The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-23
Boynton Tells His Little Story.
HoD Wilson Said that ShelIabarger Sad
that Grafton Said that KtddOo
could tell.
Special Dispatch to the Enquirer
WASHINGTON, D. c., March IA, rs.

WASHINGTON, ID. g., March IA, io'
MIR. PENDLEToN's MEDICATION.
George H. Pendleton has met his enc
mics and completely yindiCated himself
frcm all charges of bribery or attempt at
corruption of any person, in any place, in
aid of the passage of the claim of the
Kentucky Central. The Committee on
War Department Expenditures met
promptly at ten o'clock this morning in
the room of the Committee on Public
Grounds. This is a corner-room of small
dimensions in the southeast corner OF
the basement of the Capitol. Its windows
face Ben Buffers new house on the hill,
and commando view of the Potomac, and
far on the horizon, like faint speck, is
the old Lee mansion, across the river. 1t
was generally known that the committee
would examine Pendleton, and at an
early hour there w,s an immense attend
ance, the little committee room being un-
comfortably crowded. A little after ten
o'clock Mr.. Pendleton, accompanied by
Col. George McCook, made his appear
ance in the committee-room. After an
examination of one or two unimportant
witnesses, Mr.. Clymer announced that
the committee was ready to proceed to
the examination of Mr.. Pendleton. That
gentleman took position to the right of
the table, and in a clear, musical voice
Mr. Clymer administered the oath, amid
profound silence. As Mr.. Pendleton took
his seat, facing Mr., Clymer, the room pre-
sented scene of graphic interest. At the
table on his left the newspaper CORE
spondents were clustered, like bees
around hive. There were twenty cor
respondents present, re "esenting the
Cincinnati Enquirer, Times OmmerCidland
GazettS; Chicago Times and Tribune; New
York Herald, Sun, Tribune and World;
Philadelphia Press, and many other lead
ing papers of the country. Many could
not procure seats, and stood leaning
against the wall, with notebooks iu hand.
In one window stood lady correspond
dent. To the left of Mr.. Pendleton, Mr..
Blackburn, of Kentucky, was sitting,
quietly putting Cigar and watching the
smoke curlingupward. Across the table,
to Mr.. Black burns left sat Mr.. Robbins,
of North Carolina, smoking the stump of
a cigar and intently watching the dis
tinguished witness as he proceeded with
his statement. Mr. Clymer sat directly
in front of Mr.. Pendleton, looking him
full in the face. On Mr.. Pendleton's right,
almost within reach, sat Lorenzo Dan
ford, of the Sixteenth Ohio district, look
ing like a second edition of Mr.. Sher-
man. His long legs dangled in front of
him, and he,watched,every movement of
the witness as a tiger eyes his prey. Mr..
Bass, the fl tn member of the committee,
with smooth, boyish face, sat between
Clymer and Danford, to the front of Mr..
Pendleton. Near Mr.. Danford sat Boyn-
ton, of the Gazette, ready to aid the latter
in the cross-examination, when hisserv-
ices should be needed Behind Bass the
commanding figure Of Mr.. McCook
doomed, and he watched, with absorbing
interest, the progress of the testimony of
his bosom friend. Every seat and all
available space was taken up by the
spectators.
At the intimation of the Chairman, Mr..
Pendleton proceeded to state his con-
nection with the Kentucky Central the
history of the claim as he knew it. the
manner in which he contracted with
Senator Stevenson, Keefe and Ernst. as
owners of the Kentucky Central, for the
collection of the claim, and the amount
he was to receive for his services. He de.
livered histestimony in rapid, converse
tional tone, and was perfectly cool and
collected. When he stated that $4,000
out of Sl48,000 was his fee, reserving
5000 for A. H. Ransom for clerical sery-
ices. every body held their breath, and
there was whispering about that being
healthy fee.
When Mr.. Clymer had concluded,
proving that he had never met Pende-
ton abroad, thus exploding the stories
that have been in circulation, Mr.. Black
burn brought about a dramatic climax
by turning 10 the witness and saving.
AMr. Pendleton, do you say that Belknap,
Mrs. Belknap or any of the Seeretary's
family or any other person in Washing
ton had no interestin pushing the claim3'
Mr.. Pendleton turned, facing the oues-
tioner, while his face flushed in a posi-
tive manner, 81 do most emphaticallv
deny that any of these, or any other per-
sons, were interested in any way in Sc
curing the allowance of the claim. ANY
statement to the contrary is slanderous
and false" Mr.. Clymer then turned to
Danford and asked if he had anything to
ask the witness. Danford took seat
next to Mr.. Bass, and, after brief con-
sultation with Mr. Bass, he reached over
to the table and took bundle of musty
papers that had been on file in the War
Department since Stanton's day, and
placing them on his lap, he nervously
fumbled them, while, in the most insinu-
ating manner, he almost timidly began
propounding series of questions which
had evidently been arranged by other
Leads than his. Every word was listened
to with breathless interest, as if life and
death were depending on the result. He
said:
'Mr. Pendleton, did you not know that
this claim had been several times reject
ed by the Department ?n