St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-02-24
KEIFER-B0YNTON.
A Cousin of President Garfield Ex-
amined in This
Case.
He Acknowledges That He Had Several
Conversations Lately With
keifer's Friends.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The Keifer-Boyn-
ton investigating committee resumed its ses-
sion this morning. Chas. S. Garfield, cattle
dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, cousin of President
Garfield, was the first witness. He had
known Boynton about year and a half, and
Keifer about the same length of time. Was
at Washington the latter part of February,
1888. Was present at o convention which
took place somewhere about the 1st of
March, between Boynton, j. w. Elder, and
he thought somebody else. He heard most
of the conversation. 1t was in regard to
some claim witch Elder had and which he
wished to speak to Boynton about. Boynton's
reply in substance, was he could do
nothing with it. He said he had claim him
self, and that if Keifer would not take hold
Of that he would not take hold of the smaller
bill that 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 bill of So, 900 or $4,000. He said he had
been to see General Keifer about it, and he
would do nothing with it. He said that the
speaker would leave the chair without either
friends or money He said McGarrahan'S s
bill was q large one, and any one who would
be of assistance would get pay for it. That
was the substance of the conversation which
took place i'll the west hall of the house OF
representatives. He could not fix the exact
day of the conversation. 1t was about the
middle of the week before congress adj
journed.
On cross-eXamination by the committee
the witness stated he did not understand
Boynton to say he had made representations
to Keifer that there was money in the bill for
any one who would take it up. Could no.
say whether Boynton said he had claim on
not.
On eross-examination by Boynton, witness
admitted he had but slight acquaintance
with Boynton He was here at one time to
try and get government position and called
on Boynton for assistance. The latter did
not promise to assist him, and in 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 10
ask his assistance. 1t seemed
odd to witness that Boynton should thus ex-
pose himself to practical stranger, and he
thought that Boynton was mad about some
thing, or he would not have done it. Wit
ness did not know of his own knowledge
that this Elder took prominent part in the
Kelogg-Spofford contested election investi-
cation. He had never mentioned this con-
yersation TO Keifer He first made 1t known
Yesterday to the counsel for General Keifer.
By Chairman Hopkins-''When did you
last see Elder."-
''This morning."
''Prior to that"
''Night before last"
''Prior to that!'
eve boarded at the same hotel until the
29th of May"
s'Did you see him between the 29th Of May
and night before last!"
'I did,
''When?"
81 think it was on Monday or Tuesday"
''Where?"
: cat Cleveland"
''Did you have fany conversation with him
l about this matter"'
"This matter was mentioned then"
: By Adams-''Did he say whether anybody
r sent him to Cleveland to see you!"
r 'sWitness, 'tNo sir"
: Chairman-'HHad you been subpenaed
, prior to the arrival of Elder in CleyelandP
Witness-'I had not.''
Chairman-"Had you been notified before
that that you would be wanted!''
Witness-'I had.''
Chairman-''By whomg'
witness-''By Keifer, by tele graph
''Did you come on from Cleveland +
Washington with Elder.'
''Yes sir.'
This closed the examination ofthe witnes:
t and Coleman asked for sui Jpenas to b
+ issued on j. w. Elder, w b. Moore, Buffalo
Henry Maddox, New York; A. J. Work.
Washington; A. c. Smith, Washiu gton
Thos. II. Gardner, Washington; and ". I
: Green. Rockville. The testimony while
/ would be given by these witnesses was
: such nature that the investigation ougl
t not to be concluded on the part Of Kei fer III
+ til it could be placed before the com ,mitte
= = II the committee would give him OF ie wee
: he pledged himself that no further contir
q uance would be asked for. Boynto u askt
: Keifer what he meant by stating in b
: speech that he Boynton) had forged lette
: etc, but the committee decided the questiC
a involved a collateral matter whic shou
O not be gone into, and Wilson remaI ked joe
larly: ''If we attempt TO find out vi neither Il
: members lie little on Tie Ioc7l now al
. then. we would be interfering with our ov