Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-01-30
The Credit MobIlier Investigation.

AhC SlC AkVDihlCA
At the session of Mr.. Polana's Committee,
on the 18th, B. NJ. Boyer, ex-member of Con-
gress from Pennsylvania, voluntarily ap-
peared and said he had nothing to conceal.
he took seventy-fve shares In his own name,
and twenty-five as trustee for his wife, and
has held them, regarding 1t as legitimate
stock transaction. During the time he was
in Congress neither the Credit Mobilier nor
Pacific Railroad required legislation. All
subsidies and grants had been voted on be-
fore he was Congressman. He invites
critical examination of his Congressional
record, and says his investment In Credit
Mobilier was consequent upon the recon-
mendation of Durant.
James F. Wilson, Of Iowa, made lengthy
statement, saying he once bought and paid
for ten shares of capital stock Of the Credit
Mobilier, which he subsequently sold, after
having learned that there was a prospect of
continuous and serious litigation concerning
the Company. His application to Ames for
| the stock was made at the suggestion OF
MComb. When he entered Congress, in
| 1851, his constituency were unanimously in
| favor OF the construction of the railroad to
| the Pacific, and he had always earnestly
| supported the enterprise. Neither Ames,
MComb, nor any one else attempted to in
| fuence the action OF the witness as MEM
| Der Of Congress. He did not know at first
whether he had profit or loss on the stock.
| He would act again exactly as he did under
the same state of affairs.
General Banks took his seat with the Po-
land Investigating Committee, for the first
| time, on the 10th. Sidney Dillon, President
| OF the Credit-Mobilier, testified that he knew
| OF shares put into the hands Of Durant and
Ames, to fulfill previous contracts, but did
not remember the names of the persons.
Ames said he was under obligations to the
same. Allusion was made to Congress
| men, but he did not remember the names /;
thinks Ames mentioned James Brooks;
| witness said Brooks came to him, saying
that he received 100 shares from Durant,
and under the rule was entitled to 80 shares
additional, which were finally made over
| to Nelson, son in-law of Brooks. At the
same time Nelson borrowed 5000 of him
| (Dillon) to pay on them. Durant paid
| for the stock transferred to Nelson by the
| Company; could not tell whether Nelson
repaid the 5000 without looking at his
books; did not know what Ames did with
| the stock transferred to him. At an in
| terview with Brooks relative to the SO
shares, neither Alley nor MComb were pres
| ent. Brooks had nothing to do with the
money loaned Nelson by witness. Brooks
said briefly that the stock was to go to his
| son-in-law, Nelson, and not to him (Brooks).
Witness never knew of Brooks having re-
ceived any dividends from Credit Mobilier;
did not know where the books of the Credit
Mobilier were, unless they were in the hands
of Mr.. Ham; never heard of Alleys connec-
ion with the transaction of Brooks.
| Mr.. Burant was recalled on the 2lst, and
produced list of persons to whom he had
| transferred stock. He did not think any
was held in trust for Congressmen. he
| produced the receipt of ]. B. Alley for 200
shares, at 100.
| Mr.. Brooks testified to the effect that
when he accepted the position Of Govern
ment Director of the Union Pacific
Railroad, he felt compelled to renounce q
shares o Il reSi pelons
ing to him in 1865, or early in
1867, before he was member of Con.
gress, and which did not become valuable
until December, 1867. He had transferred
his right to purchase the shares to his SON.
in-law, G. II. Nelson. He did not then re-
ceive, and has never since received, one cent
of profit from the transaction in his own or
in any other names. He did not give Neil
son the money to purchase the stock, but
advanced the purchase money as
BILE for paying 1t back as soon
as he could. Mr.. Brooks did not wish
| apologetically to convey the idea that he de.
clined ownership in the Credit-Aobilier
| stock because he was member Of Congress,
for If he had never been named a Govern.
ment Director, he should probably have
been owner OF large amount Of stock to
| this day. He had as much right to OWL
paper stock as live stock, or sheep,
| or spindles, or q lead or iron mine
or barley, or timber, or steam engines
or foundries, with two or three thous
and fairfield articles, largely indorsed by Con
gressional legislation. He had never beer
asked to give, nor had he given, q vote In
Congress that was unjust to the Govern
ment, or for the profit of the Union Pacific
asked Democratic members of Congress Il
vote for the road, and he did not remember
ever to have spoken to any Democratic
member upon any legislation relating to thu
road.
Senator Patterson again voluntarily ap
peared before the committee, and insisted
that what he had heretofore stated was cor
rect, which was that he gave Ames monel
for investment in Union Pacific Railroad
stock and bonds, and was not aware that tn
latter had applied 1t to the purchase o
Credit Mobilier stock.
Oaks Ames testified before the Committee
on the 22d, that he agreed to give Mr.. Col
fax twenty shares of Credit-Mobilier stool
in December, 1867. Witness received divi
dends upon it Of so per cent. in Union Pa
ciic bonds, and accounted to Colfax for tn
bonds sold Dy witness. In March. 1865
Colfax gave witness check for 1884. q. Ill
didn't remember delivering stock to Colfax
The check and proceeds of the Union Pacif
stock paid for the Credit-Mobilier stock. II
the June following he gave Colfax checl
for 81, 200, dividends on Credit-Mobilier
Colfax had never called upon the witnes
for Credit-Mobilier stock, and it is ready t
deliver to him whenever he wants 1t. Ill
| supposed that Colfax understood the 81 20
was dividend upon the stock. Witnes
had no recollection that Colfax paid hiH
81, 200. 1t don't belong TO witness. Mr.. Col
fax, who was present, said that he reasserte,
what he said before in regard to the 81 ,2OO
He now gave notice to Ames that he woul'
prove the negative, and asked that tn
Sergeant alarms be summoned with his &C
, counts. Ames declared Senators Conkling
Fowler, Bsyard, and Wilson, Of Massachu
setts, and Representative Blaine free fror
any connection with the Credit-Mobilier
Dawes and Allison bought and paid 70
stock, but afterwards returned 1t. CARTEL
took stock, which more than paid for itsel
| by dividends; the balance Ames paid hiT
by check for $500. This, he said, was wha
Garfield called loan. Kelly, scofeld ant
Bingham were each owners of stock. Tn
statements Of Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, he col
roborated.
Allison testified that Ames must have III
! derstood that the stock accepted by hiI
(Allison) was given back to Ames, as ther
have been frequent dividends upon II, bu
the witness had never received any Of ther
with one exception.
N G.. Ordway, Sergeant-at-Arms of th
House of Representatives, was sworn an
examined by Colfax. he had examined tn
account of Colfax for 1868, but saw no entr
of a deposit of 81, 200 there; had no
examined the accounts OF Ames; b
T did deposit some money in 1865; di
not remember if the check given to Alliso
was indorsed; saw a check with the letter
''S. c." or bearer, for 81 200; witness doe
, not pay out or receive money. The payin
! teller in 1868 was Thomas B. Chene. Othe
, checks were payable to initials. No indorss
ment was required from members OF Coz
gress generally when they drew money then
selves. The check payable to IS. C." wa