Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-17

Col. Kirkland.
By Mr.. wiIson:-Q. When did you nrst lear
DeGolyer's attorney in this city (Mr Coombs J
million loan.
Coombs.
Q. How long after the nth Of November
lS1 did you receive this letter? A. DeGolyer
was received; came TO w sshing ton i'm Jsnusrv.
1871, and left In June; I was q stranger here:
did not see any members OF the Board OF Pablc
Works about the contract; made an applica-
ton TO them for a contract; tue application
bears date about the time IL was presented %
the board; the application was drawn up ia
Chicago.
Q. How long after you came here before you
met Huntington? A. IL WAS soon after I came
here; DeGolyer told me Huntington was the
man to see; called on him at his bank; he wa
cashier, l believe; [ have an impression tina,
Governor Cooke WAS president; my interviews
generally were with Huntington, at the First
National Bank; before Huntington died 1 had
no one else assisting me; he was my sole reli-
ance; had no other Influences at work while
Huntington was living; am confident of that
Mr.. Wilson read witness a letter written by
HIM to Huntington In February, 1872, stating
he was offered strong and powerful inf uence
to help him in this city, but in his (Hunting-
toI,'s) hands he left the matter.
y. State what you know about any ring that
decided paving contracts? A. Nothing but
heaIsay, and 1t is impossible for me to state l
think there was ring formed in New York to
.. State what you know about that ring?
MI Storrs, (Chittenden's attorney -Allow
NE TO interpose an objection.
Mr.. Allison.-Proceed with the witness, Mr..
Wilson.
@. Tell us what you know about q paving
ring? A. had received the impression that
paving men outside were coming to the District
to get contracts.
Q. Who was the combination formed with?
A. don't state there was a combination
formed; DeGOiyer and Mcclellan formed a
combination three. m har
paDies had combinations at work; 1 had SUP
posed that as there were large contracts to let
that naylng men would combine 70 get them.
Q. What influences had been offered You 20
aid you in getting contracts; what powerful in
nuence did you rely upon? A. I haven't
thought of the matter for long time, and
can hardly explain what 1 meant by saying
had a powerful influence. I can't remember
what the influence was; saw Mr.. jenkins some
time since in Chicago; nothing was said about
any letters that had written which were in his
custody.
Q. Do you know anything about his DESTROY
Ing your Letters? A. do not. 1 think at one
time he told me he had placed my letters in the
hands OF Judge Daiin; do not know what in
fuence was to use in connection with Hunt
ington.
Another letter written by Chittenden to Nick
erson was read, stating that ''the influence may
| yet be wanted The letter bore even date with
the Huntington letter.
Q. Can you now recall to mind the influence :?
A. now recolect as TO the reference in the drst
| letter you read. DeGOlyer and Mcclellan told
me in Chicago that NickersOn had some in
huence
Q. Is that all the influence you were going to
use ? A. made my proposition TO Mr.. Hun
tiHgton, and MIR. Nickerson said 70 me he had
the same influence. wanted 70 see the two
influences.
Q. Did you have any letters you used in this
connection? A. 1 think came To Washington
without any letters or papers.
y. What dc you mean by saying in the Nick
erson letter, 1.-THE letter has been presented ?''
A. lt must mean letter OF Introduction to
somebody; 1t refers to letter Of Introduction to
Huntington.
Q. By whom? A. think it was from Mr.
Chapman, the delegate from the District. Mr..
Farwen introduced me to Chapman, and he
wrote me letter 70 Huntington. / think IL
was Huntington who promised me the contract.
q. How long after Huntington's death did
you cast about to ind somebody 10 NIL his place?
A. Well, Was depressed in spirits about ten
Gays, and then began operations again; then
met Brown, he showed me letters from the
BRhon Of New Jersey; he had been abroad and
recently returned; L asked Brow a for an inter
view to talk over my matters; 1 made propo-
sition to him; he said he had influence; he said
he was acquainted with Gov. Cooke, AMI
think he mentioned Col. Parsons.
q. How long after that before you entered
into an arrangement with him? a. / think il
was at that interview; 1 agreed 10 pay him d We
cents per square yard if he secured an award o.
the contract for me.
Q. When did you pay Mr.. Brown $4,000? A
The fore part of July, think, in 1S72; agreed
to pay Kirkland 36 cents per square yard; he
mdUc inc plOpOcitlOu Iuc
q. What influence was he to bring to bear?
A. He never told me what his influence was; 1
never asked him; he only told me he had innu-
ence; did not insist upon knowing what his
influence was; 1 want to state there were sew
eral applications made to me TO aid me; all nv
arrangements were contingent; L made a con-
tingent arrangement with Major Rice: agreed
to give him between 80 a1d 40 cents per uuare
yard If he gave me CONTRACT for l00, 900 square
yards within given time.
q Did you make arrangements with every
body that came along? A. 1 did; OF course,
many were not able TO fulnll their promises
and the arrangements were annulIed.
By Mr.. Thurman:-Paid Mr.. Kirkland s12C .
in notes, and $4,000 10 Brown, and $4,000 70
Parsons, because / recognized the fact each ole
Of these gentlemen complied with their con.
tracts; have ne idea with whom they negotia-
ted or with whom they had influence.
Q. How then did you know IL was their inau-
enee that secured you the contract. How do
you know but that you got a contract on the
merits OF your pavement? A. They may have
done something toward it, but the merits of the
pavement did much.
Q. Do you mean to say you paid sS2 900 10
these men on the uncorroborated statement that
IL was their influence that secured the contract?
A. do. have no evidence that they used any
influence.
At twenty minutes after y O'Clock the COM
mittee took recess until p. m.
The committee had not reassembled at quar-
ter before three O'Clock. Mr.. Chittendsn will
be re-examined this afternoon.