The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-01
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE VERMONT CENTRAL INyESTI.
CATION.
Examination Of Witnesses.

Especial Dispatch TO the Rutland Globc1
ST.. ALBANs. April So.
The joint committee appointed by the
Legislature last fall to investigate the
charges which had been preferred against
the Vermont Central Railroad. it, trustees
and managers, met here yesterday for the
hearing. The committee are Mcssrs.
Bailey, of Franklin; Estey, of Wndham
Bartlett, of Essex, from the Senate: and
Mcssrs. Pitkin. of Montpelier; Grout. of
Newport. and Nunson. of Manchester.
from the House. They have as counsel
Hon. Chas. N. Davenport of Brattlcboro,
and \. G.. Stafford, Esq, of st. Adams
Mr.. Grout, of Newport, one of the com
mttcc. has not appeared, but will he here
tomorrow. The Vermont Central man
agcmcnt is in attendance, with the cXccp-
tion of b. p Cheney. They have as at
torneys thus far Messrs. Levi Underwood.
of Burlington Il. F. Fifcld, of Mont
pclicr. and Jasper Rand. of st. Adams.
a large amount of testimony has been
given to-day. most of which is important
to the case.
Mr. F. Stewart Stranahan, secretary and
treasurer of the National Car Company.
was examined nearly all day Yesterday.
His book of record, showing the names of
the Stockholders and tina number of shares.
was produced, and by this it was asccr-
tanned that nearly all of the officers of the
road owned stock in the company. and to
large amounts.
To-day numerous witnesses have been
J. ID. Hatch, of Burlington. the general
agent of the road. He was INTERCEPTED
regarding money dislmrscd in the Icrisla-
turc Of 1860, the accounts of which. in Il
great measure, influenced the passage of
the resolution of investigation by the last
Legislature.
The witness stated that so far as he re-
collected concerning the use of said funds,
they had been paid mostly 10 attorneys
who had been retained by the road hereto
fore They were all men of high standing
in the Legislature and In the State
Mcssrs. Otis, Driry and j. VI. Pinkcr-
ton, of Boston, members of the advisory
committee of the road, have each been ON
the stand, and subjected to thorough cx.
aminatons regarding the organization of
the National Car Company, the Vermont
Iron ond Car Company, and their relation
10 the Vermont Central Railroad Both
of these gentlemen are members of each of
these car companies. Mr.. j. w. Hobart.
general freight agent of the road. has tcsti-
fled concerning the same matter. lie says
the road had no facilities for through
freight business to the west previous 10 the
organization of these car companies and
that they had greatly increased the business
of the road and its popularity.
Samuel Williams of Rutland. formerly
treasurer of the road. was examined in re-
gard to the so-callcd secret service fund.
which was begun by him. This was II
portion of the income set apart for various
uses, according to the witness and most of
it was paid by him to Eugene Putnam. the
then private secretary of GOV. Smith.
lie could not state how much money
passed through his hands from this fund
perhaps $4,000
Hon. Bradley Barlow testified to paving
George A. Ballard, Esq, of Fairfax. one
hundred dollars in 1869 as a retainer for
the road, by authority of Gov Smith The
reason named was that talk was going on
concerning road to he built to Fairfax
from the lamoille valley, and negotiations
were pending with GOV, Smith. Mr. Bal
lard would he useful as an attorney
Mr.. Ballard testified to receiving the
| above amount and that he had never been
applied to by the road for services, and
knew of no reason why they should retain
him.
Other testimony of lesser Importance
has been elected to-day. The committee
seems determined to let nothing debar