The Portland daily press., 1876-04-08
CLYMER'S COMMITTEE.
MORE ABOUT DETECTIVE BELL.
A raZy Drained Witness Charges
Gen EFeigs with Corruption.
Prompt and Explicit Denial by the
Accused.

WASHINGTON, April Mr. Clymer's COM
mittee today examined Gen. Cowan, who was
assistant Secretary of the Interior till March
18th.
He testified that he gave Detective Bell the
card produced by the Secretary of the Interior
Yesterday, upon representations that he had
been employed by ''the folks at the White
House." ana was entitled to his per diem and
allowances, knowing that Bell had been ap-
pointed upon card from the President, and
believing him for that reason. Bell said he did
not, under the circumstances, want to tell LIE
Barnes, chief of the secret service, what he was
performing. Witness has never been spoken
to by the President Babcock or Luckey either,
about the appointment or Bells pay.
David Webster of Concord, N. H., testified
that he came to Washington March 18th to sell
to the War Department moth extermlnator
made by him. He went to Gen. Meigs, Quar-
thing to do with it. He went second and
third time. Finally witness got Representa-
tives Parker, Cragin and Wadeigh to write let
ters to Meigs, whereupon Gen. Meigs agreed to
test the merits of the thing. The preparation
was tested and approved by Capt Rogers of the
quarantine department, at the Philadelphia ar
senal. Witness then went back to Megs, who
told him that he should lave the contract.
When witness afterwards stated the price by
letter, MeigS then asked him, what benefit
will it be to me"'
Witness replied: SIT will kill your moths''
Gen. Meigs then said: "But how much will
you give me if put it into general use?'
Witness answered, "Not damned cent, Gen
eral."
Witness said that Meigs gave him to under
stand that Cowles & Co., who were furnishing
the moth exterminator, were paying him part
of the proceeds. Witness further said that yes
terday he met man near Judiciary Square
who told him he would do better not to go be-
fore the committee. In the mans hands were
$4,000 in bills He told the man he was going
to tell the truth to the committee and be did
not want any money. Witness had not paid
money. to any officer or been asked for any by
any one except Meigs. Witness presented a
number of letters cOIrObOratiDg his testimony.
Thomas B. Connery testified that he was in
charge of the New York Herald under Mr.
Bennett the time the cipher despatch OF Febru-
ary 10th was printed Mr. Danford asked him
If he knew Detective Bell. He said that he
Feb. 10th, and had conversation with him.
Witness declined to answer any question relat-
ing to the conversation without the consent OF
Mr.. Bennett. The committee decided that
witness should go to New York and consult
| with Mr.. Bennett aud return to Washington
| by Tuesday next.
| Quartermaster General Meigs testified that
the statements of David Webster this forenoon
to the effect that he sought an interest in his
moth extermnatOr by suggestion OF any kind
that could be tortured into such suspicion
| were absolutely false. He had never told Web.
| ster that the government was swindled out of
| large sums because the process then in use was
| worthless. He had never asked him what ben
| eft the contract would be to him, that he new
er asked him how much he would give him
| tthe witness.) He had always considered that
| Webster, like many inventors, was crazy on
the subject of bis preparation for exterminating
| moths. Webster had offered to furnish $100
| worth of the moth exterminator provided he
| be allowed to use it himself Witness declined
| to permit him 10 go into the arsenal and handle
the clothing, because he did not know enough
| about him. He said he considered him honest,
| but rather light in the head. He had never in
| quired into his character. Witness did not
| want outsiders in the arsenal because it was
dangerous policy to admit them. Witness cor
| roborated generally other statements of Web
ster from the record, but pronounced his charg
| es false in every particular-the creation of o
| very active and imaginative brain.
| During all this time Webster was walking
around very much excited. leaning over the
| shoulders of members of the committee and
| proposing questions, much to the amusement
| of everybody present
| Witness was asked whether he was the
means of the adoption of the Geo. w. Cowles
& Co. process for exterminatng moths. he
replied that he had opposed its adoption even
| after board of army officers had recommend
| ed its adoption, but finally yielded to the &C.
| cumulaton of testimony in its favor. When
asked by whose influence it had been kept in
use, he replied that Geo. W. Brega and Dom
Piatt were very active in the matter. Witness
| said that the COwles' process is not now in use
l because aG the last session of Congress it was
| provided in an appropriation bill that no money
| should be paid for the use of any patent pro.
cess for DISCRIMINATING moths or preventing
mildew. Since then camphor has been used.