Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-06-10
BOND INQUIRY.
'rhe Suppressed Telegram
Blaine Investigates the
Committee.

Judiciary Committee resumed their
investigation this morning.
Mr.. Blaine said to Chairman Hun
ton, of the sub committee, that he
(Hunton)had promised in the House
of Representatives that ii Chairman
Knott did not answ,r his question
concerning the Cald i telegram he
(Hunton) would. \ y Mr.. Knott
had not made answer. snl he desired
to know il Hunton would keep his
promise.
Mr.. Hunton. Il will.
Mr.. Blaine to Mr.. Knott. you
propose to produce the telegram
Mr.. Knott never had any other
intention.
Mr.. Blalne.-Did you not deny to
several newspaper correspondents
that you had such a telegram on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday last?
Mr.. Knott made no categorical ar
swer. He said when he received the
telegram he came with it to the Cap
itol. That after the Judiciary Com
mittee had decided to summon Cald-
well he endeavored to ascertain his
address, and was told he was in TIA
ly. When he received the telegram
he was suspicious Of it, because it
had no street, nor date, nothing but
London, but he had since been in
formed that such was the practice
with cable messages--that the date
and address was kept at the London
office. Continuing, he said: When l
brought the telegram to the Capitol
| read it to Judge Lynde, Mr.. Nc
Mahon and Mr.. Hunton.
Mr.. Blaine. did you not read it
to others?
Mr.. Knott. Mr.. Blaine, the fact
is | had so many things on my mind
it did not occur to me again. | did
not regard it as evidence. If dis
patch had come from Caldwell say
ing Mr.. Blaine had got the bonds
and that he was guilty, would not
have given it to the press until it
was verified.
Mr.. Blaine intimated that he
thought he would.
= Mr.. Knott (exeitedly. DIDO you
mean to say or initiate that / would
do you an injustice
Mr.. Blaine Sitting in his seat COM
posedly. III think II it had been
damaging you wouldn't have kept it
back.
Mr.. Knott, with flushed face,
looked at Mr.. Blaine in menacing
manner. The scene created quite a
a sensation.
Mr.. Blaine-But you have the dis
patch in your pocket. You say you
want to authenticate it. What steps
have you taken to authenticate it !?
A. / have endeavored to find Mr..
Caldwell's address.
Mr.. Blaine-Have you telegraphed
to the London Office to find out If
Caldwell was there 7
Mr.. Knott made no reply.
Mr.. Blaine-Mr. Knott, after re-
ceiving the dispatch, did you deny
its receipt to newspaper man?
Mr.. Knott don't know any re-
porters. / believe one of the cores
'pondents met me after / got it in
the rotunda and asked me if / had
heard from Caldwell. / said l was
trying to find his address.
Mr.. Blaine-Did Caldwell say he
would make an affidavit /?
A. Yes he did.
Mr.. Blaine-Isn't that pretty good
evidence that he was willing to give
testimony
A. Yes, but had heard that you
had communicated with Caldwell.
Mr.. Blaine greatly excited. do
you mean to say that you have any
evidence going to show that / COM
with Caldwell?
Mr.. Kn0tt.-I didn't say SO.
Mr.. Blaine, (rising to his feet. y
Yes, but your insinuation meant
that, if it meant anything. / have
heard that you have been rummag-
ing the telegraph offices to endeavor
to show that / communicated Swith
Caldwell.
Mr.. Knott.-It is a lie.
Mr.. Blaine.-I am glad to hear you
say so. Now, want to ask you if
you have a scintilla Of evidence GO
ing to show that / communicated
with Caldwell 2
Mr.. Knott have not.
Mr.. Lynde said that the day Mr..
Knott received the Caldwell tele-
gram, he showed it to him. He re-
marked, "This is not evidence before
a committee or court"
Mr.. Lawrence You do not know
what this committee is admitting as
evidence.
Mr.. Lynde said he advised Knott
to first authenticate the dispatch
and endeavor to find if Caldwell was
in London.
Mr.. Blaine. - Y es, and if Mr.. Knott
had sent a dispatch to the London
office he could have authenticated
it in twenty four hours. The very
fact of sending to the London Office
an inquiry concerning a doubt of