abb ration, Ames Alley, Dillon and the
raat
court he hasno case and shows that no mas none ny
making it private tIalP / thus forced 10 bring
open suit In Tie State Courts Of Equity laid my papers
OF all which bore reference 10 this suit. before my
counsel Juds3 Black He read them over, and said:
'MC0mb, these will never dare to let this case
TO trial with these regulations involved IN But
they did. andfought ana decd II at every step Finally
L a SPOT where, IN tine crOsseXaminaton, these
letters Of Oaies Ames were vital to my cause aud
PEELED TO puthem IN. Ames knew all about their con
tents but ms lid not move one step. produced them
after repeated taunts to do So and transcript OF them
has come to light, could not, probably. DO avoided
have no hesitation IN SAYING that mad been assisted Oy
sacrifice rathr than betray them, he has permitted
the course OF this suit TO 40. with all those gentlemen
stand upm terms OF fair fellowship and most OF them
arc partYIriends."
"Tnere Is d politics In this suit, thenl"
Col. MCOnb-" None whatever! told the editor OF
your paper,h the BrevoOrt House, last July. that
could not support Greeley that Grant was not my first
choice but tat could not be convinced to vote Tor
Greeley. Th suit in which am plaintiff began before
Gen. Grant had fairly got into bis Office IL Is Tor d.
rect and considerable m0ney-lOss Whlch Odke5 AmeS
Obliged me make by his bad falth-a loss which is not
merely in stock not delivered. but stock which took
from my owl share 90 keep contract with friend.
The letters Ames belong to this suit showing that no
prOfessed divert my stock 10 Legislative uses, ana act
rs the russe for those Congressman to whom he pre-
sented 1t nd the memorandum on the back OF one OF
these ettel shows that just the amount ne TOOK from
me he quito the account the persons thereon named
The nane be read to mo the books Of the Credit
MOblier wrote down in the Office as he dictated the
They remln as they were put that letter many
ago repeat that if had not got those letters
in a the nne put them IN, they would not nave been
in order subsequently,"
Glow came you to lose your own stock through
Ames combcatng yours T.
Col. McJOmb-" IL happened in this wise: Hamilton
G. FAINT sked me to take up for him, when came TO
New-Yori. t25,OOO worth OF Credit Mobllier shares.
gave thcOder for IT, and told Crane the Secretary 10
draw on lin for the money. They said they did not
know muh about FAINT, and preferred my check. got
power attorney from FAINT 70 make the purchase,
but pwer OF attorney was bad in FORM and Crane,
the Secretary OF the Credit Moblier, made out . new
and power of a;torney-which Is link or cyl
dence inmy suit got certified check OF my own, ana
paid for he stock Tns check was misaid IN the once
and whe after some me 1t was discovered that FAINT
had not )ad for his stock, Company drew draft
upon hin for the amount His circumstances had mean
time changed, and the draft came back protested Inc
COMPANY now notified that they expected me TO pay
the draf and this led 10 search for the certified check
which TO light. At this period was called away,
and WA absent for time-some three or four
Notwithstanding to matters IN MSssnt qn.
deyerto him s2O 900 worth OF stock. and expected to
give him Fants stock Cakes Ames however. would
not deliver TO me Fans STOCK and In excuse showed Inc
In the registry book that he had dlsDursed the sloOoO
among the members OF Congress aforesaid was, there
fore, forced To take OF my Credit Mobler stock
SIS 900 worth at the original valuation, and deliver TO
KING Ny suit is tins stock and the dividends which
IL produced Whether Cakes Ames kept It, or PAID dyi
dends bonds money out OF IL 10 others Is not my
business TO inquire. / want what Is mine"
e" How does Fants name appear III your suit added 10
the llsto defendantsP
Col McComb-'rhey had arranged at one time TO get
FAINT their side 10 rout me in the suit and put him
Ia viii the rest" -
Arr not some OF the of the defendants used as
mere tlindsi"
Col McComb-'Yes; Rowland, Pohl, and several Others
OF no note in the Credit Mobilier."
"Wlo got the charter for the Credit MobilierT .
"GeOrge Francis Train got 1t for Durant, who paid
him $1,000 for It."
"WIy DO the Ames party dislike Durantp
Col MCOmb-" They were jealous OF him, and have
been laundering him for several years, saying that he
dishoiesi; made with bonds, earnings etc
At time induced 10 believe these things but
found Durant had more brains and moro honesty than
their party"
"Lthe testimony OF Ames, Alley. and Others IN tho
suit u the OF Pennsylvania for taxes, reaDlef
Col. MComb-" No, IL Is all false. They sworo they
made dividends, when Amess letters ~ me assert
just tho contrary"
"Col M'Oomb what does this line mean In the memo
randi published Painter Rep.) for Qugley, 3,00P
know who Painter U.s. and suppose the Rep means
reporter. Who IL Qiscy ="
Col Acknowledgment IL towDBman OF mine, in
Wilmington, Del. That has been enormously copied
from my memoranda In The Sif,. Tho reporter vino
took II down for that paper must have been nervous,
aud ne has mAdo several LiI-lkca. Tho names OF
Painter ANA Quigey belong 10 another mlmura dun.
Tney utcIOstcd VITA in tuo canal property be-