National Republican., 1884-06-18
REPRESENTATIVE WELLER.
He is Interogated as to His Action in the
English-Peelle Contest
A Memory Which Proves Remarkably
Uncertain in Many Instances,
He Had Seen English Pers, But That Gentleman
Did Not "See" Him.
The "Poor Mans Friend" VIII DO Ex.
amIned by the Committee To-day.

Tho special committee appointed to investi-
gate the charges against Hon. VIM. H. Eng
lish and others (unnamed) of lobbying on the
house floor in the interest Of his son in tho
contested election case of English vs. Peello,
began the examination of witnesses yesterday.
Representative Weller, of Iowa, was called.
after you had voted to lay the motion of
reconsideration on tho table, the day that
Mr.. English was seated, did Representative
Pusey, of Iowa, request you to go to the demo-
cratic side of the houso2" asked Representa-
tive Millard.
Answer. ''Mr. Pusey came to my desk and
asked how was getting along. / replied,
first rate; that had just gotten telegram
from my wife and daughter to meet them at
the depot. i invited Mr.. Pusey to como and
see me, and ho took my address on piece Of
paper. l said was going to tho station, and
he said he wished would remain and vote
on the Engish-Peelle case. replied that
had not voted on the merits of the case and
did not propose to- that was going to SEQ
my wife and daughter"
"You evado the question. Did Mr. Pusey
ask you to go to the other side Of the house?"
II don't remember"
ibid you 20 with himp
~ don't remember"
"Did you follow Mr.. Pusey in a very few
momentsP'
~ can't tell you that"
"While he was sitting by you was there
any discussion regarding the election casey'
II don't remember"
''You had just voted to 10y the motion on
the table, which was against English. Mr..
Pusey wanted you to stay and vote. He
was on tho other side. Did you understand
he was voting for Englishf"
'There was no understanding about 1t, but
had the general impression that being a
democrat he would. i would have voted
for English from the first to the last except
for some democratic member who made a
speech for English. don't remember his
name"
'Whon you went away you knew Peelle
would lose his seatY'
IL knew no such thing"
"rhe vote was te?"
~ had no idea it would remain the same.
The vote was changing constantly"
'You know of no particular man coming
IMP"
az do not"
"When you went to the other side of the
house (dcmocratic), did you see English, the
father?"
II think not"
"Did you see tho SOM"
~ did"
'Did you converse with him?"
II did; saw him on my way as ] was
passing ont of the hall"
How soon was this after Mr.. Pusey had
been to your seat ?"
81 don't know"
about how long?"
Il don't remember any circumstance which
would warrant me in confining the time
within half an hour. 1t may have been
fifteen minutes, five minutes, or three
minutes"
did you vote on the question after that ?''
II did not, if remember"
"When you returned Mr.. English had been
sworn in2"
.'lf my memory serves ME right, think
the last vote was being taken"
Don't you know, Mr.. Weller, that some
were laughing about your absencep
MY memory is not very clear. / have
some impression that Mr. English was being
sworn iu."
'Can you tell what time you received your
telegram from your wife%
l cannot. When l got homo found had
made a mistake Of just about ono hour in the
time of the arrival of the train"
Had you seen Mr.. English, the father,
previous to the balloting?'
II was introduced to him on the floor of
the house by some one. l asked If he WAS
related to tho democratic candidate for tho
vico presidency four years ago, and he said
he was the identical man. Mr.. English never
made an offer or any suggestion that should
receive money"
''Theres no charge of that kind against
you. Was your conversation with young
English about the case?"
my mind was intent on meeting nv wife
and child. He suggested that remain and
said he would be pleased to have me remain
and vote. This was as was leaving the hall
don't remember of his asking me to vote for
him, but inferred that"
why should he want you to remain when
you had just voted against him?'
II don't know. Tho day after the vote
was taken, when / had made a personal ex-
PLANTATION on the floor of the house, Mr..
Wilson, of Iowa. said he was sorry that had
made the explanation. He said that Mr..
Bayne, when he referred the day before in
his speech, to some one having left the hall
did not mean me. i was never importuned
by any one, except Mr.. Peelle. He said he
didn't want me to do anything improper, but
he would be glad Of my assistance. He did
or said nothing that was improper"
Mr.. Pusey, of Iowa, was called and in an
swer to inquiries said that he went to Well
er's seat, and whilo there was told of the
expected arrival of Mrs. Weller and her
daughter He continued:
=" said this is a close case and that would
like to have our delegation go together. He
said he was going to meet his wife, and re-
piled that it made no difference if he did go
English would be seated"
Have you so stated to any member that
side of the house?" asked Mr. Millard.
I" never told living soul. There was q
great deal OF laughing about Weller and about
me sitting by him, taking piece of paper out
of my pocket, writing something on it, walk.
ing away and subsequently, his leaving. The
next day members joked about it and asked
where was my friend Weller"
"My memory Is refreshed" interposed Mr..
Weller, after listening to my colleague Mr.
Pusey. When / returned to the floor of the
house this matter was mentioned / thought
it was a joke on me, and didn't regard it
seriously until / saw the papers the next
day"
Mr.. Jeremiah Wilson, an ex-member, and
an attorney for Mr.. Peelle, who was charged
with lobbying in the interest of his client,
testified that he had not been on the house
floor more than fifteen minutes of this ses.
sion. He said he never lobbied any member
directly or indirectly about the case.
Mr.. W. H.. English will DO examined by tho
committee to-day.