New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-22
THE ERIE INQUEST.

SERVICES OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN ;. CISCO, w Il. rECkliAM,
SAMUEL J. -uDEN HORACE T. CLARK, PRESIDENT
WATSON, c. II. TWEED, SIMON STEVENS, AND
oTiERs-TIIE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE
NOT AN ERIE AGENCY-GEN. SICBIEs's DEALINGS
WITH GEN. BARLOW.
Varied and pointed testimony was taken by the
Erie investigating Committee yesterday at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. The special theme of the morning
session. the financial stabilityof the Erie and the
character Of the present directors discussed by
John J. Cisco s. L. NJ. Barlow, c. C. Clark, G. 7.
Morosni and Horace T. Clark while the pauses
were filed and Che proceedings varied by personal
explanation from Wheeler II. PeCkham and few
political "reminiscences by the Hon. Samuel j. Til
den. At the evening session President Watson, c.
H. Tweed, Simon Stevens, George Crouch, and John
L. Parsons testified mainly in regard to the AttOr-
nev-Gcnc1als cooperation with Gen. Sickles in Sc
curing the overthrow Of the cid directory. Mr..
Shearr.an's testimony on Saturday had evidently
caused some uueasiness, for most of the witnesses
busted themselves IN parrying his TRUSTS
Mr. Cisco. who was Director Halls successor, had
approved Of the last dividend because he had had
confidence IN the present managers OF the road ana
had considered the q per cent commission on the
loan on the convertible bonds a reasonable charge.
Mr.. Peckham explained that Mr. Shcarnans IN
Gen. Barlow. and had secured the discharge OF
the Grand Jury, was utterly without foundation.
Mr. Tilden rcpudiated the statement that the
Democratic State Committee had received money
from the Erie Company or from Jay Gould. Tweed
and the Erie gang were selfish and rapaCOuS,'
and Of no service to the Committee, and there was
an armed neutrality between himself and them.
Gould and Tweed might have Contributed toward
the election expenses of Senators and Representa-
tives but the Committee had had no share in such
questionable transactions.
s L. N. Barlow referred to The correctness Of the
Company'S statements a: the time the dividend was
declared and s. =. Morsini, formerly an Erie audi
tor repeated what he said on Saturday the same
subject. c. c. Clarke expressed ignorance regard
ing lobbying at Albany and Horace F. Clark, Presi-
dent Of the Lake Shore Railroad closed the morning
session by comparing the expenses of his own road
with those of the Erie, and enlogizng the present
Board of Directors of the latter road, who were not
However, largely interested in the success of their
policy. but were very good headlights to the
engine"
At the later session the Attorney General in effect
opened his defense President Watson denied Mr..
Shcarmau's assertion that a friend OF Gen. Barlow
had suggested that il would be the right thing
10 pay the Attorney Genera! $4,000 for his services.
C. II. Tweed, lawyer, who was present during the
interview between Gen. Barlow and MeSsrs. Belden
and Hayes gave an account of the conversation in
regard 10 the Lord Gordon" litigation. Simon
Stevens formerly foreman of the Grand Jury, gave
his version of the occurrences which Mr.. Sherman
had related. After comparatively unImportant testi
mony from two other witnesses, the Committee ad-
journed to meet this morning.
Strange stories have been in circulation with
regard to the final action of the Erie Investigating
Committee. One was TO the effect that several
Of the directors had been approached
by person representing himself TO be the agent of
the Committee and Offering the Erie officials the
privilege Of writing the report for the of $1,000
6 L. M. Barlow, when questioned in relation to the
matter Last evening, said that short time
since some Of the directors were approached
by a person who professed to act for the
Committee. but whom he himself believed to be
irresponsible and simply striker" This man
offered to let the Erie Company manipulate the Com
mittee's report for $1,000.