St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-24
DAVID AND THE DON.
Mr.. Litter Testifies That He
Purchased Silver for
Cameron.
The Most Loquaeious Witness
Before the Silver Pool
Committee.
He Loaned Owenby Money,
but Expects to Get 1t All
Back Again.
Cockrell and Hoar Cross
Swords on the Question
Of Gag Law.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-The silver
pool Investigator committee adjourned
yesterday until Saturday, but David T.
Littler, of Illinois, who was mentioned
as the agent of Senator Cameron in the
purchase of silver bullion, appeared at
the capitol this morning and as he asked
to be examined at once meeting was
arranged for this afternoon. Chairman
Dingley opened the examination with
this question: "Have you any knowl-
edge of purchases of silver bullion or
certificates by any pool, syndicate, as
ISOLATION or by any individual during
the tendency of the silver legislation,
OF since that time?
Mr.. Littler-I have knowledge of but two
transactions. On my own account pnr-
chased between forty and fifty thousand dol
lars worth of silver some time in the early
part of the summer. That embraced every
transaction in which was personally inter
esled. l purchased silver exchange on CAL
cutta India. for the reason that the rate of
interest in New York was larger than would
be required to carry exchange. No gentle
man was associated with me in that transac
ton. l bought and sold in the oDen market.
The purchase and sale was before any legis-
lation was had
He was then asked if he had purchased
silver for Senator Cameron. Mr.. LittIer re-
pled
Eyes, bought a small amount Of silver for
Cameron / don't remember the exact
amount-about 100000 worth. That was
some two or three weeks after made the
purchase on my own account. and it was
pending the silver legislation. 1t was before
congress had taken action on it. No, do
not remember the exact date, but it was be-
fore final action"
Did you buy for any other senator, repre-
sentative or government OFFICIALLY?
Il did not offer to do so. | want TO state
abccS Cameron. He met me one day. had
been talking with divers members senators
and others. l did not seek to disguise the
fact that had bought some silver. feeling
that had right to do 1t, and gave as my
opinion when asked, that silver was pur-
chase and that there was money III it.. Cam
eron knew had purchased some, and when
he met me one day he said, III his gruff way:
81 want you to BUY some silver for me-
II think he opened the subject, although L
do not remember about II.
He said he only did for Cameron what
one friend would do for another, and
that perhaps he had suggested the pur-
chase. AS he remembered it, the pur-
chase for Cameron was also ia the form
of Calcutta exchange. He had no knoWl-
edge as to where silver was held. Mr..
Littler's attention was then called to an
interview in which he was represented
as saying that he would go to Washing
ton and rip some of the rascals up"
That's characteristic language, governor"
the witness said rather orily, and added Il
want TO say that have been very much pro-
voked at the amount of lying that has been
done. So far as | am concerned, and want
to characterize in most unequlvocal terms,
the general statements that | have been con-
1O-.1-I, Tho
fuencing of legislation as an unqualified lie,
in the strongest terms | can use. | may have
said something of the kind reported. L re-
ferred to the fellows who have been going
around the country lying about us. mean
the people who have been sending out
through the papers reports that have not the
semblance of truth. That is the character Of
people | referred to-.
He Knew Owenby.
Mr.. Dingley called the attention of
the witness once or twice to the fact
that the expression used would convey
the intimation that he had some knowl-
edge of legislation on silver; but Mr..
Littler reiterated his statement that he
did not refer to legislation, and said he
had given the committee all the knOWl-
edge he had Oh the subject. When
asked about the reputation of Owenby.
who has been mentioned in connection
with the alleged silver pool, witness
said that he did not know OWenbY well
enough to answer the question. Owen
by seemed a clever fellow; but he
would think better of him when he got
back some money he had lent Owenby.
as he supposed he would get it back
after While. Mr.. Littler said he had
no knowledge of any silver pool. He
suggested that Senator Cameron be
called, as the easiest way to secure the
information when asked the date OF the
Cameron transactiOn.) Mr.. Littler de-
clared he had never asked any one in
congress to vote for
Silver Legislation
and that he went into the speculation
without the solicitation or urgency
of any one. MIR. Oates wanted
to know how much both witness and
Senator Cameron had made by their in
vestments. Mr.. Littler said that as well
as ne could remember he made less than
eight and more than six hundred dollars.
He could not recall just how much Cam
eron had made. but it was compare
lively small amount. Subsequently the
witness put the figure at between
thousand and fifteen hundred dollars.
To Mr.. Oates the witness said that no
representative, senator or other govern
ment officer had ever told him he was
interested in silver, and he had no
knowledge on the subject. The atten-
ton of the witness was called to the
testimony of Senator Vest: and he said
he had talked with Cameron, Vest and
divers others about silver speculation.
II had talked with Vest exactly as
with Cameron and with others. Being
asked again for the names of some Of
these others, the witness. said he could
not remember; and turning towards Mr..
Rowell, a member of the committee, who
was sitting near, he said:
Perhaps with Capt Rowell, as we'll as
with other Illinois friends.
He would not have remembered
Cameron, but for the actual transaction.
In reply to MIR. Rowell, witness said he
did not mean to say that. he recalled
talking with him (Mr. RowelD, and that
he only used his name because that was
as likely as talking with any one else.
Mr.. LittIer further said ne had never
offered any one any inducements what
ever, except to express his opinion that
there would be an advance in silver.
Adjourned until Tomorrow,