New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-04
: THE BALLOEBOX INQUIRY.
THE COMMITTEE NOT DISTURBED BY NEWS
PAPER RITIcIsMs-GovERNoR CAMP
BELLS TESTIMONY.

BELLS IfASl4MO-Nt
Washington Feb 3-After q recess Of two weeks
the special House Committee investigating the Ohio
bailot-box forgery assembled again this morning TO
continue It's inquiry. Representative Grosyenor
opened with a statement that since the adjournment
the committee and himself had been severely criticised
by "Thc Cincinnati Commercial Gazette because OF
the conduct OF the investigation, because certain Wit
nesses had not crossexamncd. and because Gov
ernor Foraker had been deprived Of examination
Governor. Foraker interrupted Mr.. Grosvenor 10
deny that he had had anything to do with the cti-
cism.
at sbould hope not said Mr.. Grosvenor. "You arc
n lawyers Continuing he asked the committee TO
insist upon regular order Of examination and cross
examination so that the public would understand tat
ne was not to be expected to cross-examne his own
witnesses. The chairman said that ne did not care
what criticisms passed upon the committee, ana
no did not propose allow newspaper editorials to In
huence his judgment
Mr. Cogswcu said the committee should ignore news
paper gossip and carry out the order Of the House,
nothing more or less. and the committee assented 10
this view
Representative J. r. Whiting. Of Michigan, was put
on the stand and denied the Genuneness OF his sig
nature 10 the ballobox contract lie said he had been
told that Walters who had assisted him. had had some
thing to do with the ballot-box matter. He spoke to
Walters about IT, and Walters replied that he knew
something OF the matter: that he had intended to tell
witness all about IT, and had preserved the papers to
show him. with letter Of introduction from Governor
Foraker to President Harrison. Walters gave witness
all Of the letters that passed between himself and
Wood The witness produced these letters and read
them to the committee
TO Mr. Grosvcuor the witness said he know OF no
ballot box concract other than the forged paper.
Powell Crossey was the next witness lie said he
had been associated with Mr.. Butterworth III the
practice Of law from 1885 until about year ago, when
he went upon the bench Witness was Republican
Never had in his possession any papers relating 10
ballotboxes Mr. Butterworth showed him the
forgery after the election last fall Wood, in 1888,
had told witness among other things about his box
and said that bill had been or would be- introduced
in Congress- and that John Il. Mclean and T. c. Camp
bell were engineering II.
Governor James f. Campbell, Of Ohio, was the next
witness The chairman handed him the forged paper,
and he declared that he had seen the paper until
that minute; that he had never signed IT. ana never
signed his name as it appeared the paper. lie al
ways wrote his name In full" james f. Campbell"
when he sent short note, he occasionally signed,
~ L. C.n The newspaper accounts Of how WOOD
cot the signatures did not account for his Signature
but after he heard Woods statement that he had gotten
hold Of letter signed -. f, Co." he made up nus
mind that Wood used the initials and filed IN the
name in making the forgery. Witness was shown the
contract head, and said that ne mad never seen IL W
thousand times In the newspapers. He never was
interested in ballotbOXes, or in any contract bearing
upon them lie had introduced the balotboX Dill ~
the request Of I. c. Campbell, and believed tnat tat
gentleman spoke to Representative Gro5ven0r aDont IT,
He remembered nothing now about the BILL. l. u
Campbell brought one of the balOtbOxes 10 Washington
before july 1885, and brought 1t TO witnesses house,
IL might be in the basement OF the House yet.
MI Campbell said that the Elections Committee was
going 10 deal with the subject Of balObOxes and lie
wanted TO get his box before the He had spoken he
said, to Representative Grosvenor and now came "
a better standing. After the adjournment witness
asked Campbell why he had not looked after his DILL
and he had replied that the committee was not g0lhS
into the subject and they were also improving tine OoA
which they hoped to bring before the next Cohgress
Witness was about TO make speech in Cincinnati on
October 4, and having limitations in ." me com
mcrcia azetep that himself and Mr. Mclean had been
involved In some baot-bOX trust which would not be
Good thing for an anti-mOaOpoly candidate. he tele
ersphed Mr. Mclean and received an absolute denial OF
any knowledge of such transaction, ana taJ was lle
last he had to say to Mr.. Mclean on the subject just
before the opera house speech Cincinnati POST re
porter showed witness card from MT. halstesu IT,
hectlnR upon him and he replied Mr.. lalstead Is
liar and n he can prove anything of that kind viii
get of the Democratic ticket At Germantown VIII
ness saw a publication in "The POST and also neau
that Governor Foraker had charged him with compHcV
in bill having mOndOllar feet in IT, lie was prety
warm and ordered suit to be brought against Inc
POST, and also spoke as nc did In the neat OF ING
moment at Germantown. lie then read the editorials
from The Commercial Gazette and the published &C
counts OF his Germantown speech, denounclng INC
statements made as les H., ,
At this point the hour Of IL O'Clock was rcaceu anu
the committee adjourned until tomorrow morning.