493 



Q. Which case you understand is not decided yet ? 

 A. No. 



Q. While coming down on the train did you hear Mr. Turner make 

 some remarks with reference to the forest commission ? 



Mr. Adams. — I object to it because the only tendency is to impeach 

 or discredit Mr. Turner, and under every rule of evidence in every 

 trial or investigation before such evidence is permissible they must 

 inquire of Mr. Turner whether he had such a conversation, specifying 

 the time and place to call his attention to it, so that he may say one 

 way or the other, and afterwards they can call a witness if they so 

 desire to contradict .him. No such question was asked Mr. Turner; 

 he never was asked by the other side, whether on a certain occasion, at 

 a certain place, he had any conversation with this Mr. Parker. 



Mr. Anibal. — That rule would be applicable in certain cases, but 

 this is one that that rule does not apply. At the request of the 

 counsel for the committee or Mr. Adams here, who represents 

 the committee, he was asked if he had any feeling in this matter 

 relative to the forest commission ; he gave what he considered to be a 

 proper answer in regard to that. This isn't for the purpose of con- 

 tradicting him in that sense, but simply to show the animus and the 

 feeling that this man has with reference to the forest commission. 



Mr. Adams. — In that view it is wholly incompetent. It isn't the way 

 by hearsay testimony to cry down men's characters and contradict 

 them. 



Mr. Anibal. — You seem to be very sensitive over Mr. Turner's 

 character all at once, have been all the while; we haven't said anything 

 about it. 



Mr. Adams. — I understand very thoroughly. 



Mr. Anibal. — We want to prove at this time, in substance, that while 

 coming: down on the train from this law suit he made remarks and 

 said, in substance, that the damn forest commission had got to go; he 

 would set the Legislature on them the following winter; they would 

 have to get out. 



Mr. Adams. — If the committee please, Mr. Turner has given very 

 important testimony, which, if true, is very damaging to the adminis- 

 tration of the laws by the commission, and the defense of these gen- 

 tlemen, if they have any, is to break down Mr. Turner, to show that 

 he hadn't testified to the truth. Now that, of course, involves the 

 character and reputation of Mr. Turner who has been called before 

 this committee, and this committee is in duty bound to protect him 

 under all the rules of law as they are observed in all courts 

 and in all investigations, and if they are too impeach or con- 



