The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-27
THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Blaine Explains the Mysteri.
GUS Package.
1t Contained Maps and Pamphlets
Robinson Recalled.

WASHINGTON, May 26.-The sub-Judiciary
COMMITTEE met this afternoon and recalled Asa
L. Robinson, who testified lie had read the
testimony of Amos Curry before the committee.
Witness never told Curry the package which
witness brought to Blaine from Caldwell con-
tanned bonds, or that it was an installment of
bonds. Had often talked with Curry in social
way, and might some time have said the pack
age may have contained bonds, but never said
| IL really did, for witness never knew what it
did contain. Witness did not consider himself
responsible fbr whatever inference Curry NAV
have drawn from their conversation. He con-
sidered Curry man of veracity and good
moral character.
Curry Repeats His Story.
Amos Curry was recalled and repeated his
former testimony, that Robinson had told him
that the package contained bonds. Witness
submitted two kilograms just received from his
vile in Arkansas, setting forth that she had
| read in the papers Robinson's statement about
the story, and saying that Robinson did say the
package contained bonds, as she was present
with Curry at the time Robinson made the
statement. Witness said that Robinson and
himself were on good and on intimate terms
and he considered Robinson a man of truth
and yeracity. never having heard his reputation
1or veracity called IN question before.
Mr.. Blaine said he had understood the COM
mittee had summoned Caldwell from London.
He desired to know if the committee intend to
| keep this matter open until Caldwell arrives
] lie thought t0e COmmltteo S0OclQ reDOrt
| this matter now.
Mr.. Hunton, the chairman, said the matter
| of summoning Caldwell was in the hands Of
the full Jad ciary Committee, and mot of the
subcommittee, and he could not state what
| their purpose was.
A Statement by Mr. Blaine.
Mr.. Blaine said it there were no more wit
nesseS to be heard upon this matter, he wonld
offer himself as witness. After some dis
cusson be was allowed to make a statement
combining himself to the package spoken of
and he was sworn and made the following
statement:
Mr.. Charman-It is entirely true that in the
| spring OF 1871 (Mr Robinson l believe gave the
specific date from his diary) he delivered to me
in the Speakers parlor a package. 1 should
| think that the package was about IS or 20
| inches long and about inches in diameter
| | reesived his card while sitting in the Speakers
chair. As soon as it became convenient went
| out and met him in the Speakers parlor He
handed me the package and said, This Is a
package which Mr.. Caldwell handed me for
| you" The package was done up carelessly in
| brown paper, the ends bent in and tied. I
should say, although 1 cannot tell precisely at
this length OF time, in very loose manner. I
| chatted with him moment about the condi-
| tion of the Fort Smith road, and somewhat
about the coal land 10 the Arkansas Valley.
He then wanted to see some member of the
House, have forgotten whom. l told him he
could have the privilege of the floor, and he
went in with me. AS L passed to the chair L
threw the bundle down careleSSly. 1t lay there
until the House adjourned and l took it down
in the lower private room that had 1t lay
| there for months. 1t was package of maps
OF some neutrality-suspicious. and some of
the descriptical sketches-I mean some of those
made by individuals and not published, show
ing the coal fields in the Arkansas Valley. 1t
| was considered at that time by Caldwell and
others that there would be quite a speculation
in buying these lands, and these were allotted off
to show how much could be got in one body. AS
the sections were taken alternating it was very
nard to get a large tract together, and very
few thousand dollars would buy considerable
quantity of them. thick the company offer.
ed them at s. or Sc an acre. This was sent to
me as prospectus and general setting forth
OF the merits and motives of the speculation
did not give great deal of attention to it, I
had some computations made as to the cost of
hauling to the river, how far it would be from
the Arkansas river and how much it would
cost by the time it got ty rail to the Mississippi.
The result of the whole thing was that did
not embark in it. That is all there was in the
whole story of the package. There was moth
ing more mysterious in it than if was going
to hand this book to the chairman It was
delivered in crowd, carried into the house and
thrown down without care and it lay in my
room with miscellaneous lot of papers proba-
bly, for year, referring to it every now and
then. Mr.. Robinson never delivered me bond
OF the Ft. Smith & Little Rock Co., either in
Washington Or any other place. desire to
make that statement as broad as it can be
made 10 every shar,.
Mr.. Chairman, while am here desire to
repeat under oath in relation to this entire
$64 600 charge the statement made by me on
the floor of the House in all parts without men,
tai reservation or purpose of evasion as the
iron clad oath says.