The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-07
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

TESTIMONY ON THE C0NTRACTS-A GREAT DIS
PLAY OF HoNEsTY-rHE MRMoRIALIsTs
NEARLY THROUGH.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The district in
vestigating committee met this morning.
William A. Cook, attorney for the Dist let
of Columbia, was examined with refener, nee
to check having been given to him by
Samuel Strong. contractor. He was ex-
amined principally by Judge Wilson and at
first appeared inclined to be contumacious.
Finally he testified that in June, 1873, and
prior to that time he wasattorney for Strong,
that in themonth of June he sent to his Office
and found on his table a check for 81 600 in
favor of William A. Cook and A. X.
Browne, that he sent for Browne and stated
that he would have nothing to do with the
check. Browne also made a similar state
ment. He subsequently asked Strong v by
the check was made jointly, and Strong re-
piled that he was diiatory in relation to
some details of his business and that he had
employed Browne to aid him. The
witness then told Strong that Browne
had rendered no service, and he
would decline TO receive the check.
Strong said, "You can do what you please
with ii" the witness laid it aside. 1t has
never been paid. 1t was drawn on the First
National Bank of WashingtonCity. The wit
ness further testified that the check might
be among his papers Judge Wilson asked
the witness whether he hadany conversation
with Strong in which he asked fOr money
tor his legal services prior to recovering the
check, The witness replied that few days
before the check was
LEFT IN HIS OFFICE,
he had asked Strong for what was due hi m
for attending to his affairs as attorney since
1870 and he thought Strong reasonably owed
him 50, 200. The witness was then asked
under what law he advised the board of
public works to accept ehattel mortgage
signed by woman. to which he replied that
he predicted his advice upon q 6scisiOn OF
the supreme coErt that q married woman
had an absolute right TO control property
acquired by her prior 10 marriage. That
on the Degolyer and Mcclellan contract he
accepted chattel mortgage as a security
on the materials and machinery used by
them in completion os their paving con-
tract. That "A accepting the wife of c. K.
Evans as a surety on the contract of her
husband, he asoertainsd that she was worth
over four hSndred thousand dollars worth
of property in her own name. The witness
denied THAI the board of puhlie works had
influenced his action with reference to any
decisions rendered sy him. He was then
asked who drew up the sewer bill, to which
he replied that he drew up the original bill,
but it was amended by a eoaaIaittee of the
legislature. That he was present when it
was being enrolled, and discovered an error
in it. He recommended that II be returned
for correction. He didn't ShiRk the bill was
signed by Governor Cook when he discov-
cred this error. He testified shat so much
of Claggett's testimony as charged him with
DRAwzSs ALL 1EE BILLS
for the legislature, was untrue; but he
stated that he did draw a good many bills
for legislative commiGtses> at their sngges-
ton. Judge Wilson ASKED him whether,
since the commencement of the investiga-
tion. any consultation had been had with
hia and the board Of public works with
reference to furnishing the papers called for
by the coNAaittee 2 He replied that at all
efnof Shepherd was emphatic in . demand,
and that an papers called for should be
promptly furnished Mr.. Wilson requested
the witness to furnish the commit tee with a
draft OF the sewer bill as originally drawn
by him and subsequently, Tamanded by the
committee. Eneeh Tilton, attorney for
Strong, was next examined, aad stated tnst
he knew of no recent arrangements having
been entered into between Strong and the
board Of public works with a view of settle
ment. That as an attorney Sor Strong he had
entezed a suit against the board for money
due TO his client. In reply t. an interroga-
tori by Senator Allison Robert ChTisty, OF
the counsel for the menorialists, indicated
that they could conclude their case within
two or three days on all points except those
which had application to the contracts OF
DeGoiyer &c Mcclellan, before entering upon
which they wanted 10 examine ex Governor
Cooke and certain NONRESIDENT witnesses
who had been SUMMONED but had not yet
responded. Adjourned.