New-York tribune., 1874-12-14
RICHARD D. IRWIN UNDER ARREST.

hlCHAILD ID. lhWl~ CNDA@h hisiiLSA'
THE sERGEANT-AT-ARMS TAKES HIM INTO CUSTODY
PROBABILITY THAT HIS TESTIMONY WILL BEAR
HEAVILY AGAINST MEssRs. SAGE AND HATCH.
Sergeant-at-A Arms Ordway of tho House OF
Representatives arrived at the Hoffman House satur
day morning. and took Richard b. Irwin formally into
custody on warrant OF issued by the Speaker OF
the House, on O charge Of contempt In fall
ing 10 appear and testify before the Ways and Means
Committee relative to the circums ances attending
tho passage the Pacific Mail Subsidy bill Mr.. Ordway
was accompanied by an assistant and was fully pre-
pared to hold Mr. Irwin strictly in custody, but he
found the latter suffering considerably from nervous
citement and volunteered to permit him to remain in
his ROOM spacious parlor Of the Hoffman House, the
Sergeant or his assistant being continually guard
either in the room or the hallway leading to
It, This strict watch was somewhat re-
laxed Yesterday the European steamers by which the
House supposed Mr. Irwin might attempt to escape
having sailed. Mr.. Irwin himself volunteered conf
DENTAL communication very gravey to the Sergeantat
Arms and, showing him a side door communicating
with an unguarded passage-way to Twenty fourth-st,
by which the prisoner might at any moment have taken
his departure unobserved remarked. Now that the
steamers have sailed, Ordway you would better
lock that door," The Sergeantat-Arms saw
the Joke and relaxed his severity. Since the
first summons to appear and testify Mr. Irwin has been
the recipient almost hourly Of teegrams from Washing
regarding bis healtn ana ON baturuay hc
repied that II his nervous excitement were aggravated
by the receipt of any kilograms he thought he
roula suer a relapse and be unable to attend by
Tuesday As the kilograms Immediately ceased. he an
nounced Yesterday that he would be able TO 20 with
Mr. Ordway today, AMI would DO ready to attend the
Committee on Tuesday.
In reply to inquiries to the tenor Of the testimony
which he would give before the Committee be said ne
preferred not to make IL public prematurey IL would
rome with more force II t came suddenly As TO an
swering the questions Of the Committee at a he sad
that depended upon what they asked him. He would
Give them all the legitimate Information In his power
readily and cheerfly and he would not court martyr
dom. But II they asked him questions which he was
imagine that any such questions would be asked. he
would have to refuse TO reply, and take the conse-
1t was better to be prisoner for the right than
a freeman in the wrong But SIS to hunting hiu down
and making martyr Of HIN, the old hunters story OF
wolf being pursued by dog with the dog little ahead
was applicable.
A friend OF Mr.. Irwin stated to TRIBUNE reporter
that the testimony would bear heavily on Mr. Sage and
Mr. Hatch, and that probably Mr.. Sage. whose testt
ony relative tho alleged arrest OF Irwin In August
WAS untrue would be recalled to revise that portion o
his story and Mr. Hatch would probably be recalled 70
revise his testimony relative to the circumstances under
which the first Pacific Mail subsidy was obtained
The will leave this city for Washing
Ton with his prisoner this morning AS IL was evident
that The course Mr. Irwin would have material enect
upon relations Of the Pacific Mall 20 h
COMPANY have resolved TO defer the prosecution Of tno
suit begun against him.