Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-03

SIGNATURE WAS FORGED.
After recess Of two weeks the special House
committee investigating the Ohio ballot-bo1
forgery assembled again this morning to con.
tinue its inquiry. Representative Grosvenor
opened with statement that since the ad-
1ournment the committee and himself had been
unpleasantly criticised by the Commercial Ga.
sette because of the conduct of the investigation
and because certain witnesses had not been
cross-examined; that Gov. Foraker had been
deprived of cross-examination.
Gov. Foraker interrupted to deny that he
had had anything to do with the criticism.
II should hope not" said Mr.. Grosvenor
"you are a lawyer" Continuing. he asked the
committee to insist upon a regular order OF
examination and crOss-examination, so that the
public would understand that he was not to be
expected TO cross-examine his own witnesses.
THE CHAIRMAN DOESN'T CARE FOR NEWSPAPER
CRITICISM.
The chairman said that he did not care what
criticisms were passed upon the committee and
he did not propose to allow ne wspaper editorials
to influence his judgment.
Gov. Foraker said that he had produced no
witnesses here. This effort on the part
Of the committee to get at the truth and he had
aided the committee at its request in getting
witnesses. II this was to be an adversary
proceeding he wished to know it at once. He
had seen an editorial in which Mr.. Halstead
criticized him for not cross-examinlng Wood.
But Wood had SO utterly destroyed the value
of his own testimony that there was no neces-
sity, to his mind for cross examination.
Mr.. aRosvESoR SAID
he represented no adversary proceedings and
did not propose, by newspaper sneers, to be
driven into the attitude of a prosecuting attor-
ney. His clients suffered from a public belief
that there was another ballot-box contract and
he was called upon to bring out the facts and
not to be criticised for treating witness so
gingerly.
Mr.. Turner, a member of the committee said
that the committee had called Wood and had
cross1xamlned him; he (Alr. Turner) had taken
part in il.
Mr.. Cogswell said the committee should ig-
more newspaper gossip and carry out the order
OF the House, nothing more or less, and the
committee assented to this view.
NOT AFRAID To GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CASE.
Representative Butterworth, who was await
ing an examination, said that there was not a
scintilla of truth in the statements that the
persons mentioned in the forgery were afraid
to go to the bottom of this case. The commit
tee would realize the effect of having it said
daily that they were pulling the coat tails of
the members Of the committee. saying, 'be
careful"
Mr.. Wilson, a member of the committee re-
Piled that 1T would appear from the record that
Mckinley and Wood.
MR. WHITING SAYS HIS SIGNATURE WAS FORGED
Representative J. r. Whiting of Michigan was
put on the stand and denied the genuineness of
his signature to the ballot-box contract He
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
1t 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. He said that
Wood came to him with letter of introduce
ton from Governor Foraker 10 President Har-
rison. Walters gave witness all of the letters
passing between himself and Wood. The wit
ness produced these letters and read them to
the committee. In one. dated Cincinnati Ohio
September 8, Wood wrote Walters that they
should want his services hunting up official
documents. In another of the same date Wood
says
''HIs ROYAL HOLINESS" Is IN A HURRY,
and in another dated Lansing, Mich, Septem
Der g. he asks for information about the gun
carriage contracts. Asks for patent specifca-
tions; wants to know whether Tee" is on
the list and cautions him to say nothing about
Ohio to to any one; to keep his mouth sealed
The witness at this point diyerged to remark
J
gan and not from Walters.
In one dated Cincinnati. October 2. Wood
says he Is to see his royal hlghness that week
Everything received was very useful From
Columbus, October 6, Wood says he is coming
to Washington to push the gun deal On No.
vember ii Wood writes from Cincinnati that
he Is having a red-hOt time starting two libel
suits to retute charges against his charac-
ter; nothing to do with the ballot box
Halstead has cut loose again, but it is OK
AraI ls.aa 10 , ~ L
had had a time since he got back. The box is
D. h He wants to know how his pension claim
gets along.
Gov. Foraker asked for witness estimate of
Walters character. He replied that Walters
had served HIM faithfully and he had conf
wish that witness knew nothing about
the case, and he could see
why this should be so, as Walters was a DEM
ocrat and yet was IN position of helping Gov.
Foraker.
To Dir. Grosvenor witness said that he knew
of no other ballot-box contract than the forged
papers
ERR BUTTERwORTH's LAW PARTNER EXAMINED
Powell Crossley was the next witness. He
said he had been associated with Mr.. Butter
worth in the practice of law from 1885 until
about year ago, when he went upon the
bench. Witness was a republican. Never had
IN his possession any papers relating
10 ballot boxes. Mr.. Butterworth showed
him the forgery after the election last fall.
Wood in 1885 had told witness among other
things about his box; that bill had been or
would be introduced in Congress-; that
John Il. Mclean and L. c. Campbell were en-
cheering IL and were going to have a demo-
cratic Congressman introduce tine bill. as the
House was then democratic. No one made ap-
plicatlon to witness for information last fall
respecting ballot boxes, and he had had no talk
then about IL with Gov. Foraker. Had had no
animation that Mr. Butterworth had anything to
DO with the ballot boxes. and believed that Mr..
Butterworth did not know Wood until after the
publication Wood used to come to witness
once to talk with his partner Mr.
Outcalt, and when that gentleman was
not present Wood often spoke to witness.
He lwltness) wanted to see that letter
which had been put III evidence wherein wit
ness was represented as indorsing Wood for
office. Wood had asked for letter of recon-
mendation at a time when witness supposed ne
had been appointed, saving that fight was
being made on him. Wood pretended to be
working on an invention, and as witness had
known him for two years he gave him letter
OF Recommendation. Wood never spoke of Mr.
ButterwOrth IN connection with a ballot box
To Gov Foraker witness said he knew Of nc
reason then why he should not have Endorsed
Wood He knew nothing derogatory to hi.
character. Wood first talked to witness about
the ballot-box matter in the winter of 1885,
GOV. CAMPBELL SAYS HIS SIGNATURE WAS FORGED
Gov. James E Campbell of Ohio was the next
witness.
The chairman handed him the forged paper
and he declared that he had never seen the
paper until that minute: that he had
never signed II. and never signed his name a.
~ appeared on the paper. Tie always wrote