New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-03
MR. COBB TELLS HIS STORY.
Mr.. WATSON REASSEKTS HIS CHARGE AND SAYS
THAT HE MEANT TO ARRAIGN THE
DEMOC Ratio HOUSE.

Washington, Aug 2.-The House committee III
vcstigating the allegations made by Representative
Watson In his book OF drunkenness among members
Of Congress- today heard Mr.. Clarke Of Alabama
who testified IN brief that the only Instance Of dunk
he had the floor OF the House was
upon one OccaSion--durng the silver debate. Mr..
Cobb then took the stand In his own defence. Chair
man Boatner read the charges from the book In Qucs
! ton. and requested Mr. cobb 10 make any statement
he saw fit Mr. cobb prciaced his statement by re
ma1ng that he intended to quote from his address on
that evening show that " he not maudln drunk
or rambling In his talk He read copions extracts
from the original notes OF the stcnOgaphcr reporting
his address and the various questions put t. MIN ana
his answers during the debate. At the beginning oil
his remarks floor. he said he hal appealed 10
| the Hons, no, 10 Interrupt him. Ills request was
Il II Needed and several times he questioned by
several members. This was particularly cNspfrit
ing he said. because he intended making strictly
legal argument and did wish to b. Interrupted
"In regard 10 this matter Of drinhing.' SAID Mt
Cobb let me say that | am no, asking any ind"le
ence from any one because may LOOK INC "'"h
Ing for ! am not
For several DAYS before the night in question. Mr.
| Cobb said lac was engaged In aborous work gather
Ing material and preparing his argument. lie n'n
worked late and early. aud rs result. when - D."
gan Ms argument the floor he was not In MS usual
phvslcal condition. Ill, throat. he said was pate
ularlv weak and In order 10 relieve Soreness IN II
! snd alleviat. the ANNOYANCE % tlcblng. he hIi
teonestcd an cmployc Of the House 10 bring HIN
cun 81 beef tea "Surely beef tea i mild ana h'h
| Intoxicating liquid aid Mr.. cobb; lana II Wis
frequent Thing for members TO refresh themselves VII"
# during a speech lie lad called for be'i Yea Dc
csn.c I, WA, warm and soothing 10 the throat From
| time 10 time he had had the cup sent back anu r.
plenlshcd In order 10 exchange the cold tea Tor nov
,c. and from thnt circumstance DE thought all 'he
| ,r,u,lc Ind grown 1t not true. he shiu az h'n
been asserted bv Mr.. Watson. that b" h"n s''u -
page Bring me- some more wliNk"N'
Tho mint +, this said Mr.. C,bb, "no one couid
| have heard me ask u page ~ bring III" some "hs"''
,or never said it Whether whisky "aH mo"-h'
&c mare and placed on his desk. for the beef tea u"
did no. know lie too much engaged a' INC '''','
in his argument 20 noilc" who ph''a 1t %. "'
Whether a page or friend whom he hHu fN'I"o'''"
! to GO, him some stimuant, had brought It, he was
not prepared 10 say Mr.. cobb Acknowledged UNIV
como ul.kcy wns brought Ia him in n" couro" oil ID"
evening and placed his desk. II had been br""t"'
| lv a friend and he lad used IT Only I" relieve h''
| throat II # affected him in vote" or manner h'
was not conscious Of IT,. lie was a sober then ~ lac
W. now II was true that lie had drank little beer
/ during the day.
| Mr. watson. Mt this point interrupted the proceed
no hv asking Judge Cobb how he indie at"d that the
beverage was ont and that he wished IN" cup fcp'u
| i.h.d tD which the answer was that -" Lar IN "'
| MIR cobb remembered, hc had said I" fil"hd
| That he wanted a little whskey or some stlmulant
hardly thought, though thht No I'h"ih WIS I""4
enough to be heard any distance. Any one who said
| IL. had asked a pngc 10 get him whisky was m--
| taken When the wh>kcy was put before MN j."
| had slipped 1t two three times ana when lie GO"
clId.d his remarks he took another up; bn' he was
NOT made drunk by It, nor did his state approach ia
| toxlcation lie was fully persuaded that u In m'
remarks there was ANYTHING unusual 1t resulted from
ono Of two causes-clther from his anxiety II pn'
/ tcf,re the II use every legal point ia the case, or
| hecnuse lac hnd occupied the Moor too long ana Wa
anxious H. complete his remarks. '"h'hmh1' "''
,.n,,, ,od M, manner q speaking wns nervous lie
liked freedom Of action: he lhed Z" be Tree iTo'" Ms
dos, etc that lie might gcsticulae aud emphasize
| his assertions. summing ny, Mr.. Cobb stated 'h"'
ne was I'm no wise responsible foT the invcs'ien
zion and he had not wanted it; bat rs the IIon-e ha
ordered IT, he courcd the fullest inquiry In fact lie
tnonQht that ii nothing more than Icpetii'" OIL
| the story 81 the three black crows.
Mr.. Watson then made II statement In reference 10
The paragraph IN the book which has caused 3" m"ch
| discussion saving that 1t could not b" nndeN"oi
thorouehlv une.s the whole chapter VA, taken III"
| considerations He then paid trIbnt" T. the chdr
| acier Of Mr. Cobb. and stated that he hnd never
meant to draw the gentleman into the omc'i'S "or
had he aimed him Individually In his reference 10
| rambling maudln drunlards on the moor HIS
| hook he asserted, Wa complied for campaign ana
political purposes: and he had no inient"' VINE" ne
| wrote II, Of Bringing odum upon Mr. C0bb.
| Now II you did not intend 10 reflect upon VT
| Cobb whom did you intend % reflect upon = sn'd
Chairman BOatncr. To this pointed dn'stioh ''' ""'
.,u gave eva,ive answers, but ut last upon MI BOAT
-" ''t.,',' ,ho, ne ronbne NJ. answer 10 the ques
| h'r l"SI>"nt '' " :, . ,,i, ., ,h.
| ton, Mr. Watson said he meant IL 10 "PPN " "0
members Of the IIou-"
| H'' w" "'"'' W e
| Boatncr.
yes: / did, answered Mr.. Watson.
-, ,.,.. ,,o. ,.,oc.od.t "a ,rcu. al some length
MI ""'H"" wv" Po' ~ g. ,' 1, ,,o mi,