Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-27
Investigation of the Charges
Against Mr.. Blaine.
MIR. BLAINE UPON The
STAND.

| Washington, May &c. The sub Judiciary COM
mittee met this afternoon and recalled Asa 2.
Robinson, who testified that he had read the testi-
mony Of Amos Curry before the committee.
Witness never told Curry that the package VIII ich
witness brought to Blaine from Caldwell, contain
ed bonds, or that it was an instalment of bonds.
Had often talked with Curry in a social way and
! might sometime have said the package may have
contained bonds, but never SAID it really did, for
witness never knew. Witness did not cons der
hin self responsible for whatever inference Curry
may have drawn from their conversation. He
considered Curry q man Of vefacy and good
moral character.
Amos Curry was recalled and repeated his form
| er testimony that Robinson had told him that the
package contained bonds. Witness submitted two
kilograms JUS. received from his wife in Arkansas
setting forth that she had read in the paper Rob-
insons statement about the story and SAYING that
Robinson did say the package contained bonds, as
she was present with Curry at the time Robinson
made the statement. Wltness said that Robinson
and himself were on good and even intimate terms
and he considered him man of truth and veracity
never having heard his reputation for veracity
called INTO question before.
Mr.. Blaine said he bad understood the commit
tee had summoned Caldwell from London assum-
ing to be connected with the affair. lie desired to
know if the committee intended to keep this mat
ter open until Caldwell arrives. He thought the
committee should report upon this matter now.
Mr.. llunton, the chairman said the matter of
suIutlODlug tdluWeII was III lnc mana OF the fulI
judiciary committee, and not of the sub committee
and he could not state what their purpose
Blaine said II there were no more witnesses to
be heard upon this matter, lie would offer himself
as witness. After some discussion he al
lowed to make statement combining himself to
package spoken of, and he was sworn and made
the following statement:
Mr. Charman-lt is entirely true that ia the
spring of 1871, Mr.. Robinson, believe, gave me
the date from his dairy he delivered to ne in the
speakers parlor, package, | should think that
the package was about Is or 20 inches long, and
about four inches in diameter | received his
card while sitting i'll the speakers chair. AS
as 1t became convenient went out, and met him
i'll the speakers paror. He handed me the pack.
age and said, this is Il package which MIR. Cald-
well handed me for you" The package was done
up carclessly in brown paper, the ends tied down.
l should say, although l cannot tell precisely, at
that date Of time, chatted with him in very
loose manner moment, about the condition OF
the Fort Smith road, and somewhat about the
coal land in the Arkansas valley. He then want
ed TO see some member of the House, | forgot
ten whom; told him he could have the privilege
OF the floor, and he went in with Tie. As | passed
up to the chair threw the bundle down careless
ly. 1t lay there until the House adjourned, and
took 1t down in the lower private room. IL lay
there Tor months. 1t was package of maps Of
some description, pamphlets, and some Of the de
scrlptiye sketches mean some of those made by
individuals, and not published, showing the coal
fields in the Arkansas valley.
1t was considered at that time by Caldwelland
Others, that there would be quite IL speculation in
buying these lands and those allotted oil to show
how much could be got i'll one body, as the sec
tons were taken alternately. 1t was very hard to
get large tract together, and a very few thous-
and dollars would buy considerable quantity of
them | think the company offered them at S. or
So an acre; this was sent to ne as prospectus
and general setting forth of the merits and ma
ture Of the speculation: | did not give great
deal of attention to it; | lad some computations
made to The cost Of hauling to the river, how far
1t would be from the Arkansas river and how
much it would cost by the time it get by rail to
the Mssssippi the result Of the whole thing was
that did not embark in it; that was all there was
in the whole story of the package; there was
nothing any more my sterious III it than ii |
to hand ihi, book to the chairman; it was deliv-
cred in crowd, carried into the house and thrown
down without care, and lay III my room with
scelianeous lot Of papers probably for year.
Mr. Robinson never delivered me bond of the
Fort Smith x Little Rock company, either i'll
Washington, or any other place. desire to make
that statement bi Dad 1t be ma lie in every
shape and from both inciusively and exclu-
svely.
MIR. Chairman while am here, desire to
peat under oath in relation to this entire SOL 900.
Charge the statement made by me the floor of
the House, in all paits without reservation, Or
purpose OF evasion, as the iton-c!ad oath says.