Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-02
W wAsH1NaTon.
BLAINE.

7 BLAINE.
WAsiiis6Fes, J,ii,e 1.-The sub
judiciary committee met again this
morning aud continued the exumina
ton. James Mull,gan, witness, said
he wanted to make statement be-
fore continuing his examination. He
said when he arrived here note
came down from Blaine, requesting
witness and Fisher to call al his house
Witness declined to- 60, but Fisher
went. After witness testified yester-
day, Blaine called upon witness and
asked him about sctne letters which
were in his possession, and wanted
witness to give them up to him, but,
witness declined to do so.
Witness said that Blaine almost gai
down on his knees and plead for the
letters, saying they would ruin him
4 for life, and witness further declined.
1 Blaine asked him TO think of his wife
aud six children. He besought wit
ness, And. almost contemplated suicide.
Witness then allowed Blaine to take
them under pledge ,ha, he would re-
turn them. dc looked them over and
did return them, fstis was Ia pres
ence OF Fisher and Atkins. Witness
then retired to his room, and Blaine
/ followed him around, aud wanted To
look ut the letters again. Witness
allowed him to take them. No Que
WAS present at tins time but Blaine
and witness.
There were about eighteen letters.
While ihis statement was being made
Blaine sa, at the table opposite witness
and exhibited considerable mirth at
his statement, laughing outright ut
the remark about suicide, and when
witness closed Bia.le rose at once
i asked to be sworn,. andsb allowed to
chairman objected TO it al that time,
but assured Blaine he should have an
opportunity. Witness was asked If he
4 knew the contents of the letters, aud
what their contents We're as far AS
they related to Union Pacific bonds.
Blame objected TO the witness giving
the contents of the letters until he
had made a.counter statement. Frye
said assuming the statement about
the letters to oe rs witness stated, he
thought it propefior Blaiue to be
heard. These letters were private
letters Of Blaine to Fisher. They
were kept in Fishers safe
Witness had no business with them,
but had got possession Of them and
I brought them here. They reletsed,
in no manner whatever, to Union Pa
clic bonds that were represented as
going to Col. Scott.
Hunton thought the committee in
the absence of the letters themselves,
had right to inquire about the con-
tents OF the letters; they bore upon
the matter at issue. They had righ,
! TO know their contents. Bnt Blame
put the letters in possession OF tie
committee aud let the committee de
eide for themselves.
Blaine said on the ground Of fair
play, be thong ht he should be allowed
10 make q statement in relation to
what transpired last night, because OF
this personal statement made by the
witness. He thought he could sim.
) plify the business of the committee
by making statement before they
pr ceeded to examine the witness.
The statement made by the witness
+ was now being telegraphed all over
) the country, and would appear in the
afternoon papers, and when they go,
Through with. his examination, il
would be too late for his explanation
to reach the press.
. The committee decided that the
: witness should be examined first, and
5 he was asked shout the contents ol
. the letters, and said one Of them con-
u tained an allusion TO the bonds, ano
. Blaine was interested, and that Bisitie
i. said in answer to one OF them, he did
n not retain the money in his possession
: 48 hours. The witness further ex
d planned that Fisher had these letters
/. and allowed him to have them.
The committee then asked to bt
shown the letters, but Blaine said tha
j, he must for the present decline to d.
y SO; but II in the judgment ofcounsel
!. who would command the committee
# confidence, they had any bearing
= whatever on the pendiug inquiry, b
y would prodnce cethen.
n The following are Baine's words
e concerning the letters which Mpllgst
,, held:
! Il found that my private CORES
!. pondence hung by the thread of hi
taking ofense II any OF the thousan,