The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-10
THE ROBSON INVESTIGATION.
The Evidence for the Defence-Ex-senator Cat
toll Examined-A Newspaper Mans
.Wish-John Roach and the
Compound Engines.

WASHINGTON. April o. 1872
The Robson Investigating Committee met TO-
night, at naf-past seven O'CLOCK
DELL HOBBLIT, JR.,
was sworn, and testified he Is a resident OF Phia-
delpha, and engaged IN the general cabinet, hard
ware and furnishing business. He was examined
by Secretary Robson, and said he had supplied
the navy with goods; none OF the Cattels had any
interest IN the business OF firm with which wit
ness Is connected; they had 10 interest either
direct or indirect, and no navy oicer had any in
terest IN the business; when proposals were invited
by Paymaster Russell witness got no contract
UNLESS HE WAS THE LOWEST BIDDER;
neither had the Secretary OF the Navy, at present
or In prospective, any understanding or interest in
the matter or business; he sold more to the navy
IN one month under the former administrator dur
Ing the than the last three years under this
witness profits were not more than seven and a
half per cent
EX-SENATOR CATTELL
was sworn and examined by Secretary RobesOn-
He Is commission merchant IN Philadelphia and
ex-senator OF the United Safes he is not interested
with the NObbnts bat they had been his intimate
friends for many years; none OF the Cautes had
any interest In that firm; he never bought bricks
to send to California, nor for any other
interest Whatever in IRON for the torpedo boats;
knew Pennock a. Boyd; lie reputation OF the firm
epo Ssry 1Sn NOT ove
Ss$ "a
never entered into any scheme Tor building iron
ships, and the first he knew OF 1t was In New York
paper. the sun; was not interested IN iron for the
torpedo boats nor The engines; only knew
THE TENNESSEE WAS SLOW SHIP
say he had been a friend OF Secretary Robeson for
twelve years; their relations were very close;
home; had no connection directly or indirectly
with the Navy Department or any OF It's branches
ne r r s ANYBODY for say
ing KIND word or for performance OF duty.
AUGUSTUS BOYD,
rogated by Secretary Robson, ne Saddle Is con-
necred with the firm Of Pennock Boyd 4 Co.,
Hanscom for The iron for the torpedo boats In COM
pany with che junior partner the price for the iron
was ten cents a pound all round ALI Of the pest
charcoal IRON, beams, plates and everything else;
the firm would not duplicate the order, as the dong
THE cArrELIs ARE NOT INTERESTED,
directly or indirectly. In the contract, nor s any
oficer OF me navy or any empioye In the Depart,
thing directly or indirectly, TO anybody connected
with The navy.
sworn. Being Intercepted by Secretary Robson
he testified That he mad been connected with Mr..
business under the firm OF Warner 4 SON; he sells
al descriptions OF plate iron the Eureka plate iron
Is the best they know: within the last four or hve
years II never sold below ten cents, and has sold for
eleven and naf cents ten and nalf cents is paid
for the ordinary plate; he mad tested the Eureka
TWO THOUSAND POUNDS MORE OF TENSILE STRAIN
than the best Sligo.
Mr.. Boyd was recalled. and said that the prlce OF
Sligo is ten and half ceIts for ordinary sizes, and
The price increases for larger sizes up TO fourteen
cents per pound.
COLONEL THOMAS B. FLORENCE,
sworn, and examined by Secretary Rooeson. and |
destined as ollows:-Is the editor and publisher OF
&c a
ter Iron Works that he knew Of; ls not partner
with the Cattells, or Secretary Robson, or John |
Roach; never saw John Roach until now; has no |
business with secretary Robson, or Cattel or any
Interest with them;vneyer knew he was suspected |
OF such things until he saw statement in news.
paper; would be glad TO have an interest IN the |
iron wor ks II they We're so profitable.
JOHN ROACH,
sworn. and examined by secretary Robeson testi-
fed that he had been an engine builder for thirty
three years; his works were III New York and Ches-
ter, Pa. the Secretary OF the Navy was not part.
ner OF his, nor interested In any contract with him.
the secretary was not interested, directly or lndl
rccty; there were no business transactions between
them,
NOR WE'RE ANY MONEY PRESENTS OR PROMISES
or any valuable thing given III relation 10 any mat
ter with the Navy Department.
The witness then gave clrcumstantlal account
OF the contract for the TeAnessees engines. There
was no private workshop III the country nesides his
own thar could do such work In all It's parts and
results; he never felt greater pride IN
his life than when he proposed to convert govern
ment steamers 10 practical use; ne was at con-
expense In Obtaining Information con.
corning compound engines, having sent an agent
abroad for thai purposes his contract for the Ten.
nessee's machinery was S30L000 and the old ma
chinery which he had offered Tor sale Tor S25 900.
Inc witness then spoke OF his
CONNECTION WITH THE TORPEDO poATs
The results promised and guaranteed IN the
engines would give twelve knots nour for ninety
SIX hours; the estimated numoer or revolutions OF
the propellers being fourteen knots an hour.
The witnesses above named were severally cross
examined by members OF the committee
The committee adjourned at half.past ten O'Clock
III m N al