The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-16
THE SUBSIDY INQUIRY.

DON PIATT TEsTIFIEs-No KNOWLEDGE OF
MONEYS PAID TO CoNGREssMEN-sHARP RE-
FUsALs TO ANSWER IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS
THE COMMITTEE CATCH TARTAR.
WASHINGTON. Jan. Is, 1875.
The Ways and Means Committee met at eleven
O'Clock to-day to continue the Pacific Mail investi.
CATION.
Don Piatt was recalled and Chairman Dawes
put to HIM again the question, Through whom
did you make payment OF your note OF $4,000 to
Richard B. Irwin ?"
MI Wood, member Of the committee, at this
point remarked that he was not present when
this question was previously asked the witness or
be would have interposed an objection. This
objection he would now make. Witness having
stated that the money was obtained and used by
him only Tor the purpose OF returning loan ana
that the transaction had no connection with the
Pacific Mail subsidy matter, 1t appeared to him
(Mr. WOODY that the committee were now going
outside oil the line OF questions which witness
could be compelled to answer on penalty OF being
considered in contempt. After some discussion
MIR. Wood withdrew his Objection.
Mr.. Piatt then said that he had already testified
that tie $4,000 TRANSACTION had nothing to do with
the so-called corruption iund." which they were
investigating to see II any OF 1t had gone from the
lobby to Congressman. He was satisfied that he
made mistake TIVE other day IN appealing to this
committee Tor justice before the public. and
wished now TO appear simply as a witness, and
with MS bank book ana vouchers show what he
did with the mOnev.
The question was then repeated by the Chair
man.
WHENCE THE MONEY CAME.
Witness-Tne committee has nothing to do with
ny private affairs, put, under protest ! VIII an
swer that l 60 not know through whom tue
money was paIc but 90 Know where / got the
money; under the same protest Will state that 1t
came from Mr.. William Medley Thompson, part Of
IL being money earned anu part loan 10 me; Mr..
Thompson nad no connection Whatever with the
Pacific Mail Company or. the subsidy; as matter
oil TACT, ne was not IN favor Of II.
q. WHAT was lhompsOns business here In 1922
A. Bless my SOUL l can't tell you what his business
@. what was his vocauions A. He was gentle
man.
A SHARP REBUFF.
O. What dt6 YOU understand TO be his bus1ness9
A. | decline most positively 70 answer, Tor you
have no business to ask Inc the question.
la response to other questions witness said he
thought the Other day that ne aid know through
whom the note was paid but on further rejection
ana inquiry OF irwin ne found that he was MIS-
taken, and really now ne did not know anything
more about 1t than tnls-to Wit, that Thompson
lett Washington win the understanding that he
would take up the note In California ana witness
presumes that he did so. the note came back TO
hIm. Witness del osted the $4,000 in the Freed
mans Bank; ne patronized That institution be-
cause 1t had given him a column ADVERTISEMENT
aud he wanted to reclprocate patronage.
tLaughter) his aggregate deposits up to Sep
from the stubs or his check book a complete ac-
count OF how he used all OF tnfs money
Alter readIng record OF numDer OF trlnlng
checks. Mr.. Roberts suggested that TINS was not
necessary.
Wtness--Oh yes; would rather give you all
my transactions with butchers. DakersAnd taiors /;
/ nave had them with every one except Congress-
men. ana that Is all tina, has saved me rom utter
disgrace. Witness also offered &c produce mis- ac-
count with the First National Bank, which he sad
was at nome, but at this point the question was
asked,
O. DO you know OF any members or ofncers OF
Congress being paid anything in connection with
the subsidy mattery A. know nothing OF the
kid Whatever, though have my own opinion.
TIRED WITNESS.
Q. How much oil the money You received rom
Thompson was loan TO your A. lie owed me. l
tning, some $4,000.
Wltness-Thls is gong into my private aflairs
too much; am getting tired.
Mr.. DaweS---II you are tired you may take a seat.
wItness-I am getting tired, not Ia my legs, out
in my patience.
O. Where we're you when you repaid to 1homp-
son has loan TO your A. decline u answer any
more such questions
o. WIN you INFORM the committee when or In
what way You paid ity A. No; you are gong INTO
notner TRANSACTION not connected with THIS.
the Pacific Mai Company or any agent tbereoff
A. never received a cent from that company ana
never received anything from any agent thereof,
except the $1,000 loaned Inc individually by Mr..
IRWIN.
q. DO you know whether Thompson was con-
Company
wltness-I decline answering anything about II ;
the question IL an insult; you have got beyond
al OF Jour leg innate powers.
The Chairman then SAID that the witness could
consider himself excused Tor the present and tue
committee could determine whether he would be
required again.
Adjourned.