Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-06
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of The Joint Congressional Committee.
M0re OF CHIC Scored Testimony.

ugatng committee examined in secret session
VIM. f. Mattingly and jerome j. Hind. The
Injunction OF secrecy having been removed we
ale enabled to present the folio sing abstract
OF their testimony.
TESTIMONY OF WIN. p. MATrINGLY.
MI MattIngiy on being sworn, was requested
TO stste all he knew witt reference to A. b.
Kirkland, and said that after the District gov
eminent understood that the committee had
failtd TO find Kirkland in New York, they 1.-THE
District authorities) made every effort TO OBJ
tain his attendance, and sent man on to New
York after him; the report received from him
was that Mr.. Kirkland was not in the city;
shortly after that Mr.. Storrs informed witness
THAI Kirkland was in town; witness had Several
in the rotunda, publicly, and he intended that
they sheuld be SO; StorTs insisting all the time
that the man was here; witness felt exceedingly
doubts to him; MIR. storrs finally sent
for witness one day, or one evening
and told him very positively again that MT.
he had seen him, and he said no he had
not, but he had an appointment to see him on
that evening; that he " as here under the name
of BInsmore, or Binmore, or some such name as
that; witness told him he was very anxious to
find out whether Mr.. Kirkland was here or not;
that the District government wanted his testi-
moDy; he told witness the hour he had for an in
terview; witness was informed that Mr.. Storrs
had gone to the house of Mr.. Wilcox; witness
never saw Wilcox to know him; witness after
wards got the number of the house and the To-
IL,
or X and La brick house; witness saw Mr.
Storrs afterw and be told witness that he had
had an interview with Mr.. Binsmore; witness
endeayored on that occasion and on several
other occasions afterwards to get from Mr..
Storrs statement as to what Mr.. Binsmore
had told him; he was very Mysterious about the
matter, and witness never could get anything
out OF him at all; that still rendered IL doubtful
in witness mind as to whether Kirkland was
here or not; this continued for several days; Mr.
Storrs would send for witness almost daily; wit
No ha. TOD
the man was here, and that he had
seen him, and witness, by his manner, more
than In words, sigDitied his strong doubts
On Thursday morning this week, before wit
ness examination, word was sent to witness
professionally and in confidence that he could
have AN interview with Mr. Binsmore at the Ed
bitt house; went 10 Binsmores rooN, (No. 49,
and spoke TO him; Lis appearance correspondent
with the description witness had of him, and
witness had no doubt that he was Mr.. Kirkland;
witness told him that the District government
had been endeavoring to secure his attendance
and were exceedingly anxious that he should
testify before the committee, and witness would
be glad il he would make witness a detailed
state ment OF the entire transaction; he was sp-
parently in an extreme state of nervous excite.
meDt; he had big scare upon him, and ap
peared very much indisp posed TO talk; he said he
mad not decided in his own mind whether he
would testify or not, and that was the reason
he had remained here during this time under an
assumed name, and had kept out of sight; that
If he did testify he did not want to come before
the committee until everybody else had ap-
pearec; witness then repeated his request to
him; he seemed very reluctant TO talk about it,
indeed, which rather surprised witness, because
he sought the inter view; he said that if he came
before the committee he did not want to be
dragged there by the sergeant alarms or an
officer, but wanted to come voluntarily.
The impression produced upon mind OF wit
ness was that he not knowing witness was fear
ful that witness might disclose his presence here
and have him brought up, and in order to get
from him what he would state, witness told him
that he might rest assured that under the cir
cumstances under which the interview wa.
had, witness would not avail myself or the op-
he had had to disclose his presence;
AMI that is the reason why witness did not
They had conversation then for some time
and all that witness succeeded in getting out OF
him was upon a sort OF crOss-examnation and
pretty severe pumping. Witness asked him Sc
u his frat connection with the matter with Mr.
Chittenden, ard Kirkland went on to give
history Of the transaction which does not differ
ircm what has already been developed before
the committee. In this connection witnes.
ked Kirkland whether he had himself seen
any member of the Board of Public Works
tie said he had not. Witness asked him whether
be had ever had any interview with Governor
formed by Mr.. Shepherd that he did not know
Mr.. Kirkland, and, to his knowledge, had never
seen him. He said the only interview he had
Sh M was after the award
refused to give the notes unless they had a con-
tract in writing; they were not satisfied with
the award, and that he met Mr.. Shepherd one
day and told him that he was anXlous-that De-
Golyer & Mcclellan were anxious-to have the
contract under the award; that MIR. Shepherd
told him it did not make any difference;
contract, and that that was all the converse
ton which took place between them.
Kirkland denied that any member of the Dis
trict government had received any of the notes
vide with Chittenden. Witness asked Kirkland
what disposition he had made OF the cash; he
did not seem disposed to talk about that matter;
it seemed 10 be q tender POINT with him. Wit
ness pressed 1t upon him in every conceivable
way. Witness asked him whether any member
of the Board of Public Works, to his knowledge,
not; that no person connected with the board
and no person in this city had received any Dor
ton of 1t. Witness told him he did not see any
objection to his stating who had received it; he
said he could not tell that he had used il for his
private purposes. Finally Kirkland said he had
given some OF the money to William COlvin
Brown. Witness told Kirkland In the COM
mencement of the interview hat he had placed
him (withess) in q very embarrassing position:
that the District authorities had been endeav-
oring to secure his attendance; that he lKirt-
land) had information Of their endeavoring to
get him in New York; that witness was very
anxious 10 have him testify, and saw no objec-
ton to his testifying. He was undetermined as
20 whether he would testify or not he said he
would consider the matter, and If he concluded
to testify he would come voluntarily before the
committee and would do 20.
Kirkland told him Mr. Moore received no por-
ton Of the money; that he, Moore, had declined
accepting any OF it; that he had promised to
give him a portion of either the notes or the
proceeds Of the notes. witness forget which, that
be had offered IL to him and that he had de-
clined to accept it. On the evening OF the day
witness saw Kirkland he, witness, told Gov
Shepherd of his interview, and the Governor
said he was in hopes RiTtland would testify;
and witness told Billy Moore when Kirkland
wanted to see him that he was an xious that he
should testify.
On the evening Of the 2Sth inst. witness and
Gov: Shepherd walkedPdOwn the avenue from
the Capitol to the store Of Shepherd & Bros,
and Mr.. Moore told them, he, Moore, had been
summoned to- appear before the committee;
Mr.. shepherd told him to 90 right up, and he
said there was nobody in the store; Mr.. Shop
herd volunteered to stay there himself He
told him that he was not sufficiently famil lar
with the business; he would prefer to wait until
Tom came in-that Ii Mr.. Shepherds brother
and would 60 up then.
TESTIMONY OF JBRoMD j.. HIND.
On the Lat instant the committee, in secret
session, took the testimony Of Jerome j. Hind,
who testified that he resides at Decatur, Ala
bama, aud had been visiting Washington OF
and on since 1856; business OF witness Is Q mail
contractor; witness had been in no way con-
ne cted with or interested In contracts with the
Board OF Public Works; he did, however, apply
for . contract in April, q year ego. but never