Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-07-15

e transaction of his business to have
a the county seat removed. Another
was, he had great many friend:
D that desired this change; and llG
). mentioned some reasons or other why
| he came considerably yindictiye in
a the matter, and was determined, if he
a could, to secure the passage of the
bill.
e O. Well, what next? A. think
from that time on he spoke as though
!? he--as an attorney wonld talk.
: Mr.. Pond. Mr. Chairman, / OBJ
= ject to that; we don't want anything
Of that kind.
:. Mr.. Campbell. Let us have what
he said.
/ Mr.. Haag. Let him go on; so far
as am concerned am willing that
, everything should come oat.
: A. Twas justremarking that from
that on-he had been saying 81, but
, from that on--he used the pronoun
"we." 1t would, perhaps, be con-
sidered rs one, as do not give the
exact conversation-only the sub
stance-you might not understand;
but he used the pronoun 1--WE" In
speaking of the matter after that;
and he told me that Mr.. White and
he were not on very good terms-not
friendly; and that Mr.. White had
last winter voted against the bill, and
that he would like to secure his vote
for it; and that l should see Mr..
White; and if l thought he would
accept it, he could get money for his
vote.
| @. How is that? A. That if /
thought he would accept it, he could
get money for his vote.
@. That is. that Mr.. Haag said
that to you? A. Yes, sir.
@. Was there anything said as to
how much money he could get for his
vote? A. Iwould not make posi-
tive statement about that. | have
been thinking over tine matter, but
my impression is that it was couple
of hundred dollars.
Q. A couple of hundred dollars2
| A. Yes, sir.
@. Well, what further was said?
A. Well. he made some further re
marks. We talked for while, and
he talked about Mr. White being
one of the last members whose name
is called ut the call of the House;
and if it was not necessary, if the
bill did not require Mr.. Whites vote,
he did not need to vote for it.
TESTIMONY OF HON. JAMES s. GORDON.
@. Mr.. Gordon, you are mem
Der of this General Assembly. A.
Yes, sir.
@. Chairman of this investiga-
ting committee? A. Yes, sir; as
far as | can be under the rules of
the committee.
@. Mr.. Gordon, do YOU know of
your own knowledge, or from the in
formation of others, whether any
mohey has been raised or used, di-
rectly or indirectly, for the purpose
of bribing the members of this
General Assembly in connection with
that bill? A. | don't know, sir, of
my own knowledge of the raising of
any money; but do know that two
members of the House have offered |
me bribe of one hundred dollars
three members of the HOuse-to vote |
for this bill.
@. Please state, Mr.. Gordon, who
those members were, when the offer
was made, and the language used.
A. Well, sir, / will endeavor to do
so. By the way, allow me to go back
a little, General, and state this about
my knowledge of money being raised:
The first knowledge that | had that
money was to be used, except hints
and things, was last winter, or spring
rather, upon the day the Senate bill
was defeated in the House. Judge
Haag and | were walking down above
here, down the steps, think it was
few days before the adjournment of
the last session; and the Judge said
that he didn't care damn, while his
manner showed that he did care
several damns; that next winter he
would have charge of this and he
didn't want any lobby here, but he
wanted good bank account. That
was the first knowledge | had of
raising money.
Mr.. Grosvenor. You perhaps in
advertently spoke of the time when
the Senate bill had been defeated in
the House. A. When it was put
off or something it was virtually de-
feated.
Mr.. Grosvenor. Postponed until
next winter.
Mr.. Pond. Is the bill that passed
this winter the Senate bill of last
winter? A. Yes, sir; as under
stand the history of it there was
tilt upon it in the House, then it was
introduced into the Senate; and
what meant by defeated was some
action that effected the defeat for
that session; it went over. Well, sir,
then the next thing had any knowl-
edge of bribery and corruption was,
Mr.. Cooley approaching me at the I
Neil House, came to me and wanted
to know if he could talk business.
I told him l was in the habit of talk I
ing business when 1 had any bust
ness to do, or words to that effect; |
have forgotten the exact language ne t
used, but | think it was something !
like being ION the squares" l told i
him was usually that way; and at ;
any rate he appointed an interview
for that night, which failed to make.
Oh, yes, he said, the business is the
passage of this "Wood county BILL"
or words to that effect; gave me to :
understand that that was the matter. q
asked him how he came to take i,
such deep interest in it. He said
"Well, we'll" Says /, "Isit a finan-
cial INTEREST," He says yes. l
did not desire to have any more IN C