Being examined as to the positions of the roads, and as things did not appear to be very clear, Mr. Gould, putting his hand to his inside pocket, said: “I have a little map here if you are not familiar with the location.”
The little map was brought out and all hands gathered around it, while Mr. Gould’s index finger went on an excursion over States and Territories in absolute defiance of the Inter-State Commerce Law. He recalled the fact that the plan of consolidation was considered as early as 1875, after Mr. Anderson read some extract from a paper, but he said it was not carried out then. He might even have had a talk with Scott about it on further consideration.
The little road connecting with the Colorado Central was built by him, and was the result partly of the contest between the Union Pacific and the Kansas Pacific. Prior to 1878 he could not recollect having owned any stock or securities of the Kansas Pacific. His interest in the Union Pacific has increased to 200,000 shares, the total issue of stocks being 367,000 shares. He kept books of his transactions. Mr. Morosini kept them a part of the time.
Q. Where are the books? A. I have them.
Q. Where? A. In my possession.
Q. Are they at the service of the Commission? A. If they desire them, with the greatest of pleasure.
This was the first sensation of the day, and the witness smiled blandly as he felt the full force of it.
Up to this time he had answered every question promptly. There appeared to be no hesitation on his part, and, indeed, there was none during the entire day’s session. Almost every preceding witness had taken refuge behind “I don’t know,” or “I cannot remember,” or “Really I am not sure,” but there was none of this from Gould. And the apparently full and free offer of his books capped the climax.
After this whenever his memory was in any way at fault the witness fell back on the books. In asking him what he had bought certain stocks for he said the books would show.
“Will your books also show who the broker was?”