New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-27
TILE -LATEST DEHELOPMENTs.

Mr.. Ames is just beginning to tell the truth,
and the Poland Committee is just beginning
to investigate with some yigOr and acuteness.
One after another of the Credit Mobilier Con-
gressmen has been overwhelmed by the re-
viving memory and recovered notebook OF
this terrible stock -jobbing Representative. Mr..
Colfax commands the pity of his friends. Mr..
Allison and Mr.. Kelley are covered with
modification. And on Saturday Senator Pat
terson was exhibited IN a situation that calls
the blush of shame to the face of every man
who loves the good name of his country. Mr..
Ames has produced receipts from Mr.. Patter-
son for dividends which that gentleman de-
clared he never had received, and also letter
of Mr.. PattersOns written Immediately after
Ames's frsU examination before the Com
mittee-a letter more damaging to the writer
than any document thus far published during
the whole inquiry. In the light of these
papers we purpose submitting Mr.. PattersOn's
case to a brief review
When the Credit Mobilier scandal first
came to light, during the Presidential cam
paign Mr.. Patterson, finding that it was used
against him in his contest for reelection by
Mr.. f. II. Rollins, requested Mr.. Ames to
write an exculpatory letter. Mr.. Ames replies,
June 0, 1872, 81 wrote him" (ROllinsl " that
q did not think you ever had any of the
"stOck, and if you had there was no more
"improprety in it than owning bank-stock "
and again, June 70: "Mr. Rollins should be
ASHAMED to make such charges, as if you
chad been a stakeholder and manager in this
Company, which you were NOT This rather
ambiguous statement passed current until
after the election but on his first examina-
ton before the Investigating Committee Mr.
Ames swOre that Senator Patterson bought 80
shares, and caused them to be transferred to
the bankipg-h0us of Morton, Bliss g. Co.
The contract never was rescinded, and Mr.
Ames believed that Senator Patterson had
received some of the dividends Mr.. Patter-
son hereupon wrote the amazing letter to
Cakes Ames, dated Jan. 4, and presented to
the Committee on Saturday. "Don't fail to
correct your original statement before the
Committee" he writes ait must not be re-
"ported as ii now stands" II public clamor
bad not forced Judge Poland and his associ-
ates to throw open the doors, the testimony
might, perhaps, have been revised according
to Mr.. PattersOn's Instructions You must
say, writes the Senator, that you offered
me 30 shares because you knew l was poor
that / was particular to inquire if it was
perfectly legitimate transaction, and if you
were sure the company would want no leg
islation; that "you may have had the i'm
"pression that l should take the stock some
" time, but for some reason | never did,
:" If pressed to know if purchased stock or
bonds THAT is, Union Pacific, not Credit
Mobilierl, you may say that did, paying full
market value, at a time when prices were
down. The official report of the testimony
was frequently amended and corrected by the
witnesses but whether Mr.. Ames went so far
as to harmonic his first statement with this
new version of the story, we have at present
no means of knowing. On the 10th, however,
Mr.. Patterson appeared before the Committee
and told the tale which he had previously put
into Ames's mouth. Mr. Ames had offered
him stock as friend. The Senator asked
whether it was quite proper for him to take
it, but he had ne money at the time, and
afterward he thought it best not to take it.
so the purchase not cOnsummated. and never
received directly or indirectly. did any ever
hold for me in trust pennys worth OF stock OF the
Credit Mobier. On two occasions subsequently our
chased of Mr. Ames stock and bonds the Union Pacific
Railroad which we're placed IN the hands OF friend in
Now Yosk for sale NJ friend sold them at fair profit