Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-17
the CREDIT M0BTLIER INVEST.
CATION.
Hon. John A. Ringham.s Testimony

tee closed yesterday
HON. JOHN A. BINGHAM, OF ONO,
was sworn, and testified that he placed great
confidence in the financial judgment Of MIR.
AInes, and upon his advice invested s. 600 ia
ton organized under the laws Of NJ sssachusetts,
but which had no connection with the credit
mobiier Union Pacific railroad. In De
cember, 1861, he was advised by Mr.. Ames TO
invest in credit mobi,ier and did invest 5000,
giving Ames the money in February, 1865, for
which Mr.. Ames then gave him a written
agreement to account TO him for the diyidends
and proceeds of twenty shares Of credit mobilier
stock. Subsequently witness agreed to take
81 goo OF stock in the Iowa Falls and Sioux City
construction 1s company, paying Mt, A ma $3.50,
the one mentioned. Witness never received nor
help any stock in the credit nobilier, Iowa con-
stIuction company, or = P. railroad, from Mr..
person he knew in the contracts, and he had
perfect faith i'm him; and witness believes he
had perfect right to make the,S nyestments,
Pacific railroad bonds, each for 81 900, in pur-
suance Of agreement: All subsequent vidends
were in money Or Union Poetic stock: The
1910, as witness then wanted the money, and he
received from MT. Ames 81 ESQ, since which
time ne has had no interest, direct or indirect,
road. Tho bonds which ne received from Mr.
Ames as dividends, he sold in 1859 at - 4 cents
on the dollar. The Iowa construction contract
was e ttlsd On fhe spring OF 1852, and witness re-
ceiyed SEQ thereon, since which time he has
had no further transactions with Mr.. Ames.
The aggregate amount received by him on the
ginning to the end of his dealings with Mr..
Ames he had NO in6matien that any other
member 0f Congress had any contracts or deal
ings with him in relation to credit mobilier or
Union Pacific railroad stocks, except Mr..
Hooper, of Massachusetts,. Never heard of
any controversy between, Ames and McComb,
distribution Of credit dit mobiiier stocks, and
the first he heard Of Mr.. Ames dealing in that
stock cprruptly was In September and October
last Never had any idea that Mr.. Alnes con-
tracte,l with him for corrupt purposes, and he
never gave a vote for or against any measure i'm
Congress utwhat he believed TO be just and
right and in accordance with his sworn duty
He had done nothing which he believed required
an apology or explanation. He was not mem
Der Of Congress when the act OF 1854, relating To
the U. r X: r., passed, and he left Congress
now, after sixteen years service, with no more
property than when he entered 1t, save what he
had legitimately earned during the Thirty
eighth Congress, when he was not a member.
Adjourned until Saturday morning, at ten
O'Clock.
Investigation No. 2, To-day.
The Wilson special committee to inquire into
the affairs of the credit mobilier and the amount
due the government by the Union Pacific rail-
road, met at noon to-day and Hon. A. F. Perry
OF Ohio, recently appointed counsel for the gov
took part in tire examination. The president
said he had received from the, Secretary of the
Interior the report OF the government commits
soners, in which the Wyoming coal contract 10
discussed, and also the names OF the government
directors of the Union Pacific road from it,
organization to the present tine.
The examination OF Thomas &. Durant was
then resumed, and he testified that the assign
ment Of about three hundred shares of stock ~
Cakes Ames by the credit mobilier was to ena-
BILE him to carry out actual existing contracts
which he had made previously. No names
were given Of persons TO " HON the stock was to
be delivered Witness did not know how much
vs<fln h.al1 L.
suit which he had commenced against him in
New York. All the stock held by Ames drew
the dividends. The books showing how the
profits were made up are in the hands OIL Oliver
Ames. They show the precise expenditures and
profits. 1t was one of the experiments Of the
organization that statements of dividends
should be made out. Could not call to mind any
member Of Congress employed as counsel by the
credit mobitier. Witness employed Mr.. Jencks
of Rhede Island, ina suit bat did not remem-
Der if he (Jencks) was q member of Congress at
that time. General Butler came with Mr. John
| b. Alley at the Ockholders meeting in October
1861. He also represented Cakes Ames in the
preparation of the tri-party agreement.
THE slO,0OO PAID To SENATOR HARLAN.
Question by Dir. Wilson: Were any members
stockholders in the credit mobiiier?
Answer. could not name them now, but this
list includes the names OF all Stockholders.
q. To whom did youpay the SO 600 YOU spoke
Of yesterday, in relation TO Mr.. Harlan?
A. paid it to Mr.. Harlan drect.
q. At his request?
A. No, sir. -------
~ g Did you send the draft or check to Mr..
A. instructed one of the private clerks in
the Office to attend to il.
q. Was that check or draft payable to the
order of Mr.. Harlan? -. ,,.r....
A. presume it WIS.
q. Was that check Oh a bank in New York
city? -L....-,s ia 1900
A. Yes, sir; ii was check on bank.
A. / don't know; I kept several bank accounts.
Could not say if the check had been preserved.
Witness was away most of the time, and gave
power OF attorney 10 Mr.. Crane to sign checks.
&c. Don't know whether Mr.. Crane signed the
Harlan check or whether witness signed it.
Q. Was your private office in the same bu ld-
ing with the Off &c of the credit Mobilieror Union
Pacific railroad?
A. II was in an adjoining room. -.s
z. By Judge Hoar. Did Mr. Crane receive
compensation for his services in private
4. He did. He has been nv confidential man
for fifteen or twenty years. Did not remember
what salary he received.
Q. WHO solicited the SO, 900 from your
A. twas voluntary on my part.
2. You voluntarily sent this to Mr.. Harlan
A. had an interest in Iowa, and wanted 10
get good men i'm.
Q. What was your purpose in giving SO OsJ.s
A. Personal friendship towards Mr.. Harlan.E
elected U. S. SENATOR
A. wanted to see him elected, ,-. -
Q.-Was his election not the leading motive
"uiCu LluuSnccu You 10 give tnc money.
A. had large interest in Iowa and 'theys
we're crowding us. wanted Dir. Harlan u 30
Q. Your purpose was TO influence the cleo
,tioif;l - - > -.-A - .-'-.l So
A. Yes, sir, certainly. '.--
! q. Were YOU not prompted in sending thai
money by desire TO see Mr.. Harlan elected ~
the U. s. Senate? ~ -
A. wanted TO see him elected.
/ Mir. Wilson, would like to have direct AM
swsr. Was 1t not your object to aid in carrying
his electioR?r o. 800
! A. TWAS one object, undoubtedly.
4 @. Was it net the principal object? -,r.-n
! A. He had perfect right to use the money
H 9. Iowa was pretty strong republican state?
( A. Yes. - =, - . -
Mr.. wilson Then you had no PARTICULAR
motive to carry it for the republicans?
4 AL aided the local elections in two towns IN
Iowa, one for the republicans and one for the
democrats. The towns were not far apart, s.,.l
l wanted the best men office.
@. Can you tell me what your main object,
was in sending the SO 900 to Mr.. Harlan?
/ A. desired to see him elected, as he was a
personal friend. fggt - - Ts1.s-lF-2
/ s @. You gave this money out of your private.
funds, and never asked to have it refunded? L
/ A. No, sir. Did present q claim to the Union
Pacific railroad for expenses, and it was aliew-
ed. One claim was for three or four hundred