The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-10-01

the bill to save expenses, was not cor
rect, for the reason that the entire ques-
tiOn concerning the county seat OF Wood
county hai been settled in the courts
and determined against PeTrysburg.
There was not one cent Of expense nee
/ eSsary, either by Wood county or the
State. The only expense that could
/ possibly arise was the expense of the
lobby at Columbus, and the cost of
| bribing members of the General Assem-
| bly,. But to the evidence: The irst
witness that will call will be the
HON. JOHN BAKER,
Democratic member from COshocton
| county, for the years 1S69-70-71-73-74
and 75- Among the questions asked Mr.
Baker were the following, which, with
the answers to them, l read to you from
pages 10 and 20 of the report of the in
yestigation, as prepared by the Clerk of
the House under the Speaker of the
HOuse--bOth good Democrats. Il will
here state that was selected by the
House as attorney for the Committee.)
Mr. Baker having been duly sworn, as
were all the witnesses, was examined:
O. Do YOU remember, Mr. Baker of having
a conversation at one time in which you
stated that you were satisfied that the 5iH
Of the present session 1cds lcr0Rg? A. Perhaps
| did make some such expression as that; /
do not remember just when, or to whom.
Q. Will you try to recolleet as much Of
that conversation rs you can? A. Well,
it might have been with MIR. White, per-
haps.
q VIII you state the conversation, as
nearly as you can, that you had with MIR:
White, in which the expression occurred
that you thought the bill was wrong? A.
Mr.. White and i talked at different times
upon that subject.
Q. Proceed Mr. Baker, and state as
much as you can. A. Mr.. White was
talking to me one evening, and he made this
remark; "Mr. Baker if you will vote
against that bill, L will tnlse you here in the
city and introduce you to my cousin, whom
| consider to be the handsOmest woman in
the city,"
Mr.. GrOsvenor Mr.. Campbell, the reso-
luton speaks of money
Mr.. Campbell. | think Mr.. Baker will
come to that presently, perhaps quicker than
if we were to interrupt him. / suppose
there is no objection to hearing about the
women.
Mr.. Baker. In further conversation,
whether it was that evening or soon after, /
do not recOllect, he gave me to understand
that there was money being used through
Mr.. Cooley; that was the way he represent
ed the thing to me, and he spoke through
Mr.. Cooley, and he thought they had select
ed pretty sharp mana pretty good man,
to operate in that way.
Q. In what sense do you use the word
"gOOd?" A. Why, that he was man
suitable or fit for the position.
q. That is, that he was fit for the busi-
ness of paying out this money? A Yes,
sir; for paying out or using the money.
Q. That was the conversation. You say
you had several conversations on this sub
ject ? A. Well, yes. / talked several
times on the subject to the same amount,
about the same thing.
Mr. Campbell. Now, Mr.. Baker. 1 viii
ask you to give us, as nearly as possible, that
Ollect the words Mr.. White used when he
referred to Mr.. Cooley; but he said they
were operating through Mr.. Cooley; that is,
as | understood him, that Mr.. Cooley had
the money and that he was to use it as he
found it would pay.
q. What was Mr.. Whites manner in
saying that2 Just tell the committee as
nearly as you can. A. Well, his manner
was about as his manner generally is when
he speaks of what he cOnceives to be facts.
That is as near as can get to it.
q. Would you denominate that manner
to be earnest? A. Yes, sir, think he was
in earnest when talking on that subject that
is In reference to Mr.. Cooley.
q. What answer did you make to the
about money, MIR. Baker? A.
| don't know; don't recOllect as | made
any answer.
q. You took the matter under advise
ment? A. Yes, sir, considered it in my
q. Were the conversations always seri-
Gus when you referred to the Perrysbug
matter? A. Well, yes, sir, l think they
were.
q. 1t was rather a business conversatlon2
A. 1t was rather like business converse
ton.
Q. As you would talk in reference to
the sale of farm Of horseg A. Yes, sir,
of that nature
Mr.. Campbell. How much then, was
paid, if anything, to either you or your son?
A After we came into the house, after my
son had concluded to remain, he was stand
ing outside the bar here somewhere, and
Mr. Williams took him out through the
door and paid him fifteen dollars.
Q. Only fifteen dollars? A. Only ff-
teen dollars, that is for remaining over until
morning. | said To him, ''YOu would bet
ter not say anything about that. That 1t
might create some trouble or something
that way.
o. Did any of them talk with yOu about
paving money, except Mr.. White, mem-
jer of this Houseg A. No, sir, | believe
not.
q. lie was the only person, then, of the
Obby or of the House who cOnVersed with
you upon the subject Of money? A. Yes,
.he only one who talked of money
q. How much money did he say YOU
could have2 A. Well. / don't reccollect
what he said; that is, don't reccOlIeet as he
aid anything as to what / could have, but
heard him speak time or two with ref
erence to one hundred dollars.
The Chairman. DO you remember having
4 conversation with me-yOu sat right next
10 me-the day before the passage of the
bill, in which told you thought il was
Traud and you agreed with me? A. Well
believe / do recOllect something about
hat.
q. YOu understood it to be in the nature
IF Offering bribe; did you not, A. Well,
res; it was to induce me stay you know and
not to go.
You will agree with me in saying that
BIS was a pitiful price to pay for a
possibly, however, the intro
1uction to the cousins compensated for
the meagerness of the pay.
The next witness / will call to show
how spiteful Mr. MeKinley's drunken
ssoundreP was, will be the Hon. VIM.
I. Conklin, u member of the House. q
Democrat, and / believe an honest man.
s. Rise nm William
q. Mr.. COnklin, will you state to the com
mittee whether you have been directly or
offered bribe or other valuable
to vote for or against the bill
known as the Wood County bill? A. Well
sir, could not say that have been offered
A bribe. / had a man say 10 me that we
that is, including himself and myself. could
make some money out of this thing If we
would vote for the bill.
O. VIII you please state the name of the
man who made this remark? A. EN-. Wal
ker
q. Mr.. Walker is a member of the House.
| believe, from Darke county. A. Yes. sir
q. Did YOU understand this to be in seri-
ousnessy a / did, sir
q. Mr.. Walker did not seem to be in
jesting mood, did he? A. think not, sir.
q. Give the conversation. A. Mr..
Walker said TO Newell, | will give the
way the conversation commenced: He
asked me what difference it would make to
him or me in reference TO the removal of
this county seat My answer to him was
that did not know that it would make any
difference to him or me any further than
the wrong or right of il was concerned He
then said, 'If a fellow could make some
money out Of this thing, what difference
~ q 4 s,lH II a