The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-02-04
THE SILVER POOL.
JAMES Il. OWENBY CONTINUES
HIS TESTIMONY.
He Said He Had No Direct Inforrna-
ton OF Congressman
Speculating.
Special to the REconD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-James A. Owen
by resumed his testimony before the
Silver Pool Investigating Committee to-
day. He REQUIRED to the conversations
with Donald, the Hanover bank cashier
Donald, Owenby said, told him that
certain Senator'S and Representatives
were interested in the silver transactions.
lie offered TO give the names, but Messrs.
| Payne and Rowell made decided objec-
tions and insisted on what was said at
| these conversations being given, but
with the names omitted.
Oates thought the names should be
given, and Owenby said he could not
properly give the conversations without
the names. About seven Congressman,
he thought, were mentioned. Donald
stated that Congressman were interested
in silver through certain parties or in sti-
tutions.
The Fourth National and Chase Nation
al Banks were doing dealings for these
congressman, Donald said He also
stated that Zimmerman & Forsbay,
August Belmont, and Carson lS Sim
nonds We're interested. Orders for silver
were given to them, and it was bought in
London to cover up the tracks.
Donald also told the witness that he got
| information from private agent here
whom he kept in his employ. He did not
know his name.
Donald said that when he had any
doubts about matters he came over and
saw Representative and also Senator,
with whom he had close relations Dom
aid had two Congressional friends, but
| the witness understood him to refer more
particularly to the Representative. Dom
| aid claimed to be interested in these silver
| transactions.
The total amount of silver agreed to be
bought by persons interested with Dom
aid, witness said, was $1,000 600 worth
lie could not remember the exact date of
| these conversations. There was no one
present at these conversations, to the best
of witness recollection. Silver was bought
at 81 and up to l03. At on time Donald
spoke Of the sale of silver, but did not
state how much was sold
Before making these latter answers
Owenby had examined two slips OF paper
he carried
Payne asked what those slips were, and
witness stated they were memoranda that
he had made half an hour ago from some
letters and kilograms from Donald which
he had with him. Before handing to the
committee these letters and kilograms he
insisted on their return during the day as
soon as copies could be made. He also
submitted a letter from Parsons of Wells,
Fargo IL Co.
Owenby was then examined as. to his
contract arrangements with Donald.
They were verbal, he said.
OWenby said he received information
from David T. Littler, Bill Hall, Assist
ant Cashier of the Hanover Bank, and
). u. Cunningham of persons being inter
ested. IN silver speculation. Witness
mentioned the names of the persons in
terested. and Littler assented, and also
mentioned the names of Congressman
Owenby said he had no direct personal
knowledge OF any Congressional silver
speculation. The statement in CORE
spondent Stevens publication that the
largest pool was the one of Senators and
New 9ork capitalists, and that it was in
terested to the extent of 1000, 900 ounces,
was based by witness principally on
statements made by Littler, who said the
men were frequenters of Chamberlain's
He had stated to Stevens that iinpecuni-
Gus congressman Were permitted to bor-
row money on their individual notes,
without security, for the purpose of car
rying silver. Donald gave him the in
formation. He also told Stevens that
Cullom, Teller, Cannon and others We're
not in the pot. His statement about Gull
lom was from personal knowledge. Wit
ness went to Senator Cullom and stated
that he was interested in silver pur-
chase, and in a polite way that some
Congressman were interested. Senator
Cullom stopped him at once and told him
to go no further: that he (Cullom) never
speculated, and never would allow any-
one to carry silver for him.
The statements made in the publica-
ton by Stevens were gone over carefully,
item by item, and witness in each case
said he had made substantially that state
ment.
Adjourned.