Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-01-15
yritten affidavit, read before the CON-

BeullCuudlt Vi IutcSLItyy anu AIS 'tSN NsiNi'
was favored by number OF members.
| met him for the first time, and one
evening pending the election was in
Thomas O'ConnoT's room at the Max
well house, John NJ. Fleming, House
and B. f. Wilson, president of the Me-
chanics' bank, and others being present.
/ then jokingly said that after two or
more ballots the weakest Of us should
withdraw. House did not consent. VIII
son said, ''You must dc it, as it is q far
proposition" OConnOr jOkingly said 1t
was right, and whichever was the weaker,
after the second ballot, should withdraw
and give the other his influence. That
was all the bargain or agreement made
previous to the election. Immediately
after the agreement, O'ConnOr humOr-
ously said that it would be right for 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
! went home. House called to see me
and wanted nae to give him clerk
ship. l then promised him the posi-
ton, but made no promise previous to
the election. / was afterward informed
that House said he was to be my prin-
cipal clerk. l told Senator Allison Of
it, and took means to prevent House
talking. House denied making the
statement. He said he had borrowed
fifteen hundred dollars from DIR. Nor
row, 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 borrowed the money on the plea
OF being my clerk, and for me. Morrow
said he obtained the money under false
pretenses, aud unless repaid would be
prosecuted. Finding out how House
was acting, / saw had made a mis-
take, as he was unreliable and unfit for
the position, and | determined to get
rid of him on any terms. B. A. EnlOe,
a member of the legislature, told II. M.
M'Adoo as my friend, that Morrow had
sent JudgeGant to Franklin to seeHOuse,
and was going to indict him. Enloe
said he was requested to act as
friend; said House was mad; had
gone back on his word; that ]
might have to fight q duel, and
unless the money was paid tomorrow,
he (Euloe) would have an investigation
and disclosure of it. | disclaimed any
connection with it, and again realizin g
the mistake made in promising House
the clerkship, was willing to pay him
anything to get rid ofhim, for believed
they wanted 20 blackmail me. OCOn-
nor said the same thing to me, as the
man would ruin me. said l feared
no investigation. Morrow afterward
had a conversation with me, and said:
81 understand you say we want to
blsckmail you?" l said, eyes" He
denied it; said he loaned the money
and wanted to have it back. denied
that l had any previous knowledge Of
the transaction, was not interested in it,
and did not authorize House TO borrow
money. l subsequently told House |
could not give him the clerkship, but
was willing to pay him all / had dam
aged him. He said the amount was
three thousand dollars, as he had in
Cured expense in the election. l said
that was too much, at first refused to
pay it, but afterward did so to get rid
of him. [ never promised any
thing before or during the
election. deny emphatically
having promised him any Office or
clerkship before the election; deny any
knowledge or participation in corrupt
ing membors Of the last Legislature; did
not authorize House or any one to bOr-
row money from Morrow in procuring
the election; did not know be had bor-
rowed or used money illegally, improp-
eTly, or in any way, save from the
knowledge of House and Morrow, the
latter of whom said he loaned the
money; offered no money or anything
else for my election; do not know that
anything Of value or money was used or
offered to influence votes; / did not con-
-co1F 1otI oh fnI 70,
House or Morrow; / gave the money
to get rid of House, and to exOnerate
myself from the promise to make him
chief clerk; 1 would have given him
more rather than take him in the office,
after learning what did, and of his
talk that he was to be chief clerk,
have charge of the money part
of the office, and would make
a good thing of it; as to my resignation
/ have to state / received from
VIM. M. Duncan ten thousand dollars,
and resigned the office of comptroller
for reasons hereinafter stated; ten thou
sand dollars was offered me upon tender
of my resignation; / did not deem 1t
morally wrong to take 1t; my bad state
of health rendered my continuance in
Office perilOus to life; had to leave be-
cause OF i'll health; | got into cOntro-
veTsy with the public printers, and of
fered Major Wilkes, who is the govern
Or's private secretary, half the emolu-
ments 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 circum-
stances briefly indicated, l learned /
could get ten thousand dollars to resign
the office, to restore it to the people in
the mode prescribed by law, and through
the means and agencies for them pre-
scribed and appointed by their constitu-
tion and laws, and to place some other
"person 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, president of bank at
Columbia. 1t was drawn by him as
president, and | do not know whether
he, or bOndhOlders, or others sustained
the amount. 1t was cashed by said
Duncan. AS to Colonel Burch: Before
Colonel Burch came into the Office had
no hint, or intimatioD, or expectation
that Colonel Burch would be appointed
to act in my stead, but supposed the
governor would appoint some "Other
person well qualified" Governor
Brown extended to me every courtesy l
could have expected or asked of him,
while l filled the Office, and always as
sured me he was ready and willing to
give me any assistance he could in Tela-
ton to the office and its du-
ties. When l first told him | con-
templa!ed resigning, he advised me
not TO do SO; as well as | now Tecollecs,
he said, as l had been elected by the
legislature ought to serve out the term
if / could, but expressed doubts as to my
health to bear up in the Office. 1t would
throw things in an awkward shape for
me to resign, and in this connection
gave repeated assurances of Willingness
to give me any assistance and do all in
his power to aid me in the performance
of the duties Of the office. All these as
slTances the governor made good while
| remained in office. II he knew any
thing at all about any money or other
consideration given me upon my ten
deTing my resignation have no know
ledge or information Of it, | never said
a word to Governor Brown, nor ne to
me, about who should be my successor,
nor did in any way ever intimate or
communicate to Governor Brown who
l wanted appointed to the position. l
feel under lasting obligations to him for
uniform courtesy and assistance given
me while / was in office. All
/ the communication or business L
l.. 4 fol lArr 4,