Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-02-18
CREDIT M0BILIER.
The Poland Investigating COMMITTEES -colfax
Testin Oay- He Asserts His
tnnocence,

ent. After waiting for half an hour
and Ames not appearing rs request
cd, Judg e Poland asked il Mr.. CoIfay
was ready to submit his proposed
testimony. Judge Hale. counsel, re
piled that it would be manifest injus,
lice for Colfax to get on the s,anC
until Mr. Ames should complete hi,
testimony. About la m Mr.. Ame,
appeared, creating considerable sen
sation. Judge Poland inquired if ht
bad the original memorandum, cop
les of which he had produced before
the committee.
Mr. Ames-I understand that evi.
dence is to be put in to inpeach my
testimony by Mr. Colfax Ny friend:
say that | should have that eviden &c
before | produce my book.
Judge Poland - Tho committee
thinks it should be produced now.
Mr. Ames-l have left my book
with a friend who has legal knowl,
edge. TO examine into the matter.
Judge Poland-Please send and
get it now. Proceedings here must
DO governed by our judgment.
Mr.. Ames-Horace T. Clark has
The book. sir.
A messenger was dispatched for il
Immediately. There was some dis
appointment when it was discovered
that Ames had not brought his book
His answers as to the whereabouts OF
Clark were short and to the point
Ames manifested the utmost cool.
ness. While await ng the return of
bio messenger Ames produced ex-
tracts from his memorandum baok
showing that on the 4 b of May 1867,
he sold q Bradford 100 shares Of the
Credit Mo6ilier a. par; and that Sem
ator Patterson paid HIM tor his 80
shares on the 31st of August, 1867
The impression of tho witness when
giving his former testimony was that
Patterson paid him in December,
1867. The witness made entry OF
Patterson's payment at the time.
After recess Horace +. Clark ap-
peared before the Poland Committee
and said on behalf of Ames he would
decline to produce the memorandum
book. He thought the committee
should not look into mems private af-
fairs. Clark, however, Above a
comparison to DO made as to the en-
tries in the book and the testimony
of Allies. Entries were then read
showing the payment to Henry Viii.
son and Dawes.
Cakes Ames was then asked,
"HaVe you an entry on these or any
other books in reference to Nr. Col
fax?'
Ans.-I have.
Judge Poland-Well. let US see it.
Mr.: hmes-Let Us go through this
book first.
Judge Poland-No we must see
he entry.
Mr.. Ames produced the book and
read as follows Friday. January
22nd, 1869; paid S. Colfax S60.75 fol
interest on $500 The certificates
alluded to were dividends on credi,
mobilier stock and the money was
paid here 10 Washington.
Question Have you been able to
End any receipts signed by Mr.. Col
fax
Ans Il have not found any yet,
but have searched carefully.
At tho evening session Mr.. Colfax
submitted q letter from John NJ
Berclay, Journal clerk of the House
of Representatives. pronouncing the
rulings of the Speaker on all Pacific
railroad questions justified by par
liamentary law.
Mr.. Colfax then said that last fal
be was one of number of personi
in public life charged with having
been bribed by gifts of stock of thu
Credit Mobilier, from which enor.
nous dividends had been received
for which certain legislation haC
been procred. He then replied t.
these charges 10 a speech at South
Bend Sept % from which he pro.
CO .ded to quote. He said 1t viii
be seen from these extracts that
publicly claimed last fall the RICH
10 purchase the stock, and avoweC
frankly that | would have been will
Ing to pay for 20 shares, if | did no
buy into q prospective law suit. bu
that no possible profits could induce
me TO involve myself in litigation
Having over four years before thi
speech voluntarily abandoned con
tract to purchase, at the rate / haC
stated and on the very grounds
had stated, and having no certifcat,
aud no ownership of stock 10 it, my
answer to the charges then made i
the exact truth, and when | frankly
accepted also whatever odium nigh
attach 20 willingness to purchas
and to hold its stock, as / then IN
derstood il.
Mr.. Ames declares that in June
1868, check payable TO the initial
). @. or bearer, for $l2 900, but no
endorsed by me nor ally one else
was paid by him to me as q casl
dividend of the Credit Mobilier. L
answer TO this charge, | repea
again, that | have not the slightes
knowledge or recollection, or belief
that | ever saw this check or an,
other check of Ames', until be pre-
sented it before this committee; no
that | have ever been paid or profit
ed by him, directly or indirectly. i
check, stock, or bonds, Sl2 600 o
500 or one dollar, or any amour
| whatever. 1905
must add that until to-day
have never heard OF certificate TO
$500 OF Union Pacific bonds or o
sixty dollars interest on whic
Ames says be paid nae in Janusr,
'69 aud | would 20, have been NOR
astonished 10 have been charge
with The assassination Of one of bi
family than l have been by his char
1 Qes that he paid me either $1,000 O