The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-10-08
Henry C|ews & Co.'s FalDre'

NEw oRK, October I.-lhe eHainlna-
tien OF Benjamin H. Cheever as creditor
of Henry Cews IL Co. was continued
yesterday, before Register in Bankruptcy
ketchum. In reply to the cross-ques-
tioning of counsel, Checver testified:
Clews spoke to me repeatedly OF cStab-
| fishing banking house in Washington
| finally he told me he was endeavorlng to
obtain United States agency and want
ed my aid; he promised to pay me liber-
! ally; he stated to me the value Of tins
agency and made a proposition to give
me Il quarter of the entire profits my
correspondence will show.
Question-What inducements, if any,
were made by you TO Mr.. Clews for the
purpose OF obtaining his signature to
those documents. A-The inducement
was that thought | could aid him, that
| would give my time and my services to
accomplish it.
Odd You not make some special
inducements to Mr.. Clews; say some
thing of your relations with persons
influential with the administration. A
Only in general terms. | do not remem-
Der saying anything specially. | knew
most OF the members Of the administra-
tion intimately. may have said 30. |
did not offer any inducements To MIR.
Clews in any shape or manner.
Odd you not mention to Mr.. Clews
the names of Senators Anthony and
Logan. Al probably mentioned the
names of great many Senators and
members of Congress. knew forty or
fifty. | do not remember that | told Mr..
Clews of any special influence or power
which | had with the members OF Con-
gress or the administration. | cannot
tell where James Van Buren, may be
found. cannot remember how his name
came to be put in the agreement.
Q-What was the consideration Of the
agreement between you and Clews? a
All lawful services that ! could render
in Washington and elsewhere, to show
his standing as banker, and until sue
cess was obtained and when obtained, IN
aiding him here and in London.
Q--Showing to whom? A-Membcrs
of the Administration, the Cabinet and
others. Secretary Boutwell, for one. |
cannot remembers the others ut this mo-
ment.
Q-Do YOU remember couterring with
other members of the Cabinet, members
of Congress or Senate? Al did with
great number. repeatedly conferred
with Senator Conkling. Senators Antha-
nv, Sprague, Morrill, and Mr. Sumner;
Vice President Wilson, who tooka great
interest in Clews; Speaker Blaine, Sena-
tor Logan, Banks and
Butler Especially To ik Great Inter
csi In CIews.
| could name fifty il had time to exam
inc my books ard papers. Senators Shcr-
man, of Ohio; Ramsey, OF Minnesota
Windam and Chandler OF Michigan;
Samuel Hooper, OF Boston, Delano, OF
the Cabinet, and others.
Q-Was there any other consideration
than that already specified? a Yes;
aid in getting as many disbursements rs
possible through this agency. | intro
duccd Clcws to Gushing and an arrange
merrt was proposed as to the deposits
connected with the foreign consulate.
Fifteen million dollars was mentioned in
this connection.
Q-Explmn more fully the word aid.
A-This Agency was one of the choicest
things in the gift of the Government. !
talked to those who had power to make
these deposits and disbursements spoke
of Clews rs such II wise, energetic and
trustworthy man, &O., very liberal friend
of the Administration; | showed the
weaknesses OF other houses, calling attcn-
ton to some eros O. Barr m Bro |
urged that live house ought to have IT,
and that it was not proper to give 1t to
Morton, Bliss n Co, as one OF their part
ncrs was Sir John Rose, u titled gentle |
man in England; ! also explained Clews
credit and ! ition. Thesc agreements /.
were made in 1869 and almost inmedi-
atelv Clcws had some Government /
business spoke to the Appropriation
Committee in behalf OF Clewsi |
was thus occupied mary .
times every week until October,
1873 nearly two years, until the appoint
ment was made. Clews suggested that |
should open an agency at Berlin or
Frankfort.
Odd any other person have any in
tcrcst IN your one-quartcr Of the profits!
A-Lcwls Dent was to have one-eighth .
of the entire profits ct one time. That .
was the understanding in April or May.
1871 Judge Dent was II lawyer, and .
was related to President Grant by mar
rinGe,
Q-What was the consideration for
Judge Dents share? A-llis services rs
counsel IN MD of this matter, and after
wards he was to act as counsel for the
agency in Washington. Clews offered
him twcnty-rIght thousand dollars to
come here 10 New York AS counsel.
Dent was to furnish such counsel n
would advance the interests OF CIew,.
do not remember specifically what legal
services he performed and do not know
that he ever ceased to have an interest IN
the business.
\ copy ola letter alleged to hay"
been written by Chcever to Clews, was
here put in evidence, and he was ques-
toned concerning it, but he did not re-
member wrilin- IT, The writer pressed
for the payment for his services, and
mentioned tnat he had partners to share
with him.
Q-Dont YOU rccollect stating. or
writing that you had partners sharing .
one-quarter Of the profits with you? a |
i do. Yes, had supposed up to a
certain date that Dent was q party.
( At this point several letters from
Henry Clcw- to b. II. Checver, were |
marked for identification.
Odd you inform members OF the /
Administration, members Of Congress or /
Senators OF these arguments? Al did /
not. | did not tell them my interest IN {
the profits.
Examination adjourned.