Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-13
ton, or belief, that ever heard there was or


ed to me in person or through any other
channel, any check or money or bonds on that
or any other account.
1t seems to me impossible and incredible
that should have receiyedthe check without
remembering that addition to my income, and
especially in check drawn so singularly, as
$. c. initials, and not containing my name on
it at ali, nor could have talked to him when
he failed about letting the $500 go which l
hgd paid him on the dividend stock if he had
paid me an over plus of 500. / must add
that until to-day have never heard of the
certificate for 81 500 of Union Pacific bonds,
$50 interest on which Mr. Ames says lie paid
me in January, 1869, and l would not have
been more astonished to have been charged
by him with assassination of one of his family
than have been of the charge that he paid
me either $1,000 or $50 or any other amount
whatever on the stock that l had abandoned.
will add that for four years | have spoken
in my family of this transaction exactly as !
described it in my testimony of January Z,
namely that l had contracted 10 purchase.
Had paid about $500, had heard of threaten
ing and acrimonious litigation mong its
principal stock holders, and had therefore
abandoned it without receiving any dividends
or certificate, but at loss of money l had
paid upon it, and of the fact of these CONVEX
sations will produce evidence. l came now
to the Bank deposit of 81, 200 in bills tor
June %, 1868, and the Committee will re-
member that really invited the examination
of my bank accounts by stating to them un
asked that kept my accounts at the First
National Bank, where all my checks deposited
would be found endorsed by me whether pay
able to order or bearer. Difficult as it is TO
recall all the transactions of five years in
public mans life, will state to the commit
tee where all the money came from, deposited
from June 22d, 1868, and will add that it was
the month Immediately succeeding my nomi-
nation for the Office now hold, and the total
deposit was Sl96S G3, and there being no
previous deposit later than the LIST of jane it
shows the amount was the accumulation of
moneys paid to me during the intervening
three weeks.
This is also proven by the dates Of the
thee checks deposited; one check was for
SlS63, dated June 18th, signed by J. NJ
Seymour, since deceased; one for $780, da-
ted June 18th, signed By E. C. Cardin; and
one for $500, dated June 18th, signed by E.
Denny Co. None of them having the
slightest connection with the subject of inves-
tigatlon before the committee. OF the depos-
lite of bills tor 5000 am positive they were
paid me by my step father, Mr.. Mathews, on
account of debt he owed me. In Dec. 1867.
paid S455 for piano, of Steinway & Co.,
through n. G. Metzemott, for his daughter,
the check for which is in the bank; and |
agreed to wait for the most of it till the sum-
mer. when he expected to be better able to
pay me. After my nomination in May, 1868,
| had numberess appeals for political expense
in various localities, for professions, bands
charity, religious &C., and had promised to
contribute as promptly and largely as posi-
RI tba o,~t.
in my sharply contested State of Indiana. /
therefore asked Mr.. Mathews to pay me his
Indebtedness as soon as he could raise it, to
assist me in meeting these demands incident
to my new position.
During the month of June, 1868, and, as
nearly as l can fix the time, about the middle
of the month, he paid $500 in bills on account,
and early the next month he paid me another
installment, completing the payment before
Congress adjourned, late in July. am very
confident this $500 formed part of this $1,000
deposit being part of my cash receipts be-
tween the deposits Of June lst and June 22d.
About the time Of this payment. and as near
as can fix the date, about the middle of the
month of June, and very soon after the pay
neut of Mr.. Mathews, was opening my let
ter mail at the break fast table, in accordance
with my usual custom. and found an envelope
a.
On opening the inner envelope, found it
contained a letter written by George Z. Ms
bit. congratulating ME most cordially ana
warmly on my nomination for the Vice Pres-
dency, and saying that the writer desired TO
send me confidentially the remittance en-
closed. to aid me in the heavy expenses of the
canvass, but wished it kept secret, as neither
his family nor any one would know it, unless
| told them. Enclosed in this was green
back or national bank note for $1,000
1t was as gratifying as it was liberal, and
holding up the letter and the bill, asked the
attention of all my family to it, and then read
the letter. The bill was then passed around
from hand to hand and examined am sure
l deposited it with the 5000 | had received
from Mr. Matthews, and purchased, on the
very same day (the bank books show, a
draft for the amount of this remittance, and
in exact accordance with the donors wish
Living witnesses will tell the Committee
that they remember the receipt Of this bill,
and the contents of the letter in W hich the bill
was enclosed, and that it was at once dis
cussed how it could be used to carry out Mr.
Nlsbitt's desire; and that draft presented and
sworn to by the cashier of the bank proves
that the very day deposited $1,000 in bills
bought and RENTED out of my deposit draft
for $1,000 to the chairman Of the Indiana
state committee, lhat urait Endorsed by Mr.
Conner was found in the bank here and laid
before your committee the next day after.
The bank deposit was testified to by my coun-
sci at the time promising to connect it with
my evidence.
The acknowledgment OF this draft of $1,000
sent to Indiana cannot be found, though for
tunately the banks was able to find the draft
itself. The letters accompanying the three
checks deposited on the 22d of June have also
been destroyed so that l am unable to produce
either of the FIVE letters relating to the tram
ssctions of that day.
When may bank account was examined
here, the cashier was asked what the forty
five thousand dollars footings meant, and he
replied to the inquiry that it was the amount
of the debts and credits. When the accounts
were finally balanced it was telegraphed to
the New York Tribune that the books showed
that l deposited forty five thousand dollars in
one year, and the inference of course was
that1 could therefore easily have forgotten
the twelve hundred dollars in question. AS
my general accounts have thus been made
subject Of discussion, and have no secret in
regard to them, felt it my right now to cor
rect this mistatement.