The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-25
CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES.
Progress of the Investigation Into the Flee
ton 0utrages in COpiah County,
Mississippi.
MISREPRESENTATION.
Evidence of Charles Garfield Before the inves-
tieatinn Committee.

tiga;in2 Committee.
WAsHlNGroN. Feb. 23.-The Keifer Boynton
investigating committee resumed its session this
morning Charles 5. Garfield. cattle dealer Of
Cleveland, cousin of the late President Garfield,
was the first witness He had known BoyntOn
about "a year ard half, and Keller about the
same length of time. He in Washington
the latter part of February, 1888 He was
present at the conversation which took place
somewhere about the LIST Of March between
Boynton, S. A. Elder, and he thought somebody
else. He heard most of the conversation. 1t
was IN r4S@T@ TO some CLAIR. .. I.r@s n.n anu
which he wished to speak TO Boynton about.
Boynton's reply in substance was that he could
do nothing with it. He said he had a claim him
self, and that if Keifer would take hold of it
he would not take hold of the smaller bill
Elder had. He said it was the McGarrahan bill,
and any one who would not take hold of that
bill would not take hold of a bill of 50 900 or
81, 900. He said he had been to see General
Keifer about it. and he would do nothing with it.
He said the Speaker would leave the chair with
out either friends or money. He said the Me
Garrahan bill large one, and any one who
would be of assistance would get paw for it,
That was the substance of the conversation,
which took place in the west hall of the House
of Representatives He could not fix the exact
day of the conversation 1t was about the mid
die of the week before Congress adjourned
On cross examination by the committee, the
witness stated that he did not understand Boyn-
ton to say he had made representations to
keifer that there was money in the bill for any
one who would take it up. He could not say
whether Boynton said he had claim not.
On cross examination by Boynton the witness
admitted he had but slight acquaintance with
Boynton. He was here at the time to try and
get government position, and called on Boyn-
ton for assistance. The latter did not promise
to assist him, and i'll fact never did. Since that
time his relations with Boynton were confined
to bidding each other good day when they met
on the street He might have been in Boynton's
office once after he called to ask his assistance.
1t seemed odd to the witness shat Boynton
should thus expose himself to practical
stranger, and he thought Boynton was mad
about something. or he wouldn't have done it.
The witness did not know of his own knowledge
that this Elder took a prominent part in the
KellOgg-Spoford contested election investigation.
He had never mentioned this in conversation to
Keifer. He first made it known yesterday to
Coleman, counsel for General Keifer.
By Chairman Hopkns-When did you last see
Elder!
'1'his morning"
''PriOr to that"
might before last"
''Prior to that"
of May
Did you see him between the 10Th of May
and night before lastF'
81 did
''Whenl"
81 think it was Monday or Tuesday"
''Where"
cat Cleveland
''Did you have any conversation with him
about this natter
The matter was not mentioned then
By Mr.. Adams-Did he say whether anybody
sent him to Cleveland to see y0u2
Witness-No sir.
Chairman-Had you been subp9naed prior to
the arrival of Elder in Cleveland?
Witness-I had not
Chairman-Had you been notified before that
that you would be wantedl
Witness had
Chairman-By whom2
Witness-By Keller, by telegraph
Did you come ON from Cleveland to Washing
ton with Elder"
Yes, sir"
This closed the examination of the witness,
and Coleman asked that subp9nas be issued
for J.. w. Elder, W. 3. Moore, of Buffalo; Henry
Maddox, of New York; A. j. Works. of Wash
ngton: A. c. Smith of Washington: Thomas A.
Gardner, of Washington, and W B. Green, of
Rockville The testimony which would be
given by these witnesses was of suchnature that
the investigation ought not to be concluded on
the part of Keller until it could be placed be
fore the committee. If the comlnitte would give
him one week he pledged himself that no fur
ther continuance would be asked for.
BOyntonasked Keifer what he meant by stat
ing in his speech that he (Boyntonl had forged
a letter, etc, but the committee decided the
question involved collateral matter, which it
would not be well to go into, and Wilson re
ina &c 'ocularly: IF we attempt to find out
whether the members lie little the floor
now and then, we would be interfering with our
own prerOgatives."