Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-24
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION,
Progress of the Examination.
Mr. HaIlett KilbOurn on the Stand
More Charges Filed To day.

Alter our report or the District investlg alton
closed yesterday, Hslett Knbourn, of the firm
of kilbourn & Latts, was placed on the stand.
He was shown q map and indicated what
property he had purchased in the northwestern
section of the city.
Q. How much do you hold now? A. have
sold square l56 and LOT in square ISL.
.. Who did You sell to? A. The square to
James NJ. Latts, trustee, for Hillyer & Sunder-
land, and lot 10 Mrs. Derby.
Mr.. Thurman.-Go on, gentleman; am done
with the witness.
BY Mr.. Christie:-Gave Mr. Latta no special
Instructions as TO what property 10 purchase.
|. q. To what extent, and by whom, were you
provided with funds?
Mr.. Kilbourn.- Gentlemen, (appealing to the
committee,) If some responsible memorialsts
will come forward and agreed to indemnify me
for damage that / my self and my partner
will receive L will then tell all know about
TINS transaction, but l protest against being
obnged TO expose my business to this committee
and the public. Gentlemen from all parts of
the country come to US and deposit their money
In our hands to make investments IL / stand
mere ana divulge my private business 1 am
ruined in my business. / will state in this con-
neotiOn, that Mr.. Riggs sent me word on Satur-
day, that as far as he is concerned he is not en-
personal privileges.
MIR. Thurman.-You hold all the property
you have purchased in trust, do you? A. Yes
Q. Who are the beneficiaries of those trusts?
A. L respectfully decline to answer the ques-
ton.
admOnish you, Mr.. kilbourn, that this commit
tee has authority TO compel an answer. The
question put to you is legal one, and there can
be no secret between a real estate broker and
this committee. Now, L repeat, for whom did
yOu hold these trusts?
A. As l stated before, if any responsible par
ties will Indemnify me, and will make a charge
that L or my firm, have in any manner done an
unlawful act; have conspired with the Board of
Public Works to de anything wrong, 1 will
answer, but fully conscious that my sacred
inv it,l
ness relations with my patrons, | again respect
fully decline TO answer the question.
MIR. ThuTman.-You decline
Dir. kilboUrn.-l will state IN this connection
that did receive S25 900 from the firm of ,Jay
Cooke * Co. for real estate purposes
Q. Was not H. ID. Cooke member of the
real-estate pool? a. No, sir; further than a.
one OF the firm Of Jay Cooke & Co.
.. how many are interested in this pool? A.
Several gentie men. One change was made
about six months ago. | then became directly
Interested; before was only receiving a com
mission.
Q. From whom did you buy? A. decline to
answer.
Q. Were either of the persons interested then
members OF Congress? A. l decline to an
swer.
Q. Are either of the parties now members of
Congress? a. decline to answer.
By Mr.. Wilson:-Q. Will YOU or can Won con.
suit with the beneficiaries and ascertain if they
are willing that you should divulge their names?
By Mr.. ThurmaD:-was Alexander X. Shep
herd interested in the purchase? A. say, most
emphatically, no sir. 1 say further, that no
man In the employ OF this District government
had anything nor has any interest in this mat
Ter, and will further state that but one of the
entire number is a resident of this city.
hr. Christie then called attention to Mr.. Kill
0ourns letters to the late Mr.. Huntington. Mr..
kilbourn admitted that he had written both of
the letters.
Mr.. Kilbourn was questioned at length in re-
gard TO his interest IN psvements. and stated
Will Tnhp
Evans and Lewis Clephane in contracts; that
Ae had advanced money with them to purchase
machinery aid material.
In answer TO Mr.. Wilson, the witness said that
Mr.. Evans, Mr. Clephane and himself were the
ring.
q. What was the object OF this "rinp?p A. To
lay .payements in Washington and make the
capital of the nation worthy of its name.
Dir. Wilson.-I understand that, and hope all
his fuss will amount to nothing.
MI kibourn.-I have no doubt at will.
=. What amount of interest have YOU with
Evans? A. do not know; have never had any
-tatement.
In answer to other questions, witness said he
was Interested in the pavement on 18th street
and that ON Pennsylvania avenue before the
new government anne into operation.
In answer to Mr.. Wilson, witness declined to
state whether any officer of the army was in
terested in real estate trusts; has received on
account of this interest in paving contracts
from $4,000 to $4,000; was interested in the
Metropolis Paving Company.
On cross examination, in answer to Mr.. Mat
ungly, the witness stated that he was induced
70 purchase property in the northwestern sec
ton OF the city on account OF the evident ten
dency OF population that way, and cited numer-
Gus instances OF property which his firm had
bought at from % to 80 cents foot, and sold for
from 80 cents 10 81 20 per foot. Some of this
property was purchased of w. w. COrcoran,
george w. Riggs, and Columbus Alexander
nau never mad any conversation with any menu
Der OF the Board of Public Works or member of
the District legislature regarding the sewerage
tax bill, or where improvements were to be
made; HIS experience was that property all
over inc city mad increased in value greatly. In
1870 the transactions in real estate as shown BY
the land records, was about four million dollars;
IN 1910 IL was about twelve million dollars. In
conclusion, MIR. kilbourn said he had never
made any attempt to influence a contract from
the Board OF Public Works.
Mr.. Allison then told the witness that he was
dismissed, and IL he was wanted the committee
would send a messenger for him.
The counsel for the memorialists stated that
they would be through their evidence on the
hrst charge to-day, and the counsel for the Dis
ulct were notified to have their rebuttiDg testi-
mo ny ready.
The committee allowed subpoena ducss tecum
against Messrs. Clephane & Evans to bring
their books to show Kilbourn's interest with
them.
TO.day's Session.
The committee was called to order at quarter
past ten O'Clock. Mr.. Jewett appeared for the
first time, and took his seat as a member OF the
committee.
Mr.. Merrick presented the following addi-
tonal charges. He stated that, with the excep-
ton OF one other charge in Contemplation, it
was all that would be presented.
MORE CHARGES.
Thirteenth Chdrge.-That the Board of Public
works have created a multitude of needless
omcers, and particularly that the appointments
py the Board Of Public Works of an officer de
gdcto called the Treasurer OF the Board of Pub
Tic works, and their acts of drawing upon the
financial officers OF the District of Columbia,
ana causing to be paid over to and deposited
with said Treasurer all bonds, moneys and
funds applicable to the prosecution of improve
M nus, were in direct violation OF the S7th sec
tioh OF the organic law, and also of the act OF
Cof gress OF May 9Th, 1872, sixth section, and of
tne express provisions OF the third section OF the
Scl OF tne Legislative Assembly Of July 10th,
n.i, which bad been adopted and expressly
COZ nrmed by said sixth section of the act OF
congress OF May 8th, 1872, and moreover was a
81, Is and palpable abuse of power. forasmuch
as me said act Of Congress Of May Sth had ex-
pnesiy annulled, disapproved and declared
VOC the act OF the Legislative Assembly of
Az gust 18th, 1871, which in its sixth section
page Of, Acts, Sese. Leg. Assembly, had at
tenPted 70 provide for the payment from the
treasury OF the District over to said board of
tne proceeds OF bonds to be raised under said
fourteenth Charge-That the Board of Public
Works nave charged for work which has never
pttn zone, and have included the same in as
easements levied for 10