Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-19
Wood County TrOubles--How the In
yestigatiOn Worked and How They
viii In the future Work.
'spondem Of Toledo Blade.
COLUMBUS, March 10, l;

COLUMBUS, March 10, 1875.
1t really looks now as if the Wood county
investigation means business, for the first
meeting OF the Committee has been held
and an organization effected by electing Jim
Gordon Chairman, and Mr.. Holloway, Of
Columbians, Secretary. There was consid-
cradle discussion az to whether the Com
mittee should HE them away to the fast
ness of an up stairs Committee room, there
10 sit as q star chamber upon the wicked
Legislators who were supposed to have been
bribed to support this measure.
The star chambersystem was decided on,
although the minority of the Committee
made a good fight against it. The con-
struction of this Committee has been lit
tie queer from the start, ard very naturally
it makes talk. In the first place the Com
mittee consisted OF but three persons, all of
whom were opposed TO the Wood county
bill. Then two of the friends of the meas
ure were added, and in that shape the first
meeting was held, at which it was decided
to sit with closed doors, and take all the
evidence, hearsay and otherwise, that could
be drawn from witnesses Now two more
| friends of the measure have been added,
with view, Gordon claims, of packing
the jury on him." unlocking the doors to
outsiders, and conhning the testimony to
| only such evidence rs would be received by
a court Of justice. This is all right, but It
is directly in opposition TO the rules adopt
ed by other committees. For instance, the
canal committee have allowed witnesses the
greatest possible latitude, far too much in
fact, and this will be fully proved if the
mass of hearsay evidence given before this
committee is ever printed. Fully one-third
Of this evidence would no doubt be ruled
out by any court as utterly unreliable.
This morning Mr.. Parker of Brown,
arose and asked the House to reconsider
| the vote by which the two additional mem
| bers of the committee were appointed,
| Judge Haag jumped up in an ebullient con-
dition, aud said he hoped this would not he
done. AS the committee was organized
previous to the appointment of the two new
members, it proposed to try the whole
House upon vague charge of bribery
without any specifications, with closed
doors. He thought it was little late in
the day for allowing Star Chamber coun.
ellis and secret committees of FIVE. lie wa
willing to be tried, and IL found guilty oi
bribery he was willing TO be dismissed, with
out even a chance TO resign.
Mr.. Gordon said he was about tired OF
this sort oil humbug. lie meant business
and thought this addition to the commit
tee was intended 10 clog the investigation,
or rush il through on the fast line, without
full hearing OF the facts in the case.
Mr.. Ford, Of Genuga, arose, pale with an
ger and said he whnted to know il Gordon
meant 10 charge that he was appointed 10
clog business or was humbug.
Gordon denied any intention to reflect
upon the gentleman's honor. He did moi
mean TO say he, of his own volitiOn, had
been pnt upon the Committee to clog busi-
ness, but that Il was harder to get quo.
rum Of large Committee than d small
| one.
Mr. Grosvenor said this was much too
important a matter TO be left 10 the quiet
Of a committee room, where few disap-
pointed parties could throw mud at men
against whom they had grievance and sc
ruin characters forever. lie continued
with much warmth to oppose the motion
TO decrease the committee. After further
discussion Parker's motion was disagreed
to--yeas, "a; nays, AZ. With the commit
Tee in its present shape the work Of examin'
ing witnesses will be materially lessened
and conclusion as TO the guilt or limo
cence Of certain suspected parties settled
within comparatively short time. MAY
the fates decree a speedy settlement Of thii
case.