Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-03-12
BOYNT0N VS.. KEIFER.
several Witnesses Examined whose Tes-
II timony Leaves had Taste I'm
Keifer's Mouth
Boynton Proves That Garfield is a
Forger, Counterfeiter and Peni-
tentfary Convict.

WASHINGTON, March I.-H, Painter.
Journalist, was the first witness examined.
His testimony related to the meeting of
correspondents, at which resolutions OF
censure OF Speaker Keifer were adopted.
Mr.. keifer being called, contradicted
the statement made by Boynton that on
March l, 1883, he had conversation with
Keifer in regard to the appointment of
Jorgenson as receiver of the land Office at
Walla- Walla to succeed Reed, of Ohio.
Witness Q attention being called to the tes-
timony bearing upon an interview in
Boynton's Office on the night of March
LIST, at which the tariff bill was discussed,
said he had conversation upon the tariff
bill with Boynton before the 9th of Feb
ruary; at that time the tariff bill was on
the Speakers table, and he pointed out
the rule which would require him, if a
point of order were made, to decide that
the bill must go to the Committee of the
Whole. Their conversation could not
have taken place later than the 9th, be-
cause on that day resolution was adopted
in the House making it in order at any
time to take the tariff bill from the Speak
er's table and declare a disagreement in
the Senate amendments.
The examination was suspended to al
low Speaker Carlisle to take the stand. He
knew no rule which could prevent a con-
ference report from being considered by
the House upon its reception. Representa-
tive Reed gave similar evidence.
On cross examination Mr.. Reed said he
was aware that Blaine was at the capital
on the Saturday before the passage of the
tariff bill, but did not know he went to
see the Speaker for the purpose of over
coming opposition to the bill, to which
the Speaker was supposed to be party.
Mr.. Boynton inquired whether, if a
conference committee made material
changes in bill, and the point of order
was raised that on that account the bill
must go before the Committee of the
Whole, and the Speaker had declared the
point well taken and the House had sus-
tanned him, the bill could have been de-
feated.
Mr.. Reed-Obviously it could.
Mr.. keifer was further examined and
denied the sworn statement made by Mr..
Barrett, of the Boston Advertiser, that he
(Keifer) had said, 81 don't care Cd
d-n for the press" He had used no
expression in condemnation OF the press,
and had no reason for doing it.
G. A. Bawersax, Of Ohio, was called and
testified to the general good reputation OF
witness said he had heard that Garfield
was indicted in Indiana, but did not know
the cause of his arrest
Martin Perky, Philetus Smith, d. G.
Baxter. NJ. NJ. Bonthem, d. r. Willett and
q. w. Hopkins, of Ohio, gave similar evil
dence. They were all asked by Boynton
in reference to the arrest of Garfield in
Ohio on the charge of counterfeiting, but
the question in each case was ruled out.
Boynton said that he wished to estab-
lish the fact that Charles S. Garfield was
indicted for burglary, and for some other
offenses which he had not as yet answered,
and that there was combination between
Garfield, his son, one Stoker and one Nc
Donald, making up well known gang OF
burglars in that section of country
that Gartields son was tried for
burglary in connection with some
OF the gang; after the burglary
he was concealed in Garfields house, and
taken out by Garfield and others and run
| eff; that he was traced by the law officers
and brought back and convicted, and is
now in the penitentiary. Garfield was
brought into these transactions in certain
ways, though the proof was not sufficient
to convict him. The occupation of Gar.
field in Bryan, O., was for a number oi
years that OF gambler, and it could be
shown he was under the surveillance o
the national authorities and the govern
ment records would show he was dealer
in counterfeit money. He was arrested
once on that charge, taken before Bushnell
White, United States commissioner al
Cleveland, and cleared on an abb, which
was not subsequently believed. The gen.
tlemen who had been called as witnesses
this morning could, he (Boynton) was
creditably informed, establish these facts
He could also show that at least six wit
nesses against him were men who had
either served in the penitentiary or were
men who had been or were now under
criminal indictments.
Coleman thought Boynton's remarks
would have proved he was addicted to
making malicious attacks upon persons il
that fact had not been testified to by wit
| ness. 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 admissibihty would be
determined when testimony was pre-
| sented.
Secretary Folger appeared before the
keifer. Boynton committee this morning
bearing papers on file in his department
touching the character of Charles s. Gar
field and w. B. Moore, who expected to be
called as witnesses. As the papers were
original ones and the present was not the
proper time to submit them in evidence
it was agreed if Gen. Boynton should de
sire to obtain them cdpio. - ->ro
cured from the department hereafter.
l