Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-15
Pacific Nail Investigation.
DOM PIATr AGAIN BEFORE THE COMMIT
TEE.

DUNN PIATr AGAIN REFoRE THE COMMIT
TEE.
The Pacific Mail inquiry was resumed thi.
morning by the Committee of Ways and
Means.
Dom Piatt appeared. and under protest
stated that hc supposed the note for 4. .bg1.
given by him for money borrowed from Rich
ard t. Irwin, was paid by Lena Thompson.
thompson was going 10 California. where
IRWIN was AT the time with the note. The
note was sent on TO this city 5O witness. en-
dorsed pald, and he supposed Thompson paid
it;
Witness then began to explain his provioDS
testimony. He said he desired 10 correct H.
In SO doing he got INTO an argument "a to the
powers and duties OF the committee, when
he was interrupted by Mr.. Dawes
WitnesS.-Am right in defining the duty
of the committee?
Mr.. Dawes.-Your duty is that if YOU wish
10 correct your testimony you may do so. We
Waht no arguments. You can proceed with
your Correction.
Witness.-Well, wish to make only fhi.
correction; that | think made a mistake i'm
coming before this committee TO Vindicat te
III nNSclfbCfOTe the public.
Witness proceeded. and stated that of the
money advanced by Thompson 10 pay the
note some ne earned, and some was in the
nature of q loan.
Q. What was Lena Thompsons business
before Congress in iS12?
"A most positively decline 20 answer
business?
4: God bless my soul, decline to answer.
witness did not know where tn S5.oOO note
was paid When Thompson left Washington
he was to take up the note then held by
Irwin, in California.
Witness submitted his accOunt with Tho
Freednen's Bank, showing that n" deposited
the $1,000 and Sl,0H1 additional with thai
bank. He also read from the stubs OF his
oncck Oook, showing the payments ne made
Ihey were for paper 10 print the C5tpitdL on:
Tor repairs 10 house; pay OF poets, amanu-
ensis; family expenses, dc.
q. HAD you any money transactions with
any member OF Congress. by which he real
lied any sum of the money?
A have never had any transactions with
members of Congress. | consider that is all
mat has saved me from diSgra ce.
=. DO you know of any money being paid
by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company to
influence the vote on the Pacific mail SUD
Sidy
4. have my own opinion on that subject.
Know nothing of my own knowledge. This
/ know, and il is that within twenty min
utes after tue Pacific Mail subsidy passed
the BRAZILIAN subsidy failed. The first had
no merit and the second had. When the vote
on the first measure was taken the floor was
fuii of carpet-baggerS and suspicious char
acters, whom judged had been paid TO vote
for it.
g. You say of this money Thompson paid
the note with some you eaned and some was
loan?
a. Yes, sir.
q. How much was loaned YOU?
A. decline answering.
g, Did You give any written evidence of
the loan TO Thompson?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Have you paid the loan?
A. Yes, sir.
q. Did you take any written evidence of
its payment?
A. l can't answer; am tired.
Mr. DaweS.-WeH. take Il seat, Mr.. Piatt.
WitneSs.-Oh, God bless you, I'm not tired
in my legs. am tired in my patience.
q. Did you know that Lena Thompson in
1872 appeared before Congress in the interests
OF the New Idria Quicksilver Mining Com
pany?
slider il an insult.
Mr.. Dawes at this point informed the wit
ness he was excused for the present. The
room was then cleared by the committee FOR
consultation.