The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-07
[Telsgraphedto the Rock leland Argusl
The ShamefuIly Corrupt Ap-
pointment Of Henry
,CIeWes.
THE GRANT FAMILY TO HAVE
oNE-FoURTH OF THE sPoILs,
The Appointment Matter Of Bargain
and Sale,

Cheever testified as follows:
'Clewes spoke to me repeatedly of estab-
fishing banking house in Washington.
Finally he told me he was endeavoring to
obtain the United States agency and
wanted my aid. He promised to pay me
literally. He stated to me the value of this
agency and made proposition to give me
one quarter of the entire profits, as my cor
respondence will show fully"
Question: "What inducements, if any,
were made by you to Mr.. Clewes for the
purpose Of obtaining his signature to those
conuacts?"
Answer: 'The inducement was that
thought could aid him, that I would give
him my time and my services to accom-
plish it,
Question: did you not offer some
special inducements to MIR. Clewes?-say
s)methiDg of your relations with persons
influential with the administration"
Answer: Only in general terms; I
do not remember saying anything specfcal-
ly; | know most of the members of the
administration, intimately; [ may haye
said SO; did not offer any inducements to
Mr.. Clewes in any shape or manner"
Question: Did you not mention to
Mr.. Clewes the names of Senators An
thony or Logan?"
Answer; Il probably mentioned the
names OF great many senators aud men,
bers of congress; know forty or fifty; I
do not remember that | told Mr.. Clewes
of any special influence or power which
had with the members of congress or the
administration; | cannot tell where James
Van Buren may be found, and cannot re-
member how his name came to be put in
the agreement. q -
Question: What was the considera-
ton Of agreement between you and
Clews2' ..r.s...-.
Answer: "All lawful services that ]
could render, in Washington or elsewhere,
in showing his standing as banker, etc.,
until success was obtained, and when OBJ
tanned, in so aiding him here and In Lon
don."
Question: Showing to whom p o.,
Answer: Members of the administra-
ton, the cabinet, and others-Secretary
Boutwell, for one. | cant remember the
others at this moment" +
Question: "Dou remember comforting
with other members of the cabinet, mem
bers Of congress, or senators?"
Il did, with great number. | repeat
edly conferred with Senators Conkling, An
thony, Sprague, iPomeroy, Morrill,, of Maine
Sumner, aud Vice President Wilson, who
took great interest in Clewes. Speaker
Blaine, Senator Logan. Messrs. Banks and
Butler Butler especially-took great in.
terest in Clewes. Icould name fifty Others
if had time to examine my books and pa
pers: Senators Sherman of Ohio, Ram
sey of Minnesota, Chandler of Michigan
Samuel Hooper of Boston, Delano, of tht
cabinet, and others"
| Question: WAS there any other con
sideration than that already specl6edf' T.
Answer: "Yes, Aid in getting as man,
disbursements as possible through thi
agency. introduced Clewes to Cushin,
and an arrangement was proposed as tt
Edeposits connected with foreign consulate
Fifteen million dollars was mentioned il
this connection"
| Question Explain more fully in re
gard to the aid you rendered"
J Answer: This agency was one of tn
choicest things in the gift of the govern
ment. / talked to those who had power t,
make these deposits and disbursements
spoke of Clewes as an energetic, and trust
worthy man, and very liberal friend Q
, the administration. | showed the weak
ness of other houses, calling attention t
some errors of Barring Bros. | urge
that an American house ought to have
and that it was not proper to give 1T
Morton, Bliss u Co., as one their partner
was Sir Jno Rose, a titled gentleman i
! England. also explained Clewes's cred
and position. These agreements wer
F made in 1869 and almost immediatel
Clewes had some government business,
!. spoke to the appropriation committee
: behalf of Clewes | was thus occupie
r many timesevery week, till October, 1877:
nearly two and half years, until the ar
Y pointment was made. Clewes suggeste
y that / should open an agency at Berlin {
Frankfort"
J. Question: did any other person hav
d d any interest in your one quarter of tt
). profts?" .--.- -.f
l. Answer: Lewis Dent was to have on
e eighth of the entire profits, at one time
q that was the understanding in April {
l. May, 1871; Judge Dent was u lawyer, an
n related to President Grant by marriage
q Question: What was the consider
a ton for Judge Dents shareY'
,e Answer: His services as counsel in a
i'll of this matter, and afterwards he was
act as counsel for the agency in Washin
ton; Clewes offered him $25.0O0 to con
here to New York as counsel, Dent to flu
uish such counsel as would advance the
terests of Mr.. Clewes. l 90 not remel
n Der specially what legal services he perforl
ed; don't know that he ever ceased
have an interest in the business"
A copy of letter alleged to have be
written by Cheever to Clewes, was he
Z put in evidence and he was questioned &C
,rt cernining it, but did not remember VIZ
ing it. The writer pressed for payne
= for services and mentioned that he had
partner to share with him.
~ Question: Don't you recollect statil
? or writing that you had partpers shari
one fourth of the profits with you2'
= Answer: Il do. Yes, had suppos,
up to a certain date, that Dent was pa
ner."
0I At this point several letters from Her
= Clewes to B. H. Cheeyer were marked
i lindentifcatlon.
= Question: Did you inform memb
!. of the administration, members OF congre
Y or senators of these agreements?
Answer; II did not tell them of my
! terests or profits.
Here the examination was adjourned
eh. Weather Probabilities.
re- WASHINGTON, Oct Upper Mis-