The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-23
C0NTRADICT0RYEVIDENCE
TERRE HAUTE REVENUE OFFICE
INQUEST DEVELOPS SURPRISES.
Point Blank Assertions and Equally
Point Blank DeniaIs Made-Sum-
mary of the Testimony.

TERRE HAUTE, April 2-As result
of the days investigation of the Seventh
district internal revenue office by Civil
Service Commissioner FOulke, assisted by
Special Examiner Covell. there is presented
startling contradictory testimony. AS to
the charges against Collector Bonnell, no
evidence was admitted on which the COM
mission in turn could prefer formal charges
to the Treasury Department Many of the
allegations against the collector were ruled
out by Commissioner Foulke. who informed
the two Democratic subordnates, Bolton
and Hunt. that it was not a matter coming
under the province of the commission. AS
to the discrimination in making assign
ments subordinates, the testimony
showed that the assignments complained
of were not made on Collector Bonnells
initiative. Special Examiner Coven, who
has been repeatedly quoted as having said
while here a few weeks ago that the office
under Bonnell is rotten says he never
made such a comment
Practically all of the day was taken up
in hearing testimony in regard to political
assessments under former Collector Henry,
but each witness also was asked by Mr..
Foulke if Mr.. Bonnell had given him any
political instruction, and all testified that
he had not done so. j. G.. McNutt, attorney
for Judge Henry, in his examination of
witnesses, asked questions tending to bring
out political activity under Collector Bon
nell.
StOrekeeper Houk told of a meeting of
Republican employees in Collector Henry's
office to raise funds for the 1900 presidential
campaign fund, and said Collector Henry
made talk in which he said the commit
tee expected money from the men in the
service. He named several persons as be-
ing present at this meeting, but far as
these were called TO the stand he has been
fatty contradicted. the witnesses saying
they knew of no such meeting. He said the
amount was fixed at $44 for storekeepers,
and $52 for gaugers. He testified that he
paid his contribution to De Baum. He said
also that in the spring of 1901 he paid $40
toward fund for Collector Henry's per
sonal expenses in seeking reappointment,
and that he also handed in $40 from Store
keeper Stewart to j. w. Love or De Baum
when he paid his own second installment
OF $40. De Baum, Love and Stewart con-
tradicted him point-blank. He said De
to hand the fund to Henry. Love
and Henry denied this, or that they had
ever paid money into such fund Self is
the man who is now in the revenue office
at Washington, and who at first refused 10
testify before the commission there: He
afterward promised to testify, but it is not
known if he has done so.
Houk testified that he, Stewart, Rinehart,
stationed at the Vincennes distillery,
when Bridgeman received letter from
De Baum in regard to the fund, and
and Seldomridge denied that they knew of
such letter or had talked about the mat
ter. In last October Collector Henry sus-
pended him when he refused 10 write
letter retracting things he was accused Of
having said about the the collector getting
in trouble over assessments. Later he was
restored, but Commissioner FOulke COM
mented that the suspension was illegal be-
cause no charges in writing were preferred
against HOuk.
The cross-eXamination brought out that
Houk had been active supporter of Mr..
Barcus this year in the latters effort to be
nominated for congressman. This is in
connection with the charge that Collector
Bonnell was ''perniciously active" In Bar
cuss cause. De Baum and Love testified
that they had attended no meetings in
regard to campaign funds, that they had
served on no committees and that they had
never heard of the Judge Henry personal
fund until after the time it was supposed
to have been raised. De Baum denied hav-
ing written the letter to Vincennes. Store
keeper Bohannon testified as to talks he
had about the fund and of his saying 10
Storekeeper BOyll that he didn't think he,
Bowl a church man could consistently
make the contribution to such fund
Frank o. Cliff, a deputy collector, tes-
titled that when the amount of his contri-
held out of his salary check ne kicked
and got a check in full. His contribution
to the presidential campaign fund he said.
he gave TO- Collector Henry in person.
amount being held out of his check and
that he objected but took the check. Hill
plOyes. at which Collector Henry spoke
of the city campaigns needs. He could
name only four five who We're present.
The examination of Cliff and Henry
for he.
had not been friendly to Judge Henry since
il became known that Bonnell was TO be
collector. Cliff said his change of feeling
dated TO the time Judge Henry treated
his friend HOuk badly. All the witnesses
testified that they had contributed $40 or
$50 to the presidential campaign fund.
Bridgeman came up from Vincennes for
the afternoon session and utterly contra
dicted Houks testimony as to having read
letter about the personal fund for Judge
Henry or ever talking with Houk or any
one else about such fund. Judge Henry
had number of witnesses recalled to tes-
tify that they never heard of the meeting
Hill said had been held in the office at the
time OF the spring campaign in 1900. but
none of the three or four Hill named as
having been present were called for that
purpose.
book and the check for his months salary
in 1900 10 show that the amount of his con-
tribution for the city campaign was de-
Quoted from his salary. The check was
signed by Collector Henry. and on cross
examination ii was sought to show that
the check may have been signed i'm blank
and Judge Henry have no knowledge of the
Withholding of the campaign money. The
check was filled In by former Chief Deputy
Warren, now out of the service, who was
sent for by Commissioner Foulke and who
sent back word that he was too busy to
attend.
Gifts testimony that he paid the cash
to Collector Henry was not cOntradicted
He said Deputy Warren was the only other
person present when the payment was
made. Commissioner Foulke told Judge
Henry that he could make a statement if
he desired, but his attorney said the evil
dence against his client was not sufficient
10 warrant Judge Henry Identifying it by
making a statement.