Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
THE BOY NroN INVESTIGATION.
Keifer Tells His story About the At.
tempted Bribery.

The House committee appointed to Inves-
tigate the charges against Gen. BoyntOn re-
sumed its session this morning. Mr.. Keifer
detailed the alleged conversation in his room
between himself and Boynton substantially
as he gave it on the floor Of the House.
Boynton produced bill for the relief of Nc
Garrahan, the identical one being put in As
evidence by the witness. The witness ex-
pressed his surprise that Boynton should
come to him with a corrupt PROPOSE
ton and Boynton Immediately left the room.
since that time the witness had not spoken to
BoyntoA.
The chairman called attention to the appar-
ent inconsistency between Keifer's statement
in the House and his direct testimony today.
In speech he asserted that the interview
closed with Boynton's declaration that ''there
were millions in il, and millions to divide. I"
He now said that Boynton remained until he
told him he was surprised that he should
make such proposition to him. The wit
ness replied it would be found that he had
said that Boynton declared that he had friends
who were intere sted with him in the bill and
that there was enough to make them all rich.
The interview did not last over two or three
minutes. 1t was exceedingly brief.
Chairman-After he stated to you that there
was money to be made Tout of the bill, you
submitted to an explanation of the manner
in which it should be made, reserving your
rebuke.
Witness--I was not hasty with the man
who had been my friend for many years. |
waited long enough to be absolutely certain
what he meant. The conversation took place
between 10 and IL o'clock in the morning,
though pc ssibly it may have been in the
afternoon when the House was in committee
4 h., thap in fhn
morning before session or in the afternoon
when was out of the chair.
Mr.. Adams-Did he state at the interview
that he had friends interested in the bill and
that he was interested?
Witness-The form of the statement as
nearly as can recall it. was that he had
some friends interested in it, and there was
enough to make them all rich.
Mr.. Adams-Did he offer to give you any
amount of money provided that you recog-
nized Dunnell?
Witness-No, sir-not in that form. He
did not make any specific offer.
Boynton then proceeded to cross-examine
the witness substantially as follows:
Q.-I suppose you affirm the truthfulness
of your entire speech on the floor of the
House?
A.-Substantially, that is true; 1 may not
have used language here as there.
Q-Are there any material points in that
speech which you desire corrected before it
goes on record?
A.-Not that can recall.
Q-Also the truth of the letter you sent
me the night before the speech was made?
A.-Yes. 1t is substantially true.
Q.-And you present both the speech and
letter to the House and country on your re-
sponsibility as a member?
Anybody can answer that
Q-When you received my note on the
27th, did you regard the question as stated in
that letter as in any sense improper?
Al do not think did.
Q.-It did not differ from many similar re-
quests!
Al do not think it attracted my special
attention at the time.
Q-Up to the time of our alleged secret
talk you did not consider it as unusual or im-
proper?
Al do not think did.
Mr.. Boynton continued the cross-examina-
ton at great length, but without eliciting
anything new.
Keifer said he had spoken of the matter to
Mr.. White.
White was called and testified to having
had conversations with Keifer concerning the
latter's interview with Boynton.
Adjourned until tomorrow.