St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-14
THE MULLIGAN LETTERS.
How Blaine Obtained Them From
Fishers Clerk, and How He Had
q Convenient SunstrOke.

To the editor of The World
Will you please explain what is meant by the
ME!ligan letters, and who Mulligau was, and
whether Blame ever went down on his knees to
Mulligan, and what is meant by the illusions to
Blaine's sunstroke?
j. p. ALcoT.
Brooklyn. Aug. 5.
The story of the Mullgan letters is briefly
told. They were letters written by Mr..
Blaine to Mr. Fisher concerning Immigrant
railroad stocks and bonds, and they were
held, with Fishers consent, by his book
keeper, James Mulligan.
In 1876 Morton, Conkling and Blaine
were candidates for the Republican nomina-
ton, witt. the chances three to two in favor
of Blaine against the field. Morton, to kill
Blaine, started number of railroad investi-
cations in the Democratic) house which
brought out damaging charges against the
ex-speaker. The Democrats had nothing to
do with the Republican family quarrel at first
and permitted the Republicans to fight it out
among themselves. After having been for
four weeks under fire, Blaine made a person.
al statement to the house which was gen
eral denial, and for four weeks more the in
vestigation dragged on, Democrats taking
little or no interest in it.
May 80 the sub-judieiary committee Gnsti-
gated thereto by Senator Morton) summoned
Warren Fisher, jr., of Boston, q contractor
for building the Fort Smith and Little Rock
railroad, who sold out his contract to Josiah
Caldwell (and didn't get the money!. and
Globe theatre, who had been Mr.. Fishers
bookkeeper. Fisher and Blaine had had
close business relations for many years.
These witnesses were called to testify in re-
lation to certain bonds and stocks alleged to
have been sold or given to Mr.. Blaine, and
particularly in regard to 1914, 600 bond Tom
Scott had exchanged for Northern Pacific
bonds for Mr.. Blaine. They were unwilling
witnesses. Muligan admitted the sale of
Fort Smith bonds to Blaine and various sales
and tranfers, but knew nothing material.
Fisher admitted selling various blocks OF
stock bonds without consideration. Multi
gan was ordered to appear before the COM
mittee the next day.
When the committee met the next morn
ing Mr.. Mulligan startled the committee and
the country with story which is outlined in
the following:
associated Press Despatch, Washington, June l.,
1876.
James Mulligan said he wanted to make a
statement before continuingh his examination.
He said that when he arrived here a note
\ E. IL
witness and Mr.. Fisher to call at his house !;
witness declined to go, but Mr.. Fisher went.
After witness testified yesterday, Mr.. Blaine
called upon him and asked him about some
letters which were in his possession and
wanted witness to give them up to him, but
witness declined to do so. Witness said Mr.
Blaine almost got down on his knees and
pleaded for the letters, saying they would
ruin him for life, and when witness further
declined Mr.. Blaine asked him to think of
his wife and six children. He besought wit
ness and almost contemplated suicide. He
offered to get him consulship in return for
the letters. Witness allowed Mr.. Blaine to
take them under pledge that he would re-
turn them He looked them over and did
return them. This was in the presence of
Mr.. Fisher and Mr. Atkins. Witness then
retired to his room and Blaine followed him
and wanted to look at the letters again. Wit
ness allowed Mr.. Blaine to take them, and
Mr. Blaine refused to return them and sti!l
retains them. There were about eighteen
letters.
Mr.. Blaine, swore in rebuttal, admitted
the interview, admitted taking the letters,
admitted that he had them in possession; but
denied having gone down on his knees, or
having said they would ruin him, or having
offered the consulship. His motive for keep
ing them he explained as follows:
Mulligan said he did not know what
might transpire in his examination to-day
and that he was going to hold those letters
for his own protection and vindication.
said to him: 'Under these circumstances I
will not give these letters up,'' and / said,
Il will not return these letters because you
threaten 20 make a use of them which is
Legitimate, and l have no idea that any
man shall take my private correspondence
and hold 1t as a menace over my head to be
nsed at his option"
The Chairman ask at your hands the
production of those letters for the perusal of
the committee and not for publication"
Mr.. Blaine-I will take occasion to con-
suit my counsel in regard to it.
The Chairman-You decline, then, to
produce then!
Mr.. Blaine-For the present, / decline.
From that day to this no one has seen the
letters. But June 5, 1876, Mr.. Blaine rose
in his seat in the House for personal ex-
PLANTATION and read bundle of letters which
he said were those received from Mulligan.
He allowed no one to sec them. He has
never allowed any one to see them, and the
letters to ''My Dear Fisher quoted by news
papers are from the stenographer's notes as
Mr.. Blaine read them. Mulligan denied
that the letters were read verbatim or that
all of them were read.
In beginning his explanation to the House
Mr.. Blaine said that sat every turn of
railroad investigation ordered BY the House
an effort had been made to direct 1t again st
him personally, until on Saturday last, when
there were no less than four subjects upon
(which he was being investigated
Mr.. Knott replied that that was because he
turned up everywhere with land-granl
railroads.
Mr.. Blaine attacked the sub judiciary COM
mittee as composed of confederate briga-
diers, defended his method of getting the
letters and justified his refusal to let any one
see them. He then read them, with a run
ming fire Of comment and explanation.
+, June 10 the sub judiciary committee made
a formal demand to see the letters. Mr..
Blaine refused to show them or to produce
Mr.. Mulligan's memorandum of the con-
tents Of each one, which had been given to
him with them.
The Republican national convention met
in Cincinnati June 10. Senator Morton had
SO timed the revelation of speaker Blaine's
corrupt railroad record that the full shock of
the disgrace fell upon the country as the
delegates were assembling. Mr.. Blaine's
holiness in selling the letters which his Re-
publican enemies had intended to use to
force a withdrawal, or falling in that to ruin
him by their publication, had only rendered