Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-07

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE To-
DAY.

DAY.
The Pacific mail inquiry was resumed by
the Ways and Means Committee this morn
ing, at 10x o'clock, when
CHARLES ALERT WAS RECALLED:
BY Mr.. Dawes.-Q. l believe, Mr.. Albert
we left off with you yesterday at the ques-
tion, "Will you inform the COMMITTEES Ia
whom you paid the several sums of money!
i Will now renew the question.
Mr.. Albert thereupon read correspondence
which had passed between himself and Mr.
Irwin. He requests. in a letter to Irwin, to
know if he is willing to give his consent to
allow him TO disclose to the committee the
names of the persons which he himself had
refused 10 make public. Mr. Irwin replied
that he would leave it to his conscience as an
attorney; that he did not believe that under
any circumstances counsel has the right To
give up the secrets of his client. and advises
witness 10 consult the highest legal talent
attainable, either Hon. Reverdy johnson or
jeremiah Black: as to his privileges in the
premises. Should they advise him To dis
close the names, he (thc witnessl would then
have exhausted his duty so far as ne was
concerned. If ii was decided that he should
answer, he (lrwiu) would cheerfully release
him. as he knew that such testimony as
would he given by him would only corrob-
orate him 1rwin) i'll every particular. Wit
ness then read
LETTER FROM HON. REyERDY JOHN
son,
dated January 9Th, in which he advises him
that If he was employed as counsel TO pay
certain moneys upon the order of his client.
he cannot legally or morally. without con-
sent OF his client. disclose the names of those
to whom il was To be paid.
He further read n statement in his own be-
half, citing as a precedent for his refusal TO
answer and the powers of the committee in
the premises. the action of the Banking and
Currency Committee, who relieved the attor-
ney for Mr.. Davis. cashier of the Orleans
bank from answering the question PROFOUND
ed by the chairman as 10 whether he knew of
any Illegal act of the cashier i'm connection
with the administration of the affairs OF the
bank. Witness coltended that the commit
tee had
NO RIGHT To COMPEL. HIM
to answer without an order of the House OF
Representatives. and he requested that the
committee would secure the action of the
House as To whether ne should answer or
rot. as he desired TO iortify himselfat every
point.
BY Mr.. Dawes:-Mr. Albert. we do not pro-
pose To trench on your privileges as counsel
for Mr.. Irwin. We merely want YOU To dis
close your own acts. You paid this money.
and you have right To disclose the names
without taking the matter of privilege into
the question.
A. ! made the payments under Irwin's di-
roctiOn.
q. Do you think you can conceal your own
acts at the request OF a client?
A. Had Irwin not declined TO answer /
would not have considered my position as
entitliDg me to the question of privilege
asked. But he having refused, after my re-
questing him to allow me to disclose the
names. feel that before proceeding further
/ should have
TIE ORDER OF THE HOUSE on THE CUES
TION
Mr.. Beck held that the right Of waiver to
answer questions by counsel would not
hold where corruption entered into the ques-
ton. He was away beyond the question of
privilege. and cases like the one under in
VeStigatiOn barred il altogether.
Mr.. kelley coincide i'll those views.
Mr.. Albert was asked if the House directed
him TO declare the names, whether he would
OF not.
a. don't know whether L will OF not. L
don't absolutely refuse and thus do not
place myself in contempt. | want the dec
sion OF the House, however, On the subject.
| am suffering also from a chronic disorder
and would like to be excused until Saturday.
Witness was excused until that time. In
the meantime the committee agreed TO ask
the House for the required order.
MR.. GEO. w. RIGGS ON THE STAND.
Geo W. Riggs was examined, and identified
a check Of $4,000 paid TO John @. Schuma-
ker. He was identified by j. c. g. Kennedy:
the check was caShed May 31st, 1872; the
money was paid at the counter in large
Treasury bills and bank notes.
HENRY ID. COOKE TESTIFIES.
Henry ID. Cooke identified two checks for
900 each, drawn on the Marine National
Bank, which were paid by Jay Cooke & 20.
at their office i'll Washington 10 John @.
Schumacher.
Mr.. PARSONS WAS SENT FOR.
and responded. He said he hal not his state
ment with him. which he had prepared in
writing. He was excused until tomorrow
at half-past ten O'Clock, to which time the
committee adjourned.