The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-28
INVESTIGATING NOLAN.
Testimony of His Bosom Friend,
Horace Russell.
THE STEAMSHIP AGENTS ON TIE STAND


principal witnesses were Horace Russell, the AS
sistant District Attorney, ana Nolan's bosom
friend; MI Dale, the agent OF the Inman line !;
Mr.. Nicholson the passenger agent OF the lnman
nne who gave Nolan his nrst introduction TO his
lucrative employment, and Mr.. Cortiss the repre-
sentative Of the White Star ine Mr.. Russell
testified that Nolan appointed an Assistant
District Attorney by District Attorney Phelps at
his (Russelps) request, but declared ne was Ut
terry ignorant regarding the transaction when
has lifted his friend to such sudden and brilliant
fame. Speaker MCGUIRE, at the conclusion or Mr..
Russelps evidence gave IL as his opinion that the
Ring was principally responsible for the passage
OF the act reducing the head money. The steam
ship agents testified TO the amounts OF money
they had paid TO Nolan. and in this CONVERSE
ton Speaker Mcclure stated informally TO
the reporter that thus far only the amounts paid
by three OF the principal lnes-the Bremen. the
mman and the Williams 4 Guon-had been as
certained and that these amounted to about
$Ss,oo0 When the payments by the Cunard' the
Hamburg, the National and other lines are added
the total VIII probably exceed $4,000 The follow
ing Is the gst OF the proceedings
MIR. RussELL's STORY.
Horace Russell Assistant District Attorney OF
the county OF New York. tall, Qood-ooking
young man, with blonde mustache tNolan's
bosom friend. according TO Nolan, was the first
witness. He said that Nolan was appointed to
his present position at his Russel'sl request,
as ne was an ola friend OF his He called upon
Nolan himself and told him OF his appointment at
which Nolan was greatly surprised. They wentto-
gether TO Watch Hill to Mr.. Phelps. on the
way, in the cars, Nolan asked Russell whether
he thought his connection with the head money
bill ought TO be told to Mr.. Phelps; Russell told
him he thought there was no special reason for so
doing as 1t was legitimate lawyers transac-
ton; he made no representation on the subject
70 MIR. Phelps, neither did the latter ever make
any inquiry on the subject
THIS was In direct contradiction TO the testi-
mony OF Nolan, who had said that Mr.. Russell had
at his request made the proper explanations to
Mr. Phelps before his appointment
IL might be possible from their conversation
that Nolan understood that ne (fRusselD was
going TO inform District Attorney Phelps OF
the facts; the FIRST knowledge that he had OF
Nolan's "strlke" was in 1873, when Nolan told
him that he had made a handsome fee out OF the
passage OF the bill 1or the reduction OF the head
tax; Nolan SAID that ne had made the arrange
ment with the steamship companies through his
previous Efforts IN prosecuting emlgrant SWIM
dlerB.
WHAT NOLAN TOLD HIN.
Mr.. Waehner-Dd ne ever tel you where he
Mr.. RUSSELL remember ioaning him 500 at
one time and that he gave me check on the
Union Trust Company; think he gave Inc the
name OF bank thas has TIE word ''Manaiac-
tureIsn in It.
mr. ndenueE-N ere yOu ever Win
hm3
Mr. RusseIl-No, sir, never; had no relation
with him except that Of a friend.
Mr. McGuIre-The LEGISLATURE Is denounced as
Acorrupt BODY on account OF just such men as this
Nolan, ana We want TO show That he got al the
money.
Mr. Russell SAID that member OF the Inves-
tgatlng Committee OF 1872 had tod HIM lin lestn
that he wished ne had Known Of Nolan's contract,
he would have MADE something out OF MS vote
as II was only SAID IN Jest, however ne declined
70 give the name.
Mr.. waehner-Did Nolan ever tell you who as
usted him in putting tae bill through
"boysn helped him.
Mr. MeGure-Whom did he mean by the
''boYs 2''
Mr. Russell-The newspaper boys
Mr. Waenner-Dld he ever tell you that General
tones had procured the employment Tor him
Mr.. Russeii-No, sir; ne never mentioned any
body who procured the employment Tor him.
Nj. waehner-Have you ever acid any CONVEX.
yatIon with Nolan since ne told you that he made
good fblugu out OF the bill Tor the reduction Of
the head money, and II so state what he said about
Mr.. Russell have already told all know;
aont suppose have mad twenty minutes
conversation with MIN about it.
TIE COMMITTEES OPINION OF NOLAN.
Mr.. McGuire-It was only Ring measure, and
have no doubt IL would have oeen passed Nolan
had never been born think IL very foolish
On the part OF Mr.. Nolan 10 keep back the truth;
his advisers sGould nave told linn 10 make clear
MI. Alverd-Be either ought not to have lied at
all lied All through, and not lied only halfway.
Mr. DALE's TESTIMONY
Mr.. Dale agent Of the Inman nEe, was called.
He ia stout, red laced, full blOoded Engllshman,
with a clustering manner. his story vas as Iol-
ows:-About 1869 or 1870 great many emgrants
had been swindled and ne Was very much annoyed
ABOUT IT. Mr.. Nolan had previously been employed
10 prosecute the swlndler5.
Mr.. Waenner-What was the occasion OF his
arst personal introduction 70 you
Mr. DaIe-I didn't Know nina Wnen Mr.. Nicholson
the passenger agent, had employed him to pros
tcute these sWlnders, bat subsequently he came
10 me, Offering to get the head YAK reduced; II
that Dill we're passed we agreed to pay bin TWEEN
ty-nye cents per mead Tor the next Twelve OF 1f-
teen months; 1 can't remember exactly as 1t Is
so long ago.
Mr. Waehner-Can you state how much money
was paid to Nolan Dy your company
mr.. Dale $50; the first payment was made
In Aprll, 1871 and the last in August, 1872.
Mr. NaenDer-Dd you act for the North Allan
tic steamship Traffic conference" or simply as an
individual
Mr. Dale-As an individual; CLERK OF mine Mr.
KIRK, drew up MEMORANDUM setting forth the
agreement with MIR. Nolan, and went to the va
ri0uS dgents 10 get their signatures.
NOLAN CONTRADIoTED.
MI McGuire-Mr. Nolan said that you came to
him with the officer and sought his services.
Mr.. Dale-That is not true
MI. Waehner-Can you not state positively /
Mheteer the agreement was Tor twelve or 1Iteen /
Mr.. DALE cannot; II you want me to give you |
my opinion Pll give IL to you; ! thInK at arst it /
was for twelve months and nat Tor some reason /
WHICH cannot remember 1t was altered TO fifteen I
months.
Mr.. Waehner-Have you had any conversation
villa General Jones about TINS matter
MI. Dale-fes sir, mad; General Jones was
then Postmaster, ana probably mentioned IN
cidentally that sqch oil was beng advocated.
Mr.. Waehner-Did he recommend 10 JUu that
you naa better employ NOlsn7
Mr.. Dale-No, sir; he SAID that the agreement
with Nolan was probably made before the Com
mlssOners OF Emigration passed me resolution
asking for reduction Of tue head money.
Mr.. VOsDurgh-Aiter they had passed this reso
luton why ala you tank II necessary to employ
bim2
Mr.. Mcclure answering for the witness)-He
says that lie employ ed han before.
EOLANis SUCCESSORS.
MT. Dale said that 10 1873 aud 1874 Mr.. Abraham
Wakeman was emplofed Dy the steamship COM
panies 10 WGtcn legislation, and In 1875 Mr.. Daniel
Casserly; IN 1873 be subscribed $1,000 and I,5OO
L VA fnr mia
services.
Mr.. Waehner-WN you furnish the committee
with statement OF the moneys paid 10 those
gentlemen7
Mr.. Dale-Yes sir, Il you think II q fair thing 20
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