Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-15
the CREDIT HGsllIER INVESTIGATION.
Testimony of Messrs. Crane, Ham. and
Darant.

After cur report closed yesterday of the pro-
cecdings Of the special committee of the House
OF Representatives, Of which Judge Poland is
Chairman, 10 inquire into the credit mobilier
charge:
THE TESTIMONY OF Mr.. n. .. CRANE
was continued as follows:
O. So, for this 0,G00. the company parted
with 100 Of its owl shares, 600 u. =. II X. shares
and five first mortgage bonds?
A. No, sir; Mr.. DIrant did. The company
had nothing TO do with il. Did not think Mr..
Nelson was present when the transaction with
Mr.. Brooks took place. He (Neilson) subse-
quently came and got the certificate of stock. Is
positive the money was paid by Mr.. Brooks.
First mortgage bonds then were worth IS cents.
q. What was the profit realized by MIR.
Brooks?
A. do not know, sir. Thought he had made
a very good trade.
Did not know what were the reasons which
induced Mr.. Dursnt 10 make the transfer 70 Mr.
Brooks or Nelson. There were several dlyi-
deIds on credit meblier. The five first mort
gage bonds for 81 900 each were worth IS cents.
Did not remember what the 100 shares credit
mobilier were worth then. The 100 shares Union
Pacific were worth 20 cents on the dollar AZ
least. Knows nothing of the relations between
Durant and Nelson. Does not know If Durant
BY Mr. Smithcrs The draft given by Mr..
Brooks was paid on the 10th OF January fol-
lowing.
Q. By Mr.. Brooks:-Mr. Crane. do YOU know
what amount of money loaned Mr.. Durants
| A. On October -, 1867, you loaned him
$4,000 for three months at 10 per cent On
January Both You loaned him S4s 900 at 10 per
cent; ON subsequent loan II per cent An
was paid in 1852 Two hundred and fiffy shares
Of credit Iaobilier stock were sold TO Mr.. Alley
at Sl.tD. IT was worth s. at that time. Witness
was sure the $1,000 was paid for credit moblier
stock.
Q. Was IT not on account of the loan to Mr..
A. No, sir. ] swear positively it was for
the stock. made tho entries myself. Witness
paid all the dividends on the Oakes Ames con-
tract. All the transactions on the dividends on
credit mobilier were with Mr. Nelson.
@. Were the five bonds part OF the delivery
for the $1,000!
A. Yes, SIR / took a copy from nv book. and
viii read it TO YOU, IL you wan; To hear ii.
Judge Poland. Suppose YOU produce that
memorandum?
Witness OK; so. and read IT, as follows:
biiier Of AmsTicsDTfansfefre i TO james BROOKS
s9n ~; law l sLates stoek a, par whit tiye bond
the stoeens5.oo cash. Draft due 22d January
,Chsct Boot-Degositcd December ssth, 1867, in the
Fourth National Bank James Brooks, 81 90.
,January Goth, is5s.-Check Book Fourth National
gnis Paga6le-Janes Brooks aceoant--note due
Recess 10 minutes.
EXPERIMENTATION OF Mr.. HAM
After recess, Benjamin F. Ham was recalled,
and produced three OF the credit mobiler
ledgcrs, recently used in the Philadelphia
courts, and pointed out the entry showing that
Mr. Ames had paid Tor various shares; also, the
H.
money received therefor. Under the entry of
March LIST, 1865, witness referred to the name of
Charles H. Nelson on the book, showing the
transfer Of so shares TO Nelson, whose name had
been written after erasure was made. and
testified that 1t was i'm his hand writing, and an
erasure had been made before Nelson's name
was written, hut he did not remember what
was erased. He had no memory at all in refer
ence to the erasure. The erasure was i'm the
place where the name should be.
BY Judge Black:-Was in the habit of making
mistakes. q Of ols>
before the erasure he had no authority to do So
as the stock belonged TO Charles II. Nelson.
=. Is not the erasure OF a name and the SUBJ
sttutIon of another name a Justification of your
records.
A. 1t depends altogether how the court would
take such entry.
By Mr.. Brooks-Never received any instruc-
tons from Mr.. Brooks TO erase his name. &c
might have been probable that Mr. Brooks
OF the intimate connection of Mr.. Nelson with
Mr. Brooks. Ii Mr.. Brooks name was written
there first IL was mistake.
THOMAS G. DUEAST ON THE STAND.
1sontos e. DuTd1t Sworn:-ReSides in New
York is iailroad contractor. Was stakeholder
IN the Union Pacific railroad company and "a
director therein. Ceased to he director in May
or june, 1863. Was n stakeholder i'm the credit
lnoblier. One OF the largest stockholders, ami
president of the company. Was one of the
board OF IA ustees TO HON the Ames contract
was assigned. Has not the books of that concern
now, but has certified copies thereof. Witness
did sign paper to distribute some stock said 10
be ON hand. Stock was transferred 10 witness
to enable him to fulfill engagement, made prior
TO that time. Knew nothing as to who Mr.
Ames was To transfer his stock. Heard him
speak or It two or taree times. Said he had an
engagement 10 deliver some to Mr.. Colfax Think
some other members of Congress were mem
toned. Made an impression on witness at the
time, the thought Mr.. Ames was giving these
names and intended to keep the stock himself.
Never haa any conversation with Chas. II.
Nelson. Did have transaction with MIR.
James brooks, which was purely business ar
aahgement between Mr.. Brooks and himself
being a member OF Congress. 1t was not in
consideration of any past services rendered OF
any to he rendered by Mr.. Brooks. That gem
stock, and witness arranged 10 let him have 100
shafes with the agreement to let him have
with it $4,000 worth OF Union Pacific
stock, and FIVE first mortgage bonds.
Mr.. Brooks being government director did not
want to hold the stock, and therefore had it
transferred to Mr.. Nelson; knew nothing about
the fifty shares additional stock received nv
Nelson. witness being absent from the country
at that time. The stock increased In value sud-
denly; witness let Mr.. Brooks have the stock in
considerations of promise made TO him; does
not remember what amount of dividends have
been declared on the stock; when Mr.. Brooks
purchased the stock he was entitled to the diyi-
dend which had just been declared. The credit
mobiler company took the contract at 5000
per mile, and was obliged TO take in part pay-
ment United States stock; the first stock was
taken from the road at 30 per cent, and sold 10
s,oShuoletcfs AT N1tnesS lett under an OBJ
LEGATION to Mr.. Brooks; have agreed with hin,
that he should have the stock: had borrowed
money from Mr.. Brooks, but did not let hiro
have the stock in consideration of being under
any money obligation TO him.
without finishing the examination Of Mr.. pa
rant, the committee, at i:2o p. m, adjourned.
Proceedings To-day.
The committee resumed its session this morn
ing, and continued the
- EHAMISATroN OF THOMAS c. DUEAHT,
who was on the stand at the time of adjourn
ment yesterday. He testified that the Pacifc
railroad stock and bonds given to Mr.. Brooks
with the 100 shares of credit mobilier were given
in consequence OF special agreement with Mr.
Brooks. He claimed more than 100 shares of
credit mobilier, and the compromise was made
on Pacific railroad stock and bonds. They were
not given to Mr.. Brooks as dividends on credit
mobilier. The dividends Of credit mobilier prior
to the Ames contract were light and did NO.
amount to mneh. The Cakes Ames contract
was made, subject to the approval in writing OF
all the stockholders OF the Union Paciac rail-
road company. hag
THE SPECIAL AeREEIEyr pErwEES WITNESS
AND Mr.. BROOKS
was made February and April, 1861. The credil
m0bilier stock 1T that time was of a doubtfui
value. Mr.. BrooLs took an active Interest IN