Evening journal., 1890-02-07
HALSTEAD ON THE STAND
His Testimony at the Ballot
Box Investigation.
THE EDITORS INTERESTING TALE

Tho Blair Educational Bill In the sem
ate-aIr. Biair's Speech in ITS support.
work Of tho House--other News of |
Hnterest from Washington.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.--At the ballot box |
investigation Senator Sherman testified that |
he had never signed any ballot box contract,
and pronounced his signature TO the ballot |
box paper forgery. Murat Halstead, edi- |
tor OF The Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette,l
then took the stand He first saw the ballot
box paper in the cars at Springfield, o.
Governor Foraker, who said he had received
1t from r. q. Wood, showed 1t to him Fora
ker said the paper had come out OF John r.
McLean's safe; that Wood was a party to
the ballot box transaction and was entitled
TO it. Witness believed the paper genuine,
and told Governor Foraker that in his judg-
ment it certainly connected Campbell with
questionable transaction, and should not be
concealed. Mr.. Campbell certainly knew all
about it, for he had introduced the bill Be
sides, he was the only signer OF the paper be-
fore the people for public office, and his
name, at least, should be published ia con.
nection with the transactions.
His Theory Of the Forgery.
Mr.. Halstead explained 10 the committee
his theory OF the forgery and Woods motive
in getting up the paper. The motive, he be
lieved, was Woods extreme anxiety 20 get
hold Of the smoke inspectorship He was
certain that the paper was never intended TO
hurt any one. II was utterly preposterous
TO think that Governor Foraker had any
knowledge that there was any forgery. He
was certain that Wood had put Senator
Sherman's name to the paper to keep Gov
ernor Foraker from using 1t during the cam
paign.
Why 1t Came Out SO Soon.
The witness explained how he came to
make the paper public SO soon in the cam
paign. He had intended to spring 1t three
weeks before the campaign closed and after
wards to settle with Messrs. Sherman, Nc
Kinlsy and Butterworth, If they could not
explain their connection with the paper.
A speech made by Governor Campbell at
Pixies Opera house in Cincinnati, in which
he ebroughtout the Topp letter, was the direct
cause Of the early publication. The Topp
letter was a sore subject with the Republic
cans, and besides MIR. Campbell had in.
huAtsc an hlttE CJuttAuAiiA nAHte
self Witness published an editorial card
warning Mr.. Campbell that he was con-
cerned in a questionable transaction, aud
then, said Mr.. Halstead, II wasn't able 70
hold it back and the paper got out earlier
than / intended
The witness said he was rather staggered
/ at Senator Shermans denial OF any knowl-
edge q the paper
He Discovers the Forgery.
He said that Judge Harman had called
upon him one evening and requested him t,
sheav him the forged paper he had received
from Governor Foraker, as he thought b
had testimony that proved 1t forgery. II
told them that he could not produce IL tina
evening as il was locked up ia the Safe De
posit company's building for safe keeping
Later on he said that young man names
Davis came to his office and told him IN al
excited manner that all the names on th,
paper were forged, and that he traced then
all with the exception Of two, Of which they
had no copies and these he filed in as bes
he could This, he said, was done at the re
quest Of Wood.
Then He Retracted.
This convinced him that the paper wa
forged, and on making inquiries was tol,
that Mr.. Haddon was probably the onl,
man who could throw any light on the sub
ject. Haddon was found, but he denied hav
ing any knowledge as Co whether or not thl
paper was a forgery. He then told the com
mittee how he retracted statements made II
former publications, and pronounced th
paper a forgery. He read letter from
Senator sherman urging him to expose
through his paper, all those who were con
nected with the forgery.
He also handed 10 the committee all tn
correspondence that had passed betweei
Governor Foraker and himself in connection
with the matter--a letter addressed to hin
by Gen. Grosvenor in connection with pub
fishing the forged letter. It was passed q
the members Of the committee and read
after which Gen. Grosvernor objected 70 /
being put in the record. Governor Foraker
who had also read the letter, insisted upol
it going in the record. After more discus
sion it was decided by the committee TO de
termine in secret session whether or not /
should become part Of the record.
No Information duplicating Them.
When Governor Foraker gave him Hal
stead the paper he stated that he told hin
that he had made all the use of il that b
could and that he could have it. He ais
cautioned him to be careful OF what use h
made of it. He denied having any informa
tion, direct or indirect, duplicating Messrs
Mckinley, Butterworth, Sherman or other
ia the matter. The committee then ad
iourned for the day.