Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-08
The War Department Investigation.
zen. Me1gs on Webster. the ImaYIn-
ottve Meth ExterM1nasOe

After our report OF the proceedings before
the Committee on Expenditures in the War
department closed yesterday:
IhoRd b Cos9seTy testified that he was In
cnarge OF the New York Herald, under Mr..
Bennett, At the time when the cipher dis
patch OF February 10 was printed. Mr.. DAN
ford asked him IL he knew Detective Bell.
he SAID he did; that he met him in New
York on Sunday. February g, and had a con-
versation with him. Witness decliued To
answer any questions relating to the subject
Mr.. Bennett.
The committee decided that the witness
should go TO New York, consult Mr.. Bennett
ana return 10 washington by Tuesday next
QCARTERMAsTER CENTRAL MFfGS
appeared before the committee in obedience
10 Geographic summons, and testified that
The statements OF David Webster given in
The morning session TO the effect that he
sought an interest in his moth externinat0r
oE suggestion OF any kind that could be
tortured into such suspicion WAS abSolute-
ly false. He said he had never fold WebSte~
that The government was swindled out of
large sums because the process then in use
was worthless; that he had never as kei him
what beneht the contract would be to him;
mat be bad never asked him how much he
WOuld give him, (witneSS.) He had always
considered witness, like many inventors,
crazy on Inc subject OF bis preparation for
eXtermiDating moths. Witness said that
Webster had offered to furnish 500 worth
OF Tie moth eJterminatOr provided he be
allowed 10 use it himself. Witness declined
10 permit him TO go into the arsenal and
handle the clothing, because he did not
Erow enough about him. He had considered
MIN honest, but rather light in the head. and
bad never inquired into his character. Wit
ness did not want outsiders in the arsenal
because u was dangerous policy 10 admit
them. Witness corroOorated generally the
other statements OF. Webster from the rec
ord, but pronounced his charges false In
every particular, the creation OF a very &C
tive and imaginative brain. During all
this time Mr.. Webster was walking around
very much excited, leaning over the shout
Gers o. members of the committee and pro-
posing questions, much 10 the Amusement OF
everybody present. Witness was asked
whether he was the means OF the adoption OF
the George W. Cowles & Co process for cx-
terminating moths. He replied that he had
OPposen It's adoption even after q board OF
army officers had recomme nded its adoption,
but finally yielded tO the accumulation OF
testimonials In its favor. When asked by
rrpiled that George W. Rrega and Dom
Piait were very active in the matter Wit
GesS sald the CowleS process is not now in
use because al the last session OF Congress
IL was provided in an appropriation bill thai
10 money should be paid for the use of ary
patent process for DISCRIMINATING moths or
preventing mIldew. They now use camphor.
Hon. I. n. CHANDLER MIssISG-His
Supposed SbiciIe--Hon. L. II. Chandler mys-
ts1iCusly disappeared from his residence In
NoIf0iE yesterday morning. aud II is be-
jieved he has committed suicide When re
lning TO hlS room Wednesday night he gave
orders TO be awakened early in The morning
10 go 10 Richmond at five o'clock. Thurs
cay morning he was missing. having left his
room In his hight clothes, shoes aud hat
and no trace of him has as vet been diScny-
cred. Mr.. Chandler was formerly l. = dis
lrict attorney for the Norfolk district, but
was latteTiy pension agent for the state of
Virginia, ard one OF the most prominent aud
lnhuent ial republicans in the state. He had
teen mentioned as the coming nominee or
mat party Tor Congress from the Norfolk
district. he left no papers TO Indicate The
cause of his sudden disappearance. He was
injured at the Capitol disaster ia Richmond
some years ago, since which time he has
been subject 10 occasional periods Of rnelan-
Choly, and il is thought he has DESTROYED
himself while laboring under one Of these
attacks. His accounts were Yesterday ex-
amined by an agent OF the department and
found correct He was from Maine mi
went TO Norfolk thirty years ago.