The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-04
0WENBY RAISES SALAUGH
HE SAYS THE FOOL DEMOCRATS
WERE NOT IN THE POOL.

The Witness Expresses General Dis
trust of Politicians - Millions of
Ounces Held on Margin by the AL
lsged Pools An Advance Copy of the
Silver Bill Furnished.
WASHINGTON. Feb. S.-James A. Owen
by, who was on the stand yesterday, re-
sumed his testimony before the silver pool
investigating committee this morning. He
began his evidence by explaining certain
matters which were rather confused yester-
day. Speaking Of the papers and books,
part of which he said yesterday were
locked up so that he tOwenby) could not get
them. he stated that they were ordinary
memorandum books. or diaries, which he
carried like any other business man, and
put away when they were filled up. Some
of these memorandum books, he explained,
were IN hB trunk, and orders had been
given Mr.. Welcher, with whom he was in
terested in business. Mr.. Welcher had put
them in the Safe Deposit Company, and
that was what the witness meant when he
said that he could not get at them.
HIS TALKS WITH DONALD.
The testimony then recurred to the con-
versations with Mr.. Donald, cashier Of the
Hanover bank. Mr.. Donald, Mr.. Owenby
said, had told him that certain senator's and
representatives were interested In silver
transactions. He offered to give names,
but Messrs. Payne and Rowen made decided
objections, and insisted on what was said at
these conversations being given, but with
the names omitted.
Mr.. Oates thought the names should be
given; and Mr.. Owenby said he could not
properly give the conversations without the
names. About seven congressman, he
thought, were mentioned. Mr.. Donald
stated that these congressman were inter-
ssted Ia silver through certain parties, or
institutions The Fourth National and
Chase National banks were doing dealings
for these congressman, Mr.. Donald said.
Mr.. Donald also stated that Zimmerman
g. Forshey, August Belmont and Carson
g. Simonds were interested. Orders for
silver were given them, and it was bought
in London to 'cover up the tracks," Yes,
Mr.. Donald used that expression He said
politicians were pretty hard men TO clean
up after.
HAD A PRIVATE AGENT.
Mr.. Donald alse told Mr.. Wigs that he
got information from a private agent here
whom he kept in his employ. He did not
know his name. MIR. Donald said when he
had any doubts about matters he came over
and saw representative and also senator
with whom he had close relations. Yes,
Mr.. Donald had two congressional
friends, but the witness under
to representative. Mr.. Donald claimed
to be interested in these silver transactions.
The total amount of silver that was agreed
to he bought by persons interested by Mr..
Donald, the witness said, was $1,000, ,O00
worth. To the best Of the witnessed reool-
lection, silver was bought at 81 and up
to l03. Owenby = said his contract
with Mr.. Donald was verbal Mr.. Donald
gave him q check book and he drew for
what money he wanted. He borrowed $500
from Mr.. Donald, signed note for the
amount in order to make the bank good
until settlement of the silver deal was
made. and no settlement was ever made,
and he presumed the bank still honored his
| note.
owENBY's PART.
Mr.. Owenby was to furnish all the in
| formation he could get and share equally
| in the profits with those who furnished the
money to carry the silver II Mr.. Owenbv
should furnish no money his share of the
silver was to be carried Notwithstanding.
Mr.. Dates had to leave the committee
| room for a few inmates to go to a
| meeting of the Judiciary committee
and Mr.. OVERLY insisted on "that
gentleman" being present before he went on
with his testimony, and ir was some time
| before he could be induced to answer
| further questions. The examination re-
| verted to the conversations with Mr.. Dom
| aid, and the witness said Mr. Donald told
| him that he (Mr Donald) had information
| Of {, ,0o0, GOO ounces of silver being purchased
| by five banks aud brokerage houses be had
| named.
KETCHAM's NAME MENTIONED.
He believed Mr.. Donald named some of
| the persons for whom the purchases were
made. and the witness mentioned the name
| of Representative Ketchum of New York
as one Of them. He insisted on the state
ment when questioned, and again wanted
| to give the name, so as to make his story
clear. but Mr.. Payne replied that it would
| be little short Of an outrage to permit the
| names of any respectable men to be given
unless the witness had other than hsarsay
| testimony.
Mr.. Donald, Mr.. Owenby said, told him
that the parties to silver pool had got in a
wrangle, that he (Donald) had got out Of it,
and therefore he could not make anything
| out OF it for the witness. Mr.. Donald took
that method Of repudiating the arrange
| ment with the witness. The silver pur-
chasers were sold out at 81 II, and the wit
ness figured that he ought to get Is cents an
ounce on 245, 900 ounces, or between $50, 900
and $40, 600. de denied having any con-
tract with Mr.. Donald, as stated by Mr..
Donald, that he was to receive only $3.50,
and said he had already received more than
that amount.
NO DIRECT PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE.
MIR. Owenby said he had no direct per-
sonal knowledge of any congressional silver
speculation. Mr.. Owenby was examined
with regard to letter be had written Cor,
respondent Stevens of the Globe Democrat,
in which re said the testimony OF Mr.
Stevens, as reported, was substantially COR
rect, except that he (Mr. Owenby) had not
stated that Parsons was in his (the witness1
pool. He probably had told Mr.. Stevens
that one western senator made $275, 900 ;
that the least made was 81, 900 by q western
representative. that about a dozen senators
and fifteen representatives were interested,
that 40 100000 ounces altogether
was the probable amount which
the various pools held on
margin, and that the different pools held
stated amounts. His statements, he said,
were based upon conversation with Messrs.
Donald, Jennings, Cunningham and others;
and the profits given were estimated by his
informants as to what would have been the
gains if the pools had sold out at the highest
price reached.
The statement in Mr. Stevens publication
that the largest pool was one of senators
and New York capitalists, and that it was
interested TO the extent of 1,000,000 ounces,
was based by the witness principally on
l. L. Fkl1 n