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you say. "Is said to prevail." Now who says these things?
Q.--But you say.
A.-That was the charge in the paper.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-All you based your signature to that paper on, was that one sentence in the paper?
A. Yes.
Q.-You never heard anything more about the department being accused of jobbery or anything else?
A.-No.
Q.-And you never had reason to suppose opportunities were given for bribery It never occurred to you such a thing was possible?
A.-No; I never heard about it. I have never done so. I am quite willing to abide by an investigation and face my accusers.
Q.--The CHAIRMAN.--You have known both the SMITHS for years, and pretty inti- mately; can you explain what Mr. FRASER-SMITH'S motive was in calling you as a witness?
A. No, I really don't know, I have no idea, except what I said yesterday, that every one had seen us together, and being friends, people would naturally believe I was the person who had given information.
Q.-To put the public on a false scent?
A. Yes.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.—It is an astounding thing he should call you to prove his case, knowing all the time you never said anything about it. Can you believe a man guilty of such folly?
A.-Well, supposing I had told him I was willing to go as a witness it was not likely I would turn back on him.
you?
Q.-No, but the Chairman asks you the question, what was his motive in calling
A.--I cannot tell, except that he thought he would bring out something. What his idea was I don't know.
!
Q.--The CHAIRMAN.--You think that having got his information from some other - source he thought he could call you and make people believe you were the source?
A.-That is my belief; but who he got his information from I don't know.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-You expect us to believe you never had any conver sation with him, and yet he calls you as a witness as to what you said about the Public Works Department?
A.--The accusation is that I go to the office and give him information, and I say I never did.
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