New-York tribune., 1876-01-18
ALABAMA REVELATIONS.
EOW SPENCER WAS ELECTED.

FRIEND IN TIE HOUR OF NEED
,r,o,, r,,y RFGUIAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA portion of the evi-
dence taken by the Joint Committee OF the General
Assembly OF Alabama appointed to investigate the cir
oumsances attending the election OF Senator Spencer 10
seat In Congress, has been received in tins CITY, Inc
first witness examined was John j. Mouton OF Moole
who at time OF Senator Spencers pretended oic0
was Postmaster in that city, He testified tnat ho WI" ="
Montgomery the day before the oIgahizatoh Vi 'o
Court house Legislature, IN November 1917 h"'i"s
oona there nv appointment with Mr. spencer lie re
turned TO Mobile, but went back To Montgomery aoou
week later also at the instance OF MI spencer MI" ~
with him $1,000 in money. subsequently nc in"ue
tbird vt 70 Montgomery about the time that Attorney
General Wiliams's proposition or compromise was ac
.od and carried at that time - 500 IN money. THESE
sums ne pad 10 Jerome j. Hnds taking his receipt or
a par of tho money. He testified that ne ala not owe
Kinds any money but paid these sums TO INN III re-
sponse TO teeaphic dispatches from Senator Spencer
dated at Washington. He did not owe Spencer any
money but understood that the funds he furnished on
tbe last occasion were be used in the MarnMer con-
test in the Senate The whole amount paid ny Mouitoh
10 Kinds at the time Of MI spencers election and subse
ouenty was in the neghborhood of $4,000
In regard TO the actual disposition Of most OF this
money Mr.. Moulton is personally ignorant. He did
however see Mr. Kinds pay out 800 bill under the
following circumstances Kinds and l." he says, were
walking up to the Capitol we saw man approacmhs'
and Kinds said, There is man want to give sloO
Ihave paid ont all the money you let me have TOOK
out 500 BILL and gave it to Kinds. Who handed IL TO
the gentleman, who Kinds said was member oi the
Ie0islature and Democrat" Kinds also told Mouiton
that he needed $500 bill TO pay Mr. Glass, state Sell
stor ana MOulton let him have it, when quesuoheu
further as to the circumstances under Whieh nc lui
pished this money MI MOultOn testified That he was At
the time financially very much embarrassed; that ne
raised the money in order to help Mr. Spencer III DIS
election as United States Senator; that he was AT the
time holding an Office which was under MS (9pehcerS
control an important and valuable ofhce-ahu that HIS
sons were also holding Federal offices MI spencer
knew at tho time of Mr. Moulton's financial embarrass-
men because prior TO his election as Senator MI Mo
ton had told him that he must have $4,000 to settle bis
accounts with the Government. Mr. Spencer promised
TO let him have that amount but said that no must Wa
until after his (5pencers election to the senate WHICH nc
expected to have left $4,000. which he woulu pay 10
Mr. Moulton When an a Mt OF the Post-Ohce Depart
nept went 10 Mr.. Mouton about the middle OF Jnll'
1873 for settlement of his accounts he was short OF
funds and drew on Senator Spencer by telegraph for
n 900 but the draft was offered and has never been
paid Spencer replied :" am out OF money.
Mr. Mouton was asked by the Committee il Senator
sneDcer assured him that would be protected by the
postONce Department or through his influence or any
other influence for using OF PostOce money Tor pO
utical purposes. The witness replied NO; had con
yersation with him In Montgomery at the time asked
him for the 10000; told him j was dscOulaseu'
told him was going to resign unless the money was
pad he said do not do it : Ireped would be com
PEELED TO do so he said. DO not do it, VIII stand by
Won: can make 1t all right in Washington" The Com
mittee further asked Mr. Mouton Did you understand
that ne meant indemnify you out OF his own resources
or that through his influence he could protect you
The witness answered, 81 do not believe from my
knowledge he could pay out Of his resources; but
thouen he could pay me- for knew he had control OF
about ~ 600 OF an election fund during the campaign
and from his further statement TO Inc that he would nave
$4,000 left"
Mr. Moultou testified that Mr. Kinds had always been
nearer to Senator Spencer than any other man. II was
thought in Alabama that Kinds had always to he pached
10 secure Senator Spencers favor This had been the
case since the atters election. They are very intimate
and live In the house. All payments which the
witness made TO Mr.. Kinds were made on the senator
account He never had business transaction with MI
Kinds When asked why it was that he demanded
$4,000 Of Senator encer when he had not advanced
10 him that amount the witness replied that for i
months before this Mr. Spencer had authorized dnereh
persons h draw upon him for political purposes ana IN
this way he bad advanced large amount OF money ID
which he was assured he would be protected by Mr.
Spencer The total sum he had thus advanced eXceeued
$4,000. Mr.. Spencer never denied bis liability TO re-
f,nd this money. He knew that failure TO 40 so had
bankrupted Mr. Moulton, and always recognized in his
conversations with the latter his Obligation 10 protect
him.
In regard TO the importance Of the MartinMier cor
test the state Mr. MOuton testified that II was
slways considered of vital moment. Senator Spencer
told him in Washington that it must be settled in favor
of Mr. Miller; that his spencors) seat depended upon
st. ami that it the key to the situation He fufther
said that friends in the United states Senate regarded
1t as necessary and advised him. and that II IL was
not done 1t was doubtful Whether nc cohu ie"A lis
seat
Touching the purchase Of votes in spenccrs interest by
the promise OF Federal oice Mr.. Moult0n testified That
he heard Kinds say that George Duskin stood up
Mr. Spencer he would be appointed TO Federal oihce,
and recollection wasthat Mr. Kinds commissioned
b. Spencer who the ground TO 90 directly
to Mr. Duskin and make tie bargain with him MI
Duskn was dissatisfied with the pledges given him, and
had Withdrawn from the Courthouse Assembly and
started for home. When he received these pledges he
turned and took his seat j. G. GoOdoe for time de
clined to 20 into the Courthouse Assembly IL was
understood that was be provided for and he then
took his seat and subsequently appointed Collector
OF the Port OF Mobile. Senator Wilson Of Montgomery
was originally opposed TO Mr. Spenccrs second elections
but finally converted. and subsequently appointed
to be- postmaster at Montgomery.
W. II. Lewis clerk in the Post Office at Mobile. aud
son OF Mrs Mouton testified that at the time MOuton
made the large advances Spencer, the latter under
stood that no had little other than his official
salary When he went out of Office his accounts were
behind and Mrs. Mouton Obliged TO raise the money
to settlc them out OF her private means.
James Gillette United States Commissioner for the
Southern District OF Alabama testified 10 issuing war
rants for the arrest OF members OF the Legislature just
before the time for its annual session Ia 1872 The an
davt which these arrests made was prepared by
Alexander White then member Of Congress from Ala
bama and Mr. Minnis, United States DisrctAttorncy at
Montgomery.
Harry c. Thrower OF Mobile, CustOm-house official,
testified that while Mr. spcncer's election was pending
demand was made every Federal Oiicehoder In the
Custom-house building in Mobile for money. with the