Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-02-20

Senator Matthew Quay made in the Sen
ate on Monday afternoon his long-expected
answer to the charges of fraud which have
been preferred against him. He read from
manuscript in a quiet way, showing no
nervousness or excitement. His speech
occupied only - minutes. Mr. Quay said
in beginning that he had remained silent
so long partly from indifference to Islander
and partly by the advice of friends, and
that he now spoke for the truth of history
We quote in full what he said about the
first three and most serious charges against
him
"The first assertion concerning my Off
cial acts is that at some time or continuous
ly between the years of 1879 and 1882 |
alone or acting with another or others,
used the moneys of the state of Pennsyl-
vania for speculative or private purposes.
| deuounce this statement as absolutely
false In 1877 the Democratic party of
Pennsylvania elected state treasurer and
an auditor general, the financial officers of
the commonwealth. A year or two later,
pending their terms of office became en-
gagged in stock operations. In some trans
actions was associated and Jointly inter
ested with the gentleman who was at that
time the cashier of the state treasury
These transactions proved seriously disas
trous, and was compelled to pay portion
of his losses as well as my own. In doing
this it became necessary to supply an al
legged deficiency he had caused in the treas
urv. As portion of the fund for this
purpose, ! borrowed 500, 900 from the gen
tleman who is at present my colleague in
the senate. gave him my judgment note
therefor, the amount of which note paid
to him, dollar for dollar, years ago. Not
until the beginning of the settlement of
our losses was aware that deficiency ex-
isted, and had every assurance that my
associate was able to carry his share of the
losses. My connection thereafter was sim
ply, with the aid of friends, to raise the
necessary funds to supply the deficit.
1T is charged that again l used moneys
belonging to the commonwealth of Penn
sylvania to purchase bonds or stock, or
both, of Chicago street railway / was
invited by friends in Philadelphia TO Join
in the purchase of street railway property
in Chicago, and did so, borrowing the mon
ey upon my own collateral from the Peo-
pies bank in Philadelphia. | stood upon
the same footing with the other gentlemen
concerned and it was perfectly straight
forward business transaction, and had no
connection IN any way with any public
fund or public interest. The charge that
securities belonging to the state of Penn
syvania were used in this transaction is
false and impossible of truth The only
negotiable securities held by the state of
Pennsylvania are the registered bonds of
the United States, transferable only on the
books of the national treasury by the aud
itor general, secretary of the common
wealth and state treasurer, acting conioint-
ly, after having filed certificate with the
governor in their official character
Collateral TO this last accusation is a
charge that Idefrauded, or attempted to de
fraud, the widow Of a deceased friend
This also is absolutely false. There breathes
not upon the earth man or woman who eau
truthfully say that l ever defrauded or at
tempted to defraud him or her of dollar
Upon this point charity to the dead and u
the living forbids my making any persona
explanation.
Mr.. Quay then went on to pronounce al
false a charge that he had acted corruptly
as a member of the board of pardons OF
Pennsylvania, and in attempting to secur,
the pardon of man named Lynch under
ecntence for forgery Equally false, h,
said, was "nebulous charge of bribery
and corruption as a member Of the Penn
sylvania legislature, nearly % years ago
in connection with a certain libel suit. On,
or two other charges Of bribery were ais,
specified and pronounced false. He ais,