Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-25

TIE CELEBRATED s. c. OR BEARER CIECK-
SOME NEW EyIDENcE-sTATEaENT BY JOHN
T. DREW, ESQ.
BURLINGTON, VT, June %, 1873.

| T. DREW, ESQ.
BURLINGTON, VT, June %, 1873.
Hon. Luke p. Poland, w. c.
Ny DEAR SIR: You will remember my
being in Washington during the spring
and summer of 1865 in charge of the cotton
claim of L.. Merchant " Co. While so en-
gagged | called, by advice of yourself, Sen
atOr Morrill,, Senator Sumner, and zen.
Logan, upon several members of the House
and Senate, to explain thcpeculiarly strong
points in that case. and to show how it DIFF
fered from most cotton claims. On the
Goth and 22d of June, 1865, as my diary for
that year shows, | called upon Hon. Oakes
Ames, of Massachusetts,. The first call was
with q note of introduction from either
Hon. W. B. WaShburn or Hon. F. E..
Woodbridge, do not remember which.
The second time met iMr. Ames | had a
letter from Major General Veatch, Of India
ma, which | read to him. met Mr.. Ames
near the door Of tho Speakers room, on
the right az you face it. lie was talking
with gentleman on New Orleans matters.
| stood near him to claim his attention next,
and without paying any attention to the
conversation, could not help understanding
something of its purpOrt. Mr. Amcs re-
marked to me he would be out directly.
and went into the house and soon came back
with a check in his hand, and saying to me,
" Now, then, walked along to the Ser
geant-at-Arm's desk. ! walked by his side
and was stating my case. Some one was
drawing money at the desk of the Sergeant
alarms at the time, or getting some
changed, and we stood in the room and |
read the letter Of Gen. Noatch which so
strongly vOuched for the loyalty of my
clients. While We were talking, after the
reading, | noticed the check in Mr.. Ames
hands, because he was all the time looking
at it, seemingly, over the tops of hi glass
es. | remember very distinctly that 1t was
drawn to - ). c.. or bearer, and was ST.
200. ! know | thought to myself, " Who
the dickens IS ;. c. or bearer2" This check
was then and there cashed at the desk of
the Sergeant alarms, and well remember
one $500 bill and several 800 bills. Walk
ing back to the gentleman he had first been
talking to, Mr.. Ames handed him this monss
ey and received some kind of written
document in return. ] never have seen tins
gentleman since.
You know was in Europe during your
| Investigations OF the Credit Mobilicr frauds.
| The first information | had Of the - ). C..
or bearer 81 POO" was at the American Le-
| CATION at Paris. remembered then this
/ circumstance of the check. and told Mr..
| Washburne, our Minister 10 France at that
/ time, that knew Colfax never got themon-
oy, and that thought | knew who did. |
/ also informed MIR. Frederick Blossom, of
[ New York, who was for some time my trav
cling companion. lie suggested had bet
| ter telegraph YOU or COllax, but the dislike
! felt to becoming in any way mixed up in
/ the Credit Mobilier scandal, together with
the need Of spending my time in the inveS-
. -Faff
/ which Investigations ! was making in the
interest Of our Government, induced me to
keen silent, thinking ! should be home be-
! fore Congress- adjourned
On my return to Washington, CungrcS
had adjourned. ] conferred with Mr.. He
| Bliss. my law partner. Mr.. A. ii. Byington
| Of Connecticut. and few other friends
asking them d keep the matter a secret
until had time to see if | could not trace
out the man to whom saw Amcs pay th,
proceeds of the % ). C. or bearer" check.
rs had charge of the Rob Roy judg-
I ment against 4 : Mansfield, Oakcs Anne,
ffal., had occasion to call on Mr.. Ames in
| April last, and | related TO him the circum-
stances of the check, and asked him who
the man was to whom he then paid the mon
ey. His reply was in substance that 1t wa
/ none Of my business. and | assented 10 the
correctness Of his views. Previous to tn,
death of Mr. Ames, and since, Mr.. COlfax
to whom Mr. Byington, against my request
had impaired this information, has urged
me to make full statement Of the case tol
the press.
After thinking over the matter for som'
time, have concluded TO send to you, th'
Chairman of the Committee Of lnyeStiga
ton. this statement of facts, that You may
use it as you may deem most Just 20 Nh
Collax, whom it alone Affects
am, dear Sir, very respectfully your obc
dent servant,
JONI 7. DREW, Counsellor at Law,
No. !, ,332 T street, Washington, d. {
p,,....- ,, C.x,u, Inst tl,ir4,