Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-02-17
STORY or DRAFT.
Three witnesses re(sified In Regard
to That poicukent.


Austin, Feb. 16.-Tbc story OF the
$1,000 draft Senator Bailey is alleg-
ed to have drawn on II. C. Pierce June
l3. 1900. was testified TO by three wit
nesses before the legislative investi-
eating committee.
The first witness was J. NJ. Potter
Of Gainesville. who In that year was
connected with the Red River Nation
nj bank Of that place. Mr.. Potter pro
duced that part OF the books OF his
bank which showed that the draft had
been placed In his bank for collection
on June 10. 1900: that Il had been paid.
and that Senator Bailey had drawn
the proceeds out al different times by
checks for various amounts His books
contained no reference, he said. to
Henry 4 Stribling. or either of them.
Andrew NJ. Finlay of st. Louis fol-
lowed. Mr.. Finlay has been vice pres
ident. then president and then vice
president gain OF the waters-Picrce
OIL company.
He gave testimony regarding the
$500 voucher now In possession OF
the state OF Texas and the telegram
from Mr.. Pierce attached thereto
Such portions OF the voucher as pur-
ported TO be in his own handwriting
he identified as having been written
by him. Other portions. he said. were
by J. p. Gruet and II. Naudain. The
notations on the telegram: IS. D..
drawn by Bailey" he said had been
made by him. but he had absolutely
no recollection OF the transaction. He
said the 20. X" which the papers
bore was In the handwriting of J. ID.
johnson. attorney for the Waters
Pierce OIL company. and II was prob
able that Mr.. Johnson had been con-
suited In this regard. as the witness
disclaimed any knowledge whatever
o. matters pertaining to the compaay's
legal affairs.
As TO the notation. "stribling 4
Taylor" which had been changed ia
read "Stribling a Henry" he said the
original and the alteration were In
his own handwriting. but he did not
kr,- how he had come 10 make either
In fact. he said. his only knowledge
of the entire transaction was such "A
he could glean from a perussl Of the
papers before him. for he had no In
dependent recollection OF Il, and would
not believed he could have handled
such papers II they were not befor'
him.
At the night session Mr.. Hutchin
son. who Is a travelling auditor OF tbs
Waters.Pierce OIL company. and WHIT
was chief bookkeeper of that COMPANY
for many years. was on the stand
He traced the entries OF the severa
vouchers which have figured In thi
case through the various books. Man,
OF the entries he recognized as havin
! been made by himself
The tracing OF each OF the item
extended 10 the private ledger OF th
company. where the items were char
! ed OF TO profit and loss. The item
were the $4,000 voucher. the &1.75
voucher, the 5000 voucher and tn
1900 voucher. There are a gres
D many circumstances connected wit
n these entries, which cannot be col
a densed In a brief statement.
a During the course OF his testimon
Mr.. Hutchinson was asked II NJ
Z Pierce was familiar with the booi
= of his company and could testify CO
corning the entries n he were presen
y He said that he knew Of hih ow
. know edge that Mr.. Pierce had nev'
; seen the books from the time he too
e charge OF them In 1890.