503 



to be guilty, and an accusation against a man bears nothing against 



his character. An indictment in no court was ever received, an 



indictment untried, a simple accusation was never received to impeach 



or, discredit witnesses. It seems to me this is a very desperate case 



that our friends have here to bring forward an indictment to 



discredit a witness who has stated wrongful acts on the part of one 



of the servants of this commission. That is not the way to discredit a 



witness. He says certain things happened between him and that 



servant, why don't they call the servant. 



Mr. Anibal. — Don't get nervous about it, we will call him in good 

 time. v 



Mr. Adams. — In any event under no circumstance was it ever heard 

 and I protest in matter of fairness, to a' gentleman who has been 

 called before this committee as a witness and given his testimony 

 that he should be protected within the ordinary rules of law and of 

 evidence. 



Mr. Anibal. — We don't ask any further. 



Mr. Adams. — And this unheard of proceeding should not be enter- 

 tained one moment. 



Chairman Ryan. — It is not worth while discussing the point any 

 'further, we will not admit them;, he didn't testify he hadn't been 

 indicted. 



Mr. Anibal. — He testified he had only been indicted once and upon 

 one particular lot, it was the three. 



Chairman Ryan. — He must have known then that he was indicted. 



Mr. Fiebo. — Mr. Chairman, permit a single word in regard to this; 

 here is a man who has come forward to attack a public officer; the 

 question is whether he is worthy of belief; he has placed himself upon 

 this and upon cross-examination, without a moment's notice, he was 

 asked if he was indicted and he said yes, he was indicted, and as to the 

 lot with regard to which he was indicted the title of the State has been 

 cancelled. 



Chairman Ryan. — That was as to one particular indictment. 



Mr. Fiebo. — One particular indictment; now does this committee 

 propose to allow such a statement as that to stand upon the record 

 without contradiction for the purpose of giving credit to his testimony 

 as against an officer of the State which at the very best is an evasion ; 

 if it was not an absolute falsehood it was an evasion which this com- 

 mittee ought not for one moment to permit, because he assumed by 

 his answer he had only been indicted once. Could we "be expected to 

 know when he was brought here with the whole power of the State, 

 that his character was such that he had been indicted three times, and 



