National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-17


the morning. l went to Mr.. Chittenden before
he was up, and told him Mr.. Huntington was
dead. Says he, "What is to be done NEXT"
After day or two he told me that he had, In
the interest of Mr.. Mcclellan, made other ar
rangements and got his man, who would act in
! the premises and that the thing would 60 along
as he had contemplated. He told me subse=
quently that, after knew what had already
transpired exactly. l asked him about this
question of pavement, &c. He told me that he
7 had paid the money one way and another, and
that 1t had gone to this middle-man, of whom
, he was speaking, chiefly, and that precisely
into whose hands IL had gone he could not say
lat least he did not say. &
4 O. Did he name to you this middle-mani A.
Yes, sir. do not know that In that exact
connection he did name him, but knew whom
he was referring to. II was Mr.. Kirkland. l
had met Mr.. Kirkland myself, and knew him,
and knew how they were operating, substan-
TALLY. Dr.. E...#a
Q. What was Kirkland doing herei A. Well,
he was a sort of curbstone broker, / should say.
Q. In payements or any other mattersi A..
Well, / think with any body that he could
reach. l do not think it was much difference
whether it was pavements or lamp-posts; l
think he was on hand that was my under
standing of the man. met him frequently,
and that is my general idea, that he was q
curbstone broker. He cut quite q swath here.
He had fine pair OF horses, boarded at the
Arlington, and cut quite a swell while here.
Q. Do you know anything more about the
circumstances than what You have stated A.
Well, there is nothing that occurs to me that l
regard as material. @
By Mr.. Merrick. Q. Who was the substitute
for Huntingdon A. had supposed he referred
to Mr.. Kirkland. -
Q. To whoml A. To Kirkland.
Q. Was Governor Cookies name mentioned
in. connection with i'll A. Well, he told me
that Governor Cooke was a very warm friend
of his, and that he was enlisted in tie matter
favorably disposed; and requested me by all
means not to say anything to Governor Cooke
upon the subject one way or another; that he
had everything satisfactory. have letter Of
his in my pocket which can show you on that
subject. 1t is cautiously written. / have also
another letter from Mr.. Mcclellan that Mr..
Chittenden requested him to write me TO see
that there was no harm done while he was gone.
1.-THE witness was directed to leave the letters
produced by him with the committee, and was
informed that they would hereafter be returned
By Mr.. Wilson: Q. Were you here in May,
1S72i A. think so.
Q. Did you receive this letter of May 4, 1872,
in this cityl A. Yes, sir; Mr.. Chittenden left
for New York, and he left his memorandum
behind.
Q. Were you here them A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you know any special reason why it
was NECESSARY that any particular caution
should be used along about that time? A.
Well, can we'll understand Mr.. Chittenden's
views of the subject if that is what you are
after. ~. .
Q. I am not asking you for his view. 1waat
to know II you know any special reason why
there should be any particular caution about
that time in getting contracts? A. do not
know that it was necessary there should be
caution used.
Q. Do you know any special reason why 1t
was considered best that caution should be
usedl A. Yes sir.
O. What was 1T A. know that Mr.. -
you will understand always that after Mr..
Chittenden came here, he came and urged me
to allow him, in consequence of his superior
skill, judgment, and opportunities, TO manage
| the matter. He desired that / should allow
him to do 1t, and that that being the case, he
wanted to be let severely alone, and that l
should in no wise meet any of the parties with
whom he was operating.
| Q. Did you regard it as important yourself
that you should not have any conference with
the parties with whom he was operatingf A.
No, sir; did not. felt Inundated, and it
was about the first time in my life that ever
allowed man to put himself -
| Q. Do you know any reason why II was i'm
portant that you should not be in the city about
that timel A. Well, 1 do not think there was
real reason: but his idea was that If was
away it would not interfere with his plans.
Q. Now, sir, is it not true that there were
some secret measures going on here with refer
ence to this contract A. dare say that there
were, substantially, secret measures.
| @. Do you not know that there were secret,
clandestine matters going on with reference to
these contracts? A. VIII you allow me to state
what Mr.. Chittenden said upon that subject
! Q. want to know If you do not know that
to be the facti A. Well, would not like to
say clandestine, because that is pretty strong
language. have general idea that there
were parties operating here, each against the
other, if you please, and each endeayoring to
get the best show he could, and by such means
as he could employ; and they were not very
scrupulous, so far as my understanding went,
| as to the means used.
Q. Do you not know that there were nego-
tiations going on here in the dark, and that
were never intended to reach the public eye or
the public mind, with reference to the letting
of these contracts' A. do SO understand
that that was the effort and intention of the
parties operating here to get contracts; it was
to get them, and reach the source of power in
every way they could.
Q. Do you not know that there were pro-
cesses going on here for the purpose of reach
ing the parties who had the power to let these
contracts that were never intended to reach
the public eye, and that the public should
always be kept in ignorance of III A. l have
never had any idea that it was intended to be
made public.
O. Do you not know that 1t was the inten-
ton to keep 1t secret, and that the parties were
doing all they could to cover up their tracks in
this mstters A. Why, unguestionably they
were. / want the committee to understand
me exactly. mean to say that Mr.. Chttten-
den placed his reliance substantially upon Mr..
Huntington, while Mr.. Huntington was living,
to occupy the position of negotiator. Now,
that is exactly what he did do.
Q. How long had Mr.. Kirkland been In this
r l. - a. r.
at all until about that time. He dropped
lin
Q. How long had you been herei A. had
been in this city three-fourths of the time for
four years. -.
Q. Was not Mr.. Kirkland a comparative
stranger herea A. He was entirely, SO far as
know. .....
Q. Do you tell this committee now that Mr.:
Kirkland was the.man who took the place Of
Mr.. Huntingdon A. say that Mr.. Chitten-
den told me SO. 1 do not say that he did.
from all the information you now have, ID to
whether he was or was not the man who was
to supply the place of Mr.. Huntingdon A.
My own opinion is that Mr.. Chittenden had
Mr.. Kirkland, and / was surprised that Mr..
Kirtland's name was brought In as an assistant
negotiator.
| o. Who was that mani A. never heard
him say. Mark you, Mr.. Chittenden has said
to me distinctly, and he will say 1t again If he
comes on the stand, that he had warm friends
here, and that Governor Cook was particular
and warm friend. O." -l.
Q. Do you not know who was the first man
who took the place of Mr. Huntington after his
DEATH A. / do not know further than hays
stated, and should carefully state If I did.
Q. Have you any information as to whom
that man was7 A. No, sir; have not, any
further than have indicated. Mr.. Chittenden
was q very elose-mouthed man, and, as he sup
posed, over cautious about covering up his
tracks, and placed himself In whatever he did
so that no man could follow him; that was his
idea; that he considers his great forte.
Q. Do you know of Mr.. Chittenden having
any letter in his possession upon the strength
OF which he expected to get a contract A.
Well, upon my word, I do not think ever saw
q letter; do not think so. ,---...f.,
Q. Have you any information In regard TO
that A. Mr.. Chittenden told me distinctly,
whenever we met, that he had the thing ar
ranged definitely; that he would GET
Q. With whom did he have 1t arranged defin-
itelyi A. In the first place, mark you, Mr..
Huntingdon Subsequently, when he was
operating for several days, meeting me every