St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-03
OWENBY TEsTiFIES,
is3ut His Evidence Is Slightly Neb-
uIOuS.

s WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.--Representa-
hive Abner Tay lor, of Illinois. appeared
before the silver pool committee to-day.
He said he was member of the com
mittee OH coinage. weights and meas
lures. He had talked with Hedenberg
about silver, and had received all i'm
preston from his talk that pool to buy
silver was being formed, though he had
no recollection of Hedenberg's having
made him any offers to go in with bin.
Witness said lie had purchased some
silver, and in connection Herewith he
had two regrets to express, Wis.,: That he
did not purchase more. and that he did
not hold longer that which he had pur-
chased. He had bought 10000 ounces
at Sl.09M and sold it al Sl.l219. He had
aput up margin of $1,000 on his pur-
chase. Mr.Taylor wanted the fact to 20
son record that his purchase was made
three days after the bill became law.
This was the only purchase of silver he
had made. He did not know of any
senator or other representatives having
bought silver, and knew nothing of
silver pool OF senators aud representa-
tiye5:
James A. Owenby was then sworn.
His legal residence was, he said, in New
York city, but he spent much of his
time in Washington. His business last
year was that of a broker. He handled
all sorts of securities, and when he had
an opportunity he dealt in silver. His
original business was mining. He was
personally associated with Messrs.
OBrien and Clark, but was not in their
employ. Witness had desk room with
Mir. Parsons in the Office of Wells.
Fargo 81 Co., of New York, at No. 63
Broadway. New York. He did consid-
cradle business over the lines of Wells,
Fargo & Co.. and Mr.. Horton permitted
him to receive his mail there. He did
not pay anything or own any desk. but
used various ones. Mr.. Payne, who
conducted the examination. asked if the
witness had talked with Mr.. Stevens,
the correspondent of the Globe-Demo-
craE, in September last. Owenby said
he did not remember the exact date, but
probably had.
Mr.. Have you talked with him about
q silver pool?
Wiiness-I probably have used the word
pool IN speaking of parties in conversations
about silver had some knowledge of diff
ferent parties who l believed were engaged
in silver trading but of an organized pool 1
don't believe did.
In reply to further questions he said
that he had personal knowledge of per-
sons interested In silver during the last
year. He had seen accounts made up
ON the books of Wells, Fargo u Co.
William A. Jennings was the man who
made them up. The witness was asked
a number of questions to find out if any
of the names on those books were those
of senators or representatives. He
I,,I v,I
definition of ''purported," and finally
did not know whether he had seen the
names of any representatives in cOnnec-
tion with silver transactions. Before
answering similar questions as to sena-
tors he consulted his lawyer, Judge
Johnson, of this city, and then said that
he had not, and volunteered the sug-
gestion that the committee should have
experts examine the books of WeNs,
Fargo Il Co.
During this testimony the witness at
one time asked if his QueStioner meant
'sbooks of any bank" Mr.. Payne
wanted to know after while what the
witness meant by his question, and fin
ally learned that he referred to the
books of j. NJ. Donald, cashier Of the
Hanover National bank. and of Hall,
the assistant cashier. Owenby was
was the name of any senator or repre-
sentative, and, after pondering the
question, a while, he replied that Don
aid held up some correspondence and
said that it was that of senator. He
next wanted to know whether by silver
was meant bullion certificates or ware
house receipts, and was informed that
in every case silver was intended to
cover the broadcast ground.
The witness was examined closely
with reference to his conversation with
Donald when the correspondence was
exhibited. He said Donald picked up a
letter while they were canVaSSing the
silver situation, and said:
THAT man is in it; know what he will
do"
Mr. Payne-He mentioned the name, did he?
Owenby-You are very anxious to have me
mention that. are you? Yes. | will state
positively that it was a senator's name.
As an excuse for not being able to
give information with regard to other
questions asked. Owenby said that the
information was in his books. Some of
the books were in Chicago and others
were burned up. The books were in
safe deposit company and not accessible
to him. he did not want to get access
TO them, and put them where he could
not get them. He did that after
Stevens evidence before the committee.
The books referred to his private af-
fairs, and he would not state how they
they could he obtained unless compelled
O do so He was doing business in
Chicago, and interested with the firm OF
Eiekk WeicIeB u King. Their buSl-