The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-02

bonds which you understood went into the hands OF
the Union Pacific Railroad through Thomas A. Scott
Mr. FRYE will object 10 that. Will you allow me
him two questions 10 lay the foundation OF
the objection which makef
The cHAiRhAs-siate your objection to the question
first
NJ FRYR-l desire to show by the witness that those
letters we're addressed by Mr.. Blame TO Mr. Fisher;
that they were In sale occupied by Mr.. Fisher; that
this Witness having no right whatever to them they
not being his property at all took possession Of them
and brought them here to Washington that there is
nowhere in any OF the letters any reference whatever
To any bonds that were sold TO Caldwell TO Fisher to
Tom Scott or TO the Union Paclc Railroad Company.
The CHAiKNAx-lf there Is not no will so answer
have framed my question with that direct view.
Mr. BLAISE-I wish TO ask the committee, before you
90 into the contents OF those letters 10 let mo make
my statement
The cHArRxAS-we will give you a hearing.
Mr. BLAiSE-But do not think you have right to
inject anything into the testimony OF the witness al
this poiuL What mean is that this question OF the
possession OF the letters Is one that stands aone is
entirely independent OF every other matter. After you
20 into it, and have disposed OF IT, the other matter
can be quite rs properly proceeded with aud before
a statement as to the personal matter which he has
preached IN connection with the possession oil these
letters.
letters do not think It Is best TO inject anything
into the testimony ut this point
Mr.. FRYE-The witness made II matter OF privilege
by asking permission TO make separate statement In
reference to matter which had nothing 10 do with the
railroad company.
SIR BLAIsE-He has injected his personal statement
and want TO make a counter statement
The CHAIRMAS-I do not want to do anything that
would put you AT disadvantage, Mr. Blaine; but do
not thin. 1t would te regular ut tins time
Mr.. BLAiyE-Are you going 10 proceed now with the
examination without allowing nny explanation Of this
statement that has been madey
The CHAIRMAx-That seems to mo to be the regular
course OF proceeding
Mr. BLAISE-lt does not strike me that 1t Is quite
far play do not want the impression to 30 forth to
the world in regard To these letters this man has
stated It without my having an opportunity Of making
my own statement
Tho CnAIRxAx-There is no possible chance OF its
gong forth TO the world without having such OPP
porunity. Your statement, so far as can control II,
will be before tho committee IN ample time for pubca
ton ut the same time this witness statement.
Mr. FRYE-There is this further objection Tine wit
now asked testify relative 10 the contents OF
certain letters not his letters at all He stated IN re-
pv that he thinks he can tell something that was IN
them These letters hts statement Is true are all in
existence and in the hands of Mr.. Blaine Mr..
Blame has not declined to furnish them nor has he
intimatcd that ne will decline. submit that there Is
no rule OF evidence by which you interrogate this
witness relative to the contents Of these letters until
they are shown to be beyond the power OF tho commit
tee to have the letters themselves make that Ms
legal objection TO asking this witness what Is IN the let
tiers.
The CHAIRxAx-Your objection would, possibly, in a
court OF justice be well taken but has been decided
by the full committee that this committee Is
not TO be- governed by the ordinary rules
OF law. II the statement OF the witness
be true and Mr.. Blaine has the letters then
the question asked the witness is at once answered by
vers the statement OF the witness and does not pro-
ducc the letters, we have right to examine the wit
Mr. FRYx-if Mr. Blaine took the letters they are in
existence They have not been destroyed Ut all. II
tho witness gives statement at all as TO the contents
OF these letters It only be a CARRIED statement
You arc searching for facts You do not want CARRIED
facts provided you can have the real facts 20 not
that this man would garble thcm any more than
any other man, but any man stating the contents OF
letters under such circumstances would be unable 10
state exactly what they contained II may be that Mr.
Blaine would say you that there was not single
word in those letters, from beginning 10 end, TO the
effect that Mr. Caldwell Mr.. Scott or the Union Pa
o.irNaA CAt had rllaar
with any bonds which Mr.. Blaine had OF his
railroad IN Arkansas. II may DO that no would say
eating, directly indirectly, that the bonds which
you are inquiring about, and the transaction
which you are seeking had anything whatever to do
The CHAiRAAS-fhc witness has stated that those
letters given to Mr. Blaine, under pledge from
Mr.. Blaine that they should be returned to him. As
suming that Mr. Blame has those letters, he has vIo
lated u PROMISE and he has offered produce them
to the committee nave asked tie witness question
10 the OF those letters far they bear
upon the subject matter Of the resolution That Is per-
ectly proper II Mr. Blaine is apprehensive that the
witness Will give garbed statement Inadvertently
otherwise, the remedy is in his own hands to produce
the letters II he declines TO produce the letters then
this evidence Is legitimate.
Mr. BLAlSE-I would prefer making statement In
advance, but If the question is insisted upon have
objection to It.
Mr. FRYI-Mr Blaine may desire timo to consider
whether he will pass the letters 10 the committee
or not.
The CuAIRxAS-when Mr. Blame makes that request
Mr. BLAIxK-That would have formed part OF the
statement which asked PERMISSION to make.
Mr. AsHE-l would suggest this:-Tne witness has
sworn that Mr. Blame has memorandum which the
witness made Of the contents OF each Of those letters,
and he swears that Mr. Blaine promised to return II to
him, but has II Mr.. Blaine will produce
that memoir ndum TO the committee the committee
will only examine the such letters tho
memorandum indicates to bear upon the point under
inquiry. Mr. Blaine can then meet witness answers
by showing the letter itself TO the committee, which
naft fhA fnnn nd lint ha
randum does correctly state the contents Of the
letter, and the matter viii not go any further.
Mr.. BLAME think could simplify this matter very
much could be allowed TO make statement At this
point. think could aid the committee.
The CnAlRhAS-Mr Blaine has had those letters
since last night and II this witness has spoken truth
he has got them under circumstances which do not
enttc him to retain them IL the letters do bear upon
this question entitled to them, and n we cannot
get them we have right 10 provo their contents But
ali this can be obvlaei by Mr. Blaine producing the
letters
Mr. LAwRExcE-Mr Rlaine's statement might fur
nish reason which would show the letters were
totally Incompetent
VIC have not clear right to do. Nor do desire TO
omit anything that ought TO do. But Tor my part
do not think should change the current OF the ex
animation at this point
Mr.. LAwRKscE-I think that any examination as to
the conicnts OF the letters should be post
poned until after Mr.. Blaine !, shall have
bad opportunity to reply so that the
committee may have opportunity to determine
whether there is anything in them that competent
nndcr the resolution which authorizes investigate
The question which has arisen as TO the circumstances
under which Mr.. Blame became possessed Of these let
tiers is rs II werc interiocutory matter and Mr..
Biainc's statement TO It cam with entire propricy
be heard at once and think should be.
IL was decided that the examination should now DO
interrupted but should proceed upon the question last
put, which was read as follows
Q. want you to state anything in those letters
which bears upon your testimony oil yesterday con-
corning Little Rock aud Fort Smith Railroad bonds
which you understand went into the hands Of
the Union Pacific Railroad through Thomas A.
Scott. A. In my testimony yesterday l was
asked II | had any other testimony than what
Mr.. Atkins had said about these bonds and said yes
that Mr. Blaine had acknowledged himself IN letter
Mr.. Fisher had been writing 10 Mr.. Blame Tor some
time about settlement, and Mr.. Blaine always urged
about back bonds due him COM
missions the sac Of bonds, and saying
that he very short Of money and had lost
considerable by this transaction ana that he would
have to take up these bonds from parties who had
them, that be had taken them up Mr.. Fisher wrote
him back that be tMr Bancl had not lost any money
because he tNr. Fisher knew where he had sold
the bonds and got this large amount OF money Tor
them.
xxst.. ma AL