New-York tribune., 1874-05-18
SANBORN'S LAWYER.

+. A. PRESCOTT OF BOSTON BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
OF WAYS AND MEASs-HE DECLINES TO TELL
WHAT HE DID WITH sANBORN'S MONEY, PLEADING
THE CONFIDENTIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN CLIENT
AND ATTORNEY-THE EXAMINATION SUSPENDED.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. May 1I-When Sanborn was before
the Ways and Means Committee, and gave testI-
mony regarding ms connection with the contracts
bearing his name he said he had paid man named
Prescott who passes for Boston lawyer, the sum
of Ss 900 for fees and for disbursement TO others.
Prescott has been hard to find, with Sergeant-at-
Arms summons ever since. The Committee wanted
to know the persons with whom Prescott shared,
and Sanborn SAID no knew nothing about it, but that
Prescott could and would tell the whole story
PRESCOTT testified yesterday, however, having been
brought from Boston for that purpose on Friday.
His testimony is of no sort of valle, for
he concealed himself, on every material point,
behind O lawyers privilege of Withholding
his clients business. This, the Committee urged
was not valid in this case if indeed in any. because
the client had already indicated willingness to
have the facts known This question, as 1t contains
the whole case, will probably be decided tomorrow
as Prescott says he is able to account for the money
but he declines to indicate the names until he shall
have obtained Sanborn's consent. He was directed
to see or communicate with Sanbom before his eX-
animation tomorrow, but he said he did not know
where he was. The probability is that when he
comes before the Committee, tomorrow. he VIII
give the same reasons before, and say lie has not
been able to see hear from SanbOrn, and that he
must continue to decline until he can obtain direct
instructions from his client.
Mr.. Prescott said his whole business during the
time Sanborn employed him was about $4,000, the
time being about year anda half. OF the S2SOOO
received from SanbOrn Prescott says he spent
being his fees and expenses about $4,000 leaving
$4,000 as the disbursed TO other persons, whose
names he refuses to disclose. He said he kept no
books whatever, carrying the details of his i'm
mense and questionable practices "in his head"
Prescott occupies the same office in Boston as Gen.
Butler and thus it seems that another friend of
Buffers is interested in the Sanborn business.
DETAILS OF THE EXAMINATION, OF PRESCOTT.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.l
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Committee on
Ways and Means, yesterday morning, examined F. A.
Prescott Of Boston. He testified that his occupation
was that OF a lawyer he was clerk In the Internal
Revenue Bureau from May, 1865, until January, 1867,
since which he has been practicing attorney. He
had an office at No. IL HamtOn-square with Isaac u.
Morse. In reply to question as to what member Of
Congress had Office in the building the witness said
he believed Gen. Butler had office there. The witness
had had more or less business with Mr. Sanborn since
1862 IN various cases. and his legal adviser He had
received considerable OF money from Mr. Sanborn,
both for his own and other expenditures. Witness
did not reeoect that he had anything TO do with man
named Dickinson n the settlement Of claim under the
San born contract.
O. VIII you tell us how much Of the s2s,0 900 which Gan
born he gave for your legal services and
how much for your expenditures outside 2 A. have
paid my own expenses various times and places and
have received different sums OF money, in short having
kept private account Of the transactions
N fat mi A /
| received from SIC 900 10 $4,000 from Sanborn.
O. Can you tell us how much you received for your
| fees as attorney A cannot separate what have
received fees and personal expenses which, per-
| haps. were large-say $4,000
OF the expenditures; think the moneys l have dis
bursed apart from my fees entitled to he consd
| cred as confidential between my client and myself.
| O. You think so A. Yes.
| Mr. Beck OF the Committee here read TO the witness
from the testimony Of Sanborn In which the latter said
Prescott knew all about the payments OF money. bu,
had never given him account OF them, and that
Prescott would before the Committee himself Tie
witness still declined TO the question, not
sdering what Sanborn said In his testimony author
| ,,v or permisslon TO him to answer the question
| Mr. Dawes-Do you know for what purpose you came
berey Witness-I do not never said TO sanhorn that
I would or would not come before the Committee
Alter fslher qua5u2plDg, M. Dawes asked ihen yol