Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1875 — The EI Passo R. R. Fraud. [ARTICLE]

The EI Passo R. R. Fraud.

From the New York Sun we find a series of documents which seem to prove that the affairs of the Memphis, ElPasso> Texas and Paeific Railroad have reached a lower depth of corruption than the Credit Mobilier or the Pacific Mail frauds. It seems that what are called settlement certificates, certificates for lands, construction certificates, stocks and bonds, issued to the amount of nearly twelve millions of dollars, to be used where they would do the most good iu the passage of certain bills in Congress, and that over eleven millions are yet unaccounted for by the parties who had charge of them. — It is reported that Hunter aad Shanks, of this State, know something about it — It is now iu order for them to make a statement. Since writing the above we have found Mr. Hunter’s explanation. He says he did receive $250,000 of the stuff for his services as attorney, but the stock was almost worthless, and further adds: , “Theamount of bonds and stock sounds large for a fee, but they were like selfrighteousness—the more a man had of them the worse he was off. Five thousand dollars in money at the time would have been worth to me far more than the trash I did get; but, not having the money, I took what I could get At the time all this took place I was not a member of Congress, and had a right to engage in any business I saw fit. If my clients do not grumble-, certainly none others have a right to, unless their rights are in some way affected. I will further state that if any bonds, money, or stock was ever given out by the company or any persou in its employ, to aid iu the passage of the bills before Congress, I never knew anything of it. I certainly never engaged in any such business.