The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-04-12
The Sirtings Investigation.

IuIe VI DIlOeEl W loAhS OllbluBs. AllSI
examining several witnesses. who seem.
ed to have fund OF II don't know"
knowledge, Mr.. Joseph Walker, being
sworn, testified as follows.
Q.-Do you know anything about the
article published in the Siftlngs of March
81, 1855:
A.-No, sir; know nothing about it at
ali.
WITNESS reads article
Q.-State whether The statements con-
tanned in that article are true.
Al have no idea in the world.
Q.-Do you know whether any member
of the legislature has been bribed on his
vote In aspect to the penitentiary leasesI
Al don't know anything of the kind.
Cross-examination:
Q.-Were you not in one way or the
other in the employ Of Cunningham
Ellis:
A.-NO sir.
Q.-Were you authorized to offer money
to any one member of the leg islature or
otherwise or anything in the in
terest of confirming or ratifying the
leases!
Al never was.
O. Did you ever offer money to any
one!
A.-Ies.
Q.-By whose authority!
A.-By my own.
Q-Do you know where the headquar-
tiers OF Cunningham IL Ellis were!
A.-Upton, Cunningham all had rooms
in Browns building.
q do you know where Cunningham
Il Ellis had their headquarters, where
they would invite their friends?
Al know where their room was.
Cunningham had his room up there, and
suppose that is where he had his
friends.
Q.-What was done up in these rooms
w as there any whisky furnished?
A Yes, sir; plenty of it.
Q,--Who furnished itI
Al do not know.
Odd Cunningham & Ellis or Handy
have their headquarters in this city?
AL cannot tell you; MIR. Handy was
here three or four weeks before L knew
him.
Q.,--Did you say you don't know
whether Cunning nam Il Ellis had their
headquarters UP in Browns building (;
which room did Cunningham occupy?
Al think it was Upton's room. saw
him in there.
Q.-Was not that place of general
rendezvous of Cunningham and Ellis,
and haven't you seen members there!
Al haye seen several friends there.
Q.-Was not whisky and liquors iui-
nished free there?
| Ayes, sir.
Q.-Did you pay for themI
Al did not.
Q.-Who did?
Al cannottell.
Q.-What quantity of cigars and liquors
A-Cigars by the box and liquors by
the demijohn.
Q.-Tnat house was held for what pur-
poser
Al cannot tell you.
Q-DO you know who invited people
up there, and what was the object of
people meeting there!
a That is more than l can tell you.
have seen poker played there.
Q.-ln whose room " as the whisky and
cigars!
Alt was " here Col. Upton slept.
Q-You say you saw cards playedf
Q-An old-fashioned nip and tuck
game?
A 1T was what they called jackpot
game. -----
O. Did you ever see Cunningham
there!
.A.-Yes, sir.
Q.-DId he appear to be the host!
A.-Yes, think so.
Q-Dld you ever see Ellisy
Ayes. sir.
Q.-Did he appear to be hosig
Al cannot tell you.
Q.--When Cunningham was there, was
he the host who invited people to drink!
Al have seen him invite others TO
drink.
Q.-Who else did SO?
Al have heard Col. Upton, and have
done sosmyself.
Odd you play host, and by what au-
thOrity did you do SO?
A.-By none Mt all; no more than |
would have asked you to take drink
when you came into the room.
NQ.-Was 1t free whisky aud free cigars ?
Al cannot tell you
4 Here the witness, desiring to make q
fstatement said that he went down to see
Cardweil In a social way, and while at
bis house told him that he had made his
record ON the penitentiary lease, and he
would see that he lost nothing by it, if he
would cease fighting the leases. Witness
also sta ed that he offered Gaines, of the
STATESMAN, $500, believing IL to be in
the interest of Cunningham 81 Ellis to do
so without Cunningham Il Ellis knowing
anything about IL, but believing tnat they
would recompense HIM. He said: ''l APP
preached him as peace-maker, but he
bit me like a rattIesnake.o
determination.
q DO you know Of any member OF the
legislature having been bribed OR undue
influence having been used on them.
Al 10 not, elE.
Q.-You never offered any member any
thing:
A.-No, sir.
Q.-W as it not their headQuartersg
Al suppose legitimately it was.
Q.-WhO paid for the liquors and ci-
graz
ANDon't know. suppose Cunning
ham did?
Odd you ever order any supplies to
be brought u ?
Al never did. nor don't know of
anybody that ever did. will state that
Cunningham and l were not friendly
when the lease first come up. My ami
mostly 10 Cunningham was only from a
political STANDPOINT. Alter talking with
Lubbock and Goree, and finding out that
the lessees would not have such a fortune
as had beer represented, L favored a rali-
ticRtion of the leases.
Q.-Why was 1t you took such an inter-
est in Cunningham and Ellis or the leases
as to 20 10 Gaines and offer him $500?
A.-When try TO serve man L do the
best eau. thought 1t would serve my
friend, Judge Hancock, over at San An
tonic, and TO serve political purpose.
Q-And you were willing to pay
Games on your own responsibility; did
you go and make the proposition TO Gun
ningham first and then go to Games?
Al don't know that | did; he does
not know anything about IL through me.