The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-07-14

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, July, 9, 1873.
Below will be found thesfull statement of
Mr.. John T, Drew, in regard to the payment
by Oakes Ames of the celebrated IS. C. or
bearer" check, the substance of which state
ment has heretofore appeared in these dis.
patches. On receipt of this document Judge
Poland forwarded copy of the same to Mr..
Colfax, ard added in reference to Mr..
Drew: 81 know nothing why he is not to be
regarded as credible and reliable man." Of
course, those who are determined that Mr.
Colfax shall never demonstrate the truth in
his case, if they can help it, at once pounce
upon Mr.. Drew, and, having no better weap-
ons, attempt to destroy his character or iE-
pugn his motives. Mr.. Drew's statement is
clear and unequivocal, and it may be added,
as fact, that he has never been particular
admirer of Mr.. Colfax. His evidence, which
he is understood to be willing to substantiate
under oath, will 60 for what it is worth, in
spite of personal assaults. One of these
anonymous and cowardy assaiants, writing
from here traducing Mr.. Drew by wholesale,
Mr.. Drew was not in Europe, as he saw him
here at the time. That assertion is COM
petely upset by the fact that Drew sailed for
Europe Jan. l5, 1878. and the first revelation
of, or allusioI to, the check occurred on the
22d of January following. Accompanying
Mr.. Drew's statemen: to Judge Poland, and,
affording sufficient answer to the unfounded
calumnies, are letters from President Buck
hem, of the University of Vermont; Gen. ].
L. Harstow, late Major General of Volun-
teers q. G. Benedict Postmaster of Bnrling
ton Lieut., Gen. Taft, ,ex-Gov. L. Underwood,
J.W. Steward, Gen. William Wells, Collector
of Customs; Judge T. E. Wales, Brig. Gen.
W. W. Henry, Samuel Huntington, ESQ.,, and
others to whom Mr.. Drew is well known, and
who, over their own signatures, vouch for
him as a gentleman of good standing as to
principle, wealth, and moral character" and
"a credible and reliable man, both personally
and professionally This much seems neces-
sary to compel his assailants to adopt some
other mode of warfare to break down his
statements.
The following is the statement in full:
BURLINGTON, VT, June 23, 1878.
Hon. Luke p. Poland, NJ. c.:
MY DEAR SIR: You will remember my be-
ing in Washington during the spring and
summer of 1868, in charge of the cotton
claim of L. Merchant & Co. While so en-
gagged called, by advice of yourself, Sena-
tor Morrill,, Senator Sumner, and Gen. Lo-
gan, upon several members of the House
and Senate, to explain the peculiarly strong
points in that case, and to show how it diff
fered from most cotton claims. On the Goth
and 22d of June, 1868 as my diary for that
year shows, called upon Hon. Oakes Ames,
of Massachusetts,. The first call was with-a
note of introduction from either Hon. w. B.
Washburn or Hon. F. E. WOODBRIDGE, I do
not remember which. The second time
met Mr.. Ames / had a letter from Major
General Veatch, of Indiana, which l read to
him. met Mr.. Ames near the door of the
Speakers room, on the right as you face it.
He was talking with gentleman on New
Orleans matters. l stood near him TO claim
his attention next, and without paying any
attention to the conversation, could not help
understanding something of its purport. Mr..
Ames rem arked to me he would be out di-
rectly, and went into the house and soon
came back with check in his hand, and say
ing to me, "Now, then," walked along to
the Sergeant-at-Arms' desk. walked by his
side and was stating my case. Some one was
drawing money at the desk of the Sergeant
II Arms at the time, or getting some changed
and we stood in the room and read tne let.
ter of Gen. Veatch which SO strongly vouched
for the LOYALTY of my clients. While we
We're talking. after the reading, noticed the
CHECK in Mr. Amess hands, because he was
ali the time looking at it, seemingly, over the
tons of his glasses. l remember ve:y dis
tinctlv that it was drawn to IS. c.. or hear
or. :" and that it was for $1,000. / know
thought to myself, ''Who the dickens is IS.
c., or bearer" This cheek was then and
there cashed at the desk of the Sergeant at
Arms, and | well remember one $500 bill and
several S1OO bills. Walking back to the gen.
tleman he had first been talking to, Mr. Ames
handed him this money and received some
kind of written document IN return. l
have never seen this gentleman since.
You know was In Europe during your in
vestigations of the Credit Mobilier frauds.
The first information had of the IS. G. or
bearer S1200' check was at the American
Legation at Paris. remembered then this
circumstance of the check, and told Mr.. |
Washburne, our Minister to France at that |
time, that knew Colfax never got the money, !
and that thought knew who did. ! also
informed Mr.. Frederick Blossom, of New
York, who was for some time my travelling
companion. He suggested hadbetter telegraph