The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-23

speech before the Senate on the 18th inst
that Tweed had testified in 1872 beior
the Senate committee appointed TO inyes
tigate the charges against Senator Jane
Woodin, in effect that 'he had never, di,
rectly or indirectly, paid or offered /,
pay money 10 any member OF the Legia
lature TO secure the passage OF any law
II that be so, and | have no reason l.
doubt the correctness Of Senator Wood
in's investigation of the subject, / fee
impressed with the propriety Of such ad
yice at this time. Assuring you tha
nothing would give me greater pleasur,
than TO see my client in n position whert
he could safely testify on this and kin
dred matters, am, with great respect
your obediGnt servant,
"JoHN D. TOWNSEND"
Being asked were there two parties il
the Senate, he answered, "Yes, there
were two and half parties" He knew
Senator Woodin intimately; knew Wins
low wcll-he was Republican. Severa
questions were then put concerning votel
on the passage OF the charter. Tweed
answered these inquiries, but when ap
preached on the question OF bribery hC
at once declined to answer. He refused
to say whether he had paid any money tc
Mr.. Hastings on the ground previously
stated. On being asked which reason o
several given in his communication, he
again defined, but afterwards answered
on the first two reasons-i. e., agains
public policy, and might Criminate him
self.
He was next interrogated about +. D
Barbour. His impression was that Bar,
bour was very active in procuring the
passage OF the charter, but he would moi
N" whether this activity was caused by
his (Tweed'sJ influence. He declined td
answer all questions about paying money
directly or indirectly.
@. Do you decline TO answer all ques
tiOns concerning bribery in the charter
A. Respectfully, do.
@. was there u pool made up in New
York to put the charter through A
There was.
Q. Who contributed to it? Mr.. Tweed
regarded this rs u personal matter and
would answer no questions concerning
the disposition Of money.
In reply to question whether he would
make any statement in reference to the
Senate resolution, he answered, simply
"Not at present; at the proper time |
shall answer"
@ So far as you know, has any one ex,
cept yourself and counsel and counsel
for the people, seen the documents taken
to Albany to the Attorney General a.
No, | think not, ior it was my wish they
should not.
q How many days elapsed between
the introduction OF the Tweed charter
and its passage? A. About ten days.
z. We're there not other members of
the Legislature besides those named who
advocated the passage OF the charter :?
A. am not aware that | mentioned any
one, for | didn't intend to.
q. Were there? A. There were.
z. Do you know what money was sent
to Albany to aid in passing the charter
A. decline TO answer.
O. Do you know Il gentleman named
Garvey? A. Cou,emptuouslyl | knew
4 man OF that name-two Of thcm-John
and Andrew.
Q. Did they take money to Albany Tor
you? A.. decline to answer.
Q. Did you know gentleman named
]. II. IngerSoll? A. bitterly knew =
man Of that name--at least he is sup,
posed to be Il man. Laughter
Q. Did he take any? a, ! decline to
answer.
9. Do you decline to answer any ques
ton relative to the passage Of this char.
ter? A. do at this time.
Q. Was there testimony given on the
trial Of the civil suit against you relative
to the means used for passing it? A.
don't recollect.
@. Was there pool made in New
York for the passage Of that charter
A. There was.
Q. Who contributed to it, A, don't
remember.
Q, What was the amount contributed
A. decline to answer.
Q. Do you know the amount A.
decline to answer.
Q. Do you know what was done with
the money? A. decline to answer.
q. You have read the resolution OF the
Senate appointing this committee? IL
there any statement you will make or
the subject involved? a. Not at present.
Q. What do you mean by the half par,
ty in the House? a. The Young Dem,
ocracy; it never came to full growth
As said, at the proper time will make
a full statement. By the proper time,
mean when it will be for the beat inter.
ests OF the people.
q. Was there another charter before
the House. A. Yes, the Whottleberry
charter laughter to which was op.
posed. Everybody that had n grievance
had new charter. The Tweed charter
was the one l was advocating. | had
conversations with Woodin and Winslow
about the charter, and they understood
the scope Of it and the powers it confer.
red in general, but not in detail; no one
but New York man could.
q. Did any one speak TO you about his
liability to Indictment for voting tor the
Tweed charter? A. No public official. |
mean no one who is now II public off.
cial.
q, Haveyou been approached by any
persons agent in reference to such liabil.
ity? A. decline to answer.
%. Then you decline TO state whether
persons have approached you in the man.
uer indicated? a. do, for that is rather
mixed.
Here Mr.. Townsend suggested the ad.
dition that this answer was made subject
to answers already given.
Q. Are there papers in your posscssinn
which would give us information? A.
decline to answer.
q. Do you know Hugh Haslings' A.
Yes, he is proprietor OF the Commercial
Adreriiser.
2, Was it in favor OF the charter? A.
| have no recollection; think it was.
2. How long was he in Albuny pend.
ing the charter? A. have no recollec.
tion. lie was up and down all the time.
q. Did he go there at any request from
you? 4. ldon't remember; and respond.
ed, 81 decline to answer" TO the following
questions.
z. Had you any conversation with
him in reference to the charter? Did he
inform you OF any transactions lie had
with Senators, in reference to the charter?
Had you any communication with the
nj - al l.. a.