Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-18
Alexa. Gazette Il Virginia Advertiser.
non Piatt's Testimony.

Before the Pati6c Mail inVestig .tlon CON-
mittee of the House of Representatives, on FRI
dav Donn Piatt appeared and under pro'es;
stated that he supposed the note tor S3,OOO
given by him for money borrowed from Rlchal
&. Irwin. was paid by Lena Thompson. Ihomp-
son was poiag to California, where Irwin was at
the time with the note. The note va sent on
n ,his CITY to witness, eudolscd pad, and he
supposed Thompson paid 1t.
Witness then began to explain his previous
testimony. H. said he desired to correct It, lD
so doing he got loto an argument as to the pow
ers and du'ies of the committee, when be "; 8
interrupted by Mr.. Dawes.
Witness-Am right in defining the duty Of
the committee!
Mr. D.wes-your duty is that if you wish to
correct your testimony you may do so. We
want no arguments gu can proceed with your
correction.
Witness We'll, | wish to make only this cor
rec.iop. that | thuk made mistake in COM
ing before this committee to vlndlcate myself
before the public
Witness proceeded, aud stated that of the
money advanced by Thompson to pay the note,
some be earoed and spme was 10 the nature OF
loan.
@. What was Lena Thompsop's business be-
fore Congress- in 1872? Il. | most positively
decline to answer.
O. What was publicly understood to be his
business? \. God bless my soul, decliue to
answer.
Witness did not know where the IS, 900 note
was paid. When Thompson left Washington
he was to take up the note then held by lr-
win, in California.
Witness submitted his account with the
Freeduen's Bauk, showing that he deposited
the $4,000 and $1,000 additional with the
bank. He also read from the stubs OF his
check book, showing the payments he made
They were for paper to print the Capital on;
for repairs to house: pay of poets; amanuenses;
family expenses, &c.
q. Had you any money transactions with
any member of Congress, by which he realized
aDy sum of money? A. have never had
any transaction with members of Congress. l
consider that is all that has saved me from
disgrace.
@. Do you know of any money being paid
by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company to in-
fueuce the vote on the Pacific Mail subsidy 2
A. | have my own opinion on that subject. |
know nothing of my own knowledge This |
know, and it is that within twenty minutes at:
ter the Pacific Mai subsidy passed the Brazil
ian subsidy failed The first had no merit aud
the second had When the vote on the first
measure was taken the toOr was tul OF carpet
baggers and suspicious characters, whom l
Judged had been paid to vote for it.
O. You say of this money Thompson paid
the note with. some you earned aud some was
loan2 A. Yes, sir.
O. How much was loaned you? A. de-
cline answering
O. Did you give any written evidence of the
loan to Thompson A. Yes, sir.
O. Have you paid the loan A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you take any written evidence of its
payment? A. cannot answer; | am tired
MIR. Dawes--Wel take a seat, MIR. Piatt.
Wituess--Oh, God bless you I'm not
tired 10 my legs au tired u my patience.
O. Did you know that Lena Thompson in
1872 appeared before Congress in the interest
of the New Idria Quicksilver Mining Com
pany? A. decline to answer the question. l
consider it an insult.
MIR. Dawes at this point informed the wit
ness he was excused for the present. The
room was then cleared by the committee for
consultation.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT -On Tuesday night
James w. Amos, of Cumberland County, a
brakeman on the e. & O. r. X. fell from a
sleeted coal car on the track, FIVE or six cars
passing over him crushing the flesh on the in-
nor side of one loo from tho ank Ia to the hin