The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-16

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The witness knew nothing abou
Mr.. Blaine's ownership Of any Fort Smit
and Little Rock bonds. thought at th
time the conversation between Rol
lins and Harrison took place, that Blain
was mixed up inthe transaction, but fror
conversation with Rollins since, all tina
impression had been dissipated. l IN
derstood that an effort was made the mex
spring to change the entire Board OF Di
rectors, but did not know it had anything
to do with their action about these partiC
ular bonds. Thought the Credit Mobl
lier inquiry had something TO do withli
as their matter was being investigated
about that time. Neither witness no
Harrison were directors at the time Of tn
Credit Mobilier transactions, and they
were both re.appointed directors Of th'
Union Pacific. In response 10 another
question witness swore that he knew
nothing about the case under investiga
lion.
James F. Wilson testified that he had
been a government director OF the Unior
Pacific Railroad Company since 1869
and in reply to question by Mr.. Hunter
said that he had seen by the record thai
certain bonds Of the Little Rock & Fort
Smith Railroad had come into the posses
sion OF the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pany; had heard they came through Col
Thomas A. Scott, President OF the com
pany from 1871 to 1872. Had no knowl
edge OF John @. s. Harrison having
introduced at a meeting Of the Board ol
Directors 4 resolution inquiring how
these bonds came into possession Of the
company, but Harrison had informed
him that he had introduced such q reso.
luton, and he was also informed by Har.
rison that Rollins had told him that
Blaine would be implicated II there
should be an investigation. Wilson af.
terwards had conversation with Rollins
on the subject, when Rollins said tha,
Harrison had no right to use Blaine's
name in that connection. Witness men.
toned the matter to Blaine few months
after, September, 1872, when Blaine as.
serted that he had no interest in these
bonds, and no one could be more surprised
than himself that his name should be con.
nected with them.
Rollins further testified that he thought
he had talked with Ames and derived
from him the fact that Colonel Thomas
A. Scott furnished the 70 bonds 10 the
Union Pacific Railroad Company. The
reason why the old bonds were cancelled
and new ones issued In their place was
because Boston parties had made ar
rangements TO complete the Little Rock
road. he did not know or remember
from what source he learned that Blame
was connected with the bonds.
Mr.. Blaine asked-Do you know Of any
circumstance that led you to suspect that
l had any connection with the bonds2
Rollins-None whatever.
MIR. Blaine-Did Harrison renew to
you his desire for an investigation?
Mr.. Rollins-He did not.
Mr.. Harrison was recalled and having
been asked the question by Mr.. Hunton
whether he could tell or approximate the
value OF the 75 bonds, replied that he had
heard them spoken Of a. valueless bonds.
When he made the motion in the Board
Of Directors for an investigation he be-
lieved them to be valueless, and thought
il strange that they should be found
among the assets OF the .. P. r. X. Co.
The company ut the time was a large bor-
rover, and the ten per cent income bonds
commanded only from so to 90 cents on
the dollar.
Harrison said that when Rollins was
on the stand before the Credit Mobilier
Committee he telegraphed TO Jeremiah
NJ. Wilson, chairman, TO ask Rollins cer-
tain questions about the seventy.fye
bonds, but the questions were not asked,
and the next thing he received was in.
formation from Secretary Delano that
the whole Board Of Government Direct
ors Including himself) Of the Union Pa
cifc Railroad Company must be changed.
In answer to question by Mr.. Law
renee he said the bonds were in the pos
session Of the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, and that Rollins requested
him TO Withdraw his motion for an inves.
tigaiion, on the ground that II would in.
volve Blaine and defeat his election.
@. But that remark would seem from
the testimony to have been made after
the Maine election2 A. Yes; but that's
what Rollins told me.
Mr.. Blaine asked anumber Of questions
Of Harrison, TO which the latter replied.
He thought it strange that seventy-fye
bonds Of the Little Rock and Fort Smith
Railroad Company should be found
among the assets OF the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, and that there must
be some corruption about ii. He aban-
doned the investigation before the Board
OF Directors and reported it to the Con-
gressional committee
Mr.. Blaine-But did you do so otfici-
ally?
MIR. Harrison-I signed my name TO tho
telegram TO the chairman as govern
ment director OF the Pacific Railroad
Company.
Harrison in answer to a question by
Blaine said:
So far as the books and papers OF the
Union Pacific Railroad Company are
concerned your name is not connected
with these bonds
Mr.. Blaine-Have you any reason to
believe that l was cOrruptlY associated
with themp ..s
Mr., ,HarrisOn--only from what Rollins
stated TO me.
Mr.. Blaine-Have you not said that
you held something that would blow
Blaine sky high whenever you chose2
Mr.. Harrison-I only repeated what
Rollins had told me. ....
Mr.. BIaine-You did not speak Of hav-
ing dyamite that would blow me up2
Mr. Harrison-Nothing OF the kind. l
have always had friendly feeling for
you, aud hope that you will come out Of
this matter satisfactorily. II you had
written to me l should have told you In
reply that the books OF the Union Pacific
Railroad Company do not show your
name in connection with The rs bonds or
in any transaction OF that kind. All my
information came from Rollins, who said
that an investigation would ruin you and
defeat your election to Congress.
Mr.. Blaine-When had already been
elected, two days before.
Mr.. Harrison-That is what Rollins
told me.
Mr.. Blaine, addressing Hunton, said
that although the resolution Of the House
under which this investigation was held
did not refer to him by name, the pro-
ceedings had been conducted as II he had
been on the stand.
Mr.. HunIon said that while il was true