Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-25
The Ex-Speaker In the Course OF an Ex-
animation Of the Fort Smith Bond
Matter Encounters Ex-
Sheriff Curry.
He Charges the Latter with Being One
Of a Gang from Arkansas to Ruin
Him, and Curry Promptly
DenOHnces it as Ut.
terly False,

] Kansas, testified that be was chief en-
gipeer OF the Fort Smith and Litt!,
Rock railroad from 1859 to 1871; witnes
gave q statement Of the contract r1adt
between the directors CT the road and
Mr.. Fisher, which was afterTard trans
| ferred TO Mr.. Caldwell; all the asseti
and bonds OF the company we're uudel
contract OF Fisher, and afterwarj CAld
well in 1871; witness brought package
! from Caldwell, in Boston, to Mr.. Blaine
in Washington; he called Blaine out
| into the lobby and delivered the package
| to Blaine. Witness knew pothing abOu,
the contents Of the package; had nc
conversation with either Caldwell OF
Blaine that would indicate what was in
the package; held few minutes con-
versEtion with Blaine at the time OF the
delivery Of the package, in which Blaine
made some casual inquiry about the
Fort Smith road, and spoke OF the coal
interest out there, which some one had
asked him TO take an interest in. Wit
nets knew nothing whatever about Mr.
Blaine having any connection with the
Fort Smith road; never told any person
in the world that the package contained
twenty bonds, ard knew absolutely
nothing about Blaine's ownership OF
any bonds or interest Ia the Fort Smith
and Little Rock road. In ans yer to
questions by Mr.. Lawrence, witness said
he brought the package to Blaine in his
hand, as 1t was too large to carry in his
pocket. 1t was ream of paper, un-
sealed, aud was directed to Blaine. Wit
ness came here at that time to attend to
some matters about building bridge for
the company. There was nothing about
the package to indicate that it might not
be some papers relating TO the building
OF the bridge. Witness being next in
terrogated by Mr.. Blaine, further testi-
lied that hs has known Mr.. Blaine
about twenty five years, having become
acquainted with him when he (Blsine)
was an editor in Portland; he
had an Cffire in the same
building with Blaine, and considered
him an old and intimate acquaintance;
he delivered the package to Blaine in
the speakers parlor, without any con-
cealment; there was quite crowd of
people there at the time; 1t was thrown
down on the safe by Blaine, aud was not
treated like a valuable package: If il
had contained bonds, it was large enough
to contain large number; it might have
contained q plan OF the coal lands re-
ferred to by Blaine; it was a roll open
st both ends,
Amos P. Curry, OF Little Rock, Ar
kansas, testified that about five weeks
ago Robinson told him he had carried
package OF b0nds-twenty thousand dol
lars-from Josiah Caldwell, and deIiv-
cred 1t to Blaine; previous TO this Rob.
lnsoB said he believed twenty thousand
dollars worth OF bonds was in the pack
age, snd his understanding was that
these bonds were only an instsllment to
Blaine; he did not say that Caldwell
told him the object of delivering these
b0nd=; witness was 8 member OF the
Republican party.
Mr.. Blaine-How have the R9publi-
caus Of Arkansas for the past year been
affected toward me personally? An
swer-I think the majority feel
anything but friendly, owing to your
course on the Poland report concerning
the affairs of Arkansas.
Blaine Have you ever heard it de-
clsred they were going to get even with
me? Answer-I have not.
Blaine-HaVe you ever said. since
you hsve been in Washington, speaking
for yourself or associates, that it was
your duty TO strike Blaine whenever you
can? Answer-I never said 81, nor had
any feeling Of the kind.
Blaine-Have you ever heard in con-
nection with Pelatka a report that PO.
land was paid money for making it?
Mr.. Hunton, chairman, thought it
was not pertinent to this investigation
that Pcland's name should be introduced
IN the question with the allegation that
he received pay, especially in the abb
sence OF Poland.
Blsine-TbRt is part of the Arkan-
sss gossip. A vast mas Of falsehood
and slander has been dug up from the
debris OF corruption in Arkansas.
want TO show by my questions that the
witness is acting with the disreputable
gang. L want to show that the design
Of this witness is to smirk and smut
me.
Witnees-Tbat is false in every par.
ticular.
Biaine-O. K. 1 can prove it.
Mr.. Hunter did not think that such q
course Of examination was according to
the rules, but Blaine had the right Of
proving.
Mr.. Blsine-I leave the matter az 8
question OF veracity between the secre-
tary and Robinson.
Mr.. Hunter then asked the question,
Have you such feeling against Blaine
that you would iDjuTe him? Ans
No; disliked very much to come here,
but complied with the summon
David B. 5ickles testified that he was
3 former member Of the banking firm OF
Wslcott & Co., of New York, but at
sent negotiating loans on railroads
and other securities; also financial agent
Of the State. Of Arkansas. He was
one OF the directors Of the
Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad; as
TO the use OF railroad bonds he only
knew what Josiah Caldwell told BIN.
Mr.. Lawrence said that hearsay testi-
mony was not competent, and the
question whether 1t should be received
was referred to the full committee.
Mr.. Fry spoke earnestly against ask
ing questions about what others tcld the
and showed the injury to indi.
viduals from mere hesrsRy testimony.
Mr.. Hunton remarked that, In con-
iHcting this investigation, he had en-
1esyoEed to do 1t as fairly as he could,
and would not ask question that was
not proper.
Mr.. Blaine said he was entitled to
have the judgment Of the committee on
the siSty-tOuT thousand dollar slaDder.
he wanted judgment on the point on
which he was charged, viz that he hal
an interest in the Arkansas bonds that
went to the Union Pacific railroad COM
psny.
Mr.. Hunton said he was not willing
10 mSke q report until he became fully
satisfied of ali tue facts in the case.
Mr.. TsrbOx, who offered the Tesolu-
.ion 10 the house directing this inquiry,
ss.d his sim was TO strike somebody in
New HAMPSHIRE.
Mr.. Blaine-Yes; but 1t was aimed at
me in a cowsrdly manner.
Nj. HuHton said he thought the ques-
lion he had asked of witness was legiti-
% ate. namely: Have you any Informs
ton from anyco5y as to the use OF the
pOnds to influence or procure legislation?
Mr.. Lawrence objected to such ques-
-iop, and said that on the testi nony as
It now stood Blaine was entitled to a
verdict of the committee that he was
utterly guiltless, and that there was
nothing whatever to throw suspicion on
bin
Mr.. HuntOn modified his question Sd
Is to ask the witness from WnOm he re.
csived such Information. The witness
Judge Thos. NJ. Bowen, of
Colorado, and Judge Mcclure, OF Ar
ksnsas.n