The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-17
THE SANBORN TRANSACTIONS.

Unsucces Efforts OF the Committee
on Ways and Means to Got Informa ton
from sanborn's Lawyer.
WASHINGTON, May 16, 1874.
| The Committee on Ways and Means this NOR ming
| examined F. A. Prescott, of Boston. He testified
MI. Foster OF the committee propounding the in
terrogatores that his occupation is that OF law
| yer; he had offlcal connection with the
Internal Rev ME Bureau, having been q clerk
| there from May, 1855, until January, 1861,
since which time he has been practising attor-
| ney. He had an Office at No. IL Hamilton square
with Isaac d. Morse. In reply to question as to
what member OF Congress had an o flee in the
building, the witness said he believed General
Butler had an Office there. The with ess had had
more or less business with Mr.. Sanborn
since 1869 in various cases and was his
legal adviser. He had received considerable
, sums of money from Mr.. Sanborn, both for his own
use and other expenditures. Witness did not
recollect that he had anything to do with a man
named Dickinson in the settlement Of claim
under the Sanborn contract.
Question-WiH you tell us how much Of the
$4,000 which Sanborn said he gave you was for
your legal services, and how much for your ex-
penditures outsider
Answer-I have paid my own expenses at vari-
GUS times and places and have received different
sums Of money, in short, having kept private
account OF the transactions.
Question-Can you approximate the amount3
Answer-I can received from $4,000 to $3o, 600
from Sanborn.
Question-Can you tell US how much you re-
ceived for your fees as attorneys
Answer-I cannot separate what have received
as fees and as personal expenses, which, perhaps
were large-say $4,000.
Question-This leaves $4,000
Answer-l nave no detailed account OF the ex-
penditures think the moneys have disbursed
confidential between my client and myself
QuestiOn-YOn thilk SO?
MIR. Beck, Of the committee, here read to the
witness from the testimony OF Sanborn. in which
the latter said Prescott knew all about the pay
ments OF money, but had never given him any ac-
count OF them, and that Prescott would come be-
fore the committee himself.
The witness still declined to answer the ques-
ton, not considering what Sanborn said in his
tiInony as authority or permission to him to
Mr.. Dawes, OF the committee, then took the wit
ness In hand and asked:-
Do you know Tor what purpose you came here'
Wtness-I do not. never said to Sanborn that
would or would not come before the committee.
Alter further questioning, Mr.. Dawes asked:--
Then you decline to answer on the ground that
Sanborn had not requested you to do SOY
Answer-Not exactly as You put it.; but claim
proper for me to answer unless with the consent
or az the request OF my Client
was in the room, asked TO put in word, but Rep
resentative Beck objected to his being heard.
Pending the examination of the witness, the
witness, in further answer to questions, said
$4,000 or $4,000 additional to the $4,000 came
into his hands from Sanborn at sundry times. He
doubted whether at any one time more than So 900
were paid to him by SanbOrn; he remembered
being in Boston when Sanborn paid him So, 900;
was paid in Adams Express office: he did not give
sanborn receipt; part OF this money was Tor
Question-What did you do with the balance of
the money!
expenses may not have been used 1 do not
know that have receipt Tor anything; l never
keep books.
Question-And yet you received from Sanborn
$40, 600 IN q year and half 7
Witness repeated that when he received the
So 900. to which reference Is above made, he was
In Adams Express ONCE; he went there to see
Sanborn; he made request Tor money, both for
his services and expenses or another kind.
Question-how much OF the SOS, 900 did you re-
celve previous to this S. oOy
wanted $4,000, but he he said "Take this much"
and gave me the $4,000.
QueStion-You make good witness. carving all
these things in your head
,Answer-Perhaps not If do not carry them
Question-where did you lodge this information,
then about the $43,000s
Answer-I Kept no books; IL was my general
course; II man asked me to attend to a case and
] did SO would receive from him my fee or would
Questi0n-DO you say that in the transactions
between you and Sanborn there is not scrap OF
paper3
Answer-f do not know or any papers so far as
am concerned never kept any accounts.
Witness was asked the names OF the persons to
whom he paid the money, but he begged to be ex-
cused from answering on the ground OF confden-
tial relations between client and ATTORNEYS he had
no doubt, however, that he recoected the names
and the amounts paid.
Mr. Dawes, addressing himself to Judge Wood
bridge, as counsel for SanbOrn-
Questi0n--Do you consent that the witness shall
answer the question:
Judge Woodbrldge-I do not under the crcum-
stances. without being allowed to explain.
Question TO the wltness-Of the sum OF $4,000
to whom were you accountable Tor Its disburse.
ment when you received ttY
Answer received 1t as part OF the S2S, 600 for
specific purposes; Sanborn never called upon
me to render an account; l presume he knew
what use | made OF the money; j have received
from him large sums OF money for confidential
purposes. but, as hts lawyer, l cannot tell Tor
what.
Mr.. Beck then read the following from Mr.. SAN
born's testimony
..Questlon more definitely the item OF
$2s 900 to r. A. Prescott for legal services, expen
ses and disbursements state the nature OF tho
disbursements and expenses and TO whom made,
ANSWER (by Mr. Sanborn)-He paid for informa-
tion gave him, so much money for his own ex-
penses and then he has paid others.
"Ouesti0n-Have you had detailed report rom
him as to the amount which he paid2
.sAnswer-No, sill; presume, however, that he
can make the statement
ssMr Beck now asked Mr.. Prescott-Does not this
give you consent to answer
.'Answer-N0. unless Mr.. Sanborn said so direct
In person to me-"
Ihe committee then adjourned until ten O'Clock