Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-28
THE INVESTIGATION.
Judge McCord's Cross-Exam-
ination ELECTS Nothing New.
SENATOR Chiffon ON STAND.
He Denies that He Sent the Telegram to
WOldert at Austin, Asking Him to
Use His Influence with McCord.
Wanted Two Masters.
Special to the Gazette.


to-day. The crosS-examination by Judge
McCord, who was withdrawn at the hour
of adjournment yesterday to allow Major
Waldo TO testify, was resumed and con-
tinued at some length, developing
no facts but which the judge had
already testified to. Judge McCord's
testimony in its entirety was a plain state
ment of all his actions, legal and otherwise,
in connection with the receivership, and he
testified like man who challenged the
closest scrutiny into his official duties,
and was not afraid of the result
At the conclusion of Judge McCord's tes-
timony, United States Senator Horace
Chiffon was called and sworn, and interro-
gated by Finley. Senator Chiffon gave:
prior to and after the appoint
ment of the receivers. His testimony
was in line with what has heretofore been
given, and where it differed it was not of
material Importance. He testified with
great deliberation, as if carefully weighing
the import of every word and with mani
fest desire to tell the truth, the whole
truth, and accurately described every feat
ure and action involved in the subject I'M
der investigation.
Mr.. Woldert Of the firm of johnson q
Woldert, upon direct examination testified
it was Senator Chiffon who had sent the
telegram to him at Austin asking him to go
to Tyler and use his influence with McCord
in the appointment Of the receivers.
In reply to Finley's interrogatory, if he
had sent such telegram to Woldert, Sena-
tor Chiffon said ne did not send such tele-
gram. He suggested, however, that
Woldert be notified, but did not send the
Telegram. His reason for suggesting that
johnson and Woldert be notified
was not for the purpose, in consequence of
their friendly relations with the court, to
influence the Judge in the appointment of
receivers, but that in event receivers were
under them, if Woldert was ON hand
appointed. and other positions were filled
he might stand chance. He
also addressed a note of the same purport
10 Mr. Campbell to be on the ground. He
denied emphatically that it was for the
purpose of influencing the court. as he
(Chilton) did not want such influence, if
they had any, exercised in attempting to
influence the judge in his appointment.
Woldert was his preference for special mas
ter in chancery. He was in favor of two
special masters in chancery being APP
pointed. He thought that two were Eneces
sary, one of whose duty it should be to hold
hearings and examine claims at various
points along the line of the road, and be-
ieved and still believes that it would have
saved money to the company. He had
never at any time since the litigation began
McCord or attempted to infunce him
in any action in the case except in
the appointment of the second receiver
when he recommended Judge Duncan, and
the court appointed Campbell. He did not
know anything of allowing Gen. Hogg's in
formation until Hogg arrived in Tyler. He
held no conversation with Hogg about it.
Taylor's suit for damages was settled by
agreement after the receivers had been APP
pointed.
The examination was resumed on VOL
dert's telegram. Senator Chiffon denied
that he had sent the telegram or suggested
sending it because he believed Woldert
could influence McCord in the appointment.
Johnson & Woldert were warm personal
friends of his Chiffon, and he had VOL
dert in mind for special master in chancery.
He had heard that McCord was
going to appoint Campbell, hence
when Woldert arrived in Tyler he
did not present his name for special master,
as he did not wish to perplex the court,
as both Woldert and Campbell were strong
personal friends of McCord. He did sug
gest to Woldert and johnson that possibly
they might work fee out of the First
such bank being made depository.
He had no conversation with McCord
either before or after he had the talk with
Woldert and johnson. If any thing was
said of the fee or the kind of fee he did not
recall it. He heard that a second master
in chancery was in contemplation. As soon
as he heard of 1t he went to Judge McCord
and stated to him that if he concluded
to make the appointment he (Chiiton) pre-
sented Woldert. McCOrd replied he would
not appoint the second one at all unless ass
sured it was for useful and beneficial pur-
pose Of the company. Mr.. Campbell came
to Tyler and was opposed to the appoint
ment of a second special master, saying
that he (CampbelD could attend to all the
duties of the Office.
1.-THE examination was again resumed as to
Gus Taylor's claim for damages Senator
Chiffon stated he had been counsel for
Taylor prior to his appointment as
general attorney for the receivers and in
stituted the suit in good faith. After the
receivers had been appointed, the case of
Taylor was discussed by Col. Bonner and
himself. He told Col Bonner that unless
the matter was adjusted he would press the
gested that he (Taylor) be paid one
thousand dollars. He did not
the details of the conversation
that took place between Taylor and himself,
but Taylor finally consented to compromise
the case if paid $500. Col. Bonner knew at
the time that l was not representing the
receivers. The case of Taylor was settled
Oh tliS udSls anu NC was paul sooo. NuSCoru
made an order that all lnterventlonS
of parties for damages should go
to the special master, and the
latter should fix time and place for
hearing the same and file his finding with
the district clerk and if exception was not
odken to the finding of the special master
within thirty days the findings became the
Judgment of the court.
McCord, in spirit of extreme caution,
ruled that all parties filing exceptions to
the masters report should also file
of facts with the
o0dfE The witness thought this was
McCord then ordered that
the supplementary papers be attached to all
vouchers before final payment. He did not
know which papers were attached to the
order of the court in favor of Finley &
Cambell, nor why they were not recorded.
He did not recall whether Duncan objected
to the salary os Cambell on account of it
being excessive or not. He did not
know for two or three weeks,
or perhaps that many months,
that Campbell's salary was $4,000 per an
mum as special master in chacery. he did
not know what shape the matter took until
however, thought all the time that Camp
bell was getting $4,000 a year. He knew
The got $500 the first year.
The witness then corroborated what
took place at the meeting at Col Bon
ner's residence with reference to the
removal of Col Herndon from the Office of
general solicitor, and virtually corrobor-
ated Herndon's, Finley's and McCord's
statements as to what happened at the
meeting, how the matter was adjusted and
Col. Herndon remained undisturbed in