Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-02-21
The Credit MObIlIer Investigation

Before the Poland Committee, on the
7th, John l. Blair detailed the history of the
building of tho Sioux City, Iowa Falls and
Dubuque Railroad, the legislation by Con-
gress renewing the land grant in 1856 to the
State, and the legislation of the State giving
the grant to the road, and testified that not q
dollar was expended in procuring such legis-
lation, either before Congress or the State
Legislature. The witness never ex-
pended cent for blackmail for any one,
either a member of Congress or private citi-
zen; never had any correspondence with Mr.:
Blaine about taking stock. The members OF
Congress who hold, stock bought and paid
for it, and none was given for corrupt pur-
poses.
Hon. James G. Blaine was recalled and ex-
amined by Mr.. Stevenson. The witness reit-
Grated his former statement regarding the
stock which he had procured of the Messrs.
Coburn.
Cakes Ames appeared before the Poland
Committee on the 11th, and produced a
memorandum amounting in effect to what
had already been testifedto by him before
the Committee, and also claiming to show
an additional payment to Mr.. Colfax OF
$6075 on account of Credit -Mobilier divi'
dends. Witness had not yet been able to
find any receipt signed by Mr.. Colfax, al
though he had searched carefully; he did no
remember of having got any receiptRfrom
Colfax and never said so to any person; he
remembered he gave TO Colfax check for
81, 200. Witness further stated that Mr.. Col
fax never notified him that he would give up
the stock. At first witness wanted to get all
these men off as easy as possible, and
rather stated their view of the case, not rely
ing on his own memory.
Sidney Dillon, clerk in the office of the
Sergeant alarms, was recalled, and testified
that 1t was his impression that he paid a
81, 300 check marked "S. c." to Oakes Ames.
H. . 4 n ~,
talking with Ames during the last thirty
hours witness had asked him If he did not
pay the check to him, and Ames said he
thought it was very likely. The witness
could not swear he paid the check to Ames.
Mr.. Colfax read q letter from Mr.. Barclay,
Journal Clerk of the House of Represents
tives, saying: 81 have examined all your
rulings as Speaker on every proposition
made during the entire session by Hon. E.
B. Washburne and Hon. c. c. Washburne in
relation to the Union Pacific Railroad, and
find no ruling made by you that was not, in
my judgment, commanded and justified by
parliamentary law"
Mr.. Colfax then proceeded to give a de-
tailed statement of his private financial af-
fairs, and again denied receiving 81 200, and
also denied receiving the $50. 70 interest on
certificates which was entered on Ames'
book as paid to him; He then gave an ex-
planation of the 81, 200 bank note deposit;
800 came from his step-father, Mr..
Matthews, as part q debt due
for piano purchased $1,000 OF
it was in a note of that den0mi-
nation received by mail from a man named
Nesblt in New York, who wrote 70 congratu-
late him on the nomination to the Vice.
Presidency and rendered him the money as a
compliment. He could not remember the
exact date, as the letter had not been pre-
served and Mr.. Nesbit was dead and his
executors had not been able to find
any record of the sum sent.
Mr.. Matthews was sworn, and recollected
the 81, 600 bill being received in the mail and
exhibited at the breakfast table. No date
could be fixed other than approximately.
Mrs. Caroline Hollister, half sister of Mr.
Colfsx, was sworn. She remembered that
Mr.. Colfax received q 81 600 bill while at the
breakfast table in June, 1858; it was enclos
ed in a letter cougratulAting him on hii
nomination; the letter came from Mr.. Mes
bit.