The Republican journal., 1873-02-13
CREDIT MOBILIER.
MIR. Ames and His Book.


Mr.. Ames present. He produced his ia
nous memorandum book, and showed the
following entries
The first entry was read as follows: 1t
was dated Tuesday, Jan. IA, 1868, Henry
Wilson to credit by cash $40 on account
OF Credit Mobilier stock of America. Then
followed an entry under date Feb. 10th.
''Paid Henry Wilson 1854" The witness
testified that entries were not in all cases
made at the time of the transaction. June
%, 1868, statement of Henry Wilson's
account showing $1,000 in U. 2. r. r.
bonds, 1850 in Cedar Rapids bonds, a
calculation of interest and a check tor
1928 given to him.
MIR. DAWES.
The witness then turned to January IL,
1868 and read as follows: "Mr. Dawes,
Credit Mobiler of America, Jan. II,
$500; January IA, S235; total, 81 ,O35.
Witness in explanation of the entries, said
the S. ,035 was the par value OF the stock
and interest on it up to that time. This
sum was paid to Mr.. Dawes.
Witness then turned Leaf in the back
OF the book and exhibited an entry with
out date under the head of cash account
''I'iWeS by cash, SZ-Do0 aInOult tue on
bonds, $1,000; Credit Mobilier, 81 900;
Union Pacific 81 900"
In addition to this Mr. Ames stated that
Mr. Dawes took the bond and paid the
difference between the 80 per cent divi-
dend and its value
THE CoLFAX ENTRIES.
Witness then turned to the date of
Thursday. March 5, 1868, and read as fol-
lows: Received Of Schuyler Coltax
check for balance, S534.72."
The next entry was q check on the
Sergt.- at-Arms for 81, 200, given to Mr..
ColfaX, but the date was not given. Then
the following: "ColtaX 20 shares, Credit
Mohiler, cost, 81 900. months and 10
days interest S86.72; total, $8,286.72,
less 80 per cent bonds at 81, S1,552
Paid March 9Th, S534.72. $4,000 Union
Pacific stock, $1,000 Credit Mobilier'
A CALCULATION.
Witness next produced an original state
ment showing a calculation of the amount
due on 30 shares, 20 shares. and 10 shares.
There were no names on it, but he testifi-
ed that either it or copy was shown to
each one of the gentlemen for whom he
held the stock in trust. All the names on
the book having a cross mark affixed were
settled with
THE $4,000 DEPOSITED WITH THE SER
GEANT-Ar-ARMS.
The next entry was in June 1868, ODE
posted with the Sergeant-at-arms So
600"
Question. Have you any entry on this
OF any other book in reference to Mr.
Coltax
Answer have
- Judge Poland-Well, let us see it first
Mr.. Ames-Let us 60 through this DO ok
Judge Poland-No, we must see the
entry.
Mr.. Ames produced the book and read
as follows: Friday. January %, 1869
Paid 5. ColtaX S6O.75, interest on ST 800,
certificates of Union Pacific r. R. Wit
ness testified that the certificates alluded
to were dividends on Credit Mobiler The
stock and the money was paid here in
Washington
Q.-Have you been able to find any re-
ceipts signed by Colfax?
Al have not found any yet but have
searched carefully
Mr.. Ames also showed entries of the
same character in regard to transactions
with Schofeld. Allison, James F. Wilson,
Patterson, Bingham, and others.
Mr. ColfaX appeared and made the fol-
lowing statement
COLFAXS EXPLANATION.
Mr.. ColtaN then addressed the commit
tee as follows:
Gentlemen--Last fall | was one of a
number OF persons in public life charged
having been bribed by gifts of stock in
the Credit Mobiler, from which an enorm-
Gus dividend had been received, and for
which certain Legislation had been pro-
cnred. | replied to these charges in a
speech at South Bend Indiana, Sept 18th,
1872, in which, alter showing that the
most important part OF this legislation
had been enacted four years before the
alleged bribery, | responded to the per-
sonal attack as follows, which | read from
the Chicago Inter-Ocean of the next day
"Never having in my life dollar of stock
OF any kind, that ! did not pay tor. |
claim the right to purchase stock in the
Credit Mobiier or Credit Immobilier, if
there is one; nor do | know Of any law
prohibiting it. Do l need to add that
| neither Cakes Ames or any other person
offered TO give me one share, or 20 shares,
OF 200 shares in the Credit Mobilier or
any other railroad stock, and, that unfor-
tunately, | have never seen or received to
the value OF tarthing out Of the 27O per
cent. dividends, orSOO per cent. dividends,
| in cash, stock OF bonds, you have read
about for the past month nor 100 per
cent. nor the 10th OF one per cent. | have
said that if 20 shares of it could be pur-
chased AT par without bringing into a
prospective lawsuit, it would be good
investment, if It was as valuable stock
as represented but never having been
plaintiff or defendant in a court of justice,
i want no stock 1T any price, with a law
sult on the top of it," 1t will be seen from
these extracts that publicly claimed last
fall the right to purchase the stock
| avowed frankly that I would have
been willing to pay for 20 shares, if did
not buy into prospective law suit, but
that no possible profits could induce me
to involve myself IN litigation. volun-
| tarily abandoned a contract to purchase
at the rate | had stated and on the very
grounds | had stated, and having no GER
| titicate, no ownership of the stock in it,
my answer to the charges then made are
the exact truth and then l accepted what
ever odium might attach to the willing
| lCS5 ~ pttlCIidSt anu uOlt It's SuOck rs
then understood it. | will add that what
| then said last Sept. that neither Cakes
Ames or any other person ever gave or
offered to give me any of this stock has
beenrepeatedly printed during this session
with the essential word give" omitted,
enterely changing its sense Mr.. Ames
having sworn December 18th in his origi-
nal statement before the Committee which
he declared as (see page q of evidence)
embodies the exact facts that he could
not remember having paid me any divi-
dends, now declares that in June 1868, a
check payable to the initials rs. c." or
''Bearer' for 5000 but not endorsed by
me or any one else, was paid by him to
me as cash dividend of the Credit Mo-
bilier. In answer to this charge, repeat
again that l have not the slightest knowl-
edge or recollection or belief that ever
saw this check or any other check OF Mr..
Ames, till he presented it before the Com
mittee, nor that have ever been paid or