Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-27
The Spencer Investigation.

The investigation Of the election of Senator
Spencer, by the Alabama legislature, was
resumed before the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections this morning.
Henry Moore testified that he was q mer-
chant In Montgomery Ala. a repu blicsn, and
that he was one of the bondsmen on Internal
Revenue Collector Widmer's bond. Saw
Senator Spencer in Montgomery on Septem-
Der ", 1873. when he first heard of the defal-
cation of Widmer. Had a talk with Spencer
about IL, who said "dOnt be uneasy; Wild
mer is all ris hit; he loaned out some money
10 Mr.. Kinds for electioneering purposes
and he will have IL I'm a few days" The
amount was either $500 or Sc 600. Widmer
died month afterwards. Never knew that
ness In Montgomery. Did rot participate In
the election of Spencer in any way. Saw
Widmer when he was under arrest aud hal
a coDvers alton with him; witness was about
10 re late the conversation when counsel for
Senator Spencer objected. The committee
sustained the objection. The witness further
stated that ii was generally known that
Widmer had no means whatever. The wit
ness was cross examined at some length in
regard to his conversation with Senator
Spencer, but nothing additional was ELECTED.
SENATOR SPENCERS BANK ACCOUNT
Charles j. Campbell testified that he is the
cashier of the First National Bank of Mont
gOmery, Alabama. The witness explained
The accounts of Senator Spencer and j. J.
Kinds at the bank, which were put in evil
dence last week.
Joseph Gdethcr, of Montgomery. Alabama.
ieetlDtu tIldb ne Wf&s engdge1 IN ID king alG
commission business there. Knew Jas. Wild
Ter, the deceased internal revenue collector,
ard was one of his b0ndsmen. Mr.. Fritz, q
"auger under Widmer, took his papers after
bis death. Witness was going on to tell what
Fritz told him, when Mr.. Mayer, counsel for
Senator Spencer, put in another objection.
Gen. Morgan said that he wanted to prove
by the evidence that Widmer told FRITZ that
he CIV } was in such condition that he mad to
lean Kinds the money In question, and that
he had the notes of Senator Spencer and
Kinds for il.
The committee sustained the objection.
Gen. Morgan asked If ne could show by the
witness that Fritz said that he (FritZl woQld
produce the notes of Spencer and Kinds IL he
was given certain amount of money; but
the chairman of the committee said that all
hearsay evidence was included in the objec-
lion aid was ruled out.
IOtTfcE Robinson, OF Montgomery, Ala
b6ma, testified that he belonged to the re-
publican party ever since it was started
there, and is now tax collector for Mont
eoLlery county, and had been an alderman
for several years by election and appoint
ment; in addition to being tax collector he
keeps liqEor store; had several converse
tiOns with Senator Spencer at his store be
fore bis election; Spencer appeared TO be
very much excited and asked MIN
WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THE MATTE ~
with one of the cOlored members OF the Leg
islature named Ellsworth. Witness went 10
see Ellsworth 10 learn what male him dis
satisfied, and he said he ''wonld not be driven
about like id horse or CATTLE Hal n
tdlh WIN nlIu liIu wen udCn W > DclScT anu
told him that Ellsworth was all right. and
That he, Spencer, should go and see hi IN
Spencer afterward told him (WituesS) that
he, Spencer had seen Ellsworth ami had
made everything all right. Spencer did not
lay how he hal made every thing right with
Ellsworth. The day after Spencer came TO
Montgomery he (Spencer) deposited S. 500 In
bank there. Saw Spencer have the money,
but did not see him use il except in
one case, when he saw him (Spencer)
GIVE MAN SOME MONEY.
Dicnt know the mans name. Was fire.
quently In Spencer's room, ana was familiar
with arrangements that were used TO carry
on the canvass for Spencer; most every one
around the courthouse legislature was la
favor of Spencer. Ellsworth afterwards sup
ported Spencer, and voted for him. Pelham,
Kinds, Wilson, Whiting, Parsons, and o
number of other white republicans were
working for him. Witness was I'm all OF the
caucuses, and did all he could to keep the
members of the legislature there lin the
courthouse legislatuIe). Followed them
about and watched them day aud night, sc
as 10 keep quorum present, as 1t was ru-
DOrec about that
THE DEMOCRATS WANTED TO BUY THEM
Had several drinks with them. Whiting
detailed him to hunt up one or two repre-
Sentatlves from Lowndes cOunty, who had
strayed away from the court house. Had
often made cOlOred men vote the republican
ticket, after they had been paid with silver
dollars to vote on the other side. Had often
given them money, but not for their votes
Dot to help them along. daughter Drinks
were furnished pretty freely.
The committee at noon adjourned until to-
morrow morning, when Mr.. Robinson Will
be crOss-examined.