The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-04-04
THE DISTRICT RING
A TELL.TALE CHECK BOON CON
POUNDS THE DISTRICT
RING.
THE COOKIES. GENERAL Bah
COCK AND OTHERS DEEP
LY IMPLICATED.
THE RING MEMBERS QUIT BLUS.
TERING AND ARE GREAT
LY ALARMED
Especial TO the limo 4

Especial to the Times.
WAsHIHGroS, April 2-Thc mo'tamaz.
inC evidence yet produced against the
district authorities, psst and present. vas
that which was presented Tor the cousil-
eraticn OF tho investigating committee TO-
dav by witnesses summoned by tho nc
morislists. Governor shepherd, his at
torueys and tho numerous rct1incrs and |
hangers on Of the local government who
c9nrrega,e about the committee room each
dav. were completely takon by surprise,
and in their sgitsiior counsel for the die
trict made admission which may result
most disaatrously To their case.
samuel Strong, tho contractor, who YVES
,cnt by stephens 30 interview tho mcuoT-
islists some weeks ago and 70 betrny |
them II possible into tho hands Of bis om- !
plovers, was again put on tho stand this !
morning and made 70 produce his chc'k
book. The object Of compelling tho wit
ness to hriu: ia hi4 check book was 90
show that he had aid money 20 william
a. Cook, attorney for the district. When
previously intcrrogeted, Strong prevail.
Gated. When pressed FOR an answer &C.
Carding his tran action with Cook, the
production Of tho check book to-day, and
an examination Of the stabe, served 20
refresh his memory 70 IA extraordinary
degree.
INTERESTING DISCLOSURES.
I,not only Disclosed the fact that he
had paid Cook several sums OF money,
but Judge wilson, while turaing over
the Leaves, discovered that Strong bad also
literally contributed 10 the bank account
of General Babcocks engineer, Colonel
Sand. This last named gentleman made
tho measurement Of tho improvements
around tho L street circle, which lmprcve-
ments were constructed 10y Mr. Com
tractor Strong The measurement il has
been nscertained Is greatly ia excess Of
the amount OF work actually performed
and constitutes ono Of the charges of
fraud mado against tba district govern
".sn' ~ tho s"o"',i ai!s1s.
Bat for the fact that seyoral sheets have
been torn from tho check book, it j. not
unlikely several more receipts of Mr..
S,rong's bounty would have boon IN
earthed.
MORE TOMORROW.
Witness, after telling Of his effort TO
got into the confidence Of Columbus lax.
ander and other memore,is,s, for the rur-
pose of sscertaining their intentions and
than betraying thom, was dismisscd and
ordered 10 return Tomorrow morning.
and bring with him all hi' books con.
tanning any evidences Of his connection
with the board OF public works.
OH, Hol GENERAL BABCocF.
MI. SeGvorance, an engineer of forty
years standing, who has boon making
measurment and calculations for the mo-
morialists, testified that General Bahcock
had doubled the measurement Of the road
way around Rawlins square, and charged
tho government for iusi twice tho amount
OF work that had been done therein.
SENATOR STEWART ExclrRp.
Ia oross-oxamining this witness, Senator
Stewart becsac quite excited ana mado q
most lamen,able display Of his Ignorance
Of the plsinest rules for calculating uess-
ureinents.
FOWLER AND SHEPHERD.
Mr.. u. II. Fowler, the witness batwcon
whom and Governor Shepherd there oy-
ists difference OF opinion concerning tho
lstter's come iion with n paving cpu-
pany, was recalled this afternoon hui gl-
lowed to correct his testimony 81 The day
before. He stated that thu alleged inter
view between himself and tho governor
occurred in August, 1870, and not 10 leTl,
ne he had testified on y elncsdsy. With
that exception he msiu,ainei tho t,u,h.
Iulncss OF the rem indur Of HE ey idr1pn.
MORE HARD KNOCKS FOR TUE BOARD.
Following him came william T.. Knox.
He 10 n contract clerk of the board @! puo-
iic works, and has hold the position SINCE
January !, 1872, The Object Of bringing
forward this witness was 20 prove the nj
legations IN the fret charge Of the memo
r!shsts, which ID that tho board Of public
works had not complied with tho law IN
the execution OF contracts, and notWilh.
standing the painful sqGirming and pro.
Varica,ion OF tho witness, he was COM
PEELED 10 admit all that WAS cD.r.ed
against the board; bat DO went further.
and told Of thingR that were not droats.d
of by the lnemorialsts aud was sustained
by Governor Shepherd and Colonel liar.
rIngton, who, discovering the wrei.hnd
condition into which tho witness Lad
twisted himself, Boldly ACKNOWLEDGED al
he had sworn to-
Mr.. Knox admitted that contractors
were not compelled to sign their contracts
aud perfect their bonds, ia many instances
until after tho work was doro, tha. ,a.v
received their pay whla their cuntr q.
and bonds were in Imperfect shape, .Aat
the contracts entered INTO in lsl4 wore mo-,
perfected ia great many cases until 1874
that thirty or forty contracts had been
gun, and finally, TO cap all, he sworo Mrs
be himself had carried several contract
TO Henry ID. Cooke within few weeks
and had that gentlemen Sign them ~ GOV
ernor of the district and this nolwith
standing Henry ID. Cooke WINS succeeded
ms governor by Alexander II. shepherd
over four months ago.
THE EVANS CONTRACTS.
Xhness also admitted thGt no bond,
were ever attached 10 tho numberlus.
contracts held by g. IL. Eyens, but OK.
planned tha. tho bonds with Mrs. g. T.
Evans as surety, went in the office al
VIM. A. Cooke, attorney for tho district
He accounted for the absence Of II bond
on the Degsllyer and McClellsnd con-
tract by stating tina, VIM. n. Cooke hold
mortgage bond against the contractors.
JUST BEGINNING.
Counsel for tho momoraliets claimed
that they have only just begun to show
their hand, and promise within the next