Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-12
HILL DEFIANT TO OATES.
MIR. RANNEY ASKS PRESENT
MENT FOR CONTEMPT.

MENT FOR CONTEMPT.
The Witness Tens why His Famous
histOry of Pan Electric Affairs Was
Given To the Tribune-Mr. Forbes Cor
reefs an Alleged Misconeeption on the
Part of MIR. Jonea.
w WASHINGTON, May lin the Pan
Electric investigation to-day, +. n. Hill,
whose name has frequently appeared in
the former proceedings, took the stand
and testified that he was anattorney-at.
law and journalist. He had done a good
deal of work for Casey Young, but he
never considered himself as being in Mr..
Youug's employment. During the winter
of 1884 MIR. Young had requested the
witness to do some writing for him, and
in doing that work the witness had ac-
CURED some knowledge of Pan-Electric
affairs.
THE FAMOUS COMM UNICATION.
When the newspaper agitation COM
menced the witness, understanding that
political attack was about to be made
against the gentlemen connected with the
Pan-Electric Company, had written out a
falr, impartial statement, making no
attack upon the gentlemen, but simply
setting out the facts. The witness had
given the statement to Mr.. Clark, the
Tribune correspondent, to hold it until
incorrect statements should appear
in other papers. After ten days the
correspondent had told him that GER
tam Chicago papers had begun the
attack, when the article was re-
leased and published In the Tribune.
The correspondent had added many facts
of his own knowledge to the witness
statement, and a list OF the stockholders
In the company. Later, when the witness
had taken the story to Mr.. Crawford, the
World correspondent, he (the witness
had said he could not see that the PAN
Electric people had done any wrong, which
had led Mr.. Crawford to remark that he
must be Obtuse. Certain statements in
public were incorrect notably the refer
ence to Senator Vance }, but they had been
made upon representations made to the
witness by some one else.
SHIELDING HIS INFORMANT.
Mr.. Ranney wished to know the name
of mis- informant, but the witness declined
to tell, saying that he was not going TO
involve any one else by what he said. His
object in making the statement. he said,
was to have the facts go out straight. as
he knew they would be otherwise tortured
and twisted politically in a great many
ways. He did not see anything in his
statement rejecting the least on the gentle
men named therein, although he had been
paid for the article by the World cores
pendent. 1t mad not been prepared origi-
nally for publication,
Mr.. Oates wished to know why the wit
ness bad written the statement, to which
he replied that Mr.. Oates had no right TO
know. He had not guarded the Pan
Electric people because they were Demo.
Gratis, but because some OF them were his
friends.
Mr.. Oates inquired IL the witness did
not regard his relations with Mr.. Young
while engaged on the Pan-Electric books
as confidential.
The witness replied that he did rot know.
The books lay open on the table and many
persons were in the room. AS to the meet
ing at 1927 g street, the witness had been
told OF that by another person not con-
nected with Pan. Electric, and whose
name the witness absolutely refused to
dvulge. His informant had said that
Mrs. Rines, the landlady of the house,
would make an affidavit that Garland had
attended that meeting. The chairman in
sisted that the witness should furnish the
name OF his informant, as the communi-
cation was not Of privileged nature.
PRESENTED FOR CONTEMPT.
The witness replied that II was matter
entirely within his own discretion. The
communication was confidential. and be
would not disclose the name OF his in
fOrmant. He was, he said, q member of
the bar, and was licensed by the Supreme
Court of the United States, and could, if
he chose, claim that he stood in the rela-
ton Of counsel to client in this matter.
Mr.. Oates said that the charge had
been made that the Attorney General had
attended that meeting and it was proper
TO inquire into it. The committee then by
unanimous vote directed the witness to
answer the question, but he still refused.
ThereupOn Mr.. Ranney moved that the
witness be presented TO the Honse for con-
tempt, but he did not ask for immediate
action.
FORBES LETTER.
Mr.. Oates laid before the committee the
following letter addressed 10 the chair
man of the committee by j. NJ. Forbes of
Boston:
Boston. Mayo 1886.
/ find in the Boston journal of this instant
a dispatch which SAYS that George Jones. Of
the New York Times, in his examination be-
fore your committee, makes the following
statement: "FOrbes had written 10 me that
his son was large owner ia the Bell Tele-
phone Company, and be wanted me 10 write
10 the President OF the United states TO inter
fere IN behalf Of his patent " Upon examining
a copy OF the letter referred 10 find that this
testimony does not fairly represent III pur-
port or object. which. doubtless. was owing to
the unfortunate loss OF the letter. To correct
the mistake in tie shortest way II seems 10 be
necessary to send you another copy, which
you may deem 10 best 20 lay before the com
mittee. Perhaps after Jones reads II once
more he NAV find IL a pity that he did not fol-
low its suggestions. Respectfully,
j. NJ. FORBES.
FORBES TO JONES.
Tho letter enclosed by Forbes IL aR fol-