The Placer herald., 1874-06-13
THE CENTRAL PACIFIC AND PLACER
COUNTY-ROGERS vs.. CROCKER.

As Charles Crocker in an affidavit dated at
Paris, May 10Th, 1874, has seen fit to con-
trovert the statemnts made by me in an
affidavit, in 1864, referring to the transac-
tons connected with the attempted investi-
cation by the Board of Supervisors of Placer
county, of which | was then President, into
the affairs of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company, it is but just to myself that
should make some reply. Crocker's af1ida-
Wit is self-con,radictory, as he states, in the
first place. that his conversation with me
occupied but fifteen minutes, while he closes
by saying that it occupied an hour and a
half. His other statements are conspicuous
ly untrue as this, as can be proved by re-
ports made at the time, and now on file at
Auburn, the county seat of Placer county.
The Supervisors of Placer county in the first
place appointed Hale & Higgins to examine
the books of the railroad company. Crocker
Immediately wrote to me TO meet him at Au
burn the next day, and his letter is still in
my possession. | met him at the American
Hotel when he urged me to have the APP
pontment of Hale q Higgins rescinded i,
averrng that if these gentlemen conducted
the examination it would be highly detri-
mental to negotiations of the company then
in progress. ! refused to do this, but
Crocker worked with the members of the
Board for the entire day, and finally got the
action resciuded and the Board agreed to
90 to Sacramento in body to investigate.
The whole history of the Central Pacific,
both before and after that time, shows that
they did not propose to have their books
opened, and that to this day no one who is
rot in the ring has had more than a glance
at them. On meeting at the company's
office, Stanford, Crocker and Hopkins made
us speeches on the history of the road, the
difficulties of construction, etc. but produced
no books Their narrative satisfied one Of
the members, and he was ready to return
to Placer and declare everything right. /,
However, insisted upon seeing the books.
Crocker's statements as to my spending
one hour in the railroad office and ten hours
outside, is false. took care to be on hand
during the entire time, for | was anxious
that no report should be made in my absence.
There are two reports now on file at Auburn.
The majority report states that after care
full investigation of the books, contracts,
etc, the signers are satisfied with the fair
and correct disbursement of the company's
moneys, etc. refused to sign that report,
and pointed to this sentence as utterly un-
true. 1t was proposed by Crocker to erase
that.portion relating to the books, etc. This
majority report was written land | did not
think the fact would be denied) by one of the
directors of the railroad, and passed to the
Board in a private room, that they might
copy It in their own handwriting, and offer
it to the people of Placer county. With
regard to Crocker's statements as to the use
of money at elections, the notorious use of
money in the election in this city is the best
swer. In Sacramento and Placer counties,
hundreds of dollars were disbursed to buy
the votes of individuals in favor of the sub
sidy, and Croker, himself, at Stewart's s
Flat, in Placer county, used money for that
purpose. 1t is true, as Crocker says, that
was in the employ of the Central Pacific,
but he omits to state that | rendered him
my resignation in writing. 1t is also true
that some time after entered the employ of
Sacramento Valley Road, as it is true that
Crocker could not purchase me, either with
brbes or threats. Even at this late date it
can hardly escape Crocker's recollection that
he was at the time extremely anxious TO
have the whole Board sign a favorable re-
port, that he could show to the Supervi-
sors of San Francisco, and that, with the
testimony of the Supervisors of Placer,
that they had seen the books, the San Fran
cisco men would not ask to see them. My
reply was: "Show us your books, and if
the books will justify it, will oe the first
to sign favorable report" AS for Crock
er's attack on my character, think it need
less for me to say that it is at least quite as
good as that of any member of the railroad
ring, who have been by turns sycophants
and tyrants. JAMES Il. ROGERS.