The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-01-30
MORE TESTIMONY.
Somebody tells a Fib-Who L


Somebody tells a Fib-Who Is
ItS
The Credit Mobilier rascality con-
tinues to claim large share of public
attention. On the 22d inst, the great
national. shovel. Oakss Ames, was
again before the Poland investigating
Committee and seemed to remember
many things which had escaped his
recollection when he formerly testifi-
ed, which are somewhat damaging to
the reputation for veracity and hon
esty of some of the gentlemen whose
names have been associated with That
affair. The sanity Coifax is among
the number to whose statements the
lie direct is given in this testimony.
Last fall, when these charges were
first made public, the Vice President
in q speech declared that Neither
Oakes Ames nor any other person
ever gave or offered to me one share
or twenty shares or two thousand
shares, in Mobilier, or any other rail-
road stock, and unfortunately have
never received the value of a farthing
ont of the 270 per cent dividends, no.;
the 800 per cent dividends in cash,
stock, and bonds you have read about
every day for the past month, nor one
hundred per cent, nor one tenth OF
one percent" In his examination be-
fore the Committee, he testified that
after agreeing to buy 20 shares, and
paying $500 on account. he broke of
the bargain and allowed Mr.. Ames to
keep the $500 because he had been
unfortunate in business. He added,
I never received . dollar in bonds,
stock, or money As dividends and
Furthermore declared that he was ont
of pocket $500 by the operation, and
that Games never paid him the value
ne of dollar ON any account whatev-
er."
Ames in his testimony gives the lie
direct to these statements. He swears
that Colfax bought the 20 shares in
full, and is still the owner OF them !;
that they were paid for in part by an
go per cent dividend due soon after
the date of the transaction, and the
balance by Mr.. Colfax's check for
$534, ,72; and that Colfax received .
dividend of $1,000, paid by check to
"S. c.. or bearer" on the Sergeant-at-
Arms of the House Of Representa-
tives. Ordway, the Sergeant-at-Arms,
corroborates the statement by produc-
ing The check. a aalae 3
Allison, q former member Of Con-
gress from lows, was equally emphat-
ic in denying any participation in
Credit Mobilier, or Union Pacific
stocks. In reference to him Ames
says: % q
sMr. Allison agreed 10 buy ten
shares of Credit Mobilier stock; re-
lceived his dividends of 80 per cent
bonds on that stock, which sold at 81,
and he paid me the difference in cash !;
in june he received dividend of
$780," tass.s
And as to the pious and patriotic
member from the 10Th Ohio District
our own Rev. Gen. Hon. j. A. Gar
field. 1t is about two weeks since he
appeared before the committee and
under oath made his statement, in
which he emphatically and positively
denied any and all connection with
Credit Mobilier or Union Pacific
stocks. or, ever having received any
interest or profit in any way, shape or
manner whatever from either. The
denial was SO broad and complete
that every one was disposed to think
that the name of Gen. Garfield had
been unjustly associated with this
disgraceful affair. But this late testi-
timony of Ames is calculated to shake
the confidence of the public in that
statement and in the exalted virtue
and integrity of our model member.
Indeed, it is quito impossible for the
two statements to be true. Here is
the story of Garfield's connection
with the affair as related before the
Committee by Ames under oath.
Judge Poland-Well, as to Garfield.
Will you state to the Committee the
details of the transactions between
yourself and General Garfield in re-
gard to Credit Mobilier stock? A. l
agreed to let him have ten shares of
Credit Mobilier stock at par and In
terest, in December, 1867, or January,
1868. Garfield did not pay me in
money, and sold the thousand-doN
lar bond received with the stock. and
received seven hundred and some dol
lars from the sale. In June receiv-
ed q money dividend of six hundred
dollars, which, with the money re-
ceived from the bond, lett o balance
due Gsrfield of 1929, which / paid to
him. did not deliver to him any
stock, either before or since. He new
er had stock, and the only thing he
ever realized from it was 1929.
@. Has that 1929 ever been repaid
to your A. have no recollection of
it. ~
5. @. Did you ever loan Garfield 1929
A. Not to my knowledge, unless he
calls this a loan, which / believe he
does. Twill let it go as be wants it.
Judge Poland-WelI, but it must go
as the truth.
Mr.. Ames-Well, the truth Is what
l am telling you. never supposed
had any right to the money-the
1929 given to Garf1eld-and never
claimed it. / would not undergo
what Garfield had undergone during
the past month for 1929 600, let alone
1929.
Judge Merrick-"Have you had
some correspondence with Garfield in
the last few days touching this mat
ter? A. hardly know what it did
touch. Had not kept copies of the
correspondence. Merely put his re-
reply on the back of Garfield's letter.
Never received the letter which GEN
eral Garfield said he left at the Ar
liDgton."
1t is sad TO contemplate how the
world is given to lying.