Evening journal., 1891-02-04
0WENBY TELLS HIS TALE
Second Hand Evidence Of a
Silver Pool"
SEVEN CONGREsSMEN WERE IN IT


Belmont aud Others, but He Had No
Personal knowledge Of the Tact.
WAsHNGToN, Feb. 4.-The testimony Of
James A. owenby before the silver pool
investigating committee was continued
owenby explained that the books 70 which
he referred on Monday, and which he said
were locked MP, were ordinary memoran-
DUN books. Owenby was questioned ~
to his conversation with Donald, the Han
over bank cashier, in which Donald. ac-
cording to Owenby's testimony, had told
him that certain senators and representa-
tives were interested in certain silver
transactions Owenby offered 70 give the
names, but Messrs Payne and Rowell oh
iected. Mr. Oates thought the names
should be given After some discussion
Owenby was allowed 20 proceed He said
be could not properly give the c0nversa-
tion without mentioning names He be
leved that seven congressman were men
toned in the conversation Donald stated
that these congressman were interested in
silver through certain parties and institu-
tions. and he mentioned the Fourth Ma
tional hank and the Chase National bank
as conducting the dealings for them.
They Dealt Through August Belmont
Donald also said that Zimmerman and
FOrshay. August Belmont and Carson and
Simmonds were interested The orders for
silver wete given through them and IL was
bought IN London, as Donald said, TO
cover up their tracks" Donald said that
when he had any doubts about matters he
came over to Washington and SAW a repre-
sentative and also "A senator He had close
relations with the latter The total amount
of silver that was 70 be bought by the per
sons Interested with Donald was, accord.
ing TO DOHald's statement, q 600 GO worth
lie was 70 share with the others and was
70 furnish information from Washington
in regard to the chances Of silver legisla-
tion in advance Of the newspapers Wit
ness explained code prepared by Donald
for telegraph purposes in regard to lecisla-
zion.
How the scheme Was worked,
Witness showed a check book OF Hanover
bank The stubs OF the checks were miss
ing This he said, was done under in
structions from Donald The checks, he
said. were presented At the National Bank
Of the Republic in this city. with tele-
gram 70 Donald inquiring II they were
good. and on Donald reply were cashed.
=
to witness. saying, Dispatch true. copy
received p and asked what it referred to
Witness replied that il referred to a copy
of the silver hin oE a portion az itas II was
expected 20 be- reported. IN reply to q
! question he said that the copy referred to
was obtained from an outside party. hut
be would not give the persons name
Witness gave the COMMITTEES a letter from
Mr. Parsons requesting him 60 induce Mr.
Fowler TO buy bonds Of a silver mine I'll
New Mexico in which he lParsons) was in
terested Witness said he exhibited the
letter 70 show his relations with Mr.. Par
SOM and to show that Parsons thought
something Of him az this time, although
he spoke adversely Of him when before the
committee.
They weaidnt Rear tho Eames
Witness was questioned further as to
conversations with Donald about persons
who were speoulatng IN silver, and in n.
peatine the conversations tried 10 give the
names Of some members Of congress whom
ne had heard Donald mention. but the
committee would not allow him 70 do so
Witness spoke Of further conferences
with Donald "a to the agreement between
himself, Donald and Others for the Dur.
chase q COCO 600 coo onnces of SILVER The
silver was purchased through several
firms among them the Chase and Fourth
National banks, August Belmont and sew
eral others. The hrms were not interested
IN the purchase, bat Donald SAID that they
were purchasing silver for certain mem
bers Of congress MT, Payne objected to
the names Of the persons referred 70 beng
gwen. Witness said that Donald elaims
60 have personal know ledge that Repre- |
sentative ketehem, Of New York, was
dealing in silver Witness also got infof
nation that members OF congress were in
terested in silver speculation from D. T. |
llittler. That is, witness mentioned the
names and Ldttler assented to them Mr. |
Payne again objected 70 witness mention
ing names.
No Personsl Knowledge.
Witness said that he had no personal |
knowledge that members Of congress were |
specializing IN silver
Owenby was examined concerning the /
statements made IN the interview with MIR /
Stevens and published IN The st. Louis
Globe-Democrat in which he said thai 3
silver pool had been organized The wit
ness said thai the interview was substan-
italy correct His conclusion that there
was silver pool had been reached from
what Messrs. Donald, Cunningham and
David T. Littler bad told him Mr. Payne
read an extract from The Globe Democrat
interview, quoting Owenby as saying that
about ssSN, 600 had been put up by the silver 4
pool for the benefit OF senators and mem.
bers who were too poor to buy silver The
witness said he had said something about
$2sG, ,OoO, bnt be did not remember exactly
what he had stated Mr. Payne asked the
witness If that was not bribery. and de
manded an answer TO his question, and
Owonby, bringing paper in his hand
SHARPLY down or the table, said. II had the
information that Mr.. Donald had said the
agnnunt had been pat up
While the examination was proceeding
Owenby said, without solicitation. that he
himself had intimated 10 senator CulIum
that he knew whore the senator could gel
some silver 70 speculate with, and II Mr.
Cnllum did not have any money he (the
witness) could get the silver for him. sen
atOr Culium, the witness said. had posi-
tiYely sat down on him, and had declined
emphatically to have anything TO do with
the speculation.
Several amusing incidents occurred dur
ing the examination. One OF these took
place after MIR. Payne had read an extract
from the interview quoting Owenbv AS
saying that the silver pool people wanted |
nothing 10 do with the dam fool Demo
Gratis because they would vote their way
anyhow
'What are your politiesf" asked Mr.
Oates.
'Pm Democrat, answered the witness
Great laughter followed, and Mr.. PAYNE
asked 'Are you one Of The kind Of Demo