Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-30
Jomas Garfield testified before the Com

James A. Garfield testified before the Com
mittee On the 14th, to the effect that he had
no knowledge of any dealings between Ames
and any CongressmeH; told Ames ne would
MT have any stock where controversy e1ist-
ed derived his knowledge OF the Credit- MO-
influence his legislative action; never saw
share of the Credit Mobilier until shown him
a few days since by Brooks; once borrowed
$500 of Ames and returned 1t. =,
Benjamin f. Ham, Treasurer OF the Credit
Mobilicr, testified that Nelson's name APP
peared on the books as the holder of $50
Shares; didn't know of Brooks having any,
thing to do with the shares. liam produced
several books of the Company, and SAID
others had been sent on by express the
stock transfer book had disappeared, anu
he did not know what had become of it; had
not destroyed it.
Thomas C. Durant testified that he was q
Director of the Union Pacific Railroad till
1869; was President of the Credit MoDlher
Company, and one of the trustees TO Whon
the Ames contract was assigned; aad certl-
fed copies If the books; signed paper 70
distribute ONE stock on hand; the STOCK
was transferred to the witness to enable MIN
to fulfill prior engagement; ana not know
to whom Ames was to transfer the
stock; Ames said he had an en-
gagement to deliver some to MI Col
fax; thinks other Congressman were also
mentioned, and it made an impression
on him, as he believed Ames gave the names,
and intended keeping the stock himself; ;
never conversed with Nelson; had bust
| ness transaction with James BROOKS, but IL
had no reference to Brooks being Con.
gresham; Brooks desired some stock, and
witness arranged to let Brooks have one
hundred shares of Credit Mobilier, with
twenty thousand dollars worth OF Union
Pacific stock and first mortgage bonds.
Brooks, being Government DIRECTOR ana
not want to hold the stock, and therefore
had it transferred to Nelson; knew nothing
about the fifty shares additional stock re-
ceived by Nelson.
T. G.. Durant testified further on the 10Th
70 the effect that the shares gwen to James
Brooks were the result OF special agree
ment with him in 1867. Brooks claimed
more than 100 shares, and he compromised
in Union Pacific stock and bonds. He Ou-
rant) had no knowledge of Congressman
influenced by the Credit Mobilier. He never
arranged to give any Congressman stock,
except in case CT Boyer, of Pennsylvania,
and Brooks. He gave two cheeks of 5000
each to secure the election of Senator Har-
Ian, of Iowa. Harlan was an old personal
friend. The witness thought he would take
care Of the interests of the road.
Mr.. Bushnell testified that when the
Credit Mobilier got ashore, Ames went to
his friends, in Congress and out of Con
gress, to get them to take stock. He
on the part of certain men, who did agree
to take stock, but now would not stand up
and say they agreed to take it. The witness
never offered any stock to any member of
Congress. 1t was the understanding that
Ames got large amount of stock TO enable
him to fulfill engagements which he had en-
tered into previously. He felt, as Ames had
expressed it in one of his letters, that il
they went back on the Congressman after
the stock had gone up, when it had been
promised them, then when it was down Con-
gressmen would 90 back on them.
Representative Scofield stated before the
Committee, on the 10th, that he had taken
some of Ames' railroad securities; he knew
nothing of Ames' deriving Congressional
aid ; had voted against the act of 1864, CIV
ing the Company's mortgages priority; moth
ing was said about legislation.
Senator Paterson testified that he
never owned penny's, worth of
redit-Mobilier, although he would have
done SO at one time if he had had
the money. subsequently he purchased of
Ames both bonds and stock Of the Union
Pacific Road, which he afterwards sold in
New York, making fair profit. He re-
GREETED that his investment was not larger,
as the transaction was honorable and honest.
He never received nor purchased any prop
erty which, directly or indirectly, was con-
nected with his vote
William D. Kelley testified that he agreed
| stock as an investment only, but the matter
was dropped, and he never received any
dividends or profits from the Credit-Mo-
bilier; had not had an offer from Ames of
editMobilier stock to influence legisla-
| ton. If the witness had been able to pur-
| chase stock, he would have done SO. He
saw no more improperly in member of
Congress buying that stock than in buying
a flock OF sheep, and then voting upon the
tariff on wool or wooden goods.
Senator Wilson testified substantially to
what has already been published-that the
stock was taken in his wife's name, but sur
rendered when he ascertained all the facts
| in the case.
| Representative Bingham made a state
ment to the effect that he had purchased
twenty shares of stock and received divi-
as perfectly legitimate, the same as though
| it was bank stock. 1t was purely business
| transaction. and never influenced his vote in