540 



A. I don't know anything about it; I supposed Smith M. Weed 

 owned it, or had what was called bottom title. 



Q. Did you know the Cochrames had any interest in that land ? 



A. No, sir. 



Q. Did you hear Smith M. Weed had title ? 



A. I had heard so. 



Q. There was another piece of land, the southwest quarter of 24; 

 did you ever have any conversation with him on the subject of that 

 piece of land? 



A. Isn't that the southwest quarter you have just been talking 

 about ? 



Q. I will say the northwest quarter of 15; did you ever have con- 

 versation with him ? 



A. No; I don't know that I ever had any conversation with him; 

 wait a minute; I will say this, he made a proposition at one time to 

 exchange. 



Q- I didn't ask what he said; the question is, did you ever have 

 conversation with him about, this tract of land? 



A. I think I did, in connection with other land. 



Q. Whether you did or didn't ? 



A. Yes. 



Q. Tou did have conversation with him once about it ? 



A. I am inclined to think so; I think I proposed to exchange it. 



Q. You did have conversation with him once about this, you think; 

 can you be sure about it whether you did or not ? 



A. No. 



Q. The other quarter he said was owned by New York people; that 

 you did have talk with him about and you understood Smith M. Weed 

 had title to it? 



A. That was my idea. 



Q. [Presenting.] Is that your handwriting ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



LMarked"l — J. M. R."] 



Q. [Presenting.] Is that your handwriting? 



A. Yes, sir. 



[Marked "2 — J. M. E."] 



Q. [Presenting.] Is that your handwriting? 



A. Yes, sir. 



[Marked "3— J. M. R."] 



Mr. Adams. — Mr. Chairman, I offer to read these three letters in 

 evidence. 



