Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-13
The Credit.MObilie Investigation.

Representative William D. Kelley cross
examined Cakes Ames on the Oath. TIE
witness reiterated his testimony that he
held, as the property of Mr.. Kelley, ten
shares of Credit Mobilier stock. They
became Kelley's property in 1868, when he
paid for them. The dividends witness also
held for Kelley. He also held for him ten
shares of Union Pacific stock, which came
into his hands early in 1868. Altogether the
witness held 40 to so shares of Union Pacific
stock, and some income bonds which
belonged to Kelley. In the course of the
cross examination, Kelley asked Ames
to hand to the Chairman the ten shares
of Credit -Mobilier stock and dividends
alleged to belong to him Kelley
Witness produced the certificates
and said Kelley could have the dividends
soo1 On receiving the stock and dividends
Kelley would be Ames' debtor SO the
amount of $3.50 Ames asserted, and Kelley
denied, that the former had handed the lat
tiers check marked "W. d. K.' Kelley did
not deny having received the 1929 in money,
which he regarded as q loan.
N. G. Ordway, Sergeant at Arms of the
House, produced the books, and under date
of June "a, 1868, pointed out an entry Of
1929 paid on check marked 'W. d. X. +"
and signed "Oakes Arhes." He also pro-
duced the check and testified he believed it
was in the handwriting 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 check marked "W. ID. K" or
"S. c." to Ames, if he had handed it in.
Ames made draft of $4,000 to his private
account in June, 1868. There was in the
book check for $532 charged to Colfax,
but nothing to the credit OF his account,
exc ept mileage and salary. Witness saw no
credit to the account of ColfaX OF Sl,2OO
check
L. L. Crounse, correspondent of the New
York Times, testified that he had quite a
number of conversations with Ames on the
subject of this investig cation, at least five or
six times; had a conversation with him about
the It'll day of January; thought it was after
Colfax made his statement before the Com
mittee. Witness recollection was that
Ames had said Colfax was probably correct
in his statement; nothing was said about
81, 200
Ames denied that he had said Colfax's
statements Were probably correct"
| Mr.. COlfaX cross questioned MIR. AmeS,
and the latter reiterated his statement that
he had given the former a check for $4,000
payable to IS. c. or order" Mr.. Colfax
emphatcally asserted again that he had
never received dollar on any account from
the Credit -Mobilier; never saw the check,
and didn't know whether it was signed 0.
why the check was made payable tie ''S. c."
In his examination on the 25th, Cakes
Ames was Intercepted as to John A. Lo-
gan's connection with the Credit-Mobilier,
and he replied that Tin 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 S329; Logan paid no money on the stock
at the time of making the contract, but sub
sequently paid back to Ames the 1929 with
interest, and it was understood that the
stock remained the property OF Mr.. Ames,
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
i signature attached, dated Washington, June
, %, 1868, and acknowledging the receipt OF
81, 800 that day from Ames on account OF
. dividends of the Credt-Mobilier; witness
also produced a second receipt signed by
Mr.. Patterson, dated May 6, 1871, acknowl
edging the reception by him from Cakes
!, Ames of two hundred shares of Union Pa
ciic Railroad stock, and seven hundred and
; fifty-seven dollars and twenty-four cents in
cash on account of Credit-Mobilier stock,
, and giving statement of shares and money
, still due; letter from Mr. Patterson to Mr.
, Ames, under date of January 4, 1873, was
also handed in by witness and read, in which
letter Mr. Patterson gives an alleged history
= |
and requests Mr.. Ames to testify according
ly, and correct his original statement before
the Committee.
Mr.. Ames was questioned as to the Du
buque u Sioux City Railroad and testified
that ne knew nothing of any member of Con
gress having received stock in the road as q
gift witness was stockholder; he believed
that Allison and Blaine had also purchased
and paid for stock in the road; no member
got stock without paying for it; there was
nothing immoral or corrupt about the man
agement of the road; it had no connection
with the Union Pacific.
John B. Alley corroborated the testimony
Of Ames in reference to the Dubuque 4
Sioux City Railroad.
Before the Poland Committee, on the 2Sth,
Speaker Blaine, after examining Mr.. Steven
son as to his charge against the former con.
corning his connection with the Sioux City
Road, made a statement to the effect that in
January last, in settling up some business
With the Messrs. Coburn, he took quantity
of stock of this road, for which he paid
about sixty cents in cash. This was the first
of his ownership in the road He holds the
stock IN his own name, and Congress, in his
Judgment, is no more called upon to inves-
tigate it than it would be to inquire into the
weekly expenses of his household. He made
the explanation without the slightest reluc-
lance. The road could not possibly come
before Congress for anything.
StUdtOT Logan ludue statement gong 10
show that he had agreed to purchase the
stock, as alleged by Ames, and had received
balance of 1929 as dividends on the same,
with the understanding that he would return
it in a few days if he did not conclude to
take the stock; he decided not to take the
stock, or have anything more to do with it,
and returned the 1929 with interest; he didn't
recollect of any legislation in regard to the
road during the negotiation between Ames
and himself
II. G. Swain, Cashier of the First National
Bank Of the District of Columbia, was sworn
and produced the books of the Bank con-
tanning the account of Schuyler Colfax. He
stated that the books showed deposit by
Mr.. Colfax, on June %, 1865 OF 81, 96S. 90
July Z, $500; July s, $3.50; July IL, 81, 543. 81.
The witness also produced the following GER
titcate of deposit, upon being requested to
do so:
Deposited with the First National Bank by
| Schuyler Colfax, June %, 1868:
United States and bank notes ......S1 900 90
Sneck ....,.. $50 90
Cneck OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. IS 63
CnecK. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 500 GO
Total &. 9ss "a
To the question of Ames, witness replied
that, of course, he could not tell where the
money came from.
James Brooks appeared before the Com
mlttee on the 29th and desired record made
of the fact that nearly three months before
he (Brooks) became member or Govern
ment Director it was a matter of notoriety
in the highest court of Pennsylvania that
| Nelson owned $50 shares in his own name