Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-15
DEAF AND VERY TOUCHY.
MIR. VAN BENTHUYSEN AGAIN
ION THE RAMPAGE.

Mr.. Ranney Charged with Attempting
to Get Information in the Interest of
the Bell COmpany-The Counsellor
Finally Gives Up Trying to Make
Anything Out of the Witness.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-Mr. Van Ben
thuysen again took the stand when the
investigating committee met to-day. He
produced copy OF the record used in the
New Orleans suit to show that the in
situations that he had used fac smile
of the record of the Interior Department
proceedings was not true. He said both
Judges at New Orleans had snubbed Mr..
Storrow the Bell counsel for his attempt
to make a sensation without a proper
foundation. He was willing to answer
questions about the New Orleans suit, but
did not regard 1t as relevant. He
would like to know who ''lugged IN
this matter" as he did not propose to have
any record made here by Mr.. Ranney for
the use of the Bell Company on matters
! totally irrelevant to the issue. Mr.. RAN
ney asked if two pages had not been in
serted in the record, to which the witness
replied that he did not know that any
! thing had been inserted, and it was mo-
body's business but his own. He had
perfect right to do as he pleased in that
matter, and it had nothing to do with this
| investigation.
| MR.. RANNEY PUSHES HIM.
Mr.. Ranney asked why the new copies
had been printed in New Orleans? Why
had not the original record been used and
the Nipher affidavit cut out?
"You have no business to ask such
| question; you shall not ask it and l will
not answer it," replied the witness. eff
! you are building up record now for any
! body, you cannot do it through me-"
! Mr.. Ranney-There is no insinuation
about it.. ask for the naked facts.
The Witness (defantiy)-The courts
/ have already passed on it, my friend.
You cannot make anything out Of it for
your company, | will tell you.
Mr.. Ranney (sternly PLEASE answer
| the question put to you.
The Witness-With that same remark
about cutting out, no, sir, would not
! take any book and cut anything out Cir
! ing up and striking the table with his
| fist) 1t it is for no other purpose in the
world than to benefit the Bell Company.
He Ranney) could not have gotten at
these statements except through the Bell
Company and their employees.
MR.. RANNEY VERY COOL.
Mr.. Ranney (imperturbably)- MIR. STEM
| ographer, will you please put that ques-
tion again?
The Witness (angrily u wont answer
It. l won't answer any insinuatiOn of
that kind. l would not if the whole Con-
gress should ask it. l have the highest
respect for the members of Congress, with
a few exceptions.
Mr.. Ranney (coolly)-I will pass the
question.
Then Mr.. Ranney turned his attention
to that part of the testimony relative to
the Pittsburg suit, but the witness fatty
refused to answer the questions. He said
he had told everything under the resolu-
tiOn that he knew ANYTHING about. "If
there was any improperly L swear l don't
know it,"
HOLDING HIS GROUND.
'sI have a suit going on in New Orleans,
and a government suit is coming on,
in which | expect to take part.
and / don't propose to make a rec
ord here. You addressing Mr.. Ranney }
come here with a satchel of Bell papers
/ (fOr | recognize Mr.. StOrrOw's satchel) }
and don't propose to make a record for
Mr.. StOrrOw, or anybody else"
Mr.. Ranney asked if the witness had
not told his attorney to withdraw the
defense in the Pittsburg case after his in
terview with Casey Young.
The witness again refused to answer.
The witness had recovered his temper,
and with great sang JrOid told Mr.. Ranney
he did not wish to be regarded as "acting
ugly' toward him in particular, as he had
told Messrs. StOrrOw and Dickinson
(another counsel for the Bell company
that they were falsitiers of facts.
BITTER AGAINST DICKINSON.
He had also informed the President that
Mr.. Dickinson should not be permitted to
practice at any bar In the United States.
statements made. as he said, by the Bell
company's attorneys in courts and
passed them over with such comments as
sthat's falsehOod," +" "thats a deliberate
lie," etc.
Mr.. Ranney put another question Tela-
tive to the Pittsburg suit, but the witness
went off into another denunciatiOn OF the
Bell Company. The witness is very deaf,
and can be checked with difficulty (be-
sides he explained that he was not feel
ing very "amiable this morning." he was
sick }, so Mr.. Ranney patiently allowed
him to finish before he asked:
"Is that ali you have to say in answer
To my question:
''Don't you think that is enough?'' re-
sponded the witness in a tone of sur
prise" Laughter.
Mr.. RanDey-I am asking for your de-
sires, not mine.
The Witness-I do not desire to answer
any questions, but now you have got it.
THE WILDER AFFIDAVIT.
Mr.. Ranney asked II the witness had
anything to do with getting the WILDER
affidavit. He replied that IL was made
m his room by Mr.. WILDER, and copied by
Mr.. BriersOn without anybody asking
question about IL. Mr.. WILDER had told
the witness in the presence Of Mr.. Hunt
ington and Mr. Young, that he (Wilber)
had shown the Gray caveat TO Mr.. Bell
and his attorneys.
Mr.. Ranney-Did you give him any
money!
The witness-At the time he made the
affidavit?
Mr.. Ranney-At any time?
The Witness-When he came the third
day / gave him 81 for swearing before a
notary.
The witness was positive that the afIi-
davit had been taken before Mr. Young
came 20 the hotel, for he the witness bad
told MIR. Young about IL when he saw
him.
The session then adjourned.
Interstate Commerce Bill.