New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-04
OWNBEY'S TALE OF SILVER.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE GETTING TO WORK
WITH vIGOR.
TRYING TO REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE NATTER
-owNBEY TELLS OF CoNGREssMEN IN
TEREsTED IN SILVER, BUT MEN
TInNS NO NAMES.
,Hy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

rRv TELEGRAPH TO THk TREUSEI
Washington, Feb. 3.--The "silver-pool" committee
devoted its whole attention to-day to Mr. Ownbey and
Mr. PAYNE exercAed all his skill and ingenuity in the
examination of the witness. IT was most thorough
.ra searcl,lnC examnation-such as previous
witness has been required to undergo; In fact the
contrast between ii and the examinations OF other
witnesses who have testified almost startling
Mr. Payne is entitled to the highest praise lie must
have convinced the most careless observer that he is
determined to 60 TO the very bottom OF things IN
this investigation After the questions which lie
asked to-day, and the perseverance which he showed
In exacting direct and positive replies, there can be no
reason to doubt that he will hereafter insist on equally
direct and positive replies TO like questions which
may be propounded TO other witnesses, Irrespective
Of their official station or that he viii hesitate OF
neglect to ask like questions, whether the witness
happens to be Senator Representative. or merely
promoter" Of silver speculations. The mere iac'
that Mr.. Ownbcy testfes to matters which previous
witnesses did not testify to, or that some portions OF
his testimony contradict the testimony OF othcr VIII
nesses does not of itself seem TO prove that ne Is
lying; and while IT may be prudent aud certainly Is
not improper, to hold him down strictly. the same
rule ought to be applied to other witnesses at eas'
until Ownbey shall have been proved TO be unworthy
OF belief.
The witness today made repeated offers to give
the names Of Senators and Representatives who-ac-
cording to information which, he testified, was re-
Interested with themwere engaged in silver specuia-
lions; these offers refused, on the ground uat
his evidence would be hearsay. and therefore IN
admissible under the well known rule OF evidence Ana
vet the committee has admitted such testimony In
the second degree when offered by one or TWO other
witnesses in this Investigation. Moreover, one mei'
Der OF the committee to-day, by demanding and pro-
curing possession Of a memorandum maze by o"hoeS,
was able to obtain the names Of the Senators ana
Representatives which witness seemed anxious 10 ais
close OF course he will regard the Information as
confidential so far the public is concerned but why
was he willing to the names If ne was not "ihns
to receive them and disclose them3 He said it would
be an outrage" to disclose them 10 the public goou
many questions asked the witness. to WHICH ne
was required to reply, the replies to which seemed TO
be less relevant and material TO the subject under III
vestiga.ion than the information which the com
mittee refused receive and make public
OF course, the committee will promptly avail ltseh
of the information privately obtained and summon the
senators and Representatives whose names were con,
tained in Ownbev's memorandum and question each OF
them closely as lie was questioned. In that way
The committee will be able easily 10 satisfy the pubic
get at the truth and at the same time diScrect oWhpeN
if he has given offered to give false testimony. HIS
testimony. 50 far it admitted, as well as the
hearsay Testimony which the committee properly
enough refused TO admit only emphasized the fact that
the ONLY way in which the committee can PROBE thc
matter to the bottom and gather material for report
which will be satisfactory to people in general is 10
obtain the testimony of Senator and Representa-
tive I'm the coinage men as well as
men who opposed to free coinage other senators
and REPRESENTATIVES besides senator Cameron OF Penn
s-lvania and Representative Taylor. of Illinois, may
have been interested in silver peculatons, and the
only way to ascertain the facts is TO have the testimony
Ct each one as to whether he, individually or In com
many with others, engaged in silver transactions.
During the examination Of Mr.. Ownbey To-Day
several Representatives visited The committee room and
seemed 10 be interested in the proceedings Among
them were Messrs. Bclden and Tracey Of New-iorK'
Springer, Of Illinois, Lester, OF Georgia. and others
whose names have not been publicly mentioned as
those of men interested in silver spccuatlons or IN
vestmcnts.
Ownbey began his testimony today by explaining
certain matters which we're confused yesterday inc
PAPERS and books part of which he said yesterday were
locked up so that he could not get them were ordinary
diaries which were KEPT in safe deposit company
TIE testimony then required TO the conversations with
Donald the Hanover Bank cashier. Donald, Ownbey
said had told him that certain Congressman were In
ierested silver transactions lie offered 10 give inc
names but Messrs Payne and Rowell made decided OBJ
iectiOns and insisted what said az these con-
vcrsations being given, but with names omitted Mr.
oates thought the names should be given and Own6ey
said could not properly give the conversations WITH
out names. About seven Congressman. he Thought
were mentioned. Donald stated that these Congress
men we're interested in silver through certain parties
institutions. >'"'N
National banks were doing the dealings for these Con-
cressmen Donald said. Donald also stated that Znl-
norman g. Forshay, August Belmont and carson *
smonds were interested. The orders for silver were
given them and 1t bought in London to cover up
tie tracks. Yes; Donald used that expression. lie
aid politicians were pretty hard men TO clean up after
Donald also told witness he got Information from
nrivate agent here, whom he kept in his employ.
Donald said that when he had any doubts about mat
ters he came over and saw Representative ana also
a Senator with whom he had close reauohS 1eS
Donald had two Congressional friends, but witness
understood him to refer more particularly 10 the hep
resentatve Donald claimed TO be interested IN these
,vor ,,a,sactions The total amount Of silver that
WAS agreed TO be bought by the persons interested
with Donald the witness said. was slOoooOo WORTH
lie could not remember the exact date Oh liicse oo
versations. There was no one present dI 'io0o 'oi
versatlons To the best OF witnesses recoco'io' 'io
silver was bought at 81 and up to 1O3' Al one t"o
Donald spoke of a sale OF slIVer' ou' O NV ~
much sold. .. -.
Ownbey was then examined as to his contract ar
rancements with Donald. They were Nerod nc S''u
and he was the victim of verbal contracts "i'"eS'
was TO give all the information he oouiu poesioN H
Ills nersona expenses to be paid, ana nc was "
- and sbare alike with those who went into the
nurchase of silver II four went in he was 10 get
fourth: and II five. fifth. Witness was 20 pun III
money If he could raise it. but Donald was 10 carry
the silver for witness anyhow.
Mr. Oates had TO leave the cOmnittce-room lot le"
minnt.s 10 60 70 the meeting Of the JUDICIARY Ooh
mlttec and ownbey insisted or ga gentleman penn
present before he went with his testimony anu
was some time before he could be induced 70 answer
further questions, ..-o
The witness stated that at subse1ueht coNci :"
tion Donald said that there were number OF pero"S
Interested and wanted to Know how much witness
wonld be satisfied with. Witness said 2ioooo ounces
Later in the day Donald told him he guessed ne WOMB
have to carry IT, but it was pretty big one ic''0i
from Donald TO Ownbey submitted By the WlthcSs
asked specially for Information abont inc @ioooo0oo
redemption fund. lie explained that that was al
Incidental matter and that Donald had written II ou'
because witness had not time to wait to receive vcrp