The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-12
KEIFER-BOYNTON.
Continuation of the Inquiry - Mr.. Keifer !
Again the Stand.

Continuation of the Inquiry - MIR. keifer
Again the Stand.
WASHINGTON, March 11.-Secretuy Folger
appeared before the Keifer Boynton committee
this morning, bearing several papers on file in
his department touching the character of Charles
S. Garfield and w. B. Moore who are expected
to be called as witnesses. As the papers were
original ones, and as the present was not the
proper time to submit them in evidence it was
agreed if General Boynton should desire to OBJ
tain them, that copies could be procured from
the department hereafter.
U. P. Painter, journalist, was the first wit
ness examined. His testimony relatedto ameet
ing Of correspondents at which resolutions of
oensure of Speaker Keifer were adopted.
Mr.. Keifer being called, contradicted the state
ment made by General Boynton that on March
l, 1883, he had a conversation with Mr.. Keifer
in regard to the appointment of Jorgensen, as re
ceiver of the land Office at Walla Walla, to sue
coed Reed, of Ohio The witnesses attention being
called to the testimony bearing upon the inter
view in Boyntons Office, on the night Of March
l, at which the tariff bill was discussed he said
he had a conversation upon the tariff bill with
Boynton before the 9th Of February. At that
time the tariff bill was on the Speakers table,
and he pointed out rule which would require
him. if point of order were made, to decide
that the bill must go to the committe of the
whole, which would defeat it. Their converse
ton could not have taken place later than the
9th, because on that day resolution was
adopted in the House making it in order at any
time to take the tariff bill from the Speakers
table and declare disagreement on the Senate
amendments
The examination was suspended to allow
Speaker Carlisle to take the stand He knew no
rule which could prevent a conference report
from being considered by the House upon its re-
ception
Representative Reed gave similar evidence
On cross examination Mr.. Reed said he was
aware Blaine was at the Capitol on the Satur-
day before the passage of the tariff bill but did
not know he went TO see the Speaker for the
purpose of overcoming opposition to the
bill to which the Speaker was supposed to be a
party.
General Boynton inquired whether if confer
ence committee made material changes in bill,
and point of order was raised that, on that ac
count, the bill must go to the committee of the
whole and the Speaker had declared the point
we'll taken, and the House had sustained him,
the bill could have been defeated
Mr.. Reed-ObviOusly it could
Mr.. keifer was further examined, and denied
the sworn statement made by Barrett, of the
Boston Advertiser, that he Mr.. Keifer) had
SAID, Il uO1lI care q JOr the press.
He had used no expression in condemnation of
the press. and had no reason for doing so.
C. A. Bowers, of Ohio was called and testi-
fed to the general good reputation of Charles 5.
Garfield. On cross-eXaminatien the witness said
he had heard that Garfield was indicted in In
diana, but did not know the cause of his arrest.
Martin Perlley, Philetus Smith d. C. Baxter
Nj NJ. Bonthem, ID. r Wilet and G. W. Hop
kins, of Ohio. gave similar evidence. They were
all asked by Boynton in reference to the arrest
eff no a,o, Of
ing, but the question, in each case, was ruled
out Boynton said that he wished to establish
the fact that Charles S. Garfield was indicted for
burglary, and for some other offenses which he
had not as yet answered, and that there was
communication between Garfield his son. one
Slower and one Mcdonald, making up a we'll
known gang of burglars in that section of coun-
try. Garhelds son was tried for burglary in
connection with some of the gang. After the burg
larry the tools were concealed in Garfeds house,
and were taken out by Garfield and others and
run off. He was traced by law-oficerS, brought
back and convicted and was now in the peniten-
tary. Garfield was brought into these transac
tons in certain ways though the proof was not
sufficient to convict him. The occupation of
Garfield, in Bryan, o., was for number of years
that of gambler. 1t could be shown that he
was under the surveillance of the national au-
thorites and the government records would
show that he was dealer in counterfeit money.
He was arrested once on that charge, taken be-
fore Bushnell White United States Commits
sion at Cleveland and cleared on an alibi
which was not subsequently believed
The gentlemen who had been called as wit
nesses this morning could, he (Boynton) was
credibly informed, establish these facts He
could also show that at least six witnesses
against him were men who had either served in
the penitentiary or were men who had been or
We're now under criminal Indictment.
Mr.. Coleman thought Boyntons remarks
would have proved he was addicted to making
malicious attacks upon persons if that fact had
not been testified to by the witness. SO far as
any examination into the reputation of Garfield
was concerned, he should not shrink from it, but
invite the closest scrutiny
The chairman suggested that Boynton's offer
of proof was very broad but said the question of
its admissibility would be determined when the
testimony was presented.
J. Guford White was recalled. He said he
was not present in the Speakers room on the LIST
of March, 1883. during any conversation between
General Keifer and General Boynton about the
appointment of DR. Jorgenson. or Mr.. Alexander
Reed. 10 Office in Washington Territory.
Benjamin Gaines called He was the
Speakers clerk in March, 1883. He entered the
Speakers room on one occasion when General
Boynton was in conversation with the Speaker,
but was in great haste and remained but mo-
ment. He heard nothing of the conversation
while he was in the room