276
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
"Answe1·. Judge Hughes noted it. "Question. Judge Hughes put upon paper the sub- stance of the testimony taken in Mexico? "Answer. Yes; and I think that I added to it some- thing. "Question. How much space did the statement occupy upon paper? "Answe1·. I cannot recollect. Not a great deal. "Question. Did you take that paper to Alabama? "Answe1·. I did." Now, it appears, in relation to the testimony of Hughes him- self, that at the time of the alleged conversation at Galveston, referred to by League, he (Hughes) was c1,bsent from his home at Galveston; that these two gentlemen could never have com- pared notes as alleged at the time of receiving the depositions; and that the first time that Hughes had ever seen the deposi- tions was in August, three months after League alleged to have been in conference with him on the subject of the power of attorney. Here is the testimony of Hughes, establishing these conclusions beyond a doubt: "Question. When was Hale employed in the case of Lapsley vs. Spencer? '"Answer. I do not know, certainly. I was absent from home when information was received of the tak- ing of the deposition of Tomas de la Vega, in 1l1exico; when I returned I was informed of what had occurred. The deposition was shown to me, and I was informed that Mr. Hale had been employed to assist in the case. It was a short time after it had been taken-two or three months-that I received information of it." ... "Question. When did you first see the deposition of Tomas de la Vega? "Answer. I saw it at the time I spoke of, when I returned home some time last summer, and when, as I said before, Mr. Hale was employed as assistant coun- sel; that was the first time I saw it; that was a week or ten days before the election on the first Monday in August." Mr. League has unquestionably committed himself in that part of his statement which I have quoted. It seemed to be a strange and impossible hallucination that he should mistake conferences, which he undoubtedly had with Judge Watrous, on the subject of these depositions, and of the best means to defeat them, as having taken place with Robert Hughes, unless he regarded them as Siamese twins.
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