St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-15
Boston Herald.

summer of 1876, as a representative from the
state of Maine. He had been defeated, on a
strict party vote, for the speakership by Mr..
Kerr of Indiana, and for the first time in six
years, sat as an ordinary member of the
house. Still, it is hardly appropriate to speak
of NJ. Blaine as an ordinary member, even
when not welding the gavel. He was ever
an extraordinary member, and in that event
full summer he was the acknowledged leader
of the house and a candidate for the presi-
Dental nomination of his party. He was
under great mental strain at the time, and
was not in his usual robust health. The
newspapers were full Of his name, and his
enthusiastic supporters kept up the din. 1t
was at this period that the famous inyestiga-
ton in which Mr.. Mulligau of Boston took
leading part as a witness was suddenly start
ed. The melting cause was motion made
by congressman John K. Tarbox, represent
ing the Essex district of this state. Mr. Tar
box, on the second day of May, offered res
olution stating that it had been alleged that
the Union Pacific railroad had, in 1871 or
1872 purchased a certain number Of Little
Rock IL Fort Smith railway bonds, paying
therefor largely in excess of their value, and
that the transaction was from corrupt de-
sign. Mr.. Tarbox then demanded an inves-
tigation By the judiciary committee of the
house.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
When this resolution was offered, Mr.
Blaine happened to be absent from the floor
of the house. Congressman Frye, in behalf
nf Mr. al, nd ol,i tod tO
adoption of the resolution, and in this way it
was made manifest that MIR. Blaine was the
person at whom the resolution was aimed.
The Democratic majority passed the resolu-
ton promptly, and the investigation was set
on foot
The gist Of the charge against Mr.. Blaine
was that he had sold to the Union Pacific
railway company rs bonds, of 81 900 each,
of the Little Rock 81 Fort Smith railway, for
$64, 600 cash, when their market value at the
time 0S7D was much less, and it was init
mated that as the basis of this transaction
there was corrupt motive, Mr.. Blaine being
the speaker of the national house Of repre-
sentatives, a parsonage of great Importance,
whom it was the policy Of the railway com
pany in question to concilate; in brief, that
the Union Pacific railway company thought
it good investment TO buy Mr.. Blaine's de-
preciated bonds, aud SO financially to benefit
him.
The country was thrown into feverish
state of excitement by this charge again st
the integrity of the most prominent candi-
date for the presidential nomination of the
dominant party. The wires were loaded
with the gossip of Washington, and inter
views were had with all persons who might
10. L. 80, lf.,It kn
ferrous transaction.
MIR MULLIGAN GOES TO WASHINGTON.
An interview published in the Herald with
an eminent Boston lawyer cognizant of some
of the facts in the case was the immediate
cause of the summoning Of James Mulligap
of Boston to Washington to testify before the
House judiciary committee Mr.. Mulligau
had been the confidential clerk Of Mr.. War
rem Fisher, Sr., Of this city, whose son, War
rem Fisher, Jr., had been associated with Mr..
Blaine in the matter Of the Spencer, rifle,
which, through Mr.. Blane's influence, had
been adopted by our way department in
1861. When Warren Fisher, Sr., died, he
left his property to his son in trust and one
of the trustees was Mr.. Muiigan, man of
strict integrity the reverse of scnsationalist
"A man of quiet habits and accurate to u
degree, as became an old bouk-keeper. This
will explain Mr. Mulligaus connection with
the famous correspondence passing between
Warren Fisher, Jr., and Speaker Blaine.
Mr.. Muligan went to Washington, as
stated, and with his usual system. provided
himself with documentary evidence 10 fort
fy his testimony. In addition to the letters
which he took with him, he made . memoir
audum of each letter and its contents On
the first day that Mr.. Mulgan went on the
witness stand, he happened casually to men
ton that he had in his possession certain let
ters written by Mr. Blaine to Warren Fisher,
Jr. Mr. Blaine who was in the committee
room was startled and through'a Republic
an member Of the committee, secured an i'm
mediate adjournment of the ommittee for
the day.
MR.. BLAINE SEES MIR SULLIGAN.
This delay secured, Mr.. Blaine sought out
Mr.. Mulligan at the latters hotel, and had
there that famous interview which has fur
nishcd carcaturists, humorists and satirsts
with abundant material In his testimony,
under oath, delivered June I, 1876, Mr.. Null
ligau said: ''After my examination here, yes
terday, Mr.. Blaine came up to the hotel, tho
Rigg House, and there had conference with
Mr.. Atkins, Mr.. Fisher and myself. He
wanted to see the letters that had. de-
almost on his knees, and mplored me to think
OF his wife aud six children, and that, If the
committee should get hold Of this commuui-
cation, it would sink him immediately and
ruin him forever. | told him | should not
give them 10 him. He asked me If | would
let him read them. | told him | would il
he would promise me on the word of Il gen
tleman that he would return them 10 me. 1
did let him read them over. HIS read them
oyer once, and called for them again, and
read them over again. He still importuued
me to give those letters up ! declined to do
1t. l retired TO my own room, aud he fol-
lowed me up, and went over the same story
about his wife and children, and implored me
to give them (the letters up to him, scd even
contemplated suicide. He asked me il /
wanted to see his children left in that state,
SUD be then asked me again if would not
act him look over those papers eonsecutively.
had them numbered"
MIR. BLAINE SEXES THE LETTERS.
az told him I would If ne would return
them to me. He took the papers, read them
all over. sud among them l had nemorau-
dun that had made by way OF SYNOPSIS OF
the letters, and referring 70 the numbers of
the ietters-a synopsis containing the points
Of the letters. l had made that memorandum
so as to be able to refer to it here lin the
committee room when questioned He
asked me to let him resd the letters, and l
showed him this statement, too. After he
had read them, he asked me what wanted
to do with those papers; il I wanted TO use
them. l told him | never wanted to use
them, nor would show them TO the COM
mittee unless l was called upon TO do So
Then he asked meif would not give them
up 10 him. told him would not do II, and
the only reason I would not do ii was because
saw it stated in one of the evening papers