The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-11-24

public service in the finance depart
ment of Massachusetts, and had beel
financial agent for Massachusetts in Eu
rope, and was a gentleman of higl
character, widely and faverably known
l do not thing there arc any ground
for misunderstanding me.
Q.-I want to ask if it was expecte,
and common in the distribution O
those offices, to pass them around a
rewards for party services?
Al should say that was the ele
ment always entered into it, and We
not conspicuous one. A great man,
eligible missions abroad are held by
gentlemen who never did party servic,
at all.
Q.-Do you mean to be understood
that on the whole this element of par
ty service was not prominently recog
nized in the distribution of office?
Al do not mean to be understood
that it was not recognized, only that i
was not the sole basis on which such
thinss were done, and that gentlemen
who had nothing of these claims were
consigned to conspicuous public posi-
tions.
Q.-Was it popularity in Guiteau's
application for office that he based his
claim or party service?
A.-Oh, no, that is common.
Q.-Was it not the almost uniform
mode of application?
A.-As a rule / think you would
find that gentlemen who hold conspicu.
Gus positions in diplomatic stations are
not those who have applications for
them on file in the department.
Q.-To come nearer home, how
about collectorships in leading cities?
Al am not in the treasury depart
ment. (Laughter.j
Q.-You know nothing about it?
A.-Nothing but hearsay, and that
suppose would not be accepted. |
never appointed collector in my life.
Q.-What was the condition of the
republican party as to unanimity and
harmony for six weeks before. the
shooting of the president?
A. latter pause There were some
dissensions in it.
Q.-These were considerable, were
they not?
A.-Yes, sir.
Q.-They created good deal of ex.
citement in the country?
Al should say not in the country,
OIL mean among the people?
A.-The dissention was largely local
There were differences between the
president and some members of the
party about some matters in New York
Q.-They were agitated in the press
all over the country?
A.-They were commented upon.
Q.-I wish you would state thorough
ly to the jury the substance of those
dissensions here in Washington and
New York as matter of evidence. re-
fer to the differences that eliminated
in the resignation of the senators from
New York.
Al do not exactly know the scope
of the question.
Q.-Where there any such troubles
A'-Oh, yes, there were very SHARP
differences of opinion.
Q.-Were there not act. as well al
opinions?
A.-Yes.
Q.-What did they consist OF?
A.-The act that created the differ
ence.
Q.-There was more than one act ir
that connection.
Aft you will specify any particu.
lar one, | give my opinion on it.
Q.-Perhaps if l call your attention
to the conduct of certain individuals
you can answer.
Q.-How was it with Senator Conk
ling, of New York. Did he do anything
or say anything that led to that trouble
that famed the difference or promoted
it?
A.-What difference? (Laughter.)
On the republican party?
About what?
Ooh, of course, if you do moi
know, you need not answer.
Aft Senator Conkling spoke he
must have spoken about some particu.
lar thing.
o. do not want any long disquisi
ton; / simply ask you to state to the
jury the substance Of the trouble in the
republican party.
Witness-l do not exactly see the
point about which the counsel desires
me to testify. l have no reluctance tc
testify, and l hope he will not construe
my answer in thatway. The presiden,
had appointed Robertson collector Of
customs at New York, and out of that
and the propriety oft, there grew up d
feeling between him and his admins.
tration, and the senator from New
York.
scovillc-Now, if you will go little
further and state what happened after
that disagreement grew up and what
resulted from it?
Witness-I am sure I can make a
political speech of two hours and a
half on the subject Laughter). II
you will ask the specific questions I will
answer them.
Ques.-What was done, if anything,
by the senators from New York after
the disagreement arose with the ad-
ministration? Did they resign ?
Ans.-They resigned, yes, sir.
Ques.-When was that2
"I think the resignation was on the
2Sth of May. OF that | will not be
positive. ITO the district attorney
Am | correct?
District Attorney-It was earlier than
that, about the 10Th.
Prisoner (quietly)-The 10th of May.
Scoville-We will say the 10th of
May. What was the cause of their re-
signing.
Ans.-Discontent with the presi-
dents action in appointing Robertson.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-The Grim
inal court room was packed again this
morning. Upon the court being open.
ed, Scoville requested the court to take
some measures to prevent the prisoner
from giving to the public his unadvised
communications; also to prevent an
noying interruptions by the prisoner
in the court room. During Scovilles re.
marks the prisoners face had been suf