The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-03
MR.. BOYNTON ON THE STAND.
Progress of the Keifer-BOyntOn Inquiry
by the House Committee.
The Ex-Speakers Testimony Characterized
by the Witness as Square Perjury
The Evidence in Detail

Boynton introduced to the committee W. NJ.
Ramsey the attorney of the Cincinnati Com
mercial Gazette, who, he said, would, with the
permission of the committee, act as his counsel
during the remainder of the investigation. He
said that the Commercial Gazette desired that
he should be represented by their attorney, and
that owing to his deafness, it might be a relief
to the committee that he should be represented
by counsel.
J. w. Elder was the first witness He testi-
fed that about the LIST of March, 1883, he, in
company with Charles Garfield, met General
Boynton in the hall, at the Capitol, and spoke to
him concerning a small bill, saying that he wit
ness) would like to get the Speaker to recognize
some one on the bill. General Boynton told
him that he had bill himself-the McGarrahan
bill-which he could not secure recognition for,
and he could not expect to secure recognition for
smaller bills, and added that the Speaker would
leave the chair without money or friends.
The witness. being asked what, if any
thing General BoyntQn had said about seeing
Speaker Keifer about the McGarrahan BILL said
that he did not remember that he had said any
thing. Upon cross examination by Mr.. Ramsey,
the witness said that he had not attempted to
of his bill Mr. Ramsey then asked witness if
he was defendant in certain divorce case in
the court of the district.
Mr.. Coleman objected and Mr.. Ramsey stated
that he desired to show the character of the wit
ness to be such that his testimony could not be
credited He said that he wanted to show, by
the affidavit of the witness himself, that he was
a frequenter of disreputable places
Mr.. Coleman opposed the admission of the
statement in the records and his protest was al
lowed to be recorded.
The witness said that he had been employed
on certain occasions to secure testimony for per-
sons before the investigating committee, etc.
He said that he had gone to Ohio to see Charlie
Garfield, and had spoken to him about coming
to this city to testify in behalf OF. heltef. his
expenses on this occasion had been paid by Cole
man, as Keifer's counsel. He had received no
further consideration for his services His prin-
cipal interest in seeing Garfield was to consult
him with relation to private matter, and the
Keller matter was secondary, ....t.. .....
Mr.. Ramsey desired to submit in evidence
portion of the testimony in the Kellogg Spot
ford case in which Mr.. Elder had acknowledged
that he wrote false statements. but it was ruled
out. ..s
Witness said that he had no reason to believe
that Boynton was aiding i'll the passage of the
bills. Boynton had said nothing to convey the
impression that he had made corrupt PROPOSE
ton to the Speaker.
w. B. Green, the clerk of the subcommittee
Of the house committee on accounts, testified as
to the conversation which took place between
himself and Boynton, in which the latter stated
that he had spoken to Speaker Keifer about the
McGarrahan bill
The prosecution here closed their case
Mr.. Dunnell a member of the Forty -seventh
Congress- was the first witness for the defense.
He said that McGarTahan, during the last few
DAYS of the session, had asked him to make
motion to take up his bill. This he finally
agreed to DO, and Keifer promised to recognize
him (witness) for that purpose. Keller, how
ever did not recognize him, and afterward eX-
planned that he thought it useless to call the bill
up, as it could scarcely pass at that late date.
Witness had never spoken to General Boynton
in fact was not acquaiIte d with him..
General Boynton was places upon the stand:
He said that he had been a correspondent ."ut
eighteen years and had no other employment
during that period He said that his first knowl-
edge of Mr.. McGarrahans claim was derived
from reading the report upon the claim. and that
he had at that time written a letter to his paper
supporting the claim. This was a long time be-
fore he met McGarrahan MctSarrahan came to
him during the last session Of Congress and said:
II wish, since you are friend of the Speakers,
that you would ask him to recognize some one TO
introduce my bill" He (witness) said that if
Keifer came into his office he would repeat to him
the request. The Speaker was in the habit of
coming to his Office frequently, but after NECTAR
rahan S request witness did not see him for two
or three days, so he wrote the note previously
spoken of in the testimony and sent it in to the
Speaker of the House. In relation to his visit to
Keifer, he said that he went to the Speakers
room to speak to him about matter which
had been pending between him fwitness) and
Keifer since December previous. He then re-
ferred to- his note relating to the Mc(farrahan
claim, saying that he had taken the liberty to
write him the subject, but he had no interest
in the matter. except that he had promised Nc
Garrahan to do Keller replied: "Oh, that is
all right l have already promised to recognize
some one in that matter
Witness said that the matter he called on
Kiefer to speak about related to the appointment
of another in place of Mr.. Reid as government
agent in Walla Walla. His further converse
ton related entirely to this matter, and the
McGarrahan claim was not again referred to.
When he left he took his departure in the usual
way; did not leave the room in dead run.
Laughter. He said that he had always been
on good terms with General Keifer until the
trouble arose concerning the opening of the press
gallery. He said that the McGarrahan claim
had no connection with the rupture between him
self and Keifer
General Boynton testified further that on the
nighto the day upon which General Keifer says
he approached him corruptly, General kelfer was
in his (BoyntcD's) Office and they had a long
and friendly talk concerning the tariff bill. He
would call five other witnesses to corroborate
this statement. In my office, that night.
General Keifer called my attention to the fact
that he might be obliged to so rule if certain
points were made, to defeat the tariff bill.
That is the thing that fixes my attention more
particularly in reference to the occasion. Wit
ness testified that he never had conversation
with Elder in the corridor of the Capitol. He
never knew that Elder had a bill of any kind.
He never said word to him about the NECTAR
rahan bill.
Question by Mr. Ramsey-Did you ever say
anything to Charles Garfield about the NECTAR
rahan claim9
Bovnton-No, sir; 1 coEad make a statement
in reference to tie various details that given
in that testimony of General Keifer's in regard
to secret interview. For instance, he says that
l brought McGarrahan bill to him. L never
had McGarrahan bill in my possession or in
my hand until after this controversy arose and
it had become public in the papers, and l have
never read it, 1 never took that bill to him at
any time; that bill or any other, so far as l
know.
In answer to Chairman Hopkins General
Boynton said that he never met Elder and Gar
field in the lobby. and that the conversation
described by them never took place.
The cross examination was conducted by Mr.