The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-02-07
ghe Former Never Heard Of the Contract IN
til Gov. FOraker's Music Hall Speech, and
at Once Denounced 1t as Fraudulent.
ur. Halstead's Account of Howa and Why
a Copy of the Paper Was Published.
Incidents That Led Him to Believe the Sigma
lures We're Genuine Until Denied by Those
Implicated-H Opinion of Wood.

forgery called Senator John Sherman as
the first witness. The Senator testified
that his relations with Governor Foraker
had always been friendly. There had never
been any i'll will between him and Mr..
Halstead. Witness went to Europe the LIST
of last May, returned to this country Sept.
IL, and was in Ohio in October. He had
written to Dir. Grosvenor early in July to
the effect that Foraker should be heartily
supported. Witness was on good relations
with Governor Foraker and Mr.. Hslstead
on Sept. % last, supported Governor For
aker in the campaign, and spoke four times
In the canvass at important points. He did
not receive an inquiry before Sept. % from
Governor Foraker or Mr.. Halstead as to
whether be had been a party to the ballot
box contract. On Oct. s he got from the
Evening Post of Cincinnati, a telegram
saying he (witness) and Mr.. Butterworth
had been connected by gossip with the bal
lot-box contract. Witness replied that the
statement was a lie, and any subscription
was a forgery. Witness was shown exhibit
A, and declared that he had never
signed it. He saw it first
when it was sent to him In
November by Mr. Halstead. The signature
was q copy of his rubber Thanking stamp,
and not an imitation of his signature. He
did not think the Mckinley signature
looked like a genuine signature. but did
not profess to be al expert OF signatures.
and might take the Bntterworth signature
as genuine if there was nothing to call it in
question. His own signature on the paper
would naturally raise a question. and ex-
cite wonder why he had contracted to pay
money to John X. Mclean. Then the pa
per showed the signatures had committed q
crime. In addition. they would seem to be
fools. for the United States had never
bought a ballot-box. He was one of those
who thought that the United States should.
however, regulate election of Represent
question as to the authenticity of the pa
per. He had never heard or known of a
ballot-box contract, nor had ever heard of
the Campbell bill before Governor For
aker's Music Hall speech. Mr.. McLean's
paper had been unjust and savage toward
witness. but he had no unfriendly relations
with him.
Mr. Halstead called upon witness after
the recantati0n. and witness asked whether
hesitatingly replied that he had agreed
with Mr.. Campbell not to say anything
about the paper. After the election wit
ness called upon Mr.. Halstead to make q
fair statement of the whole matter. Mr..
III WI " ~ tAo NAos Ao
had anticipated his advice and sent the
original for his amusement. He wrote that
it occurred to him that he had been under
the impression that witness had signed the
letter. He hoped he had heard the last of
i6, but feared he would not for some time.
In conclusion, he wrote: 81 thought you
might have the curiosity to see the damned
paper" daughter, In which Mr.. Halstead
Joined Witness never mentioned the pa
per in the campaign. but it became an Issue
between Governor Foraker and Governor
Campbell.
In answer 90 Mr.. Turner, witness said if
the signatures on xhibit A were attached
to a letter to a recommendation they would
not excite suspicion III the ordinary mind.
but if they concerned a draft for $1,000 or
$4,000 they wonid: it depended on the char
the paper by Governor Foraker during their
interview on Oct. "a. The Governor then
was quite i'll and in bed.
In answer to Governor Foraker, witness
admitted that 1t might have something to
90 with his estimate of the paper il he had
previously been told of its existence by
some one in whom he had confidence. Wit
ness was surprised a Governor Foraker
had made an issue of a bill, for Congress-
men often introduced bills as they did Pc
titions.
Governor Foraker-We sometimes accept
rs truth things that amaze us, don't wet
The witness replied in the affirmative.
Bellamy storer. a lawyer of Cincinnati,
nnt tAo AOA0 AtiOoc ALio "a was
unimportant.
EDITOR H~ALsTEAD's TESTIMONY.
MIR. Halstead then took the stand. He
said he was q daily laborer on a daily
newspaper" He was president of the
stock company, n wrote q good deal of
editorial matter. Invited to explain, Mr.:
Halstead said that when he published
Governor CampbelPs signature he cut Off
from a Photographic copy OF the paper the
signature below CampbelPa He never ex-
bibited the other names to any one except
that of Mr.. Cox, which he showed to one
gentleman. Mr.. Storer was concerned
about the paper. n as witness thought,
apprehensive, and to assure him of the firm
ness of the foundation upon which be was
proceeding, showed him the Democratic
said he first saw it Sept. IA on the cars at
Springfield. O. He had been i'll and abroad.
and returned IN August. The campaign
was under way. 1t was the judgment of
the Governor, in which witness concurred,
that Campbell was to be his opponent. and
they made preparations for the campaign.
Soon after his return witness had a brief
conversation with Governor Foraker about
against Mr.. Campbell. One was his vote
for special cars for colored people. (The
jim Crow car busiDess.l The next was the
brewery trust. The Governor said lie had
OF Campbelps connection with
the Hall-Wood ballOt-box. There was be-
hind the bill a contract which he expected
to get; that it would be an important feat
ure of the campaign. He said that Wood
had promised to furnish il. Wood was the
inventor and an officer of the company. Wit
ness had his doubts as to whether the con-
tract could be made to appear. Governor
Foraker said that Wood was an applicant
for the place of smoke-inspector. Witness
did not know Wood. The Governor said he
was an inventor of ability and an old sol
der. and he did not see why Wood
would not make q good officer.
Witness thought the office itself was a
fraud. but did not see why Wood should
not have il as well as any other person.
Asked for his opinion about the appoint
ment, witness said he would not appoint
Wood under any circumstances That was
after Wood had produced the paper. Wit
ness said he would consider it @ serious
mistake TO appoint Wood; that ii might be
well enough 10 accept his services. but not
to appoint him to office. On Sept. IA, on
the cars at Springfield. the Governor said
he had that paper-the ballot box contract.
He said hat Wood had furnished ii. Wood
was the inventor of the box, he said. and
secretary of the company, and the contract
came right out of John McLean's safe.
Wood was a party to the transaction; had
gone and asked for it and got it. The Coy
ernor said the paper had shocked him; it
was more than he wanted. He said il had
names on il that witness would not want
To present, and he tForaker) could do moth
ing with il. lie showed the paper to wit
ness. together with the Campbell bill and
Contract 1000" Witness studied the
papers. The bill appeared to be mandatory
tina seventy Thousand patented ballot
b0xes should be purchased Mt S25 each. The