The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-13
GOVERNOR CoLQUITT INDICATED.

IMPUTATIoNS ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE GEORGIA
EXECUTIVE SET AT REsT-sENAToR HILLS
CHANCES FOR REELECTION IMPERILLED.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
ATLANTA Dec. IL, 1873.
A very serious scandal involving the reputation Of
the Governor of Georgia. was put to rest by he
unanimous report Of Legislative Committee of Inves
tigation made yesterday. The scandal involved the
integrity of Governor Colquitt and the democratic
administration Of the State Some years ago the Leg
isaturc repealed all acts giving State aid to railroads.
1t held, however, by the friends Of the North
eastern Railroad that their road was excepted by
special provision from the operations Of this act.
The opponents of State aid contested this claim and
the matter went into the courts, the Governor de-
clining to act. Senator Il. H. Hill was employed by
the holders of the 1868 900 of Northeastern bonds to
argue the for them. He had contingent fee of
$1,000. The Governor having looked closely into the
matter. and having received affirmative opinions from
Ex-Governor Brown Generals Hill and Gordon and
General Toombs as to the States obligation to in
dorse and OF the Speakers of the houses as to the in
ntion OF the Legislature except the Northeastern
from the repeating act indorsed the bonds.
ISSUE or vTRAcITY.
When Senator Hill applied for his fee he was told
that the corporation holding the bonds was not able
to pay it. and that $4,000 had already been paid as
fee to Mr. j. W. Murphy. Assistant Treasurer of the
State Mr. Hill very indignant, and held that this
was paid lobby fee aud hat Mr.. Murphy should
phy' having heard of senator Hills remarks. was
very much angered. He met Mr.. Hill on public
corner and. stopping him. asked II he had said that
ton Mr.. Hill replied that he had made such state
mcnt. Then" said Mr.. Murphy, Il denounce you
as a scoundrel ana q slanderous liar. Mr.. Hill drew
back to strike him. but refrained. he says Mr. Muir
ply put his hand his pistol He says he felt certain
that II plot to assassnate him. and he therefore
contented himself with denouncing Mr.. Murphy
rufiian and assassin aud then LETT him. Mr.. Muir
ply denies that he intended to kill Mr. Hill that
Mr.. Hill replied with denuncations to his insult. He
says Mr.. Hin left him. saying he would have him
rested: and that he insnlted Mr.. Hin simply to pro-
tect his personal and official integrity. which Mr. Hill
had assailed.
GOVERNOR coLQurTT INDICATED.
II soon became bruted about that Mr.. Murphy, in
getting the company to agree to pay him $4,000 when
the bonds were indorsed had used expressions that
suggested that the Governor was i'll some way
other interested in the fraud. and that he had in
dorsed the bonds through improper motives. The
Governor at Indignantly demanded that
these be submitted TO the most rigid invest
tigaton. The committee was ordered, and Mr. Ill.,
Governor toquitt. Mr.. Murphy and others taken be-
fore IL witnesses. The investigation was thorough
and pitiless. il having been openly branded ma
leyolcnt by many of the papers. The result IL per-
feet vindcation OF the Governor. Every doubtful
circumstance has been thoroughly and fully explained,
and the committee unanimous In its vIndication.
Mr.. Murphy claims that he got his fee for having
collected testimony and arguments from various prom
inent lawyers and officials aud laid them before the
Governor Nothing has created much excitement in
Georgia for long time as this investigation Its niu-
the political future Will be marked. IL Will
be used against Mr.. Ill., and has already aliena;ed
many of his friends. lie that he has had
ennity against Governor Coquil and that he has not
directed suspicion against him. Colquitts friends
and many of Mr. Hills friends claim to think differ
entity and vengeance against MIR. Hill. Mr.. Hill
wrote q full circular letter upon the subject and
mailed IL to the press but Withdrew IL from publica-
ton by telegraph aud hal the proosheots destroyed
Large amounts OF money were offered for copy of
this circular. II was produced finally by Governor
Colqutt who hal been secretly supplied with copy
Gordon. and they make beyond all comparison the
strongest team In the state. IL Is said that they will
make II interesting for Mr. Hill when the Senatorial
election apprOarheg,