Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/582

 Orleans. It appears, however, that the payment of seven or eight hundred dollars additional, which League said was to compensate the old Mexican, who was a tanner, for some hides left in his vats, proved more powerful in inducing him to go to New Orleans than the alluring picture of "civilization" with which he was promised to be amused. In his testimony before the committee, League says that he promised the old man, if he would go to New Orleans, to show him "a steamboat and a railroad." By a very wonderful coincidence, just as he was using this persuasion, "the steamboat came puffing up toward Rio Grande City." "How pretty!" he said; "we can go on that boat and be taken to New Orleans." But old Gonzales cared more for the hides, either absolutely or constructively, in his vats, than for taking "pretty" tours on "puffing steamboats." Mr. League then tries another temptation, by offering him seven or eight hundred dollars in the shape of compensation for his hides; and "by that means," says Mr. League in his testimony, "we got him to New Orleans."

It is worthy of remark what boldness is displayed in the actions of League and Treanor, in attempting to assert the validity of this power of attorney on the personal testimony of this poor old man. Who is Gonzales, that his deposition should have such value? He is without official station; he is the custodian of nothing; without judicial favor, his oath can amount to no more than that of any other ordinary person.

League, Treanor, and Parker proceed with the witness to Galveston. Thus, it appears, he is brought to the residence of Judge Watrous, Robert Hughes, and William G. Hale. It appears that Gonzales is not sworn at Galveston; but he is put here in charge of Robert Hughes, who, in company with League and Treanor, carries him to New Orleans. In the testimony of Mr. League, from which I have just made some quotations, he makes the profession that his object in getting Gonzales to New Orleans was to introduce him before the court as a witness. But this is not done. The witness is taken before a commissioner, and makes another deposition; thus leaving without explanation the cause of the removal of Gonzales from Saltillo, for the purpose of taking his deposition.

On page 461 of the printed testimony in the Watrous case will be found the deposition of the witness Gonzales. On the examination in chief he makes out a pretty good story, and shows evidence of careful drilling. But the cross-examination which ensues reveals the most melancholy and painful case of depravity that is conceivable.

It is only with feelings of the strongest aversion that we can contemplate such an example of open falsehood, and glaring and painful contradictions in the testimony of a sworn witness. It is only on the cross-examination that the fact is drawn out from the old man, on presentation of the power of attorney to him, that he can not read it. His sight is so decayed that he has to acknowledge that he could not read the writing, unless drawn up in letters as large as those on a street sign, which was pointed out to him over the way.

It is to this trashy, miserable evidence of this poor old blind man, who was procured as a witness through Judge Watrous' suggestions, bribed with money, and drilled so far even as to make him suppress the fact of the decay of his sight; it is to this revolting example of the purchased and perjured