Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-18
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee,
Yesterday Proceeding.


Alter recess in the District OF Columbia In-
vestgaion yesterday the examination OF Geo
X Chittenden was continued. He was cross
examined sharply Tor upwards of two hours
he testified that he had lived in Chicago seven
teen years; had also lived in London and Paris.
had been interested in sewing-machines aud
o j; entered into the agreement with DeGOlyrr
" Mcclellan TO secure contracts for them Ia
the latter part Of ISL; IL was a written agree
ment with them 20 procure contracts east 81
the Mississippi and south OF the Oai) rivers,
Was TO receive one third OF the net profits o.
All contracts secured; arrived in this city in the
middle of January, iS12, and stopped az the
Metropolitan; was here five months and ten
days; became acquainted with Mr.. Huntingtor
st the suggestion OF Mr.. DeGclyer; found him
at the First National Bank, and gave him
letter OF Introduction from General Chapman,
which be had given me at the suggestion o.
Nh Farweil. member OF Congress from Chicago,
had several interviews with Mr.. Huntington.
left paTers and documents with III IN regarding
the pavement; requested him 10 investigat ate it.
value called sgain upon him, and he seemed
10 be well pleased with the pavement, ani
stated that ne would cooperate with me; went
10 New York, and returned in a few days.
while there wrote TO Mr.. Huntington, as I
WAS extremely anxious to get the matter
moving; on returning from New YORK
went 20 see Mr.. Huntington again, ami
submitted some figures to him; made a pro
position 10 paw him about thirty forty cents
per square yard, contingent upon the cOntrac-
being awarded; saw Rev. William Colvin Brown
Ten MI. hunungtOue death, AM
made an arrangement with him; he claimed 70
have general influence; he had certificates
from the Episcopal bishop OF New Jersey that
he WAS clergyman In good standing; ms de an
arrangement with Colonel \. y. Kirkland after
ward at the Arlington, WHO also stated th AZ he
bad large influence In the District: was TO paw
Brown $4,000 If the award for 100000 yards
was made; secured the services OF Col. Richard
y. Parsons anu General Garfield TO argue the
merits Of the pavements before the Board of
Public Works, they first acquainting them
selves with its merits; received the award from
Nj. Shepherd June Is, lS'2, at his store, for
2OO,CGO square yards OF pavement AZ $50; took
& 10 the Arlington and gave il TO Sir. DeGJlyer
IN person; he went TO Chicago, aud 1 left Tor
Chicago on the Goth or 39th of the same month:
| never said 20 AIR. McClellsnd that part OF the
money was "to pay the national debt" re-
ceiyed two drafts OF $1,000 each on New York
ana the notes from DeGolyer x McClelland on
the same day; gave all the letters that I re-
ceived from DeGoiyer X McClelland from tina
TO time TO my attorney, Mr.. St0Tfs, ten days
ago.
Mr.. Storrs sisted that as counsel for Mr. Chit
tencen he was about TO bring suit against Mr
Mcclellan. He disliked seven or eight months
N advance to make public these letters, aud let
them thus know the evidence against them. He
would gladly let the committee see them in prI-
yate.
The letters were then handed to the commit
tee.
Gave Colonel Parsons lOGO9 while in this
city Mr.. Brown borrowed from me $50; sent
Mr. Brown a check for ST. -. two or three DAYS
before left Washington borrowed - 900 from
Brow for Fix months at seven per cent interest;
sent him my note for that amount, which is now
held by bank In Germany, the time on it hay-
ing been extended.
The committee adjourned at O'Clock until
this morning.
TO-day's Session.
The committee met this morning At II O'Clock
e. r. Evans, recalled.-Was . contractor in
this city; had contract tor the cOncrets around
P-stTeet circle; did not know whether his firm
used the gutter and cObbiestOnes on Connect
cut avenue or not; was away most OF the time,
If we used any of the material il was charged to
US, no doubt, by the board; cannot recall any
controversy 1 have ever had with john q
Evans; have i've stone crushers; crushed the
stone taken from l street; bought il from tn
District government; my contracts with tn.
board amounted somewhere IN the neighbor
Iood of one million Of dollars; my partner wa
Thomas j. Fisher, OF New YORK; no one sh RreG
the profits with me; there has been no profit
10 snare; never had any conversation with ny
member OF the Board OF Pablo Works witt
relation 10 the profits on my work, or with rela-
ION 10 any contribution. L employed one W.
N.Warden 10 settle my accounts with the Boar,
Of Public Works; was TO give him for MS ser
vices an interest in three or four blocks of pave
ment on X street, between 50 and : IN streets
agreed 70 give him all the profits above ex-
penses. In consideration OF this he was t. settle
all my accounts with the board, for all work
done by me. Have not had a settlement with
the board; they have paid me for some portion
of my work; there lie an unsettled baance due
me Of 500 900; the profits which accrued to
Warden would amount to 3, 900.
By Mr.. Wilson:-Met Worden in New York
first last July; have met him frequently since;
made my contract with him last October.
q. How came You TO select him as the party
TO make a settlement for you? A. | wOll1 like
TO make a statement before I answer. 1 have
now suit pending against Nr. Worden for en-
bezZlement, and l am advised by my attorney
not TO divuige.
MI. AllsOn.-we will take your statement in
private.
witness-I don't like private consultations.
MIR. AllsoD.-We want 70 protect you; but
still we want TO get at all the facts in the case.
The committee retired with the witness aud
shorthand official reporter to adjoining
room, and took the statement OF Mr.. Evans.
The committee returned after a few minutes
conversation, and said they had decided to ex-
anime him IN public.
By Mr.. Wilson:-Q. How came you 10 select
Mr. Warden as party TO make the settlement?
A. Mainly from long opportunities on his part;
ne told me he had great influence with almost
everybody, but had special influence. as he
called him. with Jim Magruder and Alex. X.
Shepherd; he was introduced TO me in nay ofhce
IN July last by a young newspaper reporter
named Copeland-s very nice gentleman; l
never made any inquiries with relation to WOr-
den's influence; MIR. Warden represented him
self as the chairman of the Press Association in
this city; he left the impression with me that he
was the principal man among newspaper cor
respondents; he was very earnest TO obtain for
him an interest; he never obtained the contract;
he importuned me to 60 and see the Governor,
tIlal ut ndu IL never asked Tue
Governor, however, on Mr.. Warden's account;
L did Say to Warden If you will get me certain
contracts manning the streets) will give you a
liberal interest. In my presence he wrote d
letter TO the Governor asking for the contract
| don't know whether he sent the letter or not.
He said all you have got TO do is apply for your
contract, il is all right. / did not 60 TO tue
Governor but kept away from him. One morn
ing we met at the Governors office. Warden
went in and said as he went m "We'll fix that"
L went in and Gov. Shepherd said TO me
Evans, I'll give you 10 more contracts until
you finish your work. He complimented me
on that occasion by saying evans, You are the
best man at promises / know, but you are
slow at executing them" Subseq uently Gov.
Shepherd did say to me 80 Evans, whatever in
terest you have with Warden, YOU can let II
apply TO that little work L have given you
on street" As we came out from that
conference 1 said to Warden, now the
whole thing is ended, you must 20 TO work and
work for me; had at the time q requistion for
$50 600; put the same in wardens hands for
settlement, who got il cashed with auditors
certificates and sewer certificates; at one OF my
visits to this city Warden notified me that q
party who was suing me, proposed 70 sue out a
process against the board for moneys owing me;
be suggested had better give him an order on
the board to get entered before the attachm snt
was made; gave him an order for $50 OO0:
said don't collect this; he said no fear of that:
subsequently telegraphed him from New York
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