Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-02-07
The Credit MObIlIer Investigation.

of Credit. .Mobilier stock. They became
Kelley's property In 1868, when he paid for |
them. The dividends the witness also held |
for Kelley. He also held for him ~
came into his hands early In 1868.
Altogether the witness held 40 or
so shares of Union Pacific stock and
some income bonds which belonged to kel-
ley. In the course OF the cross examination
Kelley asked Ames to hand over TO the
Chairman the ten shares of Credit-Mobilier
stock and the dividends alleged to belong to
him (Kelley). Witness produced the certit-
Gates and said Kelley could have the divi-
dends soon. On receiving the stock and
dividends Kellev would be Ames' debtor to
the amount Of $3.50. Ames asserted, aud
the latter a check marked "W. D. K" Kel-
ley did not deny having received the 1920 in
money, which he regarded as loan.
N.G. Ordway, Sergeant alarms of the
House, produced the books, and under date
OF January "a, 1868, pointed out an entry Of
S329 paid on check marked "W. d. H."
and signed "Oakes Ames." He also pro-
duced the check, and testified he believed it
was in the hand writing of Ames.
Moses Dillon and Thomas B. Preney, clerks
in the office of the Sergeant at-Arms of the
House, were examined as to the checks and
entries. The former, who is Cashier OF the
office, testified that he would have paid a
check marked "W. d. X" or "S.
C.h TO Ames, if he had handed 1t
in. Ames made a draft Of $4,000
to his private account in June, 1868. There
was in the books check for $J32 charged to
Colfsx, but nothing to the credit Of his
account, except mileage and salary. Wit
ness saw no credit to the account OF Colfax
of 81 200 check.
L. L. Crounse, correspondent OF the New
York Times, testified that he had quite
number of conversations with Ames on the
subject of this investigation, at least five OF
six times; had a conversation with him about
the 7th day of January; thought it was after
Colfax made his statement before the som
mittee. Witness recollection was that
Ames had said Colfax was probably correct
in his statement; nothing was said about
Ames denied that he had said Colfax's
staten ents were ''probably correct"
Mr. Colfax cross questioned Mr.. Ames,
and the latter reiterated his stat ement that
he had given the former check for 81 200
PAYABLE to ''S. G. or order" Mr.. Colfax
emphatcally asserted again that he had
never received dollar on any account from
the Credit Mobilier; never saw the cheek,
| and didn't know whether it was signed q.
| Ames or Oakes Ames, and couldn't imagine
why the check was made payable to "S. O."
In his examination on the 25th Oakes
Ames was interrogated as to John A. Lo-
| gan's connection with the Credit Mohilier,
and he replied that Gn December, 1867, he
| thought) Mr.. Logan had agreed to take ten
| shares of the stock; witness made up a
statement showing the balance due Logan,
! and gave him check therefor amounting to
1929; Logan paid no money on the stock at
| the time of making the contract but subse
quently paid back to Ames the $329 with IN
terest, and 1t was understood that the stock
| remained the property of Mr.. AInes, Logan
making nothing by the transaction.
Mr.. Ames was questioned as to the case of
Senator Patterson of New Hampshire, and
produced receipt, with Mr.. Patterson's sig
nature attached, dated Washington, June -
1868, and acknowledging the receipt Of
81 800 that day frem Ames on account Of
dividends Of the Credit Mobilier; witness
also produced a second receipt signed by
| Mr. Patterson, dated May 9, 1871, acknowl
edging the reception by him from OakeI
Ames of two hundred shares of Union Pa
cihc Railroad stock, and S157 - IN casi
on account of Credit-Mobilier stock, anC
giving statement of shares and none.
still due; letter from Mr.. Patterson to Mr.
Ames, uRder date of January 4, 1873, wa
also handed in by witness and read, in whicl
letter Mr. Patterson gives an alleged histor.
of his connection with the Credit-Mobilier
and requests Mr.. Ames to testify according
ly, and correct his original statement befor
the Committee.
Mr.. Ames was questioned as to the Du
buque q Sioux City Railroad, and testified
that he knew nothing of any member o
as gift; witness was a stockholder; he be
lieved that Allison and Blaine had also pun
chased and paid for stock in the road; n
member got stock without paying for 1t
there was nothing immoral or corrupt abou
the management of the road; IL had no cor
nection with the Union Pacific; John B. Al
ley corroborated the testimony of Ames j
reference to the Dubuque Sioux Cit
Railroad.
Before the Poland Committee, on tht
2Sth, Speaker Blaine, after examining MI
Stevenson as to his charge against the form
er concerning his connection with the Slou
City Road, made statement to the etfec
, that in January last, in settling up some bus
ness with the Messrs. CoburD, he took
quantity of stock of this road, for which b
paid about 60 cents in cash. This was tn
first of his ownership in the road. He hold
, the stock in his own name, and Congress,
: his Judgment, is no more called upon to IL
vestigate it than it would be to inquire int
the weekly expenses OF his household. h
made the explanation without the slighte
reluctance. The road could not possibl
: come before Congress for anything.
Senator Logan made statement going
show that he had agreed to purchase I'll
!, stock as alleged by Ames, and had receive
: q II balance OF $500 as dividends on the sam
4 with the understanding that he would retul
/ 1t in a few days If he did not conclude
Il take the stock; he decided not to take II
i stock, or have anything more to do with
!, and returned the 1929 with interest; he didn
! recollact of any legislation in regard to u
|, road during the negotiation between Am
d and himself.
u II. G. Swain, Cashier of the First Nation
e Bank of the District of Columbia, was swo
e and produced the books of the bank co
n tanning the account of Schuyler Colfax.
"a | stated that the books showed a deposit
K Mr. Colfax, on June %, 1868, of 81, ,96Sf
e July Z, 300; July s, $50; July Is, $l,54
d 81. The witness also produced the folio
= ing certificate of deposit, upon being
y quested to do so.
" Deposited with the First National Bank
e Schuyler COlfaX, June 70, 1858:
United States and hank notes. .......... Sl,2OO
10 Check. Observation-Disclosures, ,.,...., $50
IS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Cheek 500
2, a Total. 80. 81, ,96s
in To the question of Ames, witness repii
ID that, of course, he could not tell where
O. money came from.
= James Brooks appeared before the Co
mittee on the 10Th, and desired reco
rs made of the fact that nearly three mont
at before he tBrooks) became a member ol
is Government Director it was matter OF l
% toriety in the highest Court of Pennsyl'
- My that Nelson owned $50 shares in his o.
" name; also that the Government DirectC
e. generally, If not always, were in accord w
of him (Brooks) as to their duties. He claim
" LlhJ bnt nlhl huulLlOuhl snhIcb iOI ANSAo
1. were issued by virtue Of his (Neilson's) CT
i. tract with Durant; he had no knowledge
OF to who paid the 5000 loaned Nelson by !
lon. He was sure he (witness) did not,
supposes that Nelson did. The check-bo
showed no such check given.
Us y Elk Representative Robert s. Hale, of N
q, York, appeared before the Committee, a
Id stated he was present as the friend a
W counsel of Vice-President ColfaX; that
ne (Colfax) was engaged in making thorou
O. examination of all his papers and lette
h. and upon concluding such examinat
n, he would appear before the Comn
~ tee TO testify in his own behalf, and
ne would also ask that some witnesses be
1g amined. Colfax had requested the speal
Ir. to say that as to the 81, 200 check deposi
ok to his credit as appears by the books of
or First National Bank, he would show :
no that was derived from another source.
"A Swain was then recalled aud examined
~ Hale. He testified that the same day {
4 Colfax deposited the 81 200 he checked
'd- 81, 900 and purchased draft on New Yo
| h. fuA 10 A II