Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-25
HUNTINGDON INTERVIEWED.

The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Correspondence
Explained to a Reporter of the Associa-
ted Presidency Tried to be Made Out
of the etters Previously.
New YORK, Dec. pa reporter of the
Associated press saw G. p. Huntingdon.
of the Southern Pacific Railroad company,
to-day, relative to the publication of the
letters of Mr.. Cotton, between the years
1874 and 1878, in regard to the construc-
lion of the Transcontinental line. The
letters have recently been produced to the
court by Mrs. Cotton, who is suing for a
settlement. Mr.. Huntingdon said it was
true he had written several hundred letters
to Cotton, and in these letters he may have
spoken harshly of some of the senator's,
and if SO, they undoubtedly deserved it.
He was sure there was nothing in the let
tiers that he cared any thing about keeping
from the public. He had written Cotton
with the same freedom with which he
would have talked to him, if he had been
present, about their business, but beyond
this there is nothing in the letters
which have been repeatedly
offered for sale. Huntingdon had
told these emissaries that he would give
nothing for the letters. Their publication
now by the San Francisco Chronicle is no
surprise, as he was we'll aware what was
intended. Regarding the Cotton suit, there
is no specific claim set up; it is simply a
suit for the settlement of Colton's interest
OF the attorney, who is pushing the claim.
It is understood he is doing SO for the per
centage and what he may make out of it,
and failing in his object. he receives moth
ing. Colton died in 1878, and year later
we settled with Mrs. Cotton; Stanford
and Croker went to Washington and said,
let us give Mrs. Cotton enough. She was
given 100000 in money, and the balance
in securities, upon condition, the finances
of road was still weak, it paid her go per
cent. for her bonds. He was willing to
give Tevis who was called in, to assist in
the settlement, land known to have plenty of
money, 100000 to step into Mrs. Colton's
shoes and reap all the benefits with them
| while sharing the assessments, but he
would not do it. The widow carried off
from the railroad Office ~Cotton's effects,
including the business letters on file.
These subsequently fell into an attorney
hands and are now being used to extort
money. Huntingdon said further, he was
settlement if he wished, but replied he had
no case to compromise, and it judgment
should be obtained, which he does not be-
lieve can be done, he will appeal the case
to the United States court. Huntingdon
said further, that he had been in business
fifty years, and did not believe any man
could come to him and charge him with any
fraudulent or improper transaction. He
was willing to submit to the Inspection. of
honorable men all he had done and was
prepared to maintain all he had said.
SAN Francisco, Dec. 24.-The Chronicle
will publish tomorrow reply to the state
ments of HuntiDgton's interview with the
associated press reporter. 1t charges
Huntington with disappearing the
facts, and states that the letters contain
frank statements regarding the purchase
of the influence of senators and members
of congress, and suggestions to bride leg
islatures, railroad commissioners and news
papers. It also denies the truth of the as
sertion that Mrs. Cotton was paid fair
price for her Southern Pacific bonds, and
points out that four days after she had been
paid sixty per cent, debt was paid to the
Western Development company with the
same bonds at ninety per cent.