The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-21
AFTER THE SILVER POOL
The Investigation Is at Last
Begun.
How the Charges First Got
Circulated.
Senator Stewart Said There
Was Millions in 1t.
New Testimony Regarding the
Refrigerator Company.
a Roast at the Worlds Fair Com
mission.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE house silver
pool investigation COMMITTEES began its in
quiry this morning. Mr. Stevens, the
principal Washington correspondent of
the st. LOUIS Globe Democrat which paper
first printed the charges OF a congressional
silver pool, was the first witness. The
article in the Globe Democrat, was shown to
Mr. Stevens He identified it as
having been prepared by him
self from statements made to
him bv others. Witness had an inter-
view with J. w. Owenby, in which the
statements given were made. He could
not locate 0wenby exactly. but he was
managing the Silver Reef mine in Utah,
and could. witness thought, be reached
without difficulty. Witness had no
personal knowledge of any sem
ator OF representative being
engaged in silver pool and never heardany
member say anything with regard to his
own conn ction with the silver. The Owen
by interview was not submitted to Owenby
after being written. Owenby mentioned
some names which witness left out in the
writing. His personal knowledgeas to the
conduct of senators and representatives
went only to the extent OF the interview.
Mr.. Stevens had conversation with Col.
Joseph X Hickey OF Fulton, Mo. Mr..
Hickey said he had bought some silver
while the silver legislation was pending
and had made some money, but not
nearly 50 much as had been re-
ported. Hickey said he let go
too soon. He had only $4,000
ounces that he bought at l.04 or 81 .05 and
let 90 at Sl.l0. Witness could not say
whether or not Rickey stated he bought
silver in connection with others or as a
private speculation. He did not believe
Hickey said anything about having fur
thered legislation.
Mr.. Rowell-"Do you know of your
own knowledge whether Hickey was what
is ordinarily called a lobbyist?'
Mr.. Stevens-"He seems 10 have great
deal OF business about the capitol. I
don't know exactly what it is. He is a
banker"
The names OF David T. Littler and ex-
Treasurer Tanner of Illinois were brought
out as having, on heresay testimony, some
connection with the silver speculation.
Witness said he had conversation with
Senator Stewart which, in witness
opinion, was confirmatory of
some Of the statements which had
been made to him. Senator Stewart said
he was not personally connected with sill
yer speculation, and witness added. But
/ understood him 10 have personal
know edge of other people being con-
nected with it." Owenby said that, pend
ing silver legislation, agents of
New York bankers, brokers and silver
dealers were in the habit of coming TO
Washington and having conferences at
the Shoreham and Chamberlin's, and
directing the pans OF the lobby.
In response TO a request for the names
of these lobbyists, Mr. Stevensrepied that
he should not like TO call them lobbyists
Owenby had given witness a number OF
names Of persons who, he said, had been
assisting legislation. Witness cOuld not
recall all OF them, but believed he had
made a memorandum of them in a
notebook and would produce the names if
he could find them. Among the names
Owenbv mentioned were L. q. Newlands
who bought ex-President Cleveland's
place, and Fl. b. Parsons of New York,
cashier of Wells, Fargo & Co.
The examination was then directed
toward conversations with Hickey. at the
suggestion OF the committee names being
omitted, and witness said: 81 met Hickey
in a hotel and he said: what is this
ID fellow manning the representative
after by his resO ution|
Il asked Hickey what he meant
Hickey replied: l met Smith the journal
clerk of the house and Smith said your
friend fp,apticpipo a - coin. f<
get into trouble. Hickey said he asked
Smith what he meant and Smith replied,
why he's the man that Representa-
tive = is after Hickey said he replied:
L don't know what you mean WHY,
Hickey said Smith, they expect to con-
meet him with the silver pool Hickey
said be replied to smith: How do YOU
knowP Smiths answer was: why
he told a member OF congress
So" Hickey said he then retorted:
We'll. know this party never owned an
ounce of silver in It's lite, and / viii give
you new hve-hundred-dolla gold note
if you will produce that represen tative
that said the other representative told
him that Then Hickey went on TO say
why be knew bis friend was not in it,"
THE examination then recurred to
Owenby, aud witness said that Owenby
complained that those with whom he was
associated in speculation had robbed him.
Witness would not like to give
the names mentioned by 0wenby,
because they related to bis inform
ants private affairs. He understood,
Mr.. Owenby, that there were a number
of different groups interested in silver
speculations. These groups each CON-
prised eight or ten men and worked togeth-
er for the purpose of efiecting the most IA
vorable legislation possible. He gave the
names Of senators or representatives con-
nected with the groups. but he (witness)
preferred not to mention the names.
After the investigating reso ution was in
troduced, witness had asked Owenby, in
case of an investigation, what parties could
prove the statements, and Owenby had
given some names. The question of re-
quiring the witness to give the names
went over for the present.
George III. Apperson, another CORE
spondent of the Globe Democrat, said he
had heard Owenbv tax to Stevens and
had himself spoken to Owenby, though
not at any great length. Owenby had