Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-07
MR.. HALsTEAD's TESTIMONY.
His Statement of His Connection With
the Forged Papers.


After recess yesterday Mr.. Halstead was
again on the stand before the House committee
investigating the Ohio bsilot-box forgeries.
He said that when he published the alleged
balIot-box contract he had sublime faith that it
had just come from John r. McLeans safe.
On being satisfied that the paper was a forgery
he resolved instantly. he said, to write state
ment pronouncing the paper a forgery. That
was fair and polite. He wrote the card and
put it in the hands Of the printers for publica-
ton. lie was DESTROYS that Gov. Foraker who
believed in the paper as he (witness) did,
should know what had happened and the tele-
grams were at the command of the committee
As for the remark Gov. Campbell had made
about giving notice of having fair treatment
in the Commercial G0,ette, ali he cared to say
Was that he should continue TO criticize his a6-
ministration without any apprehension, and
he trusted. without malice. Whenever his (the
governors) forbearance was exhausted he
trusted he (the governor) would please HIM
self Witness was glad, indeed, to know that
the paper Was a forgery and that his old
friends, who had been under q cloud for a
couple of weeks, had emerged. Those who
knew him would believe this. Witness read a
letter from Senator Sherman acknowledging
that the forged signatures were well done and
calculated TO deceive.
Mr.. Cogswell asked why witness did not YER
ify the character Of the paper by Senator Sher-
man and Mr. Butterwortn He replied that
Mr.. Butterworth was not in the country, or
had Just landed; Senator Sherman was in
Washington. He recalled the saying that you
could get member of Congress to sign a peti-
ton 10 get himself hanged. IL was not pleas
ant matter to put finger upon a sore spot like
that; IL was pot his particular part to 90
scratching at il just then The publication
had been forced by circumstances beyond his
control
Mr.. Halstesd admitted that they could not
draw Campbell IL and out they tried to
do. The fact Is, said he, ''he turned out Q
more dificult person than We thought"
Witness said that he had never when he
thought the signatures genuine) been satisfied
that sherman, Mckinley and Butterworth had
gone deliberately into the ballot-box scheme.
Work on the Nicaraguan Canal.
The trst report Of the Nicaraguan maritime
canal company was sent to the Senate today. in
accordance with the provisions of the act of
Congress incorporating the company. The
report says that the company has completed
the a1ial surveys and final plans Of the pro-
posed interoceanic canal and that they have
been approved by the government of Nicaragua
On June 8, 1859, the preliminary work OF con-
struction was begun and on October excava-
ton was commenced. Permanent headq uarters
have been established at Graytown, buildings
erected. railroad and other works constructed
and large store of machinery and materisls
collected or the capital stock l0.l45 shares
have been subsci ibed at par and S60l, $50 paid
II. Since June 5 S5O0. 900 have been expended
upon the work IN Nicaragua. The work to be
done during the ensuing year consists of the
construction Of q breakwater at or near Gray-
town on the Caribbean sea, the building of
locks and dams and excavation along the route
Of the canal.
Real Estate Matters.