Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-03
OwENBEY A WITNESS.
He Gives the Silver Pool Committee Very
Little Information.

Little Information.
J. A. Owenbey. the much-wanted witness in
the silver pool investigation. was brought be-
fore the bar of the House late yesterday and
wGs purged of contempt after he had explained
that his failure to respond to the summons was
due to lack of money for travelling expenses.
Later he appeared before the committee, but
the only information the committee got from
him was that he knew of some dealings in
silver and an intimation. Somehow he managed
TO withhold the names of men engaged in the
deals. He said that he had personal knowledge
of persons interested in silver during the last
year. He had seen accounts made up on the
books of Wells, Fargo & Co. Jennings was
the man who made them up. William A, the
witness said, were Jennings initials, at least
Jennings told him so. though he (witness) did
not register him when he was born.
HE EvADED THE QUESTIONS.
The witness was asked number of questions
to find out If any of the names on these books
were those of Senators or Representatives. He
evaded the questions. asked the definition of
''purpOrted and finally did not know whether
lie had seen the names of any Representatives
in connection with silver transactions. Before
answering similar questions as to Senators he
consulted his lawyer and then said that he had
not. and volunteered the suggestion that the
COmnllttee should nave experts examine the
books of Wells. Fargo 4 Co.
During this testimony the witness at one
time asked II his questioner meant ''books of
any bank" Mr.. Payne wanted to know after
a while what the witness meant by his ques-
ton and finally learned that he referred to the
books of J. NJ Donald. cashier of the Hanover
National Bank, and OF Hall, the assistant cashier
Owenbey was asked if on any of these books
there was the name ofany Senator or Represent
alive and after bordering the question while
he replied that Donald held up some cor
respondence ard said it was that Of a Senator
He next wanted 10 know whether BY silver was
meant bullion certificates or warehouse re-
ceipts and was informed that in every case
silver was intended to cover the broadest
ground.
HIS CONVERSATION WITH DONALD.
The witness was examined closely with ref
ereEcc TO his conversation with Donald when
the correspondence was exhibited. He said
Donald picked up letter while they were
canvassing the silver situation and said: That
man Is In II; know what he will do"
Nj. Payne-He mentioned the name. did he?
Owenbey-Iou are very anxious to have me
mention that, are you? Yes; / will state posi-
lively that it was 4 Senator's name.
As an excuse for not being able to give in
formation with regard to other questions asked
OwchOey said that the information was i'm his
books. Some OF the books were in Chicago and
others were burned up. The books were in a
safe deposit company and not accessible to him.
be Gid not want to get access to them and put
them where lie could not get them. He did
that after stevens evidence before the COM
mitteG. The books referred to his private af-
fairs and he would not state low they could be
obtained unless compelled to do SO. He was
doing business in Chicago and interested with
the firm of Field, Weicher & King. Their
business was Of a personal nature and it would
probably be detrimental to the firm to state
where their books. accounts and stocks were
Kept. Did not remember what was in the
books and did not want TO. He said there were
some papers on the subject in his trunk. but
that his trunk was in Chicago.