The record-union., 1891-02-03
Special to the REcoRD-US1os.

special TO the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. I'm the silver
pool investigation to-day Representative
Abner Taylor of Illinois stated that he
bought on margin in last July and Au-
gust 10000 ounces of silver and sold it at
profit. He wished it put on record that
the purchase was made after the silver
bill had become law. He has not
bought any silver since.
Congressman Taylor said he did not
know of any Senator or Representative
having bought silver The witness did
not buy any silver before the law went
into effect, nor while legislation was
pending. He had dealt some in wheat
since he had been in Congress. He had,
after consultation with the President,
Secretary of the Treasury and Director of
the Mint (by whom it was approved, in
troduced bill at the beginning of the
session looking to the purchase of the
100000 ounces surplus in the United
States. He did not hold an ounce of sill
yer at the time, and did not before the
introduction of the bin have any confer
ence with any man supposed to own
silver
Representative Clunie of California
testified that he had never dealt in silver,
and did not know any Senator or Repre-
sentative who had.
James \. Owenby was sworn. He re-
sided, he said, in New York, but spent
most of his time in Washington. His
business last year was that of broker. II
handledIall sorts of securities, and when
he had an opportunity dealt in silver. His
original business was mining. He had
desk room in the Office of Wells. Fargo &
Co. in New York.
Payne asked if witness had talked with
Stevens, correspondent of the Globe
Democrat, about the silver pool.
Witness-'I probably have used the
word pool in speaking of parties in con-
versation about silver. l had some
knowledge of different parties who be-
Heved were engaged in silver trading, but
OF an organized pool | don't believe
did, He had seen accounts upon the
books OF Wells, Fargo d Co
Witness was asked a number of cues
tons, to find out if any names on the
books were those of Senators or Repre-
sentatiyes. He evaded these questions.
and volunteered the suggestion that the
committee should have experts to ex-
anime the books of Wells, Fargo & Co.
During the testimony, witness AT one
time asked If his questioner meant books
OF any BANK
Payne wanted to know after while
what witness meant by this question, and
finally learned that he referred to the
books of j. NJ Donald, Cashier of the
Hanover National Bank, and OF Hall, As
Sistant Cashier.
Owerby was asked if on any of these
books was the name of any Senator OF.
Representative, and after considering
the question awhile he replied that Dom
aid had once picked up q letter while they
were canvassing the silver situation and
said: That man is in it. / know what
he viii do''
Payne-.He mentioned a name, did
he?"
Owenby-"You are very anxious to
have me mention that, are you ?''
Yes"
II will state positively it was a Sena-
tors name"
As an excuse for not being able to give
information. with regard to other ques-
tons asked, Owenby said the informa-
ton was in his books. The books referred
to his private affairs, and he would not
state how they could be obtained unless
compelled to do so. He was doing bust
ness in Chicago, and was interested with
the firm of Field, Wicher IL King Their
business was of a personal nature, and it
would probably be detrimental to the
firm to state where the books, accounts
and stocks were kept. He did not re-
member what was in the books and did
not want to.
Other questions brought out the fact
that outside of these books witness had in
his trunk other receptacles and memoir
anda relating to silver speculationS. The
Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms he'd brought
him to Washington in such hurry that
he forgot all about the papers in his
trunk
Adjourned.