New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-04

RIRTIANu'S TESTIMONY VERY DAMAGING TO HIMSELF
AND THE DISTRICT RING-IIIs BAD MEMORY RE-
FREsHED BY,LETTERs AND OTHER DOCUMENTARY
EvIDENCE-COPIES OF AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
CONTRA CTORs AND CONTRACT JoBBERs.
IPROM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON May 3.-The District Ring has in
jured its case quite as much by the indiscreet ac
ton of its counsel in relation to the testimony of
Col A. b. Kirkland as would have been possible had
he been allowed to appear promptly before the Com
mittee and tell the whole truth. As the case now
stands every one who has heard or read the testi-
mony of this most remarkable witness will be con-
WINGED that he is the greatest liar that the Commit
tee las yet examined, while bis desire TO conceal
the truth since his private consultation with Mr..
Shepherds counsel is in most striking contrast
with the threats he made before that time. The
Committee recalled him for short time Saturday
afternoon, but were no more successful than when
questioning him in private. Whenever question
led up toward the information the Committee is
seeking his memory always failed him.
The testimony that Kirkland gave on Friday has
been printed by the Committee and contains some
rather important passages not yet made public. The
most interesting of these relate to Kirtlands move
ments since the Committee undertook TO enforce his
attendance. On the 18th of April day or two be-
fore he first came to Washington, he wrote the fol-
lowing letter TO his friend Wilcox:
NEw-YoRK April IL, 1874
FRIEND WILCOX; received your letter, with slip from
paper, yesterday and thank you. presume shall be
compelled to put in appearance before the Commit
tee but somebody will be sorry. 1 am perfectiDg a
scheme that Will, expect knock the legs from under
certain crowd. think Nee. made of himself. ]
don't know what Chttenden will says he. too. may de-
yeOp his ears, and may your humble servant; you
can't tell you know. bought The Sum- but fail to find
that interesting column devoted daily 10 the Board Of
Public Plumber" Two very interesting editorials on
the subject, however appear, and WILL in measure,
safy the public Of this city for the loss Of the
ington letter. am nowhere in particular and every
where In general nowadays; otherwise no doubt I
should have received their subpoena before now. But
will feel like rising to explain my position. spent
Sunday at Greenbusb. All very well. i hope you sfe
sll well Yours truly, KIRKLAND.
To the Hon. G. b. Wilcox, Washington.
The Interpretation Kirkland now puts upon this
letter is absurd The scheme he refers TO in the let
ter and the announcement of which is sandwiched
between two sentences relating directly to the in
yestgation, he now says had nothing whatever to
do with the subject of inquiry or with Washington
matters What the scheme was be would not say,
because it would injure hint would eliminate
him." He presumes he will have TO appear before
the Committee aud that somebody will be sorry, and
thinks Mcclellan made an ass of himself; and be-
tween the two sentences he speaks Of q scheme
entirely foreign 70 this subject! The some
body who was to be sorry was himself or
his wife Mcclellan made an ass of himself by adj
uniting that the pavement he laid was not good
one-in other words, by telling the truth; Chitten-
den might develop his ears" in the same way, and
~ might Kirkland This is the ridiculous explana-
tion Of his letter he wrote only about two weeks
ago But judging from questions PIT to the witness
by Senator Thurman yesterday, Kirkland did not
change his mind in regard to the Importance of the
Aslgs2py, G2p aft9I he game " tbs sity, LIE Va;