The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-04-05
THE ARMS SALE INVEsTIGA.
TION.

WAsnENGToN, April 4.-The Senate
Arms Committee this morning examined
Gen. Rufus Ingalls,. He testified that Gar.
rison told him that in consequence of an
abrogation OF tho contract to deliver bat.
terles to the French government he be.
came involved in great difficulty, and
asked II he (Tngalls) would call at the
French Legation and sec II anything could
be done to help him out oi the difficulty.
He called at the Legation but was unable
to accomplish anything. In referring to q
portion OF the evidence of Marquis de
Chambrun, the witness denied that he had
boasted OF his influence with the govern
ment authorities, and said it was positive.
ly false that he was connected with Rem
ington. In response to Senator Hamlin
the witness said he knew OF no officer or
official who had participated to the
amount Of one cent in the purchase oil
arms, nor he did not believe there was one
such. In response to Senator Schurz he
said he did not believe hesaw Remington
three times during the Franco. German
war. He was barely acquainted with
Squires, and had met him several times in
tho ordinary way OF intercourse. Suuires
never asked his assistance in the sale OF
arms. In 1865, $4,000 worth Of stock OF
the Remington Company came into his
hands as a private business matter.
He did not remember when he disposed
Of the stock, as he had no record ol dates.
He held it simply supposing it might be
worth something. An offer was made
for the stock, and he accepted it on the
spot, taking $1,000 for 1t, and had re.
ceived no profits or dividends. He oh.
tained the stock from a privtae party,
altogether disconnected with anything
involved in the inquiry ofthis Committee.
In answer to the question whether he
knew any other army officer who held
Remington stock, the witness replied
that there might be good many, but he
could not say. lie, however, did not
know Of any Government officers being
interested with Remington. @
In response 10 question by Senatar
SchurZ, tho witness said he gave Garrison
advice about getting back the margin he
had deposited with the War Department,
He might have told the witness that he
would do oil he properly could for him.
The witness had no conversation with
the Navy Department on the subject. It
was possible he might have mentioned
the matter to Colonel Crispin. Garrison
had already made his formal application
for the return OF the margin. The reason
why he presumed the margin was returned
to Garrison was that the Government had
given no consideration to the margin.
Tho witness said that Garrison gave
him no consideration whatever Ia
set that matter right, nor for any other
services. The witness also testified that
he never purchased Us middle man and
in response to Senator Carpenter, said
he never had conversation with anybody
to influence action in this matter.
Gen. Franklin, Vice President and gen,
eral agent Of the Colt Manufacturing
Company, OF Hartford, being sworn, said
he was told by Mr.. Poultney that Mark.
ley, Of Camden, N. j., got 100000 from
him Tor arranging the sale BY the Navy
Department~to Poultney & Tremble, oI
the 10000 rifles heretofore spoken OF in
the testimany before this Committee. The
witness testified at some length about the
Gatling guns. He had an interview with
either Remington, or Smoot, or SQuires,
in December, 1870, on that subject. The
guns were turned over to the Colt Com.
pany, from 1NYatervliet Arsenal, and the
Colt Company received instructions from
Remington to alter them. The Company
accordingly made the alterations and i'm.
provements and sent the guns to Rem.
ingtons in New York. The witness said
be had direct correspondence with Gen
Dyer, and 1t was understood that these
nine guns at Watervleit were to be turn.
ed over 10 the Colt Company, and the
Company 10 return were to give the
United States nine other Gatling guns d
better quality. This arrangement was
carried into effect.
Adjourned until tomorrow. &