Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-21

statement is true. The fact i:
Gen. HOgg had proposed TO sell the
land to the capitol people through me for
$40 900. / told him l was simply the
agent for the company and could max
no deal in the matter, but that Col
Taylor would be in Austin in few DAYS
and would arrange a meeting at his
of1ce between them, to which he agreed
When Col. Taylor arrived l met him at
the Driskill hotel and told him what
Gen. Hogg had said to me and he was
indignant and said that it
was an attempt at blackmail
and that he did not have cent to spend
that way, and that he would have moth
ing TO do with it. 1 told him that we
were having trouble with him in refer
enee to the capitol business, and that L
| thought it would do us harm to refuse to
see him, and it was agreed then that he
| would call at Gen. Hogg's Office at D.
m. that day. He did so and l went with
him, and after hearing Gen. Hogg's
proposition he told him that he did not
feel authorized TO act in the absence of
his associates, but that he would write to
| MIR. Farwell, who, l think he said, was
! then in England, and that he thought he
could give him an answer or send some
| one to investigate the matter in five or
| six weeks. Gen. Hogg told us that the
| property he wanted to sell did not belong
! to him, but to his father-in-Iaw, but
said there would be $40, 200 coming to
him through his wife, who was one of
| four heirs.
''What prompted him to offer to sell
the land to the capitol people?''
81 do not know. He seemed anxious
to sell the land and explained to me how
valuable it could be made to them if they
would build railroad from their lands
in the Panhandle to this farm and mill
and supply their ranch with lumber and
farm products. 1 suggested that it
would hardly pay to build a road SO long
as that and mako 1t successful az there
would be no connections with other sys-
TENS of roads, and he then explained to
me how il could be extended into Quit
man and Mineola and that good dona-
tons could be raised from these places to
aid in the construction of the road. Ny
recollection is that he said one or the
other of the places had standing offer
to pay some amount for a road from
Mineola to Quitman. 1 asked about the
timber in the vicinity of this property
and on the line where this road would
run and he described 1t as of fine quality
and said that it could be had if quietly
worked at 81 per acre. That
If the capitol people purch ased
his ather-in-law's land and
wished to build railroad that ne would
get on his horse and go over the line and
help get up the lands, donations, and
right-of-ways and that if the sale was
made he was not particular about the
money but would take his interest with
the company. -
"How much land did Gen. Hogg pro-
pose to sell?''
Il cannot say positively, but my re-
collection is that 1t consisted of a mill
and farm and timber lands, in all about
$500 acres. -
''What do you know about this pro-
position TO sell to Walker and Bellt''
81 know nothing about that. -
ibid you or Mr.. Taylor have any idea |
of purchasing the property"
None whatever.
The Times Herald reporter, after re- |
ceiving the above document, asked ques-
tons and received the following replies |
from Mr.. Matlock:
"When did the conversation between |
yourself and Mr.. Hogg and yourself aud |
Mr.. Taylor, which you refer to above, |
oceur?''
lit occurred during the tendency of |
the capitol business, about the time of the
FINAL wIND-UP (caps our of affairs be- |
tween the state and the contractors -
"Do you believe it was an attempt
upon the part of Mr.. Hogg to black
mail?''
My dear sir, have stated facts
''Do you consider the offer of sale of
land, If such was made, compromise of i
official integrity?"
The same answer was given as that TO
the preceding question.
"Were You and Mr.. Hogg not on
friendly terms at the time?''
Eyes, sir. -
The Times Herald makes the following
editorial comment on the above inter-
view:
THE CHARGES AGAINST HoGG.
In this issue of the Times-Herald will
be found an "interview with Senator
Metlock relative to the charge made by
Col. Abner Taylor of Chicago against
Attorney-General Hogg. To-day the
rimes-Herald sent a reporter to the ho-
EEL where the senator is holding
'orth and asked for the letters
which it has been alleged he holds
and which it is intimated contain
damaging evidence against the attorney
general. He declined to produce them,
Z fact, did not admit or deny their ex-
stence. The next best thing TO be OBJ
aimed was IAN Interview The inter-
view. as it appears in these columns, is
be creation Of the senator. He pro-
pounds the questions to Senator Matlock
md the senator answers them with !
ilaority. That gentleman is a bitter |
political opponent of General Hogg. He
S the attorney OF the capitol syndicate |
I'D draws prineely salary for his serv-
ces. He has drawn the indictment in |
Is strong light as possible against Hogg,
md what is there in the charges when
hey are taken up one at time? Ad-
hitting Matlock's version to be true,
fogg offered to sell Taylor and his asso-
hates $500 acres of land with good farm
nd mill thereon for $40, 200. He told
ham he had no interest in the deal, and
the sale was made $40, 900 of the pur-
hase price only would go to him through
lis wife. 1t was business proposition,
othing more and nothing less.
Tbs Times-Herald demanded doeu- I
nentary evidence, the letters which it
Tas claimed would convict Hogg of an I
tempt TO levy blackmail. Instead, it I
as an 'interview" prepared by the
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