New-York tribune., 1875-09-24
rpr TELEGRAPH TO rHB TRIBUNE.


BUFFALO, N. Y, Sept. 23-1O p. m.-Ex-Canal
Commissioner Alex. Barkley arrived here about
o'clock to day. in charge Of Officer Donovan, who
arrested him at Ballston N. Y. on Tuesday He was
accompanied by his counsel F. Fish of Fultonvillc,
n Y. The officer states that their delay in arriving
here was occasioned by the inability OF Mr.. Fish to
leave home sooner. Chas. A. Donaldson OF Fulton
vile and Daniel S. Read Of Canajoharie came
with Barkley for the purpose OF going on
his bail bond. The former is hardware merchant,
and Mr. Fish owns $4,000 worth Of unincumbered
real estate i'm the county where he resides Read Is
builder, and is said to be worth $4,000 Mr.
Barkley is a farmer residing at Argyle. Washington
County N. Y, whose term of Office as Canal Com
missioner expired Dec. 81, 1874. lie was one OF the
Commissioners who made the Hand award last De-
cember. As the court had adjourned for the day
nothing could be done before tomorrow. BarhIey
will then appear to answer the charge OF conspiracy
preferred against him in the Indictment found by
the Grand Jury against Bennett, Lord, bowman
Davis, and Barkley, all Of whom except him were
arraigcd on Tuesday Mr. Barkley was taken to
the Tiff House. where he will remain under surveil-
lance till morning.
In conversation with the correspondent OF THE
TRIBUNE Mr. Barkley made the following state
ment in relation to the Hand award:
was ypectedly called here TO make an award the
nature Of which did not understand until after my ar
rival. The other Commissioners were mere ana we TOOK
tie testimony of six persons, who made their
statements under oath to the value OF the work done
We then returned To Albany and made the award acco
ing to the lowest valuation. At time, however, qua
we nave any idea that Mr. Lord had anything to do with
the matter. There nothing whatever during my stay
In Buffalo lead to suppose that the claim was not
an honest one aud under such circumstances the Com
mssioners had no right to refuse an waid ina. nau oeeh
ordered by an act OF the Legislature, ,o., ro. ,r
During the latter part OF Last fsDraay a ,Sen @s d1 IN
layed and nearly two months alter had vacated th9
met Thaddeus c. DAVIS at the Delayan House. ne
handed sealed envelope, directed to me. de said II
then envelope found that it contained canal ccrtii
cate issued upon the Hand award, for $2OOO There
it, at once sought Davis but not finding him, sealed
up the certificate in another. envelope ana ad
dressed d nuo TO Sfnne ali Of an" which h'0 was done
in presence OF my clerks, and within 30 minutes after
conceive Of for Benefits sending me the Ger
ntcate II he had thought he could bribe me- It was
then late, no longer officially connected wh
the canals 1t possible that the letter containing the
certificate was addressed to Davis instead OF Bennett
although feel very confident sent it to the latter
have however, made mistakes OF sim ar nature before
and it is not impossible that in my hurry had some
At the time, had knowledge that there was any
thing wrong in regard to the iiHnl award uia No.,
had issued They were issed Dy ono oi ile 9tner
Commissioners never haa anyIg on1 % HI nn, %n 'o nc
act upon the, Canal Board OF tne pst ISaru ,', %,
Canal Commlasoners never M was s,,n IN gulao e o., a
take the testimony in relation to the Hand award.
We were here tnen only day, and Ead no private
talk with Bennett any one else during the time. NO
one ever approached with briDc, or an offer OF any
kind 10 pay for influence. As regards my relatlois
with Mr. Lord, nave never known in Intimately ana
never had private conversation with hun IN my NE
NV difficulty always been that had To Sht thc "a
nal King, and 1t finally succeeded in ptins me out OF
the Board Of Commissioners
Thaddeus C.. Davis corroborates the above state
ment in regard to the delivery of tine letter to Mr.
Barkley He says however, that he was not at all
acquainted with its contents, and knows nothing
about the canal certificate. Lewis D. Bennett says
that he gave the certificate to Davis for his own use,
and that he has no idea of what induced Davis to
carry it to Barkley, as there was no such under
standing between them with regard to it. In fact,
the thought never occurred to him that any one else
than Davis should have the benefit Of it. He says
he is only slightly acquainted with Barkey. never
had any confidential conversation with hun, and
never attempted in any way to purchase his intlu-
cnce, either directly or indirectly. The certificate
was handed to Davis in an envelope. 1t was not al
dressed to Barkley nor to any other person.