New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-24
MAJOR BUTT/ DENIES IT.
NE SAYS HE Is INNOCENT OF ANY At
TEMPT At BRIBERY.
rrsrrFyrxG BEFORE THE SENATE iNvEsTi-
eating COMMITTEE - MR HoiMANS

WARRINGTON. May &C ". Huuz. the alleged
hrlbcr who was much wanted by the senatorial
Investigating Committee yesterday. hut iai'eu !"
appear was hand when the committee met 'n'S
morning He was ont OF the city Yesterday look
ing for an important witness. and failed TO INFORM
chairman Gray that he could not be present until
to-day. Major BUTTE was accompanied by MS
counsel ex- Congressman MCGOWAN. OF Mi'hisah'
and the Inter was allowed TO remain In the COM
mlttcc room while his client gave his testimony
All other persons were excluded
Major Butiz was on the stand for about an hour
and At the end Of that time was discharged Tor 'he
dav lie declined to state what the nature OF his
evidence had been. as he again cautioned by
the committee not to talk. lie did say, however
that he had nothing 20 conceal. but was prevented
from talking 10y tho committee ono thlhs ne
,.,,,eJ tho nubllc to know was that he would never
run away; and when 1t was reported that ne had
left tho city. IT could be depended upon that he
would be back Il never ran from an enemy
neither during the war nor since" he said. ana
do not propose to begin now. am innocent or the
charge that has been brought against me. and VIII
face 1t wherever 1t comes up. II am tried ana
convicted. | viii he compelled to submit to pun
ishmcnt: but for running away that IL some
thing | will not br found doing
pcrerrlnr 10 the reasons for this action against
him Major Buttz sald he had an idea why 1t wa,
done but that OF course. had not come out before
the committee. why was IT, asked Mr.. BUTT
that The Philadelphia Press puDHsneu that iohb
article on the Sugar Trust day. and The New
York sun published this attack ON me the next /!
Sugar fell rapidly from 100 20 almost ~ as the result
of these newspaper statements. Who sold Sugar,
| and why was II done? These matters that could
be- very probably looked into and might anord
some ciew as to why am made the subject or this
attack"
| Major I5uttz gave To the committee the name or
the man for wnom he looking yesterday, but
| whom he failed TO find. The man Is In Virginia on
| business but Will be back in day or two, and II
| is probable that the committee Will summon him.
After Major IuttZ had finished T. :. Holman. a
| lawyer. this city put on the stand. Mr..
| Holman told the committee that early in April last
| he was attending TO some legal business In com
mittee-room in the Capitol while BUTTE was present:
| The witness said he assisted 10y man named
"Alcck" Harris and the latter said he would give
81 600 to know how the Popust Senators would vote
! on the Tariff bill because his knowledge would be
| worth money TO him In speculation. Mr. Holman
said there was offer made. and Mr.. Harris had
made the remark merely In conversational way.
| The witness characto riZed the efforts OF Butte To
make money OF Idle remark as 'Co' onel
! Sellers proposition The conversation took place
| early In April and Harris died on the nth OF that
month. When Mr. Holman had concluded his testl-
mony the committee adjourned.
The committee will make its report 10 the Senate
I'm n few days and will tomorrow begin the nvcstl-
CATION Of the other branch under the resolution
that relating to the doings Of the Sugar Trust and
the alleged conduct OF Senators who have been
charged with specializing in Sugar. The first wilt
ness Will be Mr.. Edwards. OF New-York, who wrote
the Holland" letters