Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-05
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee.

Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Conuitt..
Conclusion Of Yesterdays Session
After recess yesterday. the examination of b
Oertly was continued. Witness was examined
at length as to the method of estimating charge.
for work around government property, &C., and
the manner of conducting the engineer depart
ment of the Board Of Public Works.
TO-day's session.
The committee was called to order at half pasi
ten O'Clock.
CHITTKNDKs. KIRKLAND, REV. BROWN, AMI
THE HARDWOOD ESTATE.
George X. Chittenden was recalled,
Q. Do you know Col. Moore? A. do. can.
not say when 1 first met him; it was some time
in 1872. do not remember how / became
acquainted with him; have been to his store to
STE him in friendly way and in regard to bust.
ness was at the store to see him before the con
tract was awarded.
Q. What was your object in seeing Col. Moore
at that time? A. The calls were more friendly
than any thing else, had no particular bust
ness With him; don't remember whether did
or did lot 60 to the store with Kirkland /
knew Col. Kirkland knew Moore; am not sure:
saw Kirkland in August, 1872. In Chicago, saw
him when he came to have some notes dis
counted; A. b. Holmes inquired of me about
Kirkland.
q. DO you know anything about the purchase
Of the Hardwood estate? A. think / went
out in carriage with Brown and Kirkland one
day to Hardwood; became impressed with the
beauty OF the property, and told Brown 1 would
like to buy it as q speculation. Kirkland said
he knew Hyde, the agent Of the property. 1
for. Hyde reported that Mr.. Corcoran was at
the White Sulphur Springs, that he wouId write
and ascertain what it could be sold for, L then
@. Did you ride out there on Sunday? A. 1t
might have been; I think, however, 1t was
Monday, or the latter part Of the week-about
from Mr.. Brown; the nature Of the report was
that Mr.. CorcOran would sell the property for
SZ25 900, and that the terms could be made sat
isfactory for payments. l replied to Brown to
60 ahead and make the best terms he could.
Brown was negotiating for me; Kirkland was to
have no interest that know or; was to be the
sole purchaser, and pay Brown and Kirkland as
my agents. In August Kirkland came to Chi
cago; the terms had been determined by nego-
tiation with Brown; was to pay so 900 in cash;
all the details were explained by letter from
tecf; the cash payment was to be made before
the signing of the contract; telegraphed Brown
to draw on me for $1,000 found out subse-
quently that Brown and Kirkland had pur-
chased the property without including me as a
partner in the transaction; L pursued the mat
ter on the hypothesis that the property was
mine; Brown came to Chicago about October
LIST; he stated that he and Kirkland had ad-
vanced the money, but would be included In
the purchase If met the subsequent payments.
Brown drew a contract with me to give him a
Q. You say Rev. Mr.. Brown came to Chicago
about October Let; did you arrange for the pay
ment then? A. l tried to negotiate railroad
bonds; could not, and in the meantime Brown
went to Europe; subsequently Kirkland came to
Chicago and told me that Brown aud himself
bad made the purchase; 1 want to say tn at
Brows told Kirkland that they had better 90 in
together.
Q. What kind of railroad bonds did you try to
negotiate? A. Burlington and Southwestern, q
new road; supposed could negotiate them In
Philadelphia in time to make the payment on
October LIST; when the negotiation was in its in
ception was the principal, and Brown and
hlrtland were my agents; that is all the interest
Brown and Kirkland were to have; the concep
am quite sure or that.
Q. Are you acq uainted with the handw
of VIM. Colvin Brown? Witness recognized
MS Signature to writing shown him by Judge
@. About what time did the negotiation with
Mr.. Hyde begin? A. Some time in the latter
part Of june or fore part of July.
Judge Wilson read letters and kilograms to
Anthony Hyde: 81 will be at your office to-mor-
row to close" date June %. W. Colvin Brown.
Also, letter to Hyde from the Arlington. stat
ing he would see him at p. IN. Also, tele-
gram from New York, July LIST: 81 will see yoC
Tomorrow" Also, a letter stating he was hourly
expecting reply from his agent, and asking
Messrs. Riggs & Co. to discount a SO 900 note.
z. DO you know what $4,000 note that was?
A. No, SIR; don't know anything about that.
A telegram was read from Kirkland, dated
Chicago, that the Manufacturers Bank OF Chi
cago had placed money with Riggs & Co. by
Q. DO you know anything about that? A. 1
A letter was received from Harrisburg, stating
Kirkland was delayed on account OF the train
being behind time, at Harrisburg.
q. Do you know anything about thai? A.
No, sir; it is as much news to me as any member
OF the committee.
Also, letter to Hyde, from Brown, asking
bow much money the Manufacturers Bank OF
Chicago had placed to Kirtland's credit.
Q. That does not refresh your recollection,
does IL? A. 1t does not.
A telegram was read from Chittenden, from
Philadelphia, to Brown, at the Arlington, say
may culminate; hope to be strong enough to
come in the morning. Brown, this is hell"
Witness:-That is my telegram.
Q. How do you think this struck the pious
Brown? [Laughter.l
Other kilograms and letters regarding the
HARDWOOD estate were read. letter was also
by ChittendeD, stating that call in Hare wood
Is lost. There are some things that cannot be
explained In letter. A word Is sufficient Will
Corcoran sell Harewood to me alone? L can
q. Did you write that letter? A. Yes, sir;
Brown, however, told me must not negotiate
with Corcoran; that he was the only one that
could negotiate with Corcoran; 90 tar as Cor
coran was concerned appeared as a new IN an;
Brown said If saw COrcoran 1t would defeat
the whole matter.
Q. Why did you write to Harmer? A. At the
suggestion OF Mr.. Sturgis; he told me if there
was any trouble to see Hosmer; Sturgis gave
me letter or introduction to Harmer; never
saw him before; | felt that my relations to him
were all right In having the letter OF introduce
ton.
Q. Why do you say to a gentleman you did
not know, "There are some things that can be
explained in personal interview that cannot
be stated In a letter." A. had a letter of
introduction to him. Brown was to appear as
the principal.
Q. Don't you know that DeGolyer was to
have an interest? A. had had no knowledge
of that fact.
q. Do you know how the $4,000 was raised
that went into that purchase? a. have not
the slightest idea; 1 received q letter from
Corcoran that he would give me time in the
matter. was taken sick with pneumonia, and
was sick i've weeks, and the matter passed
away.
Q. Where is that letter? A. presume 1t is
In Chicago. The $40 900 paid was in the nature
OF forfeit IL the balance Of the payments were
not made; don't know what subsequently
became of that $4,000 that was paid; don't
know what disposition was made Of It, was
pursuing the matter on the hypothesis that
bought the property; Kirkland and Brown
were pursuing II on the hypothesis that they
bought the property. I supposed that they
made the payment Of 10000 on my account.
Kirkland told me in Chicago that the property
had been sold to the SOLDIER Home, and there
would be no trouble about tho ten thousand
collars; he said that it Was his money. And that