Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-12
|. & G. N. RECEIVERS
The investigating Committee
Gets Down to Business.
RECORDS PUT IN THE EVIDENCE
To Show the Wretched Condition of the
International and Great Northern
Before the appointment of
the Receivers.
Special 70 the Gazette.

'-DNNlstl ~ tllC bdLtlit"
GALVESTON. Ten, June 11.-When the
Legislative committee charged with the IN
vestigation of the rcceivership of the Inter
national and Great Northern railway met
at 10 o'clock this morning there was fine
array of legal talent ia the room.
Among those present were Judge Gerald.
the father OF the resolution calling
for the investigation: Judge George Clark.
Judge Alexander, Gen. Felix Robertson Of
Waco. Senator Horace Chiffon. Mr.. n. w
Finley. Judge n. W. Duncan, Hon. 7. K.
Bonner and Hon. I. NJ. Campbell, receiv-
erS OF the International aud Great Northern.
Messrs. Cone Jonson, Merdon, Jackson,
Whitaker and Lindsay Of Tyler: Capt.
Evans and Hon. George B. Seimpelman.,o f
Austin, and many others of note.
Judge Clark Gen. Robertson and Judge
Alexander appeared for the Farmers loan
and trust company of New York, and Incl
dentally for Judge Gerald, while Alessrs.
y. W. Finley and \. +. Duncan appeared
for the defendants and Judge McCOrd and
Judge Mckenney.
The chairman of the committee called for
the resolution upon which the investigation
about to be had was predicated.
The resolution being read, the counsel for
the receivers desired to be informed as
to the character OF the charges and
desired to see the letter written
to Judge Gerald in response to the one
written by himself, upon which he pre-
dictated his resolution adopted by the legisla-
ture authorizing an Investigation into the
receivership of the International and Great
Northern railway. They desired to be in
formed specifically who we're the accusers
and the nature Of the charges.
Mr. Alexander thought the letter should
be placed in the hands of the committee, as
it was the basis of the charges.
Mr. Clark said although Judge Gerald
Of I,
letter. the question with him was whether
the committee had right to go behind the
resolution. It was matter of Indifference
how the resolution ordering the investiga-
ton was formed.
Mr.. Duncan thought there was no going
behind the returns. Judge Gerald had no
excuse for appearing before the committee.
He (the speaker asked, not for the COM
mttee but for himself, copy of the letter.
He asked Judge Clark about the justi-
fication Men. he said, were usually
called upon to answer serious char rS.
and which were specified by the indict-
ment. but here the gentlemen were without
any charges. Contrary to any precedent,
the men were there to answer they knew
of the letter in justice, and
if Judge Gerald refused, well and
good. The speaker intimated nothing which
would mean that they wanted the letter
suppressed but they wanted pure record.
Senator II. w. Garwood thought that the
dissension was immaterial. He moved that
the evidence be proceeded with, as they
We're there for that purpose.
Judge Gerald said the letter was an
answer to one dated from Austin, and in
answer to direct inquiries that he made. He
had no objection to the letter going in,
nor had the person who wrote it.
In fact it was to the interest of the person
who wrote the letter that it should go in.
His only object was to get the letter in the
records, the first letter and his reply to it,
1t was decided to introduce the evidence.
Mr.. Clark said they would first introduce
the record in the evidence. as that must be
the basis of the investigation. Then he
would offer the first testimony which
would be in explanation of the different
features. He supposed it was understood
by consent that the records would be put in
the evidence.
Mr.. Duncan asked what part OF the rec
orts We're to be put in, as there were some
1000 pages.
Mr.. Clark said they would first put in the
original petition of Jay Gould filed in the
district court of Smith county in February,
1889
The various portions of the records
were then read by Mr.. Felix Robertson.
Mr.. Duncan asked the chair about the
absence of Senator Crane.
The chairman said the senator would be
present, so he had telegraphed on the 10th.
Then followed the reading of voluminous
court proceedings, pleadings in inter-
vention suits for damages, all tending to
show the physical and financial condition
of the road and the necessity of placing the
same in the hands of receivers to save it
from utter ruin and bankruptcy The his
tory of its lease to and becoming a part of
the Gould system in connection with the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas rail
way; the struggles of the latter
to get out of the clutches
of Gould. and when finally it
succeeded, the efforts of the Missouri
Kansas and Texas railway to secure con-
troll of the International and Great
Northern on the ground that it held a ma
jority of the stock of the latter road. and
failing of this the efforts of the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas TO throw the Interna-
tional and Great Northern railway into the
hands of receivers, and jay Gould's success
full resistance of the efforts of the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas, which was followed by
the cancellation of the lease of the Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas of the Interna-
tional and Great Northern railway, and the
subsequent withdrawal of the Mis-
souri,. Kansas and Texas of all
proceedings against the lnterna
tinnal and Great Northern railway,
were al brought Oub III TIE documentary
evidence offered by Messrs. Clark, Robert
son & Alexander There was also offered
Judge Herndons article entitled, 'Gould's
Capacious Maw," from the New York
Times of May 5, asking why Gould
should not be made to call a halt,
and other voluminous records, all tending
to show the wretched condition the Inter
national and Great Northern was in be-
fore the appointment of the receivers. Next
the council appointed Messrs. Bonner and
Finley receivers, with bond and oath. and
the court approved of the same
The order appointing F. NJ. Campbell as
special master was read and fled. The