St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-12
KEIFER-- B0YNTON.
A Little of the Character of Keifer's
Witnesses Shown.
Keifer Denies Everything Sworn to by All
the Other Witnesses.
A Lively Time Expected When Certain
Evidence is Produced.

WASHINGTON, March 11.-secretary Folger
appeared before the Keifer-Boynton commit
tee this morning, bearing several papers on
file in his department, touching the charac-
! ter of Charles S. Garfield and w. B. Moore,
who are expected to be called as witnesses.
As the papers are the original ones, and as
the present was not the proper time to sub
NIT them in evidence it was agreed, if Gen
| eral Boynton should desire, to obtain copies
of them which could be procured from the
department hereafter.
| U. H. Painter, journalist, was the first wit
ness examined. His testimony related to
the meeting of the correspondents, at which
the resolution of censure on Speaker Keifer
adopted.
Keifer being called, contradicted the state
ment of Boynton, that on March 1, 1888, he
had conversation with Keifer in regard to
the appointment of Jorgensen, as receiver of
the land office at Walla walla, to succeed
Reed. Witnesses attention being called to
the testimony bearing upon the interview in
Boynton's Office on the night of March 1,
at which the tariff bill was
discussed, said, he had a conversation upon
the tariff bill with Boynton before the 9th
OF February. At that time the tariff billwas
on the speakers table, and he pointed out
the rule which would require him, If q point
OF order were made, to decide that the bill
must go to the committee of the whole, which
would defeat it. Their conversation could
not have taken place later than the 27th,
because on that day the 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 in
"a
The examination was suspen ded to allow
Speaker Carlisle to take the stand. He knew
no rule which could prevent conference
report from being considered by the house
upon its reception.
Representative Reed gave similar evidence.
On cross-examination Reed said, he was
aware that Blaine was at the capital on Sat
urday before the passage of the tariff bill,
but did not know he went
to see the speaker for the purpose
overcoming the opposition to the bill to
which the speaker was supposed to be a par
ty Boynton inquired whether if the confer
ference committee made material changes in
the bill and a point of order was raised that
on that account the bill must go to the COM
mittee of the whole, and the speaker had de-
clared the point well taken, and the house
had sustained him, the bill could have been
defeated.
Keifer was further examined, and denied
| the sworn stateme Mt made
by Barrett of the Boston
Adgertser that he (Keifer) had said CT don't
care God damn for the press" He had
used no expression in condemnation of the
press, and had no resson for doing it,
{. A. Bowers, (Ohio), was called, and tes-
titled to the general good reputation of Chas.
s. Garfield. Cross Witness had
heard that Garfield was indicted in Indiana,
but did not know the cause of his arrest
Matthew Perkin, Philetus Smith, d. c.
Baxter, NJ. NJ. Bouther, DIR. Wilet
| and G. w. Hopkins gave similar
evidence. They were all asked by Boynton
in reference to the arrest of Garfield in
Ohio on a charge of counterfeiting, but the
question in each case was ruled out.
Boynton said that he wished to establish
the fact that Chas. S. Garfield was indicted
for burglary, and for some other ofTenses to
which he had not as yet answered, and that
there was matter of combination between
Garfield, his son, one Slower and one Nc
Donald, making up awell known gang of burg
lars in that section of country. Garfield's son
was tried for burglary in connection with
some OF the grang. After the burglary he
was concealed in QGarfeld's house, taken
was traced by the law officers, brought back
and convicted, and is now in the peniten-
tiary. Garfield was brought into these tram
sactions in certain ways, though the proof
was not sufficient to convict him.
The occupation of Garfield, in
Bryan, Ohio, was for number
of years, that of a gambler 1t could be
shown he was under surveillance of the ma
tional authorities, and the government rec
ords would show he was dealer in counter
felt money. He was arrested once on that
| charge, taken before Bushnell (white) United
States commissioner at Cleveland, and
cleared on an alibi, which was not suisse
| quenty believed. The gentleman who had
| been called as witness this morning could,
he (Boynton,) was creditably informed, es-
tablish those 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 were now under Grim
inal Indictment.
Coleman thought Boynton's remarks would
have proved that he was addicted to making
malicious attacks upon persons, if that fact
had not been testified to by witness. So
far as any examination into the reputation of
Garfield was concerned he would not shrink
from, 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 de-
termined when the testimony was presented.
j. Guilford White, recalled. said he was
not present in the speakers room on the LIST
of March, 1888, during any conversation be-
tween Gen. Keifer and Gen. Boynton, about
the appointment of DR.. Jorgensen or Mr..
Alex Reed, to an Office in Washington terri
tory.
Benjamin James called, was the speakers
clerk in March, 1888. He entered the speak.
er's room on one occasion when Gen. Boyn-
ton was in conversation with the speaker,
but he was in great haste and remained but
a rnornapt Uo baorl +I,n oo,vo-