Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-01
sILvER-PooL INVESTIGATION.
A witness Who Knows Nothing of Gov
eminent officials Specializing.
m, ,oto,r.n h IN thu Disnatchl

eminent Onicials speculatlng'
tBy telegraph to the DIspstch.l
WASHINGTON, January 91.-J. NJ. Donald,
cashier of the Hanover National Bank OF
New York, appeared before the Silver
Pool Investigation Committee tins morn
ing and testified that he had paid Ownbey
$3.50 for information with regard to the
proeress of silver legislation last session,
but that Ownbey had not furnished any
earlier information than was published IN
the newspapers. Information was desired,
not for speculative purposes, but for the
purpose of enabling the bank to keep the
track of affairs. Ownbev professed to be
able to see the minutes OF the clerk OF the
committee in charge of the silver bill, but
did not assert that he could further legis-
latiOn.
John W. Heidelberg, a Chicago real es-
tate dealer whose name has been connect
ed with speculation in silver, testified
that he was in Washington about month
last winter and spring and advertised for
a ready writer familiar with blmetallism.
For several wears witness had secured the
introduction of financial bills in
tended to carry out his views, and
as the subject was under conslde-
ration he wanted some one to write ar
ticles in the Washington papers Advocating
the use by the Government of JOINT legal
tender Unfortunately rather than either
gold or silver. A man named HUI respond
ed TO it and said he could do what writing
was wanted, but the witness a. soon as he
saw him was satisfied that Hill would not
suit him. He did not wish to offend the
man and probably said that he would de
fer the decision.
EXAMINED AT LENGTH.
Witness was then examined at length
with regard to each of the statements
made by Hill and George in their testi-
mony. He did not, he said, say to either
Hill or George: Here IS something you
can make more money out OF than by
writing" and never suggested In any way
to either of them that they sell silver
certificates TO the members of Con-
gress or anybody else. All witnesses
purchases and sales of silver were
made through Henry Clews, d Co ,
and he did not know from whom he bought
or to whom he sold. Never sold TO any
congressman or government officer, and
had no knowledge of any such persons be-
ing engaged in silver speculation IN any
form. He had never conversed with any
senator representative, or government
how profitable It would be to purchase
silver. Fe had talked with numbers OF
congressman on the general subject OF
silver, but never with any with the
view of inducing them to pur-
chase. He had shown silver certificates
to Congressman Dorsey, Payson, and lay
lor. all of whom he knew pretty well, as the
certificates were new form of money
about which there was naturally some Gu
riosity. he had also shown them IN the
Capitol TO Mr.. George, who wanted to see
them, but never suggested the purchase or
sale of them to any of these gentlemen.
Witness said that it was his intention TO
20 into the purchase of silver on large
scale. For this reason he sought lnforma-
ton wherever he thought it was to be had.
In the course Of his investigation, as TO
the existence of the silver pool, Dir. Heden-
berg called upon S. V. White d Co.. OF New
York, and stating his object put the direct
question to them whether they had any
knowledge of the silver pool and whether
they had bought silver for any congress-
man. The reply was that they had pur-
chased silver upon the order Of their Wash
ington correspondent, but did not know
for whom. Hendenberg then asked TO be
put in communication with White 20. 8
Washington agent.
EXISTENCE OF POOL.
White & Co. expressed surprise at Heden-
berg's inquiry and desired 10 drop the cor
respondence. That" said Heidelberg.
was the strongest evidence of the exist
ence of the pool which could obtain. y
In this connection Heidelberg explained
his conversation at the Capitol with Hill
and George. These two men, he said, pro-
fessed to be able to give him information
as to the course of legislation. George
especially represented that he was
a southern man who knew many of the
northern Republicans and asserted that he
could get early information. OF course
that was what the witness wanted, but he
did not follow 1t up, as he was not lm-
pressed favorably with the men and did
not believe they were reliable channels OF
information. Neither OF them protested
to be able to influence congressman, but
simply to get information.