Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-06
The Pacific Nail Investigation.

FXAEINATION OF MR.. ALERT TODAY
The Pacific mail inquiry was resumed by
the Ways and Means Committee, at the
Capitol this morning.
Charles Albert testified that he resided i'm
Montgomery county, Md; that in the spring
and summer of 1872 he was agent and attor-
ney for the Pacific Mail Steamship comma
ny; commenced rs agent the application for
subsidy for the Pacific mail company in
loil; that in February. 1872, he was super
seded by Richard B. Irwin. who was his
nephew, but who retained him a his special
attorney; that in addition to being the aftor-
ney, witness acted as disburSing agent; he
could not say how much money h disbursei
Ii was something between S10O.Doo AMI
Sl&J,GN0; the disbursements male by witness
were made between the 2lSt of February and
the LIST of July, 1872 after July he disburScd
nothing but small amounts: the money dis
bursed by him was both by check ami in
cash; the largest sum in any one check he
received was for S1G0 900; don't recollect who
signed il; received il from Irwin, In New
YORK. ON the 22d of May, 1872: received "A
check in person in New York city for "a sum
between SO 800 and St0. 900 from either Mr.
Stockweii or Mr.. Bellows to deliver 70
money himself AMI brought il To Washing
ton and disbuEsed it according 20 Irwin's Ill
rectionS.
TIE QUESTION DIRECT.
Q.-TO whom did you pay it?
Al feel hesitancy in stating to whom.
further than that not one cent of that money
was received by any member of Congress /
have called upon Reyerdy Johnson for an
opinion az To my duty in the matter, and
until am advised l decline tO answer
Witness stated that he was admitted To the
bar of Washington in 1s45. and was at the
present time n practitioner at the bar i'm
montgomery county, Nd. Witness rendered
his account OF all disbursements made by
him to Nr Irwin. and no one else Out of the
100000 check he received he made payments
To between fifteen and twenty persOnS-So.ne
We're and some were not residents of Wash
lhgton-sOIne he never saw before and some
he has never seen since. Witness did not
Know what was done with the S51. GDO-he did
not diShuTSe it. The amount was given to him
m New York and he turnel il over to Irwin.
W hen witness commenced the case as agent
direct for The Pacific Mail Company his
agreement was made with Stockwcll: he was
t0 receive $1,000 in cash and $50 900 in case he
was successful. The one thousand dollars
was paid. the remaining thirty thousand was
not, because he was Superce lei. Irwin pail
him between - 900 and S1.5pH. which covcYe
ail ihe money he Appropriated TO himself for
his own usel
CAN'T REMEMBER.
witness does not remember all to whom
ne paid money; he has at his home the list #
the names: knows W. S. King. nut don't
know Of any money being paid to him. Saw
Irwin last. on Saturday last. at WOrmlcvs
hotel, in this city; hal some cOnverSat ation
with him; ne did not tell witness not to state
to whom he Taid the money; he trusted to
witness sense of honor and dDty to exercise
his privilege as counsel
z. Has Irwin requested you
NOT TO DISCLOSE THE NAMES?
not 10 give names. | don't think he has.
q To whom then, did you pay this mDley?
You have no right TO let your privilege inter
fcre with your answer, because this was yOur
own act and not the act of the principal
A. can only repeat what [ have stated
before. Irwin, my client. has declined to am
sWer, and as at present advised decline To-
answer
q. If, as yOu say, you didn't pay il to any
member Of Congress, why is it improper to
answer il here?
A: Had l been called preceding the taking
Of Ar. lrwin'S testimony, would have an
SWered the question in full; but Nh Irwin,
my client, having declined 10 make answer
To such question, and having failed to give
me his consent To make answer myself. I
therefore, as at present advised, decline to
answer.
At II O'Clock the committee took q recess
until the call of the chairman.
WI. q KING WANTED.
Up TO the present writing Sergeant-at-
Arms OrdWay has not succeeded in finding
eK-POstmaster King, and as yet he has not
been reached by subpoena. He was at Buff
falo last Monday night, and is now supposed
TO he somewhere in central New York.
The books of the National Metropolitan
Bank of this city, covering the transactions
of Irwin and Albert with that bank, were re-
cclVed at the committee room this morning,
ana VIII he examined at the next session,