New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-24

Mr.. Conklug said: Il know what You would
have dom, If had said such a thing of yon you
would never have spoken 10 me again III all your
Alter further talk, the two parted. Nj
Mr. Madden half taking it. The affair created
great amusement If the Assembly wants 10 ap-
point committee to inycsticate thr hHti"niS"',&nS &
charge now that the bribery charge i 9ut o. tne
way. plenty of witnesses can be prOhu'ed VINO HANc
seen Mr. Conkliug in the act.
TIE SEARCH FOR SCANDAL
INCIDENTS OF THE INQUIRY-NR TLuNGHAsrs
STATEMENT DIsArPoisrs TIE ScANpAL-MoNGrEs
JOHN I. DAVENPORT EXPLAINS TIE sTRAHAN
STORY.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnintNEl
ALBANY, June 23.-John l. Davenport was able to
give his onceferred testimony before the So-calicd
Investigating Committee to-day II proved To he
an interesting chapter of political history, and en-
tirely disprovcd the charge incidentally conveyed IN
Senator Strahan's testimony that the offer OF the
United States Marshalship for the southern District
of New-York had been made to him with view "f
influencing his vote and action here at Al
bany. The committee first examined James
Tilhnghast, of the Central Railroad, whose
500 OOO check caused such suspicious
of bribery to arise in the breasts Of Mr.. Conknrs
corps of unique and delicate " mud throwcrs. The
testimony taken upon this matter before Mr.. Til
linphast was called showed that Mr.. Graves. the
banker asked State Treasurer Wendell. banker
and strong Conkiing man. who WAS passing tho
door 10 get him the thousand-dolar billshc wani"
II there had been bribery afoot this hint would
hardly have been put into the hands Of one Of MI
Co,llinr's devoted friends and Mr Tillinghast would
hardly have cashed checks in Albany az all, hnt
rather obtained the money in Ncw-YorK. where he
spends much Of his time. Mr.. Tillinghast's tc,ti-
m,ny showed that he simply took the money To
Buffalo. as he has often taken large sums, and for
convenience in large bills.
Some of the rural members Of the committee
who have heard much Of John |. Davenport but
have never seen him, looked with curious inter 1t
at that celebrated little man. lie gave his t",ti-
,nony in a high clear key. and yet spoke 80 quietly
that il was almost impossible for those icw feet
away 10 hear him. His answers on the crnss-eNnin-
ination were given with great poHiivcn"ss, ana IN
,bs same efortlcss aud almost inaudihlc tone He
made his statement without notes, submitting the
kilograms and Other papers in their order and spoke
throughout rapidly and without hesitation. With
evident intention Mr. Davenport made his story tx
ceedingy circumrantal, giving every detail
of his conversations with Henry T.. Knox,
PostInastcr-General James, the President and
Senator Strahan even telling when the
President put his elbow on the mant"lpcce. When
he described hs second interview with the President
there was an amusing passage in the testimony.
Mr. Davenport said that when he mentioned Mr. Stra-
hans name the President said "JOhnlI Stariul oh.
Iwould appoint him Immediately ifhc would accept
A hmm of amusement ran round the room al the idea
that the millionaire ex-Congrcssman should he
mentioned in connection with this place MI l'aY-
enport said ho corrected the President and
told him that the man was Robert H..
! Strahan. "Who is hcT said the Pres-
dent At this there was general laugh,
in which Mr.. Strahan himself, who sitting back
of the committee and facing Mr.. Davenport joined.
| When Mr. Davenport gave the President the nfor-
nation he lacked respecting Mr.. Strahans existence,
! the President without giving any definite answer,
bade him good-by. Mr.. Davenport found Knox
awaiting him at the hotel and was urged by Knox
to ask Strahan if he would allow his name To be
used The telegram TO Strahan at Albany and the
meeting between Strahan and Davenport at the
| Union League Club followed.
| This account of the interview with the President
shows that the sO-caed offer of the Marshalship. in
stead of being an offer from the President was
really question whether SJrahan would allow his
name to be presented by his friends to the President
with a strong probability Of success and also that
| whereas the public has been asked to believe that
the offer was brbe designed TO influence Mr., Stra-
hams action in the Senate the fact is that when the
name was first proposed the President did not know
| who he WAS and that when the President was in-
formed about nm, MS relfliODh 10 MI NouhlllR duu
his position in the Legislature were not discussed at
| all.
The testimony also shows that in the discussions
| at Washington only the names of men identified
with the machine in New-York City were mentioned
at first carrying out the policy announced by Presi-
| dent Garfield Of giving both factions in the party
| representation. In his cross-examination MIR.
Davenport stated that especial effort was made to
| find some friend of General Arthur who would take
| the place. Mr. Davenports account OF the Union
League Club interview coincided with
| that OF Senator Strahan at almost
every point. Mr. Davenport advised him
not to accept the position II it would embarrsss
him. Thinking that Senator Strahan would prob
ably decline, he went and saw George W. Lyon
and asked hun TO allow his name to
be used. He consented, but the Telegram
nrOing lis name arrived in Washington next morn
ing after Mr. Knox had been drafted into service,
and his efforts TO be released and to have Mr. Lyons
name substituted for his own were unsuccessful
The cross-examinaton by Mr. Bangs only sue
ceedcd in bringing out clearly the facts that the
President had not either at this time or any other'
nfr naxe