The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-01-20
The Credit Mobilier Investigation
statements Of Ex.COugressman Roy
er, of Pa, J. F. Wilson, Of Iowa,
and AmeS' BoOksKe0per.


sion Of Poland's Committee on the Cred,
1t Mobilier, this morning, B. NJ. Boyer
ex-member Of Congress from Pennsyl
vania, voluntarily appeared. he said ht
had nothing to conceal; took seventy
five shares in his own name and twenty
five as trustee for his wife, and have 81
held II; regarded 1t as q legitimate stocl
transaction. During the time he was II
Congress neither the Credit Mobilier MOI
Pacific railroad required legislation; al
subsidies and grants had been voted OF
before he was Congressman. he invited
o critical examination Of his Congression
al record. His investment in the Credi
Mobilier was consequent upon the recon-
mendallOn OF Durant; did not see how hil
investment concerns the public. No one
ever limited that his services as Con-
gressmen were expected, and certainly
no such services were ever rendered; only
regretted that his Investment was no
larger. Had no negotiations with Ames
James F. Wilson, Of Iowa, made tht
following statement: 1onCe bought anC
paid for ten shares Of the capital stock o
the Credit Mobilier; the par value OF tht
shares was one hundred dollars cash, II
all one thousand dollars. The purchase
came about in this way, when OakeE
Ames was soliciting subscriptions he
asked me TO subscribe for $4,000 Of it
which declined to do. heard nothing
more of this stock until sometime in the
year 1868, the exact time l cannot state
but certainly not earlier than May, when
l met in this city Fl. 7. McComb, with
whom ! had been acquainted several
years, and against whom l had never
heard any reproach; and who, during the
conversation between US, asked me If
had any Credit Mobilier stock. 1 told
him that l had not; that Ames asked me
to subscribe for $1,000 Of 1t, but that
had declined.
McComb replied that l could get that
stock yet, and that he wished ! would do
so. Itold him knew but little about it,
and inquired Its value. BE said 1t would
depend somewhat on circumstances, but
that need not hesitate because oil that;
he thought he could get 1t at par; that he
would furnish the money to pay for II
and allow me the advance, which would
have been liberal compensation for the
negotiation. He then related the circum.
stances under which he had subscribed
for the number of shares; that he had
made the subscription in good faith; that
the company refused to recognize this
subscription, and were trying to cheat
him out OF his rights under 1t; that he
was determined to have the stock; that
il he could not get it quietly and peace.
fully, he would enforce his rights at law;
that he did not want TO have or make any
unnecessary trouble about it, but he would
not be cheated out OF il; that he was
willing to do anything for peace short Of
surrendering his rights; that to go to law
would lead to strife, dalay and expense,
but that he would go through 1t oil II
driven to it. The impression which he
made was that If he could get the stock
even by indirection he would rather do
that than resort TO the Courts, and in this
connection he said that more Of the stock
was in tho same position as that which he
said he could get, and there was no
reasonable excuse for the company treat
ing him as they had done. AS result Of
this conversation had au interview with
Oakes Ames. enquired Of him il there
were not 5000 Credit Mobilier stock that
| could have, he sad no, you declined to
subscribe for it and it has been disposed Of
I replied that l had been informed that
that amount and more was undispcscd
and that could have 90 shares He re-
piled that that stock was disposed Of and
that whoever told me what I had stated
was mistaken. l communicated this to
McCOmb, who said 1t was just like Ames
that il he could take care OF himself
everybody else might whistle for them
selves, and said he would see Ames again
and tell him that there is no mistake
about the matter, and that I, McComb
know there Is. Ibid see Ames again who
said McComb's statement was not true
and repeated his former statements.
then asked him II 1t conld be arranged
so that could get stock. He replied
that he did not believe itcould be but be
was soon going to New York and would
sec what could be done. Sometime
aiterward Ames told me he had arranged
for ten shares Tor me, and z per cent ex
prior dividends; that was the best and
most he could do Tor me, but he would sec Il
he could do any more. l took ten shares
and asked him to arrange for the rest Il
he could, but no more was arranged for
When subsequently told McComb, hi
said: "Well, that Is another OF his tricks
he don't want to do any better; but II yoT
insist on 1t, he will" that he (McComb
wanted stock just as the rest had. l haC
talked SO much to Ames that concluded
to await his movements; that anything
further would look too much like impor
tunity. But, as have stated, he nevel
arranged for any more stock. Ten share
we're on my hands. I had stock unit
some time In the winter OF 80, when
sold it, the reason for which l will state
A good deal of contention had sprung
up among parties interested in the U. P
Railroad and Credit Mobilier In relation
to the management of the affairs Of sale
company, and an effort was to be made a
a meeting Of the stockholders ofthe U. P
Railroad, In March, 1850, to change par
Of the Directors. My opinion was asked
for concerning the right Of the stockhold
ers in the Union Pacific Railroad Compa-
ny to vote the shares held by them re-
gardless OF proxy, which was said to rur
with the stock under the terms ot thu
contract and agreement existing between
said Company, Credit Mobilier and Ger
tain parties designated as trustees. In or.
der TO enable me to understand the ques'
tion submitted, copies Of certain paper
were placed in my hands, some Of which
l have now in my possession, anon!
which was the contract. Oakes Ames 0
the first part, T. 9. Durant, Oliver Ames
John B. Alley, Sidney Dillon, @. "
Bushnell, Henry L. McComb and Benja
min s. Bates, Of the Second part, III
Credit Mobilier Of America Of the thirt
mart An agreement between the AfOrc.