H. K. White Statement - Part 1

edge of it.

Q What became of the check of $11.622.18 bearing dating July 28. 1874 Central Pacific R. R Co to the order of Colton if you know?

A I have no Knowledge of ever seeing any such check.

Q Do you remember at or about that time depositing a check for that amount to his credit with the firm of Parker & Fry?

A No sir I do not.

Q If the R M C & I Co at that date through Colton its president received the sum of $11.622.18, and Colton instructed you to credit the Company only with the amt. of $1757.61, what became of the difference of $9864.57?

[left margin note:] [Had to do math stock Parker & Fry. John O?? Mark McSwelt Lyn MM Speedman John Pl?]

A I cannot say sir.

Q In it did not go into the books of the Company?

A I do not know anything about it.

Q If it did not go into

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the books of the Company somebody must have used it?

A Yes sir.

Q It was not you?

A No Sir.

Q In that connection you have spoken before about the letters written by Colton; did you ever know that Mr Colton had written a letter to Mr Beerman under date of January 20. 1874 ordering him to charge the Central Pacific R R Co $3. per ton for coal supplied in both box and flat cars and saying that he had not made any positive arrangement with the company to pay that amount, but he wanted that charged so that he might make an issue with them or have something to talk about?

A I have no knowledge of any such correspondence at the present time.

Q Do you remember Colton writing to Beeman under date

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Of July 16 1874 saying that he had made a formal arrangement with the Central Pacific RR Co. that they were

[left margin:] [shabe $2.85 signed W.G.F.]

to have the price of $2.82 gold for all the coal after the first day of May 1874. Whether they were loaded on box cars or flats, and directing him to make an entry in his books so as to credit back to the Central Pacific R. R Co all the over charges that had been made prior to the first of May and then to charge $2.85 from the first of May and asking Beeman to let him know when he made the entry, and to inform him.

A I have no knowledge of any such correspondence. I only recollect about the time that Colton told me in regard to the final price at which the price of coal to the Railroad Co had been fixed, at $2.85 in gold.

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Q Did he tell you when that was to commence?

A No sir I do not recollect now that he did.

Q When he paid you that $1757.61 he must have told you then about what time it was to commence?

A It might have been about that time.

Q Did you have any idea that he had received the difference of allowance in the accounts between the first of January 1874 and the first of May?

A No sir I did not.

Q Therefore all this correspondence on that subject of changing the books and making entries so that it would not appear upon the books of the R M C & I Co what amount he was to receive, or had received. Were all written without your knowledge?

A Without my knowledge Sir.

Q Can you give any reason why

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this letter to Beeman of Janu[crossed out] ary[crossed out] July [written in above] 16 1874 directing him to make those entries was not copied in the R. M. C & I Co pain[written in above] letter book?

A I cannot give any sir.

Q You said a while ago that you did not know of Colton having but one letter book. I see by the reports here that he had one for the R. M. C & I Co. and one for his own private books.

A Yes sir, he had a letter book for his own private business.

Q His own private letter book. Was that under his own care or under yours?

A My impression is that it was in his desk always locked up.

Q And therefore if it went into that book you would not know it?

A I would hardly know it.

Q The expert says the letter

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