The New York herald., 1872-04-16
The senate Committee.

WAsHINGroN, April 10, 1872.
The Senate Arms Committee met this morning, ut
hafpmst ten O'Clock.
MRS. ADA u. MASON
Senator Hainlin said to her "A gentleman by the
name OF Peck and one by the name of Wizard both
testified before the committee that they had inter-
views with you in relation to the purchase of arms
Mr.. Peck said his interviews were both here and at
the Holman House, and Wizard said his interviews
were at the HOFFMAN House.
Mrs. Mason replied she had written statement,
which she had made as concise as possible, and
read tC rs follOws:--
MRS. MAs0Ns STATEMENT.
In the fail OF 1871 an acquaintance wrote from
New York that he knew way could make some
money, Us some parties wished to buy arms from
the Ordnance Department. and II | could make the
purchase it would pay me handsomely. replied
could but try They then sent me II list Of the ord
nance they would want-batteres, Enhelds, Spring
fields, ammunition, &C., to the amount OF one hun
drcd thousand or two hundred Thousand dollars or
more. went to the ordnance Department and
the ofllcer on duty General Dyer was absent.
This gentleman told the terms the arms were
selling for, and he saw
No DIFFICULTY IN THE WAY or LADY
purchasing arms II she able to buy. Upon
General Dyer's return again presented myself at
the Department with letter of introduction. Gen
cral Dyer gave me the same information that the
officer had done. He added that the government
required certain percentage in advance;
margin of twenty-five per cent on all purchases
before the guns could be delivered, TO secure them
selves against losses; moreover he could not give
me the refusal of the guns, he had to protect
himself against street spectators. This wrote to
| New York. Thereupon Mr.. Peck presented him self
ut my house, with lvt,ci of introduction 1fOm me
party who wished to get the arms. He told me he
| represented Mr.. Norman Wizard, who, being
| AN ENEMY OF GENERAL DYER,
could not be known in the matter, and he (Wiard)
steamers, and he (McKenzie) bought for Gambetta.
cannot recall how many interviews ! had wlth
this gentleman He gave me this Information @ IN
few minutes as had to excuse myself to hnl, as !
TO DRIVE OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS
who were then waiting for me. l had no iniOrma
ton to give him outside of that which had written
to New York. On my last interview with General
Dyer he told me the matter was transferred to
Colonel Crispin. Mr.. Wizard teegraphed to Mr.. Peck
to get me to come to New York and went on there,
staying at the Hoffman House, the hotel | have
always gone to in New York, as far back the lst
OF April 1866. saw Mr.. Wizard for few minutes
IN THE DRAWING ROOM OF THE HOTEL.
told him the money required by the department.
and | must have written authority from Mr.
Mckenzie, and II ] could get the arms the money
aoe 70 " Se PM % M saM cs e
pin, ana he, too, reiterated what General Dyer had
said. saw II was impossible for me to accomplish
| ANYTHING In New York and returned to Washington.
Ali the influence had with General Dyer was the
faith had in my own capacity to accomplish the
same others had done. have
MADE MONEY IN LEGITIMATE sPECULArIoNs
and did not see why could not in the speculation
OF buying arms: General Dyer treated me the same
az he would have any other trader who came into
his office, with the natural consideration soldier
and u gentleman would extend to any hundred
| men, ~
on her cross-examination Mrs Mason said she did
not represent to either Mr.. Peck or Mr. Wizard that
she had had interviews with Generals Dyer ami In
gals at the HOFFMAN House,
SHE HAD NO SUCH INTERVIEWS.
She attempted to buy arms herself Mr.. Ferrand
was q party Interested and was to supply the
money: she considered that she had sufficient as
surance that Mckenzie wanted to buy arms; she
offered the margin at the ordnance Onicc, but the
price OF the guns was held too high. Calling. on
General Dyer IN December , Of ISL, he ssa a Wh1 Who
myself as well as Mckenzie, who Is
AN AGENT FOR GAMBETTA
when General Dyer responded, 'The Rcmingons
are the only agents for the French government"
Witness was sorry to say that no arms were bought
have bought the arms If the parties with whom she
was negotiating had put up the margin.
! GENERAL DYER DENIES.
General DYER sent communication to the COM
mittee saving he had had no interview with Mrs.
Mason at the Holman House, us had been testibed
TO as coming from that lady.
| HON. II. II. sTARKwEATHER
testified that in January last he went to the War
Department for tho purpose of looking after son
MARQUIS de Chanbrun conversng together, but did
not hear enough OF what was said to know what it
was about: having finished his errand he came
away. no letter was read by the Secretary while he
was there: he did not bear the secretary say, as
testified to by the Marquis de Chambrun, II am the
ordnance Department
JOHN POTTS,
Chief Clerk in the War Department, testified that
| he has been In that position for twenty years; he
did not recolect that the 10th Of January he took
| the secretary of Wars letter to the Secretary OF
state out OF the regular order; he recolleced seeing
the Marquis de Chambrun with the Secretary in his
room, but could not state the day; the Secretary
siqns letters presented to him for signature In the
presence Of the Chief Clerk; the draft OF that letter
was on two half sheets.
COLONEL ). v. RENEr.
of the Ordnance Bureau, was sworn. He related
what occurred ~ the two interviews between him
and the Marquis dc Chambrun at the Ordnance Bl-
rcau: the first was between the 18th ana 18th OF
last January, when the Marquis de Chambrun made
inquiries about the sale Of arms by the War Depart
ment, and the papers relating to that subject sent
10 the Secretary Of War from the State Department
Colonel Benet told him no action had been taken
on the papers from the State Department., because
General Dyer was sick; the Marquis de Chambrun
asked to see the papers, saying he could simplify
the matter, as only a portion required answer;
these papers contained the reply OF Remington TO
lie Ccsnc, and also a telegram from Colonel squire
TO some one abroad the Marquis dc Chambrun toli
Colonel Benet what two points should ne answered.,
saying they involved
QUESTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW -
The Marquis de Chambrun IN his testimony before
this committee stated that portions oi tnc papers
above referred to had been marked with req before
he saw them, showing that Colonel Bcnet knew as
much In regard to them as the MARQUIS ue ,n c,
brun This was not Col0nel Bcneps lniotni'-
tion as TO what particularly required an asMe "s
wholly derived from tne Mat9W,T W War ~ never told him
What ~ rcnly to He could not swear particularly
that portons of the papers had noI oec na Nv. ,,n,
believes not The Marquis dc Chamoru mn nau W." tn,
cujtx In finding places; the MARQUIS nu sur" @ .,,s.s
vua'y - a.... letter w Lv xeSnc