The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-25
The Blaine Charles.

Ee buO JuulClaTy COlnmlllce continued
their investigation Of tho Blaine bond mat
ter to-day. Blaine was present. Mr.. Hun
| ton laid before the committee letter from
Mr.. Wilson, correcting his testimony as to
the residence of Caldwell. Asa p. ROBIN
son of Arkansas testified that he was the
chief engineer of the Fort Smith and Little
| Rock railroad from 1869 to 1871. Witness
gave a statement Of the contract made be-
tween the directors Of the road and Mir
| Fisher, which was afterwards transferred
to Caldwell. All the assets and bonds OF
the company were under Fishers control,
and afterwards Caldwell. In 1871 the wit
ness brought package from Caldwell IN
Boston to Blaine in Washington. He called
Blaine out in the lobby and delivered the
package TO him. The witness knew moth
ing about the package and had no CONVEX
sation with either Caldwell or Blaine that
would indicate what was in the package.
lie held few minutes conversation with
Blaine at the time Of delivering the pack
age, in which Blaine made some casual in
quiry about the Fort Smith railroad, and
spoke of the coal interest out there which
some one had asked him to take an interest
in. The witness knew nothing whatever
about Blaine having connection with the
Fort Smith railroad. Never told any per
son in the world that the package contained
90 bonds, and knew absolutely nothing
about Blaine's ownership of any bonds or
interest il the Fort Smith and Little Rock
railroad. In answer to questions by Law
renee, the witness said he brought the
package to Blaine in his hand, as it was too
large to carry in his pocket. 1t was
ream Of paper unsealed, and was
directed to Blaine In answer to
Blaine, the witness said he had
known Blaine Is years delivered the
package 10 Blaine in the speakers public
parlor without any concealment there
was quite crowd of people there it was
thrown down OH the sofa by Blaine and
was not treated like valuable package
If it had contained bonds it was large
enough to contain large number it
might have contained plot Of coal lands
referred to by Blaine; it was a roll open
at both ends. Amos p. Curry of Little
Rock, Arkansas, testified that about five
weeks ago Robinson told him that he had
carried package of bonds $3.50, 000)
from Josiah Caldwell to and delivered
them 10 Blaine. Previous to this Rob
inson SAID he believed $4,000 worth
of bonds was in the package, and
that his understanding was these
bonds were only an instalment to
Blaine. He did not say that Caldwell told
him the object OF delivering these bonds,
The witness, on cross.eXamination by Mr.
Lawrence, said he did not know how the
committee heard of the fact that he had
had this conversation with Robinson, and
that he was member of the republican
party Mr.. Lawrence remarked it was O
good party. Mr.. tluntoon loosely asked
Lawrence whether lie wanted to prove the
reputation of the party under oath
Mr.. Blaine-IIow have the republicans
of Arkansas for the last year, been affect
ed toward me personally?
Al think majority feel anything bu'
friendly, owing to your course on the Pc
land report concerning the affairs of Ar
knasas.
Mr.. Blaine further examined the witness,
seeking to establish a conspiracy against
himself, in the course of which he asked {:
Have you ever heard in come ction with
the Poland report that Mr. Poland was
paid money for making it 2?
a. Yes.
Blaine-That is part of the Arkansas
gossip ; q vast mass of falsehood and slam
der, dug up from the diegs of corruption
in Arkansas. | want to show with my
questions that the witness is acting with q
disrepuiabe gang.
Mr. Hunton, chairman, thought that i,
was not pertinent to this investigation that
Judge Poland's name should be introduced
in connection with an allegation that he
received pay, and especially in the absence
of Judge Poland.
Baine--I want TO show that the design
of this witness ia to smirch and smut me
, Wltness-That's false in every particu-
lar
Blaine-I can prove it.
: Mr.. Hunton did not think such course
of examination was according to rules, but
Mr.. Blaine had the right to prove it.
Blaine-I leave the matter question OF
vcracity between Currey and Robinson.
Mr.. Hunton then asked the question
Have you such feeling against Mr.. Blaine
9 that you would injure him?
5 A.--No; disliked very much to come
here, but complied with the summons.
David b. Sickles testified that he was o
former member of the banking firm OF
Wolcott & Co., of New York, and at pres
ent negotiator of loans on railroad bonds
and other securities and miscellaneous
bonds. lie was also the financial agent OF
the state of Arkansas was formerly di'
rector of the Little Rock and Fort Smith
railroad company. AS to the use of the
railroad bonds, he only knew what Josiah
Caldwell told him.
Mr.. lawrence said that hearsay testi-
mony was not competent, and that the
}. question whether 1t should be received was
referred to the full committee after some
I debate.
q Mr.. Hunton asked the witness from
a whom he received any information ss to
II the use of those bonds to Influence or pro
cure legislation. After some discussion the
. committee adjourned till tomorrow.
: Conventions.
l. NEW HAMPSHIRE.