Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-02-06
The Credit Mobilier Investigation.

hcpECeculdtlNc ~ hcllcN CTOee-
examined Oakes Ames on the oath. The
witness reiterated his testimony that he
held, as the property of Mr.. Kelley, ten shares
of Credit-Mobilier stock. They became
Kelley's property in 1868, when he paid for
them. The dividends the witness also held
for Kelley. He also held for him 10
shares of Union Pacific stock, which
came into his hands early in 1868.
Altogether the witness held 40 or
so shares of Union Pacific stock and
some income bonds which belonged to Kel-
ley. In the course of the cross-examination
Kelley asked Ames to hand over to the
Chairman the ten shares of Credit -Mobilier
stock and the dividends alleged to belong to
him (Kelley): Witness produced the certif-
Gates and said Kelley could have the divi-
dends soon. On receiving the stock and
dividends Kellev would be Ames' debtor to
the amount of $3.50. Ames asserted, aud
Kelley denied, that the former had handed
the latter a check marked ''W. d. K" Kel-
ley did not deny having received the 1929 In
money, which he regarded as loan.
n. G.. Ordway, Sergeant alarms of the
House, produced the books, and under date
Of January "a, 1865, pointed out an entry OF
and signed "Oakes Ames." He also pro-
duced the check, and testified he believed it
was in the hand writing of Ames.
Moses Dillon and Thomas B. Preney, clerks
in the office of the Sergeant alarms of the
House, were examined as to the checks and
office, testified that he would have paid q
check marked "W- D. K" or "S.
c." TO Ames, il he had handed it
in. Ames made a draft of $4,000
to his private account in June, 1868. There
was in the books check for s532 charged to
Colfax, but nothing to the credit of his
account, except mileage and salary. Wit
ness saw no credit to the account of Colfax
of 81 200 check.
L. L. CroInse, correspondent of the New
var hat ha had
number of conversations with Ames on the
subject of this investigation, at least five or
six times; had a conversation with him about
the 7th day of January; thought it was after
Colfax made his statement before the Com
mittee. Witness recollection was that
Ames had said Colfax was probably correct
in his statement; nothing was said about
81 200.
A--As ae-ieS th~t he bod -~ia G-is~-'.
staten ents were 'probably correct"
Mr.. Colfax cross questioned Mr.. Ames,
and the latter reiterated his statement that
he had given the former check for 8, 200
payable to IS. G. or order" Mr.. Colfax
emphatically asserted again that he had
never received a dollar on any account from
the Credit-Mobilier; never saw the check,
and didn't know whether it was signed o.
Ames or Oakes Ames, and couldn't imagine
why the check was made payable to IS. c."
In his examination on the 25th Oakes
Ames was interrogated as to John A. Lo-
gan's connection with the Credit Mobilier,
and he replied that Gin December, 1867, he
thought) Mr.. Logan had agreed to take ten
shares of the stock; witness made up a
statement showing the balance due Logan,
and gave him a check therefor amounting to
SS29; Logan paid no money on the stock at
the time of making the contract, but subse-
quently paid back to Ames the 1929 with in
| terest, and it was understood that the stock
remained the property of Mr.. Arnes, Logan
making nothing by the transaction
.nl 49, AH..o -
Senator Patterson, of New Hampshire, and
produced a receipt, with Mr.. PattersoH's sig
| nature attached, dated Washington, June y,
| 1868, and acknowledging the receipt of
81 500 that day frem Ames on account OF
| dividends OF the Credit -Mobilier; witness
also produced q second receipt signed by
Mr.. Patterson, dated May 8, 1S71, acknowl-
/ edging the reception by him from Oakes
| Ames of two hundred shares of Union Pa
cific Railroad stock, and s757.24 in cash
on account of Credit -Mobilier stock, and
| giving statement of shares and money
/ still due; letter from Mr. Patterson to Mr..
| Ames, uRder date of January 4, 1878, was
| also handed in by witness and read, in which
letter Mr.. Patterson gives an alleged history
| of his connection with the Credit-Mobilier,
and requests Mr.. Ames to testify according
ly, and correct his original statement before
| the Committee.
| Mr.. Ames was questioned as to the Du-
buque & Sioux City Railroad, and testified
/
Congress having received stock in the road
| as gift; witness was q stockholder; he be-
| lieved that Allison and Blaine had also pur-
chased and paid for stock in the road; no
member got stock without paving for it;
there was nothing immoral or corrupt about
/ the management of the road; il had no con.
/ nection with the Union Pacific; John B. Al
| ley corroborated the testimony of Ames in
reference to the Dubuque & Sioux City
| Railroad.
Before the Poland Committee, on the
2Sth, Speaker Blaine, after examining Mr.
Stevenson as to his charge against the form
| er concerning his connection with the Sioux
City Road, made statement to the effect
that in January last, in settling up some bust
ness with the Messrs. Coburn, he took 9
quantity of stock of this road, for which he
paid about 60 cents in cash. This was the
| first of his ownership in the road. He holds
| the stock in his own name, and Congress, in
| his judgment, is no more called upon to in
| vestigate 1t than 1t would be to inquire into
the weekly expenses of his household. He
made the explanation without the slightest
/ reluctance. The road could not possibly
come before Congress for anything.
| Senator Logan made a statement going to
show that he had agreed to purchase the
| stock, as alleged by Ames, and had received
a balance of s329 as dividends on the same
with the understanding that he would return
it in q few days If he did not conclude to
take the stock; he decided not to take the
/ slOGh, VI udNc IlOIc ~ w Win IL
and returned the 1929 with interest; he didn'i
recollact of any legislation in regard to the
road during the negotiation between Anne:
| and himself.
II. c. Swain, Cashier of the First Nationa
Bank of the District Of Columbia, was sworr
and produced the books of the bank con
tanning the account of Schuyler Colfax. III,
| stated that the books showed a deposit BY
Mr.. Colfax, on June %, 1858, of $, ,96S. .63
July Z, s4o0; July s, $3.50; July 13, sl,543.
/ 81. The witness also produced the follow
| ing certificate of deposit, upon being re
quested to do so.
Deposited with the First National Bank BY
| Schuyler Colfax, June ~ 1858:
| United States and bank notes. 81 400 O
Chez heck--...-.-----..------..- -------- 20 y
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. IS s.
Check. Observation-Disclosures. 500 o
Total. 49,. 81 .s6s 6,
To the question of Ames, witness replied
/ that, of course, he could not tell where the
| money came from.
James Brooks appeared before the Com
mittee on the 10th, and desired a record
made of the fact that nearly three month.
before he (Brooks) became a member or 6
Government Director it was a matter Of no
| toriety in the highest Court of Pennsylva
My that Nelson owned $50 shares in his Owl
name; also that the Government Director:
/ generally, If not always, were in accord with
him (Brooks) as to their duties. He claimed
| that the fifty additional shares for Nelson
were issued by virtue of his CNeilson's) con-
tract with Durant; he had no knowledge as
to who paid the s, 900 loaned Nelson by Dill
lon. He was sure he (witness) did not, but
| supposes that Nelson did. The check-book
showed no such check given.
Ex Representative Robert s. Hale, of New
York, appeared before the Committee, and
stated he was present as the friend and
counsel of Vice-President Colfax; that hs
(Colfax) was engaged in making thorough
examination of all his papers and letters
and upon concluding such examination
he would appear before the Commit
tee to testify in his own behalf, and ht
would also ask that some witnesses be ex
smined. Colfax had requested the speaker