The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-04-02
The Wa.LinrtOn DistriOtRinr.

Have always felt quite secure, having in.
terested friends in high places. The cem-
mittee of Investigation however, Of which
Judge Thurman is a member, are develop
ing startling and damaging facts. These
show a real estate pool in which are mem
bers of Congress, the Cookies and others.
The Governor of the District fails TO ae-
count for q deficit in tie School fund of
S2l5,000. There was also a Ring to COB
bic up pavement contracts. Mr.. Leete a
witness, admits a little pool of his own a
contributor to which was Senator Stewart
MI. Killborns another witness and one of
the Ring, declined to tell who were inter
ested further than Henry D. Cooke who, as
he said in his letter of Aug %. 1871. to
w. S. Huntington, authorized his to draw
for SIS, 900. This amount was put into
the pool by Jay Cooke & Co., but he did
not know whether it was for Henry D.
Cooke alone or for the firm. If it was for
the firm, of course Henry D. Cooke, then
Governor had
AN INTEREST IN THE POOL.
equal to that of the firm. Killbourne was
asked who the other parties were for whom
he was trustee, but declined to answer. He
said that if any responsible person Of the
memorialists would allege that either he
or any of those concerned with him had
been guilty of any unlawful act he would
tell all about his transactions, but that to
do 80 would ruin his business, and he
wanted somebody from whom to recover
damages. Judge Thurman admonished
him that his transactions were not of that
character to entitle them to be considered
privileged, that it was perfectly proper
for him to tell for whom he acted, and the
committee would require him to answer.
Having thus ~admonished you" said
Judge Thurman, 81 now ask you for the
names OF your csSttEi que trusts" The
witness declined to answer.
Judge Thurman-Are these persons for
whom you first purchased the present
benefcaries2 A.-With one exception
they are.
Q.-Who was that one who has gone
out7 Al must decline to answer.
Q-Had you any interest IN these trans
ac,ioLs other then as a real estate broker2
Al had not originally. Eenly received
e commission. EL aL- AKA
Q-Have you any other interest now 2
A-Ihave a direct interest now. l47
Q-You purchased your interest ofthe
one member ofths pool who retired: A.
Il did. b. 1-
Q.-Who was that party ? Al must
decline to answer.
: AGENERAL POO
Q.-Was this a joint arrangement I? Did
all the parties contribute TO a general
pool2 A.-Yes, sir. ra1
Q-You executed written declarations
of trust? A-Yes, sir.
Q-Were any members of the Board of
Public Works interested2 A.-None di-
rectiy or indirectly. Nobody connected
with the District Government in any way.
Q.-Yoa except Gov. Cooke; you have
admitted that he was interested2 A.
Yes, sir at least so far as he was inter-
ested in the firm of Jay Cooke & Co.
With one other exception, I will say that
none of the parties ere residents of this
District.
o. will ask you q direct question,
which yeu can answer categorlcalIy. Are
any members of Congress interested? A.
Il must decline to answer that question.
Q.-Were any members Of the last or
present Congress directly or Indirectly in
terested? Al must respectfully decline
to answer that question also.
Q-Werea any officers of the army in
terested2- Al must decline to answer
that question also.
Judge Thurman then asked him whether
he could see the parties for whom he acted
and consult them about giving their names
and If they did not object whether he
would do so; to which he answered that
he would see them and consult with them
and would report to the committee when
ever they desired him to do so.