Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-07-17
That "S. C. or Bearer'' Check.
From the Chicago Inter-ocean, July 8.

1u3t De Cs Ok 0e8rcE CueCKs
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean, July 8.
The following is the full text Of the let
ter of Captain John T. Drew, sent to the
Hon. Luke P. Poland, Chairman of the
Credit obilier Investigating Committee,
explaining who drew the money on the
famous IS. G.. or Bearer check, which
Cakes Ames swore be gave to Mr.. Colfax.
The letter has been referred to by tele-
graph, but has never been published in
full before. A testimonial to the charac-
ter of Captain Drew, from the leading
citizens Of the State Of Vermont, is ap-
pended:
lCopy.l
BURLINGTON, VT, June %, 1873.
Hon Luke P Poland. NJ. c.
MY DEAR SIR: You will remember my being in
Washington during the spring and summer OF 1858,
in charge Of the cotton claim of L. Merchant & Co.
While SO engaged called by advice of yourself,
Senator Morrill,, Senator Sumner, and General Lo-
gan, upon several members of the House and Sen
ate, to explain the peculiarly strong points in that
case and TO show how it differed from most cotton
claims. On the both and I'D of June 1868, my
diary for that year shows, l called upon the Hon.
Cakes Ames, OF Massachusetts. The first call was
with note OF introduction from either the Hon.
W. b. Washburne the Hon. f. f. Woodbridge,
do not remember which. The second time met
Mr. Ames had letter from Major General
Neatch. OF Indiana. which | read to him. i met
Mr.. Ames near the door of the Speakers room, on
the right as you face it. He was talking TO gen
fleman on New Orleans matters. | stood near him
to claim his attention next and without paying any
attention to the conversation could not help under
standing something of its purport Mr.. Ames re-
marked 10 me lie would be out directly and went
into the House, and soon came back with check in
his hand, and saying 10 me, Now, then, walked
along to the Sergeant-at-Arms' desk | walked by
his side. and was stating my case. Some one was
drawing money at the desk of the Sergeant-at-
Arms at the time, or getting some changed, and
stood in the room and | read the letter of Gen
eral Neatch. which so strongly y0uched for the 10y
atty of my clients. While talking, after
the reading, 1 noticed The check in Mr.. Ames'
hands, because he all the time looking at it,
seemingly over the tops of his glasses | reInem-
Der very distinctly that it drawn to rs. c. or
bearer, and was for 81 200. | know I thought to
myself: who the dickens is S c. bearer?'' This
check then and there cashed at the desk of the
Sergeant-at-Arms, and well remember 500
bill aud several 800 bills. Walking back to the
gentleman he had first been talking to, Mr.. Ames
handed him this money and received some Kind of
written document in return. l have never seen
this gentleman since.
You know was in Europe during your investi-
cations Of the Credit Mobier frauds The first in
formation / had of the IS G. bearer 81 200
check was at the American Legation at Paris. |
remembered then this circumstance Of the check
and told Mr. Washburnc. our Minister TO France at
that tlme knew Colfax never got the money, and
that thought knew who did. l also informed
Mr.. Frederick Blossom of New York who was fer
some time my travelling companion. He suggested
had better telegraph You or Colfay, but the dis
like felt to becoming in any way mixed up in the
Credit Mobilier scandal together with the need of
spending my time in the investigations into wine
importation frauds which investigation was max
ing in the interest Of our Government, induced me
to keep silent thinking | should be home before
Congress adjourned.
on my returning to Washington Congress had
adjourned. conferred with Mr.. H. C. Bliss, my
law partner, and with Mr. Crounsc of the New
York Times, and Mr.. A. H. Byington, of Connect
cut, and few other friends asking them TO keep
the matter secret until had time to if could
not trace out the man to whom saw Ames pay the
proceeds OF the ). {. or bearer check As l had
charge of the Rob Roy Judgment against A. S
Mansfield, Cakes Ames, ct al, had occasion to
call on Mr. Ames IN April last and related to him
the circumst of the check. and asked him who
the man was to whom he then paid the money His
reply was in substance that it of my bust
ness, and assented To the correctness of his views
Previous to the death of Mr.. Ames, and since Mr.
Colfax. to whom Mr. Byngton. against nv request
had impaired this information, has urged me to
make a full statement of the case for the press
After thinking over the matter for some time have
concluded to send To you, the Chairman of the
Committee of Investigations this statement of facts
that you may use IT as you may deem most just to
Mr.. Cofax, whom it alone affects.
Very respectfully your obedient servant
JOHN T. DREW
Counselor at Law, 1892 street, Washington, d. C.
THE CHARACTER OF CAPTAIN DREW.
[Copy.l
BURLINGTON, Vt, July I, 1873
To the Hon l.. ?. Poland
DEAR SIR: l have known Captain John T.
Drew for several years. He usually spends his
summers in this city. and is gentleman of good
standing as To wealth, principle and moral char
acier- He Is noted for great energy, perseverance,
and resolute self reliance, and in my opinion is
creulhlc and reliable man, both personally and
professionally i l. RaRsTow
L concur IN The above: RUSSELL 8. TAFT.
LEVI UNDERWOOD.
d. W. STEWART,
T. E. WALES,
VIM WELLS
VIM. W HENRY.
G.. G. BENEDICT.
Mr.. Barstow was Major General, and
is now United States Pension Agent; Mr..
Taft is Lieutenant Governor of Vermont,
Messrs. Underwood and Stewart are ex-
Governors of Vermont; Mr.. Wales is
Judge of Probate Mr., Wells was Major
General, and is now United States Col
lector of Customs; Mr. Henry was a
Major-General and Mr.. Benedict is editor
of the Burlington Free Press
Samuel Huntingdon Postmaster of Bur
lington under Lincoln, and a leading citi-
zen now, states that he has known Mr.
Drew Tor many years as man of great
energy self-reliance and perseverance, and
that IA a student of the University of Yer
mont, as a soldier during the war, and
subsequently as Il lawyer, he won unusual
respect, was regarded as reliable, credi,
bic and able man. and Justly meriting the
confidence of all.
Mathew III. Buckham, President of the
University of Vermont, states that Mr..
Drew graduated from that institution in
1868, and that though absent during a part
OF the course while serving in the army,
he maintained very creditable rank as a
scholar; that since his graduation he has
gained high reputation for business en-
terprise and sagacity, and is highly re-
spected for his generosity and public spirit
and other excellent qualities