The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-02-27
Senator POmeroy's Statement

After denying that he authorized any party
to offer money for legislative votes, Senator
Pomeroy proceeds to give history of the York
affair."
About the last of the week before the Tues
day set for the first ballot, T. B. Eldredge, w.
W. Reynolds Mr. Dalong and others, all from
his county, assured me with more or less posi-
tiveness, of Mr.. York's support; but some days
before learned that, had, after much delib-
Grafton, agreed to aid j. A. Page and associates
to start a national bank at Independence, where
Page had private bank; and having satisfied
myself of his ability, capacity and fitness for
| the management of such an Institution, l
| agreed to furnish him with money sufficient,
when met with his own $4,000, to make a
sum sufficient to purchase thirty United
| States bonds of the denomination of $1,000
each. Page urged and was anxious to procure
the money before he left Topeka, but told
| him it was announcement for me to furnish over
$1,000 then, but would give it soon, and he
| might depend upon it and make his arrange
| mentS accordingly.
| AT this time l met at the Tuft House w. p
| Borland, of the Second National Bank of Leav-
enworth, who inquired of me if l should not
want some currency before leaving Topeka.
He thought from appearances that my hotel
bills would be large. At first / told him no.
The next day met him. and said should like
to get $4,000 at forty or sixty days, as | had
agreed to help a friend organize a national
bank, and he would refund it as soon as he got
his currencJ from the Government. He then
brought me package said to contain $4,000,
which l never opened or counted or even gave
a note or receipt for at the time, and put the
same in my valise.
On Monday night York came to my room,
having seen me or having sent me word sew
eral times that he would do so. and at on e be-
gan to report what had been going on at the
anti Pomeroy caucus, and heard him through
Before leaving he spoke of the favor had
granted his friend Page, and said that Page
had requested him to get the money and fo:-
ward it to him at Independence, and that he
York. would leave it soon after the election
for him. l told him was not prepared at that
time to furnish it, though 1 had promised it to
Page before left the city, York said that per-
hapS l had no confidence in him. j assured
him Of my confidence, and told him could
furnish $4,000 that time, and thought should
be able to furnish 5000 more the next day.
The amount necessary had calculated would
be from $4,000 to $4,000 to pay for the bonds
and their premium in addition to the $4,000
Page and his associates could furnish. then
pa him the first instalment of $4,000, and
the next day paid him the package of $4,000,
just as had received the some from Mr., Bor-
land, and neither gave Borand my note nor
took note from him; but DUNG that day had
sent Mr.. King at one time and Samuel Pomer-
| oy at another time to find Page, if he had not
| left the city, to iuform him of the whole trans
| action But these gentlemen both returned
| saying that they were unable to find Page and
| I rested in the belief that the transaction was
all right until heard of the miscellaneous of
| facts by York ON the floor of the Joint Conven-
| ton. then denounced it as conspiracy, a
plot, and told my counsel here, Judge Horton,
the whole story and within few days left
| Kansas for Washington.
This, iu brief, Is the history of that charge of
bribery for which l asked of the Senate COM
mittee to investigate, and this one act, the
transaction with Page and York. now sol
EMMY declare ha no reference whatever to the
vote of York, and was made and executed en-
tirely independent of it, make this statement
upon my honor as Senator and ON my oath;
and further specially deny, as / stated in the
Senate when l demanded this investigation,
| that l ever entered into any contract or agree
ment directly or indirectly, with any man, a
| member of the Kansas Legislature or not, for o
vote in my favor, or that ever directly or indi-
rectly paid or promised to pay an individual
one penny or any other sum for his vote for me
in the late Senatorial election in Kansas.