Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-02-11
THE CANAL INVESTIGATION.
What Honest" Editors Know About it.

What Honest" Editors Know A bout it..
ANNAPOLIS February s.--Tbe committee TO
| investigate the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company assembled at ! o'clock to-day,
Messrs. Lloyd and Newcomer being present.
! G. &. Fulton, Of the Baltimore 1mtTacan,
was first sworn Mr. Lloyd inquired, in a
series Of questions, what he knew in relation
| to the canal, its infringement, AID the pay
meni of overdue coupons by the directory, in
| consideration OF Il bonus from the bon0holdeis
Mr. Fulton in reply disclai1ned any personal
! knowledge Of these matters except from hear
say, current rumors and publications in the
papers of Western Maryland. He was qnts-
| Toned as to What he knew in relation to the
statement made in his paper October 20, 1873,
| that the management Of the canal had array
ed the coal companies against the bond
| FOLDERS aud replied in effect ms above.
Ellington Fulton, the managing editor OF
| the american, was sworn, and testified that he
had no personal knowledge of the charges
made against the canal directory he had con-
versed with numerous persons on he subject
In relation 10 the matter of the directors re-
| ceiving a bonus from bondholders be knew
nothing personally, and had never heard from
any bondholder that there existed any arrnge-
meut with the president or the management of
| The company. Among others he had a talk
| with Allen Bowie Davis in relation to the
! bonds of the canal Witness knew nothing
personally about The matter Of coal Transport
| iation or pay of hoatmen, but had read much
| upon those subjects in the Cumberland Times
and Hagerstown Null.
| Edwin Bell editor of the latter iuornal, was
sworn. He had no recollection of aly article
making the charge that a bonus had been paid
the president for the payment of coupons
overdue he had no personal knowledge Of
| the canal, but had expressed his views as TO
its management. and was responsible for hem
| though his information was obtained from
Other persons.
Mr. German asked Mr.. Bell TO answer who
wrote an editorial in the NAL of January %.
He refused to answer, and denied the right 10
make an inqusitye examination into his
| private affairs.
Mr.. German asked if the committee had not
the right to demand it They decided they bad
e: j. Q. Williams, counsel for Mr.. Bell
| then denied the right to investigate the Nut,
us they did not come for that purpose.
Mr.. Bannon asked that, in justice, the
writer of the editorial be named, SO that he
might he placed on the stand.
Mr. Bell replied that he was responsible for
what appeared, and he was ready 10 face the
music. lie positively and peremptorily re-
fused to have his private matters Investigated,
and having his own rights, was ready 10 de
fend them with his life
Col james G. Begritt said he who wrote the
editorial must have known something OF the
canal in order to throw light on the subject,
and every person ought to be brought on the
stand 10 tell what they know. The writer
was evidently acquainted with the canal at-
fairs and its officers, and cast out his iunuen-
does n way which led to the supposition he
knew more than he stated.
Mr. Lloyd 81 understand you refuse TO
answer the question: Answer: Il do, and
| will keep my sanctum inviolnte" (eXciled.
Mr. Bannon read extracts from the article,
and inquired again what he knew, and re-
quesed him to give the names Of any parties
who could throw light on The subject, but he
firmly refused
Col JAS G. Berrilt was sworn, and stated
he knew OF no nducemeIt, in any shape or form
that the human mind could conceive of, Of
iered to the directory for the payments of
overdue coupons; in the matter of making OF
pay ments the directors have no discretion
whatever, MS il is regulated by the court OF
Baltimore, affirmed by the Court of Appeals
the directors are paid their expenses (about
5000, for which 'ouchers are furnished 10
the president; have been director seven years.
| WAS placed the finance committee, and
with my colleagues went to Baltimore Ito
Alexander Brown and So1s and destroyed
the paid coupons; the chef object Of the board
has been to look after the highest interest OF
the State OF Mary land the collectors at Cum
berlaud and Georgetown deposit money until
il accumulates, and is then sent to Alexander
Brown & Sons, who give a bond to insure the
company against loss, and pay small per.
cent. 6 per cent? when about So. 600 ae-
cumulates coupons are paid AT their Office.
Daniel L Bser, OF Frederick county, was
Have been director several years
and have never seen the canal in better con-
dItion than now il will take less money to