Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-05
EVENING STAR.
CROSBY Q. N0YEs. EAisor.
Reading Matter on Every Page
WASHINGTON CITY;
5, 1874
every Dam gfng Testimony Against
Leading Memorfalfsts.

1.-THE friends of the District government we're
disposed 70 be as vindictive and uncharitable as
their opponents, they might raise q very for m
liable hue and cry over the fact that the testi-
mony in the DeGOlyer paving business shows
that Messrs. Kirkland and Chittenden, and the
"Rev." Covin Brown seem to have had very
intimate and extensive business associations
with Mr. W. W. Corcoran ami his nephew, Mr..
Thorn, who Kirkland testihes was can old
acquaintance of mine" Ii is another
vastly suspicious circumstance according
to the theory Of damaging evidence {"
dwelt on by the memorialists-thst Riggs
& Co. were the bankers for Kirkland
And again, as the theory of guilt Is raised
against the District government because Kirt-
land & Co. were so extremely secretive about
their movements, it is to be noted that they
manifested even greater secretiveness in regard
to their transactions with Mr.. Corcoran, Mr.
Thorn, Mr.. Hyde and Mr.. Riggs. Thus, it
was with the greatest difficulty Kirkland could
be induced to testify in regard to the nego-
tations with Mr.. COrcoran for the Hardwood
property. 10 was finally wormed from him that
on coming from Chicago to Washington on his
second visit be "found the SO, 600 10 his credit
at the bank of Riggs & Co." And then the fol-
lowing was ELECTED by tedious pumping:
. 2. What did you get for the check? A. put
IL IN transaction that had here.
q. What sort Of a transaction? A. Wall
nothing whatever to do with the Board of Pub
lie Works.
q. suppose not, but we want to get all the
Facts so that You had better Just tell US what
that transaction was? A. Well if you are go
ing to investigate and fnd out every cent that
spent OF that money cannot tell; 1 may
wen stop here as anywhere else.
Q. Well, IL will not take long to ind out about
anywhere else.
q. What transaction did you put that money
A.. Il a hat hat
here.
Q. know you say that, but what was 1t? A.
IL was a transaction with Mr.. Corcorsn.
2. What was 1t? A. In real estate. If you
are going to ask me all the questions about these
things decline TO answer now.
q. Well, l ask what your transaction was with
MI. Coreorsn? A am not going TO expose my
private business here.
Q. Was 1t a secret transaction? A. Why, no.
q: Was 1t q real estate transaction. A. said
g. Did you Purchase property? A. Well,
@. Where; what property? A. Some of Mr..
q. DID you take the title to yourself2 A. No,
Q. To whom? A. Well, shall not answer
any further questions in regard to that. 1t is
nothing Connected with the board whatever,
and anybody that was ever connected with the
board.
Q. Well. sir, You will have to answer that
question before you leave this room; give YOU
notice OF that? A. 1 consider that my private
Dutlbeet.
q. Well, sir, you will have to answer that
question before you leave this room. Did you
have any other transaction with Mr.. Corcoran?
A. Never, sir.
O. You purchased of him property and paid
the whole Of this $4,000 for it, did you? A
les, sir that was 20 bind the bargain, but il
is rot dreadful thing. Twas interested in this
HareEoOd estate, and made the first payment
on IT. that is the whole of it. L don't like tO-I
want to get through, and / want to answer
frankly. IL was In the purchase OF the Hare
wood estate Of MIR. Corcoran.
Now this testimony OF this reticent witness i'm
regard TO the nature of his confidential business
relations with Mr.. COrcoran, would, as the
memorialists say. appear to be very "damag-
lng,' and yet We do not suppose there was any
thing at all discredtable to Messrs. Corcorsn,
Hyde, Thorn, and Riggs in the transaction, or
anything that they were at all disposed to con-
eeal. Ii was simply the mental habit of the wit
ness TO put on these airs of mystery, evasion,
and coneealment Aud there is no reason in
the world why the District government eithe
should be held to be any ways affected by tn
evasions OF his testimony.