Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-15
The Sales of Arms Investigation.
THE MYSTERIOUS "MRs. MASON" BEFORE TIL
COMMITTEE.

ment, met again this morning, an unusual
large number of persons being present. including
several ladies. Upon the assembling of the com
mittee; the chairman (Senator Hsmlin) read q
communication from the Secretary of Stat
in relation TO the dispatches received at thu
department from the American minister in
France in reference TO the sale OF arms.
When the chairman concluded the reading o.
the paper the rumor circulated through tht
"MRs. MASON Is COMING"
accompanied by Sergeant-at-Arms French
All eyes were turned upon her as she entered
but she appeared to take no notice OF those pres
ent: Mr. French stepped forward and said =
" Mr.. Chairman, this is Mrs. Mason" Thu
chairman acknowledged the introduction, and
asked her to be seated. The witness was attired
very Handsomely in black silk dress en- trdin
black and very fashionable bonnet of crepe
She is of decidedly French appearance, ami ap
peared to be little excited. and at times drew
forth a smelling bottle, from which she fire.
Quently took inhalations.
The chairman then, administering to her the
oath, addressed her as follows:-"Mrs Mason.
two gentlemen. Messrs. Peck and Wizard, have
had interviews with YOU in reference to the pur-
chase OF arms. Will you give the committee al
the knowledge you have of those interviews?
MRS. NAsoNS' STATEMENT.
Mrs. Ada II. Mason.-ff you will allow me
will read you all the d tails from statement
which L have prepared, and after that will
answer all the questions which Won put to me.
Mrs. Mason then, in a subdued voice, read the
following:
In the fall of 20 an acquaintance wrote mt
from New York; they knew a way I could make
some money, as SEINE parties wished TO buv
arms from the ordnance department, and ii
could make the purchase it would pay me hand
somely. 1 replied al could but try" The,
then sent me list Of the ordnance they would
want, Enfield, Springtiels, ammunition, &c, e.
the amount OF $4,000 or 500, 600 or more. ]
went to the ordnance department and saw the
officer on duty; Gen. Dyer was absent. This
gentleman told me the terms the arms were
selling for, and he saw no difficulty in the way
OF lacy purchasing arms, II she was able To
buy. Upon General Dyer's aeturn | again pre-
sented myself at the department with a letter
Of introduction. Gen. Dyer gave me the SAME
information the officer had given. He added the
government required certain per cent in ad-
vance, a margin of % per cent. in all purchases
before the guns could be delivered. to
Sc ure themselves against losses; moreover,
he could not give me the refusal OF
the guns, as he had TO protect himself against
street spectators, this 1 wrote to New York
tbereupon Mr. Peck presented himself at nv
house with letter OF introduction a party
WHO wished to get the arms; he told me he
represented MIR. Norman Wizard, who. being al
enemy OF General Dyer, he could not oe known
in the matter. and he CIV. was buying for Mr..
he (McKenzie) bought arms for Gambetta;
cannot recall how many interviews 1 had with
the gentleman; be gave me this information in
few minutes, as had to excuse myself to him
as was going out todinner with some friends who
were then waiting fer me; had no iRfor nat ion
to give him outside of that which had written
n.
Dyer he told me the matter was transferred to
Col. Crispin; Mr.. Wizard telegraphed to Mr..
Peck to get me 70 come to New York, and I
went, staying at the Hoffman; the hotel have
always gone to in New York as far
back as the first OF April, 1855.
saw Mr.Wiard for a few minutes once or tYict
| in the drawing room of the hotel. told him the
money required by the department must be pal
up, or could not negotiate the sale; and must
have written authority from Mr.. Mckenzie.
and il could get the arms the money would
hQ Enf N hn yRrRt, DaolxI r1, -
authority from Mr.. Mckenzie. l saw Col Girls
| pin. and he too reiterated what Gen. Dyer had
said saw it was impossible for me to accom-
| pish anything in New York, and returned t.
Washington. All the influence had with Gen
Dyer was the faith / had in my capacity to ac-
compiish the same others had done. 1 have
made money in legitimate speculations, and
| did not see why could not in the speculation OF
| buying arms. Cen. Dyer treated me the same
as he would ahy other trader who came into hi,
Office-with the natural conside ration sol die,
| and gentleman would extend to any woman.
MIR. Schurz.-Did you at that interview, sat
| isfy them that yOu could get the arms?
WitDess.-I thought l could get the arms i.
| they put up the margin, So, goo, and it would
transaction. =
Q.-Was Gen. Dyer at the Hoffman House
| A:-NO- sir. L knew he had went to the
Springfield armory, and telegraphed from New
York to ascertain il he was there. / received
| an answer that Gen. Dyer was in New York.
Q-Who gave you the letter from Mckenzie
Wizard or Peck?
| A.-Mr. Wizard gave me the letter with thi,
letter
was then read as follow:
FRIDAY MoRYING.-Mrs. Mason: With tn,
authorization you now have from Mckenzie. n
would seem that Col. Crispin cannot doubt that
your principals "respOnsi BILE, )" sin earnest .
and that % no specializing brokers' are inter
posed in the purchase of the arms you are nego-
| tiating for. Being satisfied on these points, II
| will be proper for COL Crispin, if he requires
| deposit before going further. to say to you az
acTiing bid for 100 900 neau arms will be
| accepted at 5000, and you may have the refusal
OF the al ms for SIR days. but as further evidence
that your principals are in earnest, We require .
deposit Of $40 600, for which we will give YOU
| receipt conditioned that the deposit shall bt
| applied toward payment on the guns If the trade
| Is finally contaminated, but IL ,ciH not an dnl
money will be ready at once. or Col. Crispin
may conclude to accept your bid with til.
understanding that IL within the ertent Of timc Of
refused, twenty per cent OF the price OF 100 90
guns be paid by your principals to the Ordnanc,
Department, the arms will be absolutely Sc
cured, and will be lirered upon payment of tn,
balance of the whole price. 1t will be necessar,
delivered. The conditions as to boxes or cases
&c. &C.. as usual. And you will please inquire
| If ammunition can be had, together with tn,
price and quantity.
The larger the number of arms you can pro
cure the better, up to 900 Geo!
Respectfully, w.
i
Number Of arms NEW Springfelds) now OF
hand.
How soon another large lot can be afforded.
Number OF cleaned and repaired, with SOM
suggestion as to price.
! Number OF Enfelds.-REPoRrER.l
| Mr.. SchurZ.-Now ] read a portion of Mr.
WARDS testimony in which he says that he told
you he could not trust you with so large a sun
Of money ISIS ,C00) without some security. l.
that correct?
Mrs. Mason.-He never said he would no;
trust me, He was
HRMMING AND HAVING
TO keep QUITO paying the money; never told him
| (W.) or Peck that Gems. Dyers and ingalls, wers
| in an adjoining room in the Hoffman House.
the conversation he (W.) repeated never took
place; i was satisfied that I could not get tho
| arms, so dropped the business right there
| Q;-Did you ever show Mr. McKeuzie's lette,
/ to Gen. Dyer? =
| Al might have showed ii to him. and he
lieve did, for the purpose Of showing him tia,
was not employed by street speculators
Q..You went to see Gen. Dyers after this 10
purchase arms; did you not?
Ayes, sir; but when went there thu las,
time IT was to purchase for myself; Intended. Il
got the arms, to sell them to Mr.. Mckenzie
myself. friend Of mine, Frenchman. but
citizen of New York, who il now abroad n
Paris, would furnish the money for me n !
could get the arms; his name was Mr. Ferran.
Q.Did General Dyer ever inform You tia.