Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-08
THE ELECTION INVESTIGATIONS.
Compiled from Associated Press Reports, uni
Otherwise Designated.
OREGON

The Sub Committee of the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, on the 27th
continued taking testimony in relation 10 the Ore
gon Electoral case. The first witness examined
was A. Bush, of the banking firm of Ladd g.
Bush. of Salem, Oregon. who esifed that the
SS 600 which came from Martin 81 Runyon and
Pelton, on the 9th of December, was received by
his bank to pay fees to lawyers who had been re-
tanned to take care of the interests of the
Democrat in the Oregon Electoral College:
the money was returned to New York with
out being used; about the same time he was
notified from San Francisco that funds had been
placed to his credit to the amount of S7,200 of
which he paid So, 600 10 G. B. Bellinger, Chairman
of the Democratic Central Committee, and s., 200
TO Senator Kelly; witness understood the money
was used to fee lawyers who had heen employed
to advise with the Democratic Executive Com
mittee concerning the eligibility of Watts, and in
reference to the Electoral vote on the 18th of No
vember witness received a telegram from A E. g.
G. E. Tilton, OF New York, to 'use all means
to prevent certifcate-very important which
be undersf ood to refer to Watts but Tilton told
him afterward il referred to Cronin; witness
thinks Tlton should, if he intended witness to
understand Cronln was the one to be prevented
from getting certificate, have been more definite
in his dispatch. G. B. Belinger, Chairman
of the Oregon Democratic State Committee,
testified he met a man named Patrick the latter
part of November in the Clarendon Hotel,
Portland, Ore; he conversed with Pat
rick in reference to the oregon Electoral
case, and of engaging counsel to argue against
issuing certificate of election to Watts in case
such argument should be necessary; witness re-
tanned the firm of Thompson, Durham & Hill to
argue against issuing the certificates. A large
number of dispatches relative to the Oregoa case,
many of them in cipher were introduced by Sena-
tor Mitchell. One of them, from Mr.. Hewitt,
dated Nov 10, to Gov. Grover, states that private
adyices from Oregon were to the effect that it
would require the official count to determine the
result in the State, and asking the Governor TO
" be careful that the count is honest, and be GER
tain of the result before you give it.'
Senator Kelly testified before the Sen
10 I'll
the 30th ult and gave the substance of cipher
dispatch directed to w. T. Peton, New York,
signed by j. ii. N Patrick, and indorsed by
witre said dispatch asked the Democratic
National Committee to send $4,000 to Oregon
to pay any legal expenses which might arise in
connection with the Watts case. and it was also
mentioned in the dispatch that any money not
needed would be returned to him; an answer in
cipher came 10 this dispatch, the substance of
which was that there was " no money! several
telegrams passed between parties in Oregon
and New York in relation to The paying
of any legal expenses in connection with the
Watts case and. finally, word was sent from New
York to Oregon that $500 could be had the
cipher dispatches which passed between Senator
Kelly and Patrick in relation to transferring
$1,000 from New York to Oregon, how 1t should
be done, and through what bankers; the dis
patches had no other meaning; the Senator fur
ther testified that this 5000 was the only money
used-in connection with the case in Oregon, to
his knowledge that the S3,2 which he drew
on check from the bank of Ladd 6 Bush
was used for paying lawyers fees and for
sundry messages to Mr.. Laswell, who lives in the
eastern part Of the State: he never heard of the
unlawful use of money in connection with this
case mentioned, and he never had an idea that any
money would be used improperly in connection
with it. William H. Hollister, Cashier of the
banking house of Kountze Brothers, New York.
testified that on the 1st of December last $500
was deposited with Kountze Brothers by stranger
who represented the deposit to be made by E.
Davis; the $4,000 was in large bills, and
placed to the credit of J. II. N. Patrick;
witness was asked if he knew E. Davis, and re-
piled: l know Erwin Davis; this of $50
was not deposited for Erwin Davis; the Bank of
Kountze Bros paid draft of $500 on the 18th
or 10th of December in favor OF Wells, Fargo &c
Co., The draft being dated San Francisco. Dec. +,
and given by j. II. n. Patrick Senator Mitchell
offered the following telegram, which he a>ked to
have inserted in connection with the testimony of
Hollister: New YORK. Nov. 27, 1875 u r. N.
fatTtcE, Salem, oregon: Secure your points at
all hazards. Communicate with me Immediately,
giving prOspects (Signedl OAYIs.''