St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-07-11
New Evidence in Mr.. Colfax's Case.

We need not here recapitulate the
evidence in Mr.. ColfaX's case. The
American public is not likely to soon
forget it, 1t remembers very well how.
in the teeth of testimony that seemed
simply damning, -the $1,000 check to
IS. c. or bearer" the bank blotter.
and the sworn statements of the late
Mr.. Ames, Mr.. ColfaX persisted in
solemnly protesting his innocence. 1t
also remembers how the late Mr.. Ames
sncered ut him across the table, giving
the committee and the country to I'M
derstand that he was at once surprised
and disguised at his denials.
Now comes forward one John L.
Drew, Washington lawyer just back
from protractcd absence in Europe,
and notifies Judge Poland that with his
own ewes he saw the late Mr.. Ames
draw the money on check payable to
-. c. on bearer" 1t was in the room
of the sergeant-at-arms by referring
to his diary he finds that it must have
been either upon June 20, or June %
IS6S. CThe check was dated on tn,
former day and paid on the latter,
Just before drawing the money, Mr.. a
and himself were talking. and Mr.. A
held TIE check in such Il way that he
could not help seeing the face. He
afterward SAW Mr.. A. hand the money
to Il gentleman in the lobby, but did
not recognize the gentleman and could
not now say who he was. 1t will b,
remembered that Mr.. Dillon of the ser.
geant at arms's office testified to an i'm
preston that he paid the $1,000 to Mr.
Ames adding that he had recently
asked Mr.. Ames if that was not the case
and that Mr.. a. had replied he thought
it quite likely, or words to that effect.
Surprising Mr.. Drew's veracity anC
memory to he of the highest order, his
| story does not go far enough, to entire
/ ~ dispel the cloud that has settled
down upon reputation hardly les
dear to the American people than to it:
owner. 1t does not settle the question
whether Mr.. ColfaX did or did not ulti
mately get the 5000. 1t is rift. how
! ever. So far as it goes. it will hell
him that is. if Mr.. Drew is found. ol
inquiry. to he n person of character an,
? credibility. From the dispatch in tn,
, New York Times, it would seem that
five years ago, Mr.. Drew was following
the lucrative, but not very reputable
: calling of Il lobbyist. The Language
= is: He was attending to several mat
D tiers before Congress. in one of whicl
he was especially DESTROYS of enlistin
the Massachusetts members
e 1t is certainly unfortunate, OH al
4, accounts. that Mr.. Drew was out of tn
country during the investigations 1t i
still more unfortunate that he SHOULD
have kept his story to himself until now
e The public cannot he expected to forge
that MIR. Ames is dead.-SpringfeI
! Republican. July 3.
-, A Washington correspondent, whor
i the New York World vouches for 81
all respects" writes to that paper tina
Mr.. John I. Drew is disreputabl
5 lobbyist. Also that, while the Polan
q committee was i'll session. he one da
o saw. with his own eyes. this same VI,
:. John T. Drew i'll the hall of the Hous,
The then vice-president and Mr.. Oake
' Ames were i'll the hall at the time.
II these facts are established, MIR. Drew
d tardy appearance on the witness-stan
- will have to I've set down as a mistak,
v Republican, 18th.
This John I. Drew was Captain i
" the Second Vermont Regiment. w;
taken prisoner at the first Bull Ru,
lying in rebel prison thirteen month
= He is well known i'll this part of We
h. mont, and we leave our readers to the
lie own conclusions.
p Since the above was in type we hay
in seen letter from Capt. Drew in whiC
lie he says he kept still until now at Il
20 request of Mr.. COlfax's friends. wi