New-York tribune., 1873-02-12
THE CONGRESS SCANDAL.


4
| asked him if he was ready to produce his memoran-
DUN book He replied that he preferred not to show
| it until Mr.. COfax had made the effort to impeach
| his testimony, which he understood he meant to
make.
Mr.. Poland insisted that the book should be forth
with exhibited. Mr. Ames replied that he had not
| got It, There was o look of astonishment and in
dignatiou ON the face Of the spectators who began
70 fear they had been sold. Where Is the book "
| asked Mr. Poland. Horace +. Clark has it"
replied Mr. Ames Where is Mr.. Clarkf" AT
the Arlington The Arlington is about q mile and
half from the Capitol. and there was nothing TO do
but 10 wait till the Sorgeant-atArms had made the
journey there and back. He was dispatched at once
with note written by Mr.. Ames directing Mr.. Clark
TO como with tho book The Committee took a recess
of half an hour to get a breath Of fresh air.
Another tedious interval of waiting occurred after
they reassembled, before Sergeantat-ArIns Ordway
appeared. Instead of the memorandum book, he
brought the news that Mr. Clark was at breakfast
and would come up as soon as he got through Inc
Committee began to think they were being trfed
with. and Mr. Colfaxs counsel expressed this opinion.
A few minutes later, however, Mr.. Clark came
elbowing his way through the crowd.
He made short speech, saying that as an old
friend of Mr. Ames he had given him advice after
looking over the memorandum book, and proceeded
to explain the law of evidence as relating to the
private papers of a witness. At the end of his
speech he pulled out black memorandum-book OF
medium size and handed it to Mr.. Ames.
After this the ICOmmittee got speedily to Work.
The accounts of each on the list OF Implicated
Congressman were taken up in succession, and Mr..
Ames found the entries and passed up the book 10
Judge Poland through the hands of Mr.. Clark. open
at the proper page. The book was in the form OF
diary with the dates printed at the top of the pages
and the notes Of the Credit Mobiher TRANSACTIONS
appeared mixed up with variety of other entries.
There was an entry of the original transaction in
every case and subsequent credit OF the proceeds
of the sale of the first bond dividend. Then on the
back part of the book appeared list of the persons
with the amount of money due to each on account
of the June dividends All the familiar names were
there and a new one not before mentioned, that of
Mr. Stetsop who is said to be a son-in-law of the
late Congressman Eliot of Massachusetts. Mr.
Eliot il will be remembered, was named IN the nst
ON the back of Mr.. Ames's letter to Col McComb.
Opposite each name this list was a cross Mr.
Ames said the list was made to aid his memory, and
show who were entitled to have the dividends, and
how much was coming to EACH and that the crosses
were made to check off the leaves when the persons
were paid In addition TO this list, there appeared
on the back of the book statement of the accounts
of Mr. Amess victims, all of which were crossed on
except that of Messrs Colfax, Garfield and Kelley,
indicating as Mr.. Ames explained, that there had
| been settlement with all but these three.
| This was not oil of Mr.. Amess documentary
| evidence. He exhibited dirty half-sheet of paper
with three statements of accounts upon it, one
| showing the amount due from the holders of 30
shares of Credit Mobler stock after the proceeds OF
| tbe sale of the first road dividend had been de-
| Quoted; another making tho same exhibit as to 20
shares and third as to 10 shares
This sheet, Mr. Ames said, he had shown to all the
| Congressman who took the stock, TO let them see
| how their account stood prior TO the pay
| ment of the dividend of June, 1868. The
| memorandun- book fully coToborated all of Mr..
Ames's previous testimony. He made no quaiibca-
ton of anything he said in his former evidence, ex-
cept in the case of Mr.. Garfield Mr.. Ames said that
it was possible that he did not show him state
| ment and that Mr.. Garfield might not have under
| stood the transaction as he did when he paid him
the 1929
After the 1868 memorandum book had been thor
oughy gone in search of entries relating TO the
unfortunate Congressman Mr. Ames produced an
other book very like it. which proved TO contain his
| 1869 memoranda. He read from this entry dated
Jan. o. as follows Paid S. Colfax $50 IS interest
on 81 500 certificates IT, p r. RI This entry brought
out an entirely new point in the investigation.
Mr. Ames said the Credit Moblier trustees
able to get the Union Pacific stock which they
wanted TO distribute dividends, and issued GER
tifcates to the Credit Mobilier stockholders show
ing the number of these shares each was entitled to-
and that, in January 1869, interest was paid
these certificates. He got the interest due Mr. Col
fax and paid the other Congressman. made list on
a slip of paper, and Paid them all off in cash.
Mr. Ames was asked if he had found any more re-
cepts from Congressman, and replied, in equvo
cal way that he was having his papers examined at
home and if there any receipts they would be
sent him. This answer and his manner were pc
cuiar that the Committee and others suspected that
he had receipts and meant TO hold them back and
play them as his trump cards at the end of the in
yestgatioD.
After cross-examination Of Mr.. Ames by Mr..
Hale Mr.. Colfax made statement, and produced
witnesses in his defense sll of which s printed in
separate dispatchl. Mr. Ames's examination
then resumed. Judge Merrick asked HIM a few
questions about Senator Carpenter. Mr.. Ames said
that just before Mr. Carpenters election TO the SEN
ate Gen. Butler advised him to send him $4,000
retaining fee because he had tongue in his head"
and could be Of service to the Union Pacific Road.
He wrote TO his brother about it, but his brother
declined to send Mr.. Carpenter the money, on the
ground that the railroad company was not political
concern.
Representative BuffintOn testified that Gen. But
Ter had told him that he had advised Mr.. Ames to
retain Mr.. Carpenter as counsel; he thought this
was short time before Mr. Carpenters election to
the Senate The Chairman then adjourned the Com
mittee until tomorrow morning. remarking that 80
far as he knew the taking of testimony was finished
TESTIMONY OF OAKEs AMEs AND HIS EXPLANA-
TIoNs OF THE MEMORANDUM BOOK ENTRIES
ACCOUNTS WITH THE MEMBERS IMPLI-
GATED. .. Il.