Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-16
THE SUBSIDY CORRUPTION.
Investigating an EditOr--A Racy
Episode.

Don Fsfaft Tells the Committee what
He Knows, and as for the Rest, It's
None Of Their Business
WASHINGTON, Jan. l5.-Ihe Ways and
Means Committee resumed to-day the in
vestigation into the Pacific Nail Subsidy
business, by Chairman Dawes again asking
Dom Piatt the question, Through whom
did You make payment Of your note Of i've
thousand dollars TO Richard B. Irwin?'
Mr.. Wood, Of the committee, objected to
the question on the ground that the COM
mittee were going outside the line of qUes-
tiOns which the witness could be compelled
10 answer, on penalty Of being considered
in contempt, but after some discussion, he
(WOOd) withdrew his objection.
Mr.. Platt then said he had already testi-
fed that The 5000 transaction had moth
ing 10 do with the sO-called corruption
fund which they were investigating, 10 see
if any Of it had gone from the lobby to
COngreSsmen. He was satisfied that he
made q mistake the other day in appealing
10 this committee for justice before the
public, and wished now to appear simply
as a witness, and with the bank book and
vouchers show what be did with the money.
The committee has nothing to do with my
private affairs, but under protest, L will an
sWer that / do not know through whom the
payment was made, but | do know where l
got the money, and under the same protest,
l will state il came from VIM. Neeley
Thompson, part Of It being money earned
and pant a loan TO me. Mr.. Thompson had
no connection whatever with the Pacific
Company Subsidy, but as a matter Of fact,
he was in favor Of It.
QuestiOn.-What did you understand to
be Mr.. ThOmpson'S business?
Answer decline most positively to
answer, for yOu nave no business to ask me
the question.
In response to other questions the wit
ness said he thought the other day he did
know through whom the note was paid,
but on reflection and enquiry of Mr. Irwin,
be found he was mistaken, and really,
knows he did not know anything more
abOut L, than that Mr. Thompson left
Washington with the understanding that
be would take up the note in California,
and witness presumes he did, as the note
came back TO him Witness deposited the
5000 in the Freedman's Bank. He
patrOniZed that institution because IL lad
given him a column advertisement, and he
wanted 10 1eciprOcate patronage. Laugh
ter His aggregate deposits up to sept. 6,
were $1,000. Witness began to read from
the stubs of his check-bOOk a complete &C
count Of how he used ali Of this money,
when the suggestion was made that iJ was
not necessary.
Witness.-Oh, yes, 1 would rather give
YOU all my transactions with butchers.
bakers, and tailOrs. 1 have had them with
every one, except Congressman, and that is
all that has saved me from disgrace.
Questiun.-How much Of the money you
received from Mr.. Thompson was a loan TO
you?
Answer-He owed me, I think, some
5000.
Mr.. Dawes.-Please answer the question.
Witness.-This is going into my private
affairs too much. | am getting tired.
Mr.. DaweS.-If you are tired You may
take q seat.
Witness.-I am getting tired, not in my
legs, but in my patience.
Quest iOn.-Nhere we're YOU when You
repaid to Mr.. Thompson his loan to yOu?
Answer decline 10 answer such ques-
tions.
Question.-Will you inform us when
and in what way you paid il?
AnsWer.-NO. You are going into an
other transaction not connected with this.
Question DO YOU know whether Mr..
Thompson was connected with the New
Idria Quicksilver Mining Company?
Witness l decline answering anything
about il. The question is an insult. You
have got beyond all your legitimate pow
ers.
The chairman then said the witness
could consider himself excused for the
present, and the committee could determine
y-bafl,ar. he would he ra0uirpl araiu