Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-24
THE MULLIGAN LETTERS.
How the "Plumed Knight" Got
Them Back.

Them Since-A Sympathetic sum
stroke.
A correspondent having asked the New
York World to explain what is meant by
the Mulligan letters, and who Mulligan
was, and whether Blaine ever went down
on his knees to Mulligan, and what is
meant by the allusion to Blaine's sun
stroke. that journal replies as follows:
The story OF the Mulligan letters is
briefly told. They were letters written by
Mr.. Blaine TO Fisher concerning land
grants, railroad stocks and bonds, and
they were held, with Fishers consent, by
his bookkeeper. James Mulligan.
In 1876 Morton, Conkling and Blaine
were candidates for the Republican nomi-
nation, with the chances three to two in
favor OF Blaine against the field. Morton,
to kill Blaine, started Q number Of rail-
road Investigations in the (Democratic)
House, which brought out damaging
charges against the ex-Speaker. The DEM
ocrats had nothing to do with the Repub-
lican family quarrel, at first, and permit
ted the Republicans to fight it out among
themselves. After having been fou weeks
under the fire, Blaine made o personal
statement to the House, which was a gen.
eral denial, and for four weeks more the
investigation dragged on. Democrats TAX
ing little or no interest in II.
May 80 the S~ub-Judioiary Committee
t~instigsted thereto by Morton) summoned
Warren Fisher, Jr., OF Boston, q con-
tractor for building the Fort Smith d
Little Rock Railroad, who sold out his
contract to Josiah Caldwell land didn't
get the money!, and James Mulligan, Of
Boston, Treasurer Of the Globe Theater,
who had been Mr.. Fishers bookkeeper.
Fisher and Blaine had close business rela-
tions for many years. These witnesses
we're called to testify in relation TO certain
bonds and stocks alleged to have been sold
or given to Mr.. Blaine, and particularly in
regard to . $64, 900 bond which Tom Scott
had exchanged for Northern Pacific bonds
for Mr.. Blaine. They were very unwilling
witnesses. Mulligan admitted the sale OF
Fort Smith bonds to Mr.. Blaine and
various sales and transfers, but knew
nothing material. Fisher admitted selling
various blocks OF stocks TO Mr.. Blaine,
but denied giving him $3.50, 900 in bonds
without a consideration. Mulligan was
ordered to appear before the com mittee
the next day. .
When the committee met the next morn
| ing, Mr.. Mulligan startled the committee
and the country by q story which Is out
lined in the following:
lAssociated Press dispatch, Washington June /,
1891
Joseph Mulligsn said be wanted to make
q statement before continuing his examina-
ton. He said that when his arrival here,
q note came down from Mr.. Blaine, re-
auesting the witness and Mr.. Fisher to call
at his house; witness declined to go, but
Fisher went. After witness testified yes
| terday, Mr.. Blaine called upon him and
| asked him about some letters which were
in his possession, and wanted witness 10
| give them up to him, but witness declined
| TO do 30. Witness said Mr.. Blaine almost
got down on his knees and pleaded for the
| letters, saying they would ruin him for
| life. and when witness further declined,
| Mr.. Blaine asked him to think OF his wife
| and six children. He besought witness
| and almost contemplated suicide. He Of
| fered to get him Q consulship in return for
the letters. Witness allowed Mr.. Blaine
! to take them under a pledge that he would
| return them. He looked them over and
| did return them. This was in the presence
of Mr.. Fisher and Mr.. Atkins. Witness
| then retired to his room and Blaine fol-
lowed him and wanted to look at the let
ters again. Witness allowed Mr.. Blaine to
| take them and Mr.. Blaine refused to return
| them and still retains them. There were
about Is letters.
Mr.. Blaine, sworn in rebuttal, admitted
the inter view, admitted taking the letters,
| admitted that he had them in his posses
| sion; but denied having gone down on his
knees, or having said they would ruin him,
or having offered the consulship. His
motive for keeping them he explained as
follows:
Mulligan said he did not know what
| might transpire in his examination, to-day,
and that he was going to hold those letters
for his own protection and vindication. 1
said TO him: "Under these circumstances
| will not give these letters up" and said,
II will not return these letters De-
cause you threaten to make use OF them,
| which is illegitimate, and l have no idea
that any man shall take my private cores
popdence and hold it as Q menace over
nv head to be used at this option.
The Chsirman-I ask at your hands the
production OF these letters for the peru
AL of the committee, and not for publica-
ton.
Mr.. Blaine-I will take occasion to con-
suit my counsel in regard to it.
The Chairmsn-You decline, then, to
produce them
Mr.. B~lains-For the present l decline.
From that day to this no one has seen
the letters. But June s, 1876, Mr.. Blaine
rose in his seat in the House for q per-
sonsl explanation. and read . bundle OF
letters which he said we're those received
from M~ulligan. He allowed no one to see
| them. He has never allowed any one to
see them, and the letters to my Dear
Fisher" quoted by the newspapers are
from the stenogrspher's notes, as Mr..
| Blaine read them. Mulligan denied that
the letters we're read verbatim or that all
| the letters were read.
In beginning his explanation to the
House, Mr.. Blaine said that lat every
tnrn Of q railroad investigation ordered
| bv the House an effort has been made to
direct il against him, personally, until ON
saturday last, when there were no less
than four subjects upon which he was be-
ing investigated"
Mr.. Knott replied that that was because
he turned up everywhere with land grant
bonds or stock OF land grant railroads.
Mr.. Blaine attacked the Su6-Judiciary
| Committee ss composed of Confederate
Ds:~.a;a,s defended his method Of get