Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-02
The Masistra tes' and Cons tables I'm
vestigatfOn.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMIT
TEE YEsTKRDAY-MoREo OF MoFFAr's WAGON
AND MRS. buttons FURNITURE.
At the session of the Long committee yester-
day resolution was adopted inviting Mr.. A. X.
Browne, chairman of the judiciary committee
Of the Council, to sit with the committee.
MoFFAT's SKELETON WAGON.
MT. John L: Price was the first witness, and
he testified that he knew nothing about Mr..
Moffat's skeleton wagon referred to in the testi-
mony of Gordon, Sprague and Moffat. He never
was asked to buy it, never saw it, never made
an effort for it, and did not know Gordon,
Sprague or Coe.
Constable Henry Lacey was cross-examined
by Justice Reese as to
THE FURNITURE CASE.
In which Mrs. SolOmOns and Mrs. Hutton were
the parties. He said that he did not know thu
he had any malicious feelings against Reese
He thought Reese had prompted O'Neal to buy
the furniture of Mrs. Hutton when both of them
knew it was covered by a deed of trust TO secure
Solomons, and that Reese was interested in the
profits of the transaction; this impression was
produced on his mind by information received
from O'Neal. The reason he had stated that
Reese issued the writ of replevin against Lati-
mer q Cleary, instead Of the trustee, Behrens,
was that he believed that he did not wish to
embarrass Behrens, who was his (Keeses) SON
in-law, by attendance upon the trial. He could
not exactly fix the date or time Of day when the
recorders clerk had told him that the deed OF
trust was not upon record.
Louis Behrens (Keese's son-in-law,) was
sworn. He was the trustee named in the deed
OF trust, but knew nothing of it until the day
i
erty brought from O'Neal's house covered by
it. Reese sent to his house for him to come
down to the Office at once. Arriving there,
Reese gave him paper (Which he produced)
containing list of furniture, and told him he
was trustee Tor the same, and must take what
was then in a wagon before the door in charge,
Cleary, and deposit 1t there as the trustee of
Mrs. SOlomOns, and then make every effort to
find and recover the balance of the furniture
named in the list and deposit it in the same
al on fr,N ha oar Ia
took receipt, (shown.) Lacey objected to his
taking charge of the property. Mrs. SolOmons,
who was there, consented, however, and he
proceeded as before stated. After depoSiting
that load Lacey told him he would tell him
where to go on X street and get some more, but
he wished to send Mrs. Solomons home first, as
he dld not wish her to know anything about it.
He then started, and at the suggestion of
Reese took his own wagon, as IL would save
Solomons the expense of hiring one; rang the
bell and asked to see the lady of the house, who
came, and on learning his business very kindly
opened every room in the house, and suffered
him to compare the furniture with that named
and described in his list, taking and removing
such as he found belonging to his trust.
which he transferred to Latimer & Cleary's.
He heard nothing more of the matter until he
was told of the replevy suits; but had nothing to
do with them; was applied TO on one occasion
by lawyer Darlington to sign a bond for Mrs.
Solomons In replevy suit before Justice Shea
but declined TO do so, unless Unidentified agai INST
loss and trouble from suits. Mr.. Caring ton
he was trustee; told him that two or three law
yers and as many constables had gone on with
these matters without his knowledge until they
had got into trouble, and now they wanted to
pull him into it; finally promised to see Solo
mons the next morning, and then call at his
Office. Solomons told him il was matter of no
interest to them whatever. When Darlington
heard this he seemed much surprised and, de-
clining to give him the indemnifying bond, he
refused to sign the paper.
In cross-examination by MIR. Reese, witness
said he had no conversation with Reese since
the day he took charge of the furniture except
to tell him that he was sorry that he appointed
him as trustee; he said, "Well, put you there,
and want You to do what is right" witness was
sent for by Reese to be present at this nvestiga-
ton; do not remember of having had converse
ton with Lacey since the delivery of the goods
TO Lati mer & Cleary.
By Mr.. Lacey: O'Neal went with him part of
the way TO get the furniture, aud showed him
the house; O'Neal voluntarily offered to 90 with
him; Reese did not advise him not to repleyy
the carpet; had legal advice from other parties
Have not been advised by either Reese or
O'Neal as 10 what he should swear to before the
committee.
The committee adjourned to Monday