The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-06
THE FRENCH ARMS FIZ2LE.
The Man VINO Knew Nothing-The Man Who
Got $40, 900 for a Conversation with the
Naval Sscretary-The Man Who Had
$40, 900 to Spend for Evidence.
WASHINGTON. April 8. 1872.


O'Clock, when John Hoey, OF New York, testified
that he had
NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT
the committee were investigating, and this com
peted the examination.
The witness said that the Marquis de ChambruI
had mentioned MS name as being connected witt
the purchase OF arms on the authority OF Mr.. Dana
but which was untrue. He, however, had resi-
dence at Long Branch and was persona! friend O
the President. THIS was Mr.. Dana's moIivefor con
Meeting his name with the transaction.
Senator SAWYER SAID the person meant was james
Hoy who is dead.
A. W. Markley testified that IL was true that he
HAD RECEIVED $4,000
from Thomas poultney; this gentleman said TO hin
that he understood that the Navy Department.
wanted to sell some arms, and then made a PROPOSE
tion TO him; the witness SAIL he would see about III
the proposition was to give hlm 81 gun for III, 00C
guns; ne met the secretary on the street and asked
NM whether he mad arms TO sell; ne informed the
Secretary that POultney said that the Navy Depart
ment mad guns Tor sale; the secretary replied that
POutney mad better send communication on the
SUBJECT ana he would refer 1t 70 the Ordnance Bu-
rean; the witness went 10 Tayiors Hote. and In
formed Poultnev OF what nad taken place; the wit
got the money, and the transaction was closed
this was the only conversation he had with he Sec
rotary; he did not say to The Secretary 1t would
be well TO sell the arms; he knew Poultney to be
an arms dealer IN Baltimore.
BY Mr.. Schurz-Had never been In the arms
sonally friendly; they lived Ia the same town; he
could not say there was intimate friendship between
them, but tley were
INTIMATE AS NEIGHBORs
generally are: he mad no business transaction with
Poultney before the time OF which ne spoke; he
never knew any reason why Poutney called on nm to
interest himself his benaf did not receive any
other equivalent than the Sl0,00U; he supposed the
communication made by Poultney was referred to
the Board OF Ordnance; ne earned the money
merely by asking the Secretary II he mad any guns
for sale; he mad no communication with the Chief
nf thA firIV, naoh nra M tntsfn
ton with the secretary than he had stated.
by Senator Stevenson-The transaction took
place year ago last winter; Poultney ala no. tell
WHAT HE WANTED WITH THE ARMS;
the conversation between Inn and Poultney did not
last nalf an hour; Poultney SIMPLY SAID II he could
get the guns he would pay him 81 u gun: he mad
been acquainted with Poutney severa, years.
by Senator Schurz-Poultney simply told MIN he
should have q dollar a gun without asking Tor SER
wee on his part; Poultney asked him to speak 10
the Secretary Which ne did, with the result already
stated; he got MS $1,000
by Mr.. Hamn-The witness ana the Secretary Of
the Navy diner In politics.; the witness
BELONGED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY;
conversation with the Secretary before me received
the money: it was IN March a year ago; the wit
ness IS connected with the railroad business.
Mr.. Peek testified III relation to something which
had been said by the Marquis de Chambrun, and
with which the name OF the witness was connected.
The latter spoke about ms Interview with the Mar
quis. whom he wished to engage to assist him IN a
matter OF investigation for the interest Of
Remington; the Marquis however, did
not act. not having procured the required
permission OF the French Charge d'Afares for that
lion to the Marquis that he had 1000 but did not
say he had the money for the purpose OF
PURCHASING EVIDENCES;
ne merely SAID Remington would spend $4,000 II
necessary for getting rebuttlng evidence In leglt
mate way; he repeated he made no reference TO
buying.
by Senator Schurz-iIe had authority TO use
money FOR the purpose OF obtain.n rebutun! test
mony to prove mans want OF veracity; he did
not spend any more than lawyers fees IN obtaining
Tour or 1ve aildavlts-about $500; witness was an
editor oil the army dnu Nary Journal, and made
bids Tor arms, but dld not get them.
;. w. Smoot OF lliOn, n. Y, testified he was EN-.
poyed by Remington Sons and was at Frankfort
Arsenal December, 1870; he had met Colonel Tread
Wen In New York, who sad he had some samples OF
improved cartridges; he and Remington were de.
slrous oil seeing the arsenal and the DAY atter the
conversation they took the cars ana went thither,
spending the afternoon AT the arsenal; they there
NET GENERAL DYER AND COLONEL CRISPlN,
who he thought came on from Washington IN the
morning; they saw the cartridges and looked
through the place; their meeung with these gen.
tlemen was casual; the witness started the con-
versatlon there about the improved cartridge being
adapted to The Remington gun; Colonel Treadwcll
produced sample he had IN his pocket and
IN use; witness made an examination with view
OF manufacturing them himself: he thought It
might be advisable TO obtain cartridge machinery
at the Remington works. ana, hearing that the gov
eminent hau surplus machinery. he thought ne
might make purchase OF It, The Witness was in
terrogated ut some length by Senator SchurZ and
said, among other things, that he had had con-
versation with General Dyer and Colonel Crispin
about breech-loadng muSkets, his object being to
ascertain
WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SELL
son bought arms in his own name and sold chem to
Remington; Richardson made o profit on the cart
ridges, but not on the arms.
The committee adjourned until Monday morning.