Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-03-06

protest, being compelled to do it, say we
did. Sometime in July or August, myself
and the four other gentlemen named
in your question made a present OF i've
81 900 bills to Gov. Brownlow. l rendered
the money to him, and he told me to hand
it to his wife. Thos. Fl. Galloway, de-
ceased, was present when did this.
Q. What induced this present?
A. Myself and the gentlemen named
were in New York, and engaged in bad
speculations. Some of US had sold bonds
short and desired to depress the price. Suits
were instituted by some parties IN New
York and Nashville on some matured
bonds. Some of US consulted celebrated
New York spirtualist, Madame Mansfield.
She told US that bonds would go down; that
there would be trouble in Tennessee !;
and not to go to Nashville; that we would
be arrested; but that we could control
Gold Scratch" meaning Governor Brown
low, by money. We saw that the Legisla-
ture had been called. We came to Knox
vile. We had speculated in bonds on ac-
account of Governor Brownlow, and had
made nearly five thousand dollars.
We then determined to make the Governor
a present of $4,000, furnishing out of our
own private means what we had gained in the
S. 900 speculation for his benefit, and no
tilted him the day before that we would.
Galloway and myself went up to present it;
he was lying on lounge and told us to
give it to his wife; and we did so, as before
stated.
Q. Did Gov. Brownlow know anything of
these speculations in New York for his
benefit, or did you in any manner intimate
to him that you had specialized for his ben
eft; or did he and his wife receive it purely
as present?
A. He never knew anything of these
speculations, nor did l, in any manner init
mate to him about them, and it is nv
opinion that the $4,000 was received
purely as present.
Q. Was this present made in view of the
advice of the said splritualist, and was it
made for the purpose of enabling you to
control him?
A. We were advised By the spiritualist
that we could control him, and we took this
speculations to make some money for
him. We wanted to quiet him, and took
this way of doing it.
Q. In whose name, or under what style
was your speculative accounts in New
A. My recollection is that it was kept in
the name Of !. A. Mabry & Co., but l am
not positive as to this. know l managed
and controlled the business.
Q. We understand you to say that VIII
son, McGhee, Branner, Galloway and your
self each furnished $1,000 of the $4,000
given to the Governor?
A. We each furnished the balance we
made in the speculation.
Q. Did you go to n Nashville, and were you
arrested, if so, for what, and were you re-
leased?
A. We did go to Nashville, in disregard
of advice from Madame Mansfield; that is
Wilson, McGhee and myself did, and were
arrested as the parties who had procured
the suits to be brought against the State, to
prevent her from paying the interest falling
due July, 1866. At least that what |
understood we were arrested for. We en-
ployed counsel, demurred and were released.
We were arrested by a committee appointed
by the Legislature, | understand.
Y. Did Wilson, McGhee and yourself
answer under oath, in that trial or investi-
CATION?
A. | understand that Wilson and McGhee
were sworn. / was not. | asked to be ex-
cused until got through with my state
ment, and after it was made was not |
sworn.
Q. Before whom were You taken, and be-
fore whom examined
A. | do not remember any Of the COM |
nittee of the Legislature, except Mr.. Sin
yleterry; he seemed to be acting as Chair
man.
O. What Singleterry, and what county or
counties did he represent?
A. He was from upper East Tennessee,
md lawyer. l have forgotten his given
name, or the counties he represented.
Q. Did you gentlemen, or eithor of you,
rive him any money or other thing Of value
n connection with this investigation
A. Not that | remember of.
ISigned JOSEPH A. MABRY, SR.
Gen. j. A. Habry recalled, Knoxville,
February Is, 1879, and deposed as follows
Q. Did you at any time have oorrespon-
lence by telegraph or otherwise with any
party or parties at Nashville and pay him
" them large sum of money to manipu-
ate dispatches, ETC., and keep you informed
n your bond speculations and with respect
o contemplated legislation, ETC., or any
hing of this mature? If so, when and
With whom? STATE all that occurred in this
egard.
A. answer and say that l regard the
question as bearing upon private and per-
onal matters, and decline to answer it.
Q. The committee exhibit to you resolu-
ions heretofore submitted to you, and beg
cave to say that the question does, legiti-
nately, bear upon the subjects embraced
n their inquiries, and an answer is respect
Dlly demanded to the questions
4. Well; | answer under protest, and do
rotest; | did have correspondence by letter t
nd telegraph with q party in Nashville
HON / engaged before [ went on to New {
,ork to keep me informed by telegraph and !
y letters in regard to everything about |
high | might want information in connec-
on with my speeulatons. He was law !
er and was engaged az my attorney and |
5 my agent. lie wrote articles for the c
ewspapers and manipulated the press dis
atches, ETC., as he informed me by letter r
nd personally, and afterwards paid him S
large fee for his services. q
@. Who was the gentleman When
as this service rendered, and what sum a
as paid him2 I
A. want to decline to give the naule of j
lie party as il was personal matter, and n
give the circumstances. b
Q. The committee respectfully demand Il
4 answer to the above question.
A. / protest and answer under protest, p
is name was John C. Burch. He was q II
wyer at the time the services were rem 81
al