The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-12
He says he tried to make
the exposure as light
as possible.
Exciting Scenes before the
Committee.
Spain Declares for a Re-
public.
Other items. Etc.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1l-There was a
large audience at Poland Committee this
morning Vice President Colfax and coun-
sci were present. After waiting half an
hour and Ames not appearing as request
ed, Judge Poland asked if Colfax was
ready to submit his proposed testimony.
Judge Hale, counsel, replied that it would
be manifest injustice for Colfax to get on
the stand until Ames should complete his
testimony About II O'Clock Ames ap-
peared, creating a sensation. Judge
Poland inquired if he had the original
memorandum OF copies of which he pro-
duced before the committee.
Ames-'I understand that evidence is
to be put in to impeach my testimony, by
Colfax My friends say that | should
have that evidence before / produce my
| book
! Judge PolaRd-'The committee thinks
it should be produced now.
Al have left my book with friend
who has legal knowledge to examine into
the matter"
P.-''Please send and get it now. The
| proceedings here must be governed by our
| judgment
| Horace F. Clark has the book,
sir.
| A messenger was dispatched for it i'm
mediately There was some disappoint-
ment when it was discovered that Ames
had not brought his book His answer
| as to the whereabouts of Clark was short
and to the point. He manifested much
coolness while awaiting the return of the
messenger. Ames produced memoran-
| dunn book showing that May 4th, 1867 he
| sold e. Bradford a hundred shares of
Credit Mobiher; that Senator Patterson
| paid him for his thirty shares on the 3lst
of August, 1861 The impression of the
witness when giving his former testimony
was, that Patterson paid him December,
| 1867 Witness made an entry Of Patter-
son 5 payment at the time as to the Iowa
Falls and Sioux City stock He held it as
a trustee for no one in particular Subse-
quently he let Messrs. Beeber. Gardner
and Aaron Hooper have some: also let
Mr.. Bingham have $500 or 5000 worth
The committee then took a recess of half
an hour
After recess Horace F. Clark appeared
before the committee and said on behalf of
Ames he would decline to produce the
memorandum book. He thought the com
mittee should not look into private affairs
Mr.. Clark, however, allowed comparison
to be made as to the entries in the book
and the testimony of Ames The entries
were then read, showing payments to Hen
ry Wilson and Dawes.
Oakes Ames was then asked, Have
you an entry on this or any other book in
reference to Colfax?n
Answer have
Judge Poland Wen, let us see it.
Ames-'' Let us get through this book
first.
! Judge Poland No; we must see the
entry.
Ames produced the book and read as
follows:
" Friday, January %, lS69,-Paid S.
Cohax $6,O75 for interest on 1900 certif-
Gates of L. ?. r. 4.
/ Witness testified that the certificates
alluded to were dividends on Credit Mobi-
her stock, and the money was paid here in
Washington.
Question" Have you been able to find
any receipts signed by Colfax p
Answer have not found any vet.
but have searched carefully
In explanation Of his former testimony.
Ames said he desired to make it as easy
as he could for all these men, and he prob
ably had erred on their side but now they
came in here to make him out liar. AT:
ter much talk between CLARK, as counse
for Ames, and Hale as counsel for Colfax
Judge Poland announced that unless this
was stopped the committee would be com
PEELED to dismiss both Of them, as there
was great chattering for nothing.
Ames, pointing to Hale have beer
= +hiDl-iTr- l. 7
ter
At the evening session Mr.. Colfax sub
mitted a letter from John ". Barclay,
> journal clerk OF the House Of Representa-
; tlVes, which pronounced the rulings of the
Speaker on all Pacific Railroad questions
Justified by parliamentary law Mr.. Col
fax then said that last fall he was one of a
number OF persons in public life charged
with having been bribed by gifts of stock
In the Credit Mobilier from which enor-
nous dividends had been received and fol
which certain legislation had been pr0cur-
ed, lie had replied to these charges in d
speech at South Bend Indiana, Septem.
Der %, from which he proceeded to quote
lie said 1t would seem from these extracts
that Il publicly claimed last fall the right
to purchase the stock and avowed frankly
that | would have been willing to pay fol
20 shares if | did not buy into a prospee-
tive law suit, but that no possible profits
could induce me toinvolve myself in litiga
ton, having over'tour years before this
speech voluntarily abandoned contract tt
purchase at the rate had stated and or
the very grounds ! had stated, as having
no certificate or ownership of stock in it
My answer to the charges then made
are the exact truth. | then frankly
accepted also whatever ediun
might attach to my willingness.
to purchase and to hold its stock, as ther
understood it. Ames declares that il
June, 1868, check, payable TO the initial!
). c. or bearer for 81 200, but not indors
ed by me nor any one else, was paid By
him to me as cash dividends of Credit Mo
bliler In answer to this charge | repea
again that | have not the slightest knowl
eagea or recollection or belief that | evel
1dW TINS check or any other check o
Ahles I'll he presented it before thii
coiillllCtee ~ nor that | %have ever beeI
Y palu OF pronered by him directly or indi
4 fectly IN eheck, stock or bonds twelv,
huiioreu' Ut one hundred, or one dollar, OF
e any account Whatever, l must add tha
l. until to-day l have never heard IF a Gov
e tifcate for fifteen hundred dnllars =
s Union Pacific bonds, sixty dollars i,ute ;ntereS
on which Ames says he paid me in Hama lar, 1
.. ry, 1869, and would not have been NOR or,
r, astounded to have been charged by him
> = with the assassination of one Of his family
: than have been by his charges that h
n n paid me either $1,000, or 500, or an
It, other amount whatever on stock that
had. .
In In relation to the deposit of 81 200, MI
Colfax introduced the testimony Of hi
step-tather, G. w. Matthews, that he pai