The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-11-07

IAalillhdttOH NdS uiSo CDnllHuetl until
Monday at his request. Then Mr. Beas-
ely presented himself Mr.. Beasely, af-
ter testifying that he had sold bonds 10
Col. Plumb, stated that as the transac-
ton between him and Plumb was a
private one, and had nothing TO do with
| Lyon county so far as he knew, he did
not wish 10 give any testimony in the
matter After considerable talk be-
tween him and Mr. Snoddy, he request.
ed continuance, after taking his testi-
moDy, until Monday, 10 enable him to tel
egraph Col. Plumb and obtain his con-
sent 10 testify. TO this Mr. Snoddy
would not listen. | then spoke up and
said that as long rs Mr.. Snoddy had Civ
en- the other two witnesses until Monday
/ thought it would be no more than fair
to grant Mr.. Beasely his request, Mr..
Snoddy refusing to listen to my sugges-
ton, informed the witness that he must
testify then and there. Thereupon told
the witness that undertake laws of n. Y.
the notary could not compel him TO tes-
| tify and that If he wished To wait until
Monday before answering, that he could
do so. The notary confirming my state
ment as to his power, Mr.. Beasely said
that he would wait until Monday before
testifying further.
On Monday morning | met MIR. Bease-
ly on his way to the notary's and asked
him ifhe had heard from Col. Plumb. He
stated that he had not. | then asked him
if he was going to testify He told me
that he had made up his mind to testify
unless | as friend of Col. Plumb's
should deem 1t best for him not TO testi
fy that if / said for him not to testI-
fy he would refuse TO until com
PEELED to by some court. stated to him
that desired HIM to testify fully, and
upon this we went into the notary's and
he gave in his testimony.
Mr. Weems and Mr.. Holt both refused
to testify, as shown by their dispositions
These three men were the only ones sub
pnnaed in New York, and the only ones
whose testimony was in any way sought
to be taken in New York to my knowl-
edge. AS to the position taken by Mr.
Weems and Mr.. Holt in refusing to tes-
tify, it was done without my knowledge.
And l never, at any time, by word, act
or deed, limited to, suggested or requested
either of them to refuse to testify. On
the contrary, personally asked each of
them to reconsider their determination,
and to testify fully as to anything they
knew. Mr.. Weems, upon my request
thus made to him, Uniformed me that
neither he or the firm of DonneIl, Law
son & Co. ever had any dealings in eth
or the stock or bonds concerning which
he was questioned, with either the board
of county commissioners or Col. Plumb,
or with any one for or on behalf of them
or either of them, and that as to their
dealings with other parties they did not
deem it anyone's business but their own
and the persons with whom they dealt,
and therefore he should decline to testi-
fy. Mr.. Holt told me that all the trans
actions that were had with Col Plumb
were had by the Boston house, and
there of his partner, William Ballou.
The Boston dispositions were commenced
on the 9th of September. The only wit
nesscs whose evidence was sought to be
obtained in Boston, TO my knowledge,
were those who did testify, and as they
testified fully and answered every ques-
ton asked them, it cannot, of course, he
claimed that in any way intcrfcred in
Boston, except once, and that came about
in this way: Mr.. Burr was examined
first on Saturday. After Mr.. Burr had
stated that he could not answer many of
the questions asked him without refer
ing TO the books of the bank, and that he
would have clerk look the matter up
so that he could testify fully on the fol-
lowing Monday, he went on 30 say that
the stock had been sold in open market
upon the stock exchange, and had
brought the highest market price AT
which that stock was selling at the time,
and that he had taken great credit To
himself for having then placed the
stock ON the market. in what he
considered II very judicious way, by
having il sold in small lots, as the de.
mand for the stock was of such Il char,c-
ter that if placed upon the market in
any quantities, it would have depressed
the price, etc. He then said, II don't
know whether you wish this taken down
or not" l Immediately said Eyes, we
wish this taken down" Upon this Mr..
Snoddy spoke up and instructed the Off
Ger not put this in the dispositions, that Mr..
Burr's had volunteered these statements
without any questions being asked by
him, Mr.. Snoddy. l then insisted that
| Mr., Burr's statements rs to the stock hav-
ing brought the highest market price,
etc, should go down, las part of the deposi-
ton, as Mr.. Snoddy and his associates
had been and were all the time claiming
that the sales of the stock as reported
did not amount, any where near to what
the stock was actually worth on the
market. Mr.. Snoddy still refused to
allow this testimony to be taken down.
for the first and only time asserted my
authority, and had the justice who was
taking the dispositions, take down the
questions asked my me, and Mr.. Burr's
answers thereto. / left Boston befole
Mr.. Snoddy took the bulk of the testi-
mony taken by him there.
Upon my arrival home found that
Dr. McCandliss had filed an affidavit with
the Attorney General stating in substance
that the bonds that had been purchased
for the county had been bought through
Mr.. r. II. Weems nomnally and that he
and Others were stating that 1 had
interfered in the taking of the deposi-
tions, and that had got Mr.. Weems to
refuse to testify, &c. Thereupon sent
to Mr. Weems and to Mr.. Simpson, under
whose direction Mr.. Weems stated he
was acting in refusing to testify, and to
Mr. A. w. Beasely for their affidavits,
showing the full extent of my interfer-
ence with them as witnesses. In res.
ponse to this request received their aft.
davits which l herewith send you for
publication, as they fully sustain my
statement herein, and show the absolute
falsity of the statement made by Eskridge
and others. C. n. STERRY.
| C:.. 80 Nyou, Vorl- Connt,y oe "