Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-09
News by Telegraph.
The Investigation of the Charges against
blaine.


him about some letters which were in hi
) possession, and wanted witness to give then
, up to him. Witness declined to do so, AMI
SAID Blaine almost got down on his knee
, and plead for the letters, saying they woulC
ruin him Tor life, and when the witnes
further declined. Mr.. Blaine asked him Il
, think of his wife and six children. lie be
sought witness. and almost contemplated
suicide. Witness then allowed Blaine tc
take them, and Blaine refused to return
them and still retains them. No one wa,
present at this time but Blaine and witness
Inere were about eighteen letters.
While this statement was being made,
Blaine sat at the table opposite the witness,
and exhibited considerable mirth at the
statement, laughing outright at the remark
about suicide, and when the witness closed,
Blaine rose at once and asked to be sworn
and allowed 10 make a counter statement
The chairman objected to it at that time
but assured Mr.. Blaine that he should have
an opportunity.
Witness further explained that Fisher
knew he had these letters, and allowed him
to have them. lie also said that when they
were alone, last night. Blaine talked poll
ties to him, and ask him how he would like
to run committee, and how he would like
a consulship. etc.
Mr.. BLAINE DENIAL.
1t the conclusion Of Mulligan's exam
nation. Mr.. Blaine took the stand. and
with the utmost emphasis denied all Of
Mulligan' 5 statements shat he (Blaine) had
offered him any cOnsulship, or that be had
told Mulllgan the publication Of the letters
OF OF MullIgan's testimony would ruin him.
All this sort Of thing, Mr.. Blaine said, was
pure fancy. lie denied that he obtained
the letters under pledge to return them.
| lie had known Mulligan fer twenty-five
| years. lie had been private secretary for
two of Blaine's brOthers-ln-law. and IN that
| capacity obtained possession OF many pri-
yate matters, not In any way connected
with this case, but concerning other per-
sons. and many dating back long before
Blaine came TO Congress.
| In examining the letters Blaine found
that only one Of them had anything what
ever to do with this case, and this he re-
| turned 10 tNulligan but kept the others
for the reason that he was exasperated by
| Mulligan's announcing his determination
to submit them II y0Ody impugned his
| character or testimony in any respect. lie
| (Blaine) then, in presence of Messrs. Fish
er and Atkins. told Nliligan that as these
| letters had no bearing upon the case and
were improperly IN bis (Alullican ) posses
sion, he (BlaIne) would not return them.
| He then called in two Of his friends, both
| lawyers, and read all the letters to them,
| and informed them that he would also, to-
| day, lay the letters before two OF the wlsest
| legal counsellers in Washington and if they
said there was anything in the letters bear
| ing on the case in the remOtest way he
would relinquish them. lie considered that
| Mulligan might Just as well 90 to his house
and take his other private letters AMI lay
them before the committee.
Chairman HuntOn then asked Mr.. Blaine
| to submit the letter and memorandum made
from them by Mulligan 10 the committee,
for their private examination
Mr.. Blaine said that he mus. for the pres
ent decline TO do so. but II, IN the judgment
OF counsel, who would command the com
mittee's entire confidence, they had any
bearing whatever upon tnc pending IN
quiry. he would produce them. lie did
not want the committees verdict on the
pending charge to be delayed by their going
INTO purely private matters outside the
case.
Mulligan's examination being continued.
he handed to the chairman memorandum
book labelled Warren Fisher, Jr., stating It
contained the names of the parties to whom
the bonds alleged to have been disposed of
by Blaine went. Mulligan said 1t was in
Blaine's handwriting and went on to state
that the IL 900 bonds that were sold TO these
different parties were first mortgage bonds.
Mr.. Blaine-They were Erst mortgageand
not land grant bonds
Wltness-Yes; the next sale was on 4
different lay from that other. 1t was
10 the Maine parties and was on 4 different
basis. One man had 8, 600 land grant bonds
and $4,000 first mortgage bonds; that was
sis, 900 for one man /; another man bad
So 900 land grant bonds and $500
first mortgage bonds ; another had 5000
land grant bonds. and 50 250 first mortgage
bonus another had 81 1909 land grant and
$3.50, first mortgage bonds. All these sales
were made by or through Mr. Blaine and
in addition to the bonds spoken Of as
coming TO these purchasers llr. Blaine WAS
TO get $780, coo land giant bonds, and
Se2 500 irst mortgage bonds.
Blaine You will not actually testify,
Mr.. Mulligan, that got them -
Mulligan-. No, sir; there are sJns
$50, coo still due
Chalrman-That is. that he got all except
SO bonds ? A-Yes.
Frye-DO you know whether they we're
sent TO him or to Maine men? ? Al know
that Maine men paid their own sub-crip-
tions to me. gave receipts for them.
Q-But you do not know that Mr.. Blaine
got this? 4 sent the other parties
bonds TO them by express, and Mr.. Blaine
gos his from Mr.. Fisher. Mr.. Elaino has
acknowledged that he got all those. |
gave him myself one lot OF 40.
Ole got all these $780, 900 land bonds.
and S32 500 OF first mortgage bends A
Yes.
Mulligan then produced list OF sub
seribers to the Fort Smith anu Little Rock
Railroad Company as shown by the memo
randum book putin evidence by the witness
In each instance the subscribers to the bonds
received an equal amount in bonds Of their
cash subscription, and Of land grant and
first mortgage bonds
WASHINGTON, June 2-Ths Judiciary
committee met at ten o clock this morning.
Nh Blaine sent word that he was not
through consulting with his lawyers and
the committee adjourned until noon. War
rem Fisher and Mulligan have been sum
moDed by the real estate pool committee
WASHINGTON. D. c., June , i In the
Blaine investigation to-day Elisha Atkins
being recalled, testified that he never said
in Mulligan's presence or before any one
else LldL D4AluG NA~ NAI uAntA u AA4t A-tN-AN
Rock and Fort Smith laad grant bonds that
went TO the Union Facifc railroad COM
pany. lie could not have done so, having
no Knowledge of the fact. Witness then
described the scene between Blaine and
Mulligan regarding the delivery of the let
ters 70 Blaine, and his refusal to return
| them, substantially testified to by Mul-
ligan.
Mr.. Blaine here said he wanted TO estab
| lish the fact that Mulligsn came here with
malignity and bitterness.
Witness said he had had brief CONVERSE
tions with Mulligan at times and that the
/ latter's language left the impression upon
| his mind that he was not Blalne's friend
| He had short conversation with Multi
gan three weeks ago in his own oihce. lie
asked Mulligan how his friend Blaine was
getting along, and Mulligan said N a gen
eral way he did not know much of Blaine,
and expressed the opinion that Blaine was
not the man for the presidential nOmIna-
ton. Mulligan said to witness, that Blaine
did not treat MIN right in his settlement oil
the estate of his (Blaiue's) brother-in-law
Stanwood. of whom Mnlligan had been the
confidential clerk. Witness never heard
ANYTHING impeaching Muiligan's eharae-
ter for truth. and he knew him since lsoo.
| lie came 10 NdSuiHslOu 1T tlo Attue'' Va
Blaine without being subpenaed.
Warren fisher being recalled, testified
that he had no recollection of suggesting in
letter or otherwise, that Blaine had obtain
ed money through Scott by selling Little
Rock bonds to the Union Pacific railroad
He said Blaine had offered him the letters
taken from Mulligan. he (Fisher) having a
prior claim to them. This was in Mulligsn's :
presence.
Blaine asked him il he did not reply that
be did not want them.
Witness answered he did not remember
saying 50. lie received telegram IN bos-
ton from Blaine. Saturday, calling him 10
Washington, where be arrived Tuesday. and
met Blaine in barber shop Immediately on
arrival Went 70 Blaine's house Afterwards
by appointment. Blaine having written
asking him to bring Mulligan. Null
ligan did not go until sent for
second time. Witness knew Mnlllgan
had the letters and brought them
| There