Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-06-02
James MnlligAh's Statement In the Mat
ter Of the Curious Le,ters--Blaine's
Appeal In Behalf Of his Family.
Mr.. Blaine, on the Witness Stand, Dc.
nies All OF Mulligan's Statements
The Committee Demand H those
Letters''- Other Matters.
BLAINE.

wanted to make q statement before con-
tinuiDg his examination. He said when
he arrived here note came down from
Blaine requesting witness and Fisher 70
call st his (B!aine's) house. Witness de-.
clined to 90, bat Fisher went. After
witness testified yesterday Blaine called
upon him (witness) and asked him
ABOUT some letters which were in his
possession, and wanted witness TO give
them up to him, but witness declined to
do so. Witness said Blaine almost got
down on his knees and plead for the let
ters, Saying they would ruin him for
life; and when witness further declined
Blaine ssked him to think Of his wife
and six children. lie besought witness,
and almost eontem nIsted suicide. Wit
ness then allowed Blaine to take them,
under pledge that he would return them.
He looked them over, and did
return them; this was in the
presence OF Fisher and Atkins;
witness then retired to his room,
and Blaine followed him around and
wanted to look at the letters again. Wit
ness allowed Blaine to take them, and
he refused to return them, and still re-
taIns them. No one was present at this
time but Blaine and witness. There
were about eighteen letters. E., "a
While this statement was being made
Blaine sat at the table opposite witness,
and exhibited considerable mirth, laugh
ing outright at the remark about suicide.
When witness closed Blaine rose st once
and asked to be SWORD, and 10 be allowed
to make q counter-statement. The chair
man objected at that time, but assured
Blaine that he Should have the oppor-
tunity.
Witness was asked if he knew the con-
tents of the Letters, and what thsir con-
tents were as far as they related TO the
UOion Pacific bonds.
Mr.. Blaine objected to witness giving
the contents OF the letters until he had
made a counter-ststement.
Mr.. Frye-Assuming the statement
about the letters to be SIS witness had
stated, be thought it proper for Blaine to
be heard. These letters were the private
letters Of Blaine to Fisher; they were
Kept in Fishers safe; witness had no
business with them, but had got POsses-
sion OF them and brought them here;
they referred in no manner Whatever to
the Union Pacific bonds that were repre-
sented as going to Colonel Scott.
Mr., Hunton thought the commits ee,
In the absence Of the letters, had right
TO ipquira about their cOntents. If the
letters bore on the matter at issue they
had q right to know their contents. Let
Blaine nut the letters in the possession
of the COMMITTEES and let the committee
decide for themselves.
MIR. Blaine said that on the ground OF
fair play he thought he should be sl-
lowed to make o statement in relation
TO what transpired last night, because
of This personal statement by said wit.
ness: he thought he could simplify the
business Of the committee by making
his statement before they proceeded to
examine the witness; the statement
made by the witness was now being tell
e0rsphed all over the country, aud
would appear in the afternoon papers,
and when they got through with his eX-
animation 1t would be TOO late for his
examination to reach the press.
The committee decided that the wit
ness should be examined first, and he
was asked about the contents Of the let
ters. aud said one Of them contained an
allusion to the bonds and Blaine's .Osses
| In the transaction, and that Blaine said
| In one OF them that he did not retain
the money in his possession forty-eight
| hours: witness further explained that
| Fisher knew be had these Letters, and
allowed him to hold them; he also said
| that when they were alone last night
| Blaine talked politics TO him, and asked
| him how he would like to run COM
mittee, and il he would like consul
| ship.
The Cnairman-I want you to sta {
| II there Is anything in those letters
| which bears upon your testimony OF yes
| terday concerning the Little Rock and
| Fort Smith railroad bonds which yOU
| understood went into the hands Of the
Union Pacifie railroad company through
Thomas A. Scott. Ans.-In my testi
| mony yesterday l was asked il hsC
any other testimony than what Atkin!
had said about these bonds, and sale
YES, that Blaine had acknowledged i
| ia q letter. Fisher had been writing t.
| Blaine about 8 settlement, and BlsiL
always urged about some back bono
that were due as commissions on thu
sales Of bonds, and saying that he wsl
very short of money, had lost eonsidera
bic by this transaction, and he Woult
have to tske these bonds ffOm the partie
who had them, as he had taken then
no, Mr.. Fisher wrote him back that h'
(B'ainel had not lost any money, be
Cause he Fisher knew where he haC
sold the bonds and got this large amour
OF money for them.
| Ouss.-What large amount? Ana
These sixty-four thousand dollars. Mr.
plajue wrote back to Fisher-I may no
cive hts sxact words, but this is ths pur
mort of tbem-ztsst the money he hsC
pbtsjned he did rot pave in his posses
sion forty.eight hours; that be had no
made ii for himself, but that be hat
turned II over to these Innocent parties
alIuding to the Maine parties,
Oues'-What reason did Mr.. Blaine
viva vou for desiring to suppress those
Iettersf Ans.-Thst they would ruin
him forever. lie contemplated suicioe
and sppe aled to has in every way al
couid, de began then to te,E politics
snd asked nae about the nomination ant
about his friends. I talked freely Z
him, and gave hin nay opinion, ID
asked me il liked my present pOsitlon
and / told him / did not care about u
Va asked me how ] should ike poiiu
esl ofl se, and i told him did moi ear
about it. He asked me il would 20
like D eonsulebip.
Mr. Frye-Was any one present q
the timer Ans-No, sir; / state tha
upon my own yeTacsty; Mr. Rlslne ]
here, and is testimony to what say;
say that consider my word as COCO Q
| that of any man that ever livedi toll
hins there was no political Office that
wanted.
Casirman-YOh h6s q come before tai
committee and related these fseSs .Po
your own motion only? Aus.-Upo
Isy own motion only.
Ques.-WIthout consultation? Aus
Without consultation or admOnitio
! from any one, aud rStbsE against th
othe. gentleman, who advised me- &C
to do II.
Ques.-What ether gentlemen? AM
, --Messrs. Atkins and Fisher. The
thought ought not to do 1t.
. Witness in further ans wer TO question
, ! said that there was one letter in th
( package. When Mr. B sine told Fisht
! how much was due on these bonds
! told him he had received fifty five thol
: sapd dOllaIs Of the bonds from him an
( twenty thousand dollars frop2 Caldwe
3 on an outside matter-that is, t1fty-E'
3 thousand dollars Of the bonds on Fisher
z | account as the percentage he was to &
on the sale Of the bonds, and the tWenl