National Republican., 1874-05-07
A. No, sir; do not know how; never had

JOrs instead OF Su0-cOnI1cIOTS, OF, IN OInel
words, that the pay for the work should come
direct to us. Kirkland did not know that the
Board of Works would be willing to do this,
and, therefore, we came back to Newark about
as wise as when we went away" Now, olo
not you represent to those gentlemen that you
had a contract and did not know whether OF
not you would have it changed so as TO put IL
in their name! A. No, sir.
( "Some time later, between Marcn ana
July, we received several letters from
Reed, stating that everything was settled
to come on and sign contract. Not having
received any official notice OF the award
from the Board of Public Works, we paid nc
attention 10 Reeds letters" You say you
went to Newark A. Yes, sir.
O. About this businessi A. Yes, sir.
O. Did Mr.. Reed go with you2 A. No, sir.
O. You went alonel A. He furnished me
the money to go.
O. You went to Newark with this contract
for q, 900 Yardsl A. No, sir, did not; did
not make any such statement. ~
O. tsAt last Reed came to Newark with q
letter purporting to be written by the clerk Of
the Board Of Public Works, setting forth that
a certain job or jobs, as stated in the agree
ment which was published yesterday, had been
awarded to US, and that the contract awaited
our signature" You did not carry such let
ter therel A. No, sir; / did not know OF any
such thing as such a letter.
@. Then it must have been Mr.. Reed who
carried this letter, as he went there alone. A.
do not know how many times Reed went
there at all.
O. Who prepared this contract read to you
By Mr.. Wilson the other day in relation to your
interest -s..-r----
The Witness. That agreement
Q. Yes? A. do not know.
Q. You did not prepare it! A. No, sir:
o. You are certain of that A. Yes, sir.
o. "Mr. O'Conner then went to Washington,
saw Kirkland and Reed, signed the agreement
with them which had been prepared by Kirt-
lnRd."
The Witness. I never prepared It. I never
prepared it. / do not remember of reading
that document at all.
Q. "But failed in either seeing or signing any
contract for any kind of work, and returned
home the same day. Some time afterward
Kirtland came to Newarkto have US sign the
contract 10 another party"
The Witness. That is false. There was no
contract made that know of then, or any
aWani, las VIC refused TO have unything to do
with him or it," saying he would pay us 20
cents per square yard out of It.
Q. Did you not carry contract there for
some other party asking them to sign It so as
to appear as the contractor! A. No, sir.
Q. Then that whole statement is false? A.
If you are trying to prove that statement in
the paper false l will say that it is false.
The Chairman. I am trying to get at the fact
if 4 can; / do not know whether can or not;
l think Il is rather doubtful.
ave refused to sign a contract, or an asslgn-
ment of Il, iOr the reason II we did SO sgn or as
sign we would still be liable for the performance
of-the work And further, that neither then or
since hsvs we done any work in the city Of WASH
inkton. usr received nor paid any mcney for any
interest done in the said city.
"THoMAs O'CoNNER.
BERNARD e STANLEY" o
@. Now, you say that statement is not true7
A. do not know anything about 1t.
Q. You never asked them to sign contract
in which they had no interest, offering them 20
cents per yard, if they would sign it and be-
come, nominaly, contractors? A. No, sir.
Q. Did you ever propose to introduce o'Con-
nor & Stanley to any person or persons, In
this city, who would be able to secure them
the contract A. No, sir.
Q. Do YOU know anybody in the New York
custom house who had anything to do with
contracts in the city Of Washington A. No,
sir.
Q. This letter is signed by o'Connor &
Shanley, might say to you, Mr.. Kirkland.
A L do not know who it is signed by.
@. These statements are all false4 A. What
/ have stated are false are. |
ByMr. Christy: Q. Do you know Samuel
Strong, who formerly resided IN New York;
A. know him by reputation in this District;
that is all.
Q. Were you ever in his employl A. No,
sir.
Q. In any capacity7 A. No, sir.
Q. What amount Of money did you bring to
this city which you were going to usei A. /
could not state that fact.
Q. l am now speaking Of your second visit to
Washington! A. From what timel
O. During the time you had certain CONVEX
sations with gentlemen here which have been
detailed by you, when you left the city by way
AtnyaVnNria hat n MI n
you bring with youl A. l do not know what
time you refer to; when went 70 Chicago to
see the notes!
Q. No; long since. refer now to the time
Immediately prior to your being subpRDaed.
How much did you bring to this city theni A.
do not know.
Q. How much did you receive in this cityl A.
Ten dollars.
Q. Was that all you received A. think so. |
Ten dollars is all that can account for, at any
rate.
.. I desire to have you approximate, as near
as you can, the amount you brought to the city |
when YOU came here. A. Icannot approximate |
to it. was e long time in New York. I do not |
know what l spent. l do not know what took
with me when left home.
Q. Before coming here you were for some
time in New York; A. was some time in the |
city of New York.
q. You had considerable expense there; |
then you came here, and all you received was
$40: A. Yes, sir; that is all / can account for
now.
Q. There is this expression ma letter of |
which presume this is true copy, on page |
1900 of tie published testimony. 1t is letter
that you addressed TO Mr.. Wilcox on April Is, |
1874, ffcm the city of York: 81 presume shall
be coTPsIled 10 put in an appearance before
the committee, but some one will be sorry"
desire you TO state to whom you refer in that |
expression. A. l have already stated that. /
refer you 20 my testimony.
Q. That may be true, but / desire to ask
further. aud to have categorical answer, a
reasonable aBswer-nOt an eVasive one.
The Witness. That answer, then, is not salts
factory!
Mr.. Christy. What answer was it, A. say
referred 70 my wife particularly. =.
Mr.. Christy. Now | say 10 the committee
hat an answer as absurd as that Is, as Is ap-
Darent from the context OF the letter, is not an
answer to-:kc question; and i desire that the
gitness be compelled 10 answer. It is very /
,lcar that that is simply an eVasiye answer.
He is-ss rucn under the contempt of this COM
R!ttee as if ie refused To give an answer at all.
want 10 put the question SQuarely to the wit
less 50 shat he may reply. If he stands mute,
le Is in contempt, and he is also if he give an
lbsurd answer.
The witness. have 10 other answer to
make TO that.
Mr.. CLris'y. It is evidently not ingenious,
hat answer: It is absurd.
The Chairman. Is that the only answer that II
you take exceptions to! [Laughter.l II
Mr. Christy. We have not progressed beyond
his yet. / desire the committee to require
his witncssto give an answer to that question;
he answer which he gives not being cate
yorical answer. I
MT. Jewett. You desire the committee to 4
compel this witness to tell the truth.
Mr. 1Christy. l do, or al least make state
nent That is reasonable or probable.
The Witness. ] ask the committee to protect
ne against this man. / don't want 10 tell
ie here. l have answered that question.
Mr.. Christy. make the question direct, that
t is not an answer.
Br-Jewett. In my mird If we enter upon
hat discussion it will take us long time to {
ret through.
The Chairman. don't think the committee !
an now judge of the absurdity or otherwise of
hat answer. don't think we can compel him I
o give another answer. He says distinctly .
hat he referred to himself and his wife. - |
Mr.. Wilson. That is a categorical answer as {
understand Il. {
Mr.. ChFisty. Not as you look at the context. t
M. Stewart. That is argument.
Mr.. Wilson. The answer, however. you win
bserve, is a direct answer TO the question: r
hat is the answer that he has giYeu TO the :
Ommtsssee Two or three times, o..