Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-25
SEEKING EVIDENCE.
The Committee on Privileges and
Elections Resumes Investigation
of the Texas Election Outrage.
4 Number OF Witnesses Examined.
President Cleveland Arblirntes a
Dispute Between Two Foreign
Countries.
A Suggestion OF Remedies 10 the Inter
State Commerce Lsw-MiuS' UORdI-
ton II Mech Improysd.

INVESTIGATING THE TEXAS oUTRAGEs.
WARRINGTON, March "a In the Sen
ste chamber this morning the committee
on privileges aud elections met three
quarters of an hour. After the time fixed
for the beginning OF the investigation of
the alleged Texas outrsges and while
Senators Evsrts and Spooner were visit
lug for their Democratic colleagues on
the sub committee, Senator Spooner made
the following statement TO Senator
Evarts:
"Ssnstor, this case seems TO h.ve been
fairly tried by the United States District
A.torneYiin Texas. Nevertheless, Kirk
was acquitted. They first struck of from
the jury panel every Republican and every
colored man. We supO lsed the clerk of
the court with instructions to bring in
the records. The clerk has brought Whist
purports to be a transcript OF steno-
graphic report Of the trial. 1t bears
af1lavits Of the stenographer,
VINO swears that the appendt d
2i0 pages are true copy Of
his notes. The test mony produced is,
however, only hity-three pages, being
throughout testimony for the defense. It
shows however, that there WAS important
testimony for the prosecution. What
should be done under the circumstances?
Senator Evsrts rel 1iued with emphasis
thst the committee should bring all the
parties to Washington. The Senstors,
with Senator Teller, who had then arrived,
went into consultation about the matter.
A. IL so the committee WIS called
% order, and D. H. Hart Of Aus
tin, Tex, clerk of the United S.stes
District and Circuit Curtis was sWurr.
His appointment to his position WAS SUBJ
sequenr to the trial OF Lafayette, Kirk
and others for acts connected with the
events wh!chsbe committee is investigat
ing. His Predecessor Is now In the
Albeny penitentiary for mslteasance in
lofice, forgery, etc. The witness produc-
ed certain indictment capiases and evil
dencs which his subj % 4. called fox. In
examination OF the evidence the witness
read the stenogrspher's sfflisvit, and
then at the request of the committee
counted the pages. There we're but fIty-
two pages. Witness had been unable TO
fad the other 1913 pages in his office.
Senator Pugh told the committee that
he understood the entire clfici&l stepo-
graphic report was in the Attorney Gen.
era.'s cffl;e.
Among the papers which the witness
submitted was the following, written
upon s Western Uaion blank and pur-
porting to be the orizinsl dispatch:
November 2
To T. B. Bolton, Courtney:
Things uere look doubtful. Do your
work. (signed) L. KIRK.
This is the telegram about which the.
committee year ago Tried to get some
information, but Judge Kirk, who was
then witness, denied sending itssnd the
telegraph operator at Brennan, under
instructions from his superintendent,
refused to testify on the subject.
The witness said he found this tele-
gram folded in the indictment against
Kirk In his office.
Mr.. Fugh entered an objection to its
being introduced Ia the evidence, his OBJ
lection being based upon the fact that its
authenticity was not established and that
The telegraph company had no right to
produce it.
In reply to Senator Pugh the witness
said 1t YVES his understanding that his
predecessor, now in the penitentisry,
was Republican.
Several other witnesses were examined
by the committee.
r ebert Wilson, (colored) who said be
knew Judge Kirk personally well met
him on the evening of the election dap at
Greball precinc!, q place where Kirk
when before the cImmit,ee said be had
not bseD. In reply to S nstor Pugh, wit
ness ssid he had once been on trial "for
beating woman end for gambling" but
WIS acquitted.
Eiiian Tolsnd, colcred, sWGre that on
the night of the election iie county con-
stable, Milton Sly, and eislteen or twenty
other white men, mounSd and armed,
came to his house, and STith threats ef
instant death forced hinS to guide them
the nearest way to the Washington road,
SIX miles distant. In rsoly to Senator
Pugh, who wanted to kIa,w how it was
that those man whom tae witness said
were natives did not kno& the way, wit
ness said they had never bSan through the
bottoms, and besides, thef said they were
lost. i
Ed. Durtee lwbite) formerly tele-
graph operator at BurI(iD, produced .
copy CT q telegram received by him
addressed TO B. SesrcY, Burton, Tex,
and signed by Robert Sloan, IS follows
"Graball gone against the peoples ticket
four TO one. What must we do? Let rs
hear from you tonight. klewellyn over
flowing Egsinst u.s." Gre0sn and Flew
ellyn aIe TWO Of the voting places where It
is alleged fraud Was perpetrated in the
interest OF the peoples ticket, OF which
Judge Kirk was the head.
Adjourned till Monday.
INSERTION OF UNOFFICIAL MATTER.
A. subcommittee Of the House military
committee tt-dsy began sn investigation
of an alleged insertion in the rebellion
records of unofficial matter as set ont in
Grosyenor's resolution.
CONDEMNS DISSERTATIONS.
WASHINGTON, March 2i-Frsnklin B.
Gowan, ex-president Of the Reading Rail-
road and counsel for Geo. Rice in his con-
test with the Standard On Company, was
given hearing today by Senator
Cullom's committee on interstate
commerce, which Is inyeetigat-
ing the Determinations practical
by railroads in favor Of the Standard Oil
Company. Mr.. Gowsn's purpose is to
advocate certain amendments to the
interstate commerce law which hsd sug-
gested themselves during the progress Of
the Rice cases. Gowan thought Con-
gress ought to give United States Dis
trict and Circuit courts original iufis-
diction in all cases arising under the
Interstate commerce law TO compel
common carrier to perform its duty. In
| advocating exemplary damages he urged
that there was no injury so great as that
whereby officers OF public highway Sc