Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-17
EX.COMPTROLLRR HOBBS.
Points OF His Testimony Before the
Investigating Committee.
Nashville Correspondence Of the Memphis

WILLIAMSON, spoken OF as a gentleman u
integrity, and his election was favored by
number Of members. met him for The
first time, and one evening pending the
election was in Thomas OCOnnOr's room
at the Maxwell House, John NJ. Fleming
Messrs. House and Wilson, and others, be-
ing present. then jOkingly said that aftel
two or more ballots the weakest Of 1s
should withdraw. House did not consent.
Wilson said, "YOu must do it, as it is a
fair proposition" O'COnnOr jOlingly said
it was right, and which ever was the
weaker, after the second ballot, should
withdraw and give the other his influence.
That was all the bargain or agreement
made previous 70 the election. Immedi-
ately after the agreement, OCOnnOr hu-
mOrOusly said that it would be right for
I the successful candidate to pay the expense
Incurred by the other in the election. House
gave me his support. i was elected, and
felt grateful to him. After the election
l went home. House called to see me
and wanted mo to give him a clerkship.
then promised him the position, but
made no promise previous to the election.
| | was afterWard informed that House said
he was 70 be my PRINCIPAL clerk. told
Senator Allison of it, and took means to
prevent House talking. House denied
making the statement he said be had
borrowed fifteen hundred dollars from Dr.
| Morrow, in order to make the race, and
asked me to pay it, and charge it TO his
salary TO be received as my clerk. Shortly
/ afterWard Morrow said that House bOr-
rUwed the money on the plea Of being my
clerk, and for me. Morrow said he OBJ
tanned the money Under false pretenses,
and unless repaid WOuld be prosecuted.
Finding out how House was acting, / saw
/ had made a mistake, as he was Unrelia-
bic and unfit for the position, and de-
termined TO get nd Of him on any terms.
b. "A. EllOe, a member Of the Legislature,
told ii. NJ. McAdOO, as my friend, that
Morrow had sent Judge Cant to Franklin
to see House, and was going 10 indict him.
EnlOe said he was requested TO act as a
friend; said House was mad; had
gone back on his word; that l
might have to fight a duel, and
unless the money was paid TO DR.. NJ. to-
morrow, they would have an investigation
and disclosure oft. Idisclaimed any con-
nectiOn with it, and again realizing the
mistake made in promising House the
clerkship, Us willing 10 pay him anything
70 get rid Of him, for l believed they want
ed TO blackmail me. OfCOnnOr said the
same thing 10 me, as the man would ruin
me. l said l feared no investigation.
Morrow afterwards had a conversation with
me, and said: Il understand you say We
want to blackmail your l said, ''Yes.n
be denied il; said he loaned the money and
wanted 70 have it back. / denied that l
had any previous knowledge Of the trans
action, was not Interested IN it, ard did not
authorize House 70 borrow money. l sub
sequently told House l could not give him
the clerbship, but was willing TO pay him
all l had damaged him. He said the
amount was 5000, as he had incurred ex-
penses in the election. | said that was too
much, at first refused to pay it, but after
ward did so to get rid Of him. / never !
promised anything before or during |
the election. l deny emphatically |
having promised him any Office or |
clerlIShip before the election; deny any |
knowledge OF participation in c0uupting |
members Of the last Legislature; did not |
authorize House or any one to borrow !
money from Morrow in procuring the cleo |
tiOn; did not know he had borrowed o. |
used money Illegally, improperly, or in any |
way, save from the knowledge Of House |
and Morrow, the latter o. whom said he /
loaned the money; L Ofered no money OF |
anything else for my election; DO not know |
that anything Of value Or money was used /
or offered TO iuduence votes; / did not con-
slider myself liable or obligated to pay /
House or Morrow / gave the money to get !
rid Of House, and to exOnerate myself from /
the promise to make him chief clerk; / i
would have given him more rather than /
take him IN the Office, after learning what /
l did, and Of his talk that he was to be i
chief clerk, have charge Of the money part
of the office, and would make a good thing
Of Il; as 20 my resignation / have 10 state / Il
received from ". NJ. Duncan ten thousand |
dollars, and resigned the OficeOf CCmpLrOl-
Ter for reasons hereinafter stated; ten thou
sand dollars was offered me upon tender
Of my resignation; 1 did not deem it
morally wrong to take it; my bad state Of
health rendered my continuance in Office |
perilOus TO life; l had to leave because Of
i'll health; got into a controversy with the
public printers, and offered Mai. Wilkes,
who is the Governors private secretary,
half the emOluments Of the Office if he
would run it, as my health did not permit
me to stay there all the time; he declined
the offer; about this time, and under cir
cumStances briefly indicated, / learned l
could get $4,000 to resign the office, to re-
store il to the people in the mode pre-
scribed By law, and through the means and
agencies for them prescribed and appointed
by their constitution and laws, and 10 place
some other 'iperSOn well qualified" to act |
in my stead in the position. /, in view of
the circumstances, thought it no wrong to
resign and take the money. Therefore
did so; the money was paid me by William
NJ Duncan, on a draft Of John FriersOn,
of a bank at Columbia. Il was
drawn by him as President, and do not
know whether he, or bOndhOlders, or others
the amount II was cashed by said
Duncan. As to Col. Burch: Before Col.
Burch came into the Office 1 had no hint, or
or expectation that Col Burch |
would be appointed to act in my stead, but
the Governor would appoint some /
'Other person well qualified Gov. Brown
extended to me every courtesy could have |
or asked of him, while l filled the !
lflice, and always assured me he was ready
md willing to give me any assistance he
,Ould in relation 10 the Office and its duties. |
When ] first told him contemplated re-
signing, he advised me not to do so; as well |
IS / now recOllect he said as / had been |
elected by the Legislature, l ought to serve
,ut the term if l could, but expressed |
lOubts as to my health TO bear up in the |
,fice. It would throw things in an awk-
ward shape for me to resign, and in this
gave repeated assurances Of will
ingness to give me any assistance and do
III in his power to aid me in the perform
.nce Of the duties Of the Office. All these
the Governor made good while
remained in Office. II he knew any
hing AZ all about any money or other
given me upon my rendering
nv resignation, / have no knowledge OF in
Of it. never said a word 10
9Ov Brown, nor he 10 me, about who
hould be my successor, nor did l in any {
gay ever intimate or communicate to Gov. I
Brown who 1 wanted appointed to the pO-
itiOn. l feel under lasting obligations to
i'm for uniform courtesy and assistance
iyen me while l was in Office. All the {
or business ever had as '
Comptroller with Col. Burch is this: l :
made my official bond in Humphreys conn
Y; had it examined; approved by Chan q
ellOr Nixon, and when l presented it 70
he Governor he said it was not properly I
eTtifed, therefore not a good statutory, Y
hough a good common law, bond. l was {
bout returning to Humphreys county 70 1
make another bond, and mentioned the I
natter to Col. Burch, who remarked that / !
7as not well enough to be running about, I
nd Ia urould make nv hond He Wen | q