Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-29
PACIFIC MAIL SUBSIDY.
Into Whose Pockets Did the Cor
rupti0n Fund Go?
$115, 900 Traced to the Postmas'
ter of the House of Represen-
tatives.
Dom Piatt Tells What He
Knows About that Lobby
Fund.

| NEW YORK, Dec. 2S.-The Sub Com
mittee of the House Ways and Means Com
mittee to investigate the subsidy business
Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
began their session this forenoon in the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. Mr.. Cole, President
OF the American Exchange Bank, was ex-
amined in reference to the deposits made
| by Irwin. He testified that on the 29th OF
May last, two strangers entered the Ex-
change Bank, and that one of them pre-
sented check for 1000, signed by Col
| Irwin. He asked the presenter of the
check what his name was, but this he
refused to disclose. The amount was
paid and the parties left, followed
by messenger who saw them enter the
Park Bank. Mr.. Cole found that the man
| who drew the check from the American
Exchange Bank, gave his name as King,
and stated that he was postmaster Of thu
House of Representatives at Washington.
Another sum of s275, 900 was drawn BY the
Marine Bank on check sent for the amount
on the same day. OF the three hundred
and ninety thousand dollars paid that day,
nineteen thousand dollars was paid by GER
titled checks, and the remainder in notes
over the counter. This occurred in May,
1872. The sums Irwin deposited up to
that date were onlv small sums,
varying from one thousand to four
thousand. On the 27th of May, three sums,
two of one hundred thousand dollars, and
one Of one hundred and twenty-five thou
sand, were drawn by different persons on
certified checks, made payable to bearer
and signed by Irwin The large deposit Of
seven hundred and thirty-fve thousand
dollars was made the 25th of MAY. Tie
two men who came for the money, on the
29th Of May, appeared to know one anoth-
er very well. Witness thought he could
easily recognize King but could not identify
the other person. At the time of his large
deposit by Irwin, witness ascertained the
sum was deposited in checks of the Pacific
Mail Company. About one year after
King had drawn the first sum from the
American Exchange Bank, he called again
to draw another check, which was not so
large in amount. Witness did not know
whether he had been at the bank lately.
The witness left with the committee the
account Of Irwin with the bank.
Beaumont Clark, Assistant Cashier of
the American Exchange Bank, was sworn
and testified to the following: OF the man
who drew the large sum of money, losing
sight Of him, he went to the cashier Of the
Park Bank, and ascertaining that the
man who drew this money was William
). King, postmaster of the House of Repre-
sentatives. The cashier of the Park Bank
was j. L. Worth. Had seen the gentle
man who drew the $4,000 check about a
year afterwards. He was recognized by
witness, who addressed him as Mr.. King.
The latter said, in reply, that it did not al
ways answer to have a good memory.
Witness described the person be called
Mr.. King, as large sized man, and wear
ing bushy side whiskers. He thought Ir-
win was in the city at the time. Did not
know if Irwin drew any of these checks,
but the inference was he had.
Other testimony was taken, corrobora-
tive Of that given above.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Donn Piatt,
this morning, in his paper, the Capital,
makes tins curious, unqualified oracuiar
statement respecting the Pacific Mail in
vestigatior:
"What is curious about the affair is that
precisely what the committee asks Irwin,
is within their knowledge. There is not a
man on the Ways and Means Committee
who cannot give an exact list Of the lobby
lists engaged in this villainy. Why not call
these gentlemen to the stand? 1t is
rumOred that in one Of the secret investga-
tiOHs of the committee, as private gentle
men, and under peculiar conditions, they
were permitted to see a list which contain
ed about thirty names, but whether Con-
gresSmen or lobby-stIikers, does not ap-
near"