The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-06
A POLITICAL CONSPIRACY.
~.n DtsTtRDLY PLOT Against
MN SPEAKER KERR.
low William 4. Darling wa. TO Get Even
an the Newspapers. and Bliss and Daven-
a,, x,,re 10 Make n Little Political Ca itaI

-. Fxpenditures In the War Department, day,
continued the Investigation into the charges
ssaInst Speaker Kerr. Mary r. Murray testified
,hat she had resided on Capitol Hill since 1895,
and kept boarders there. Tn December. 1865.
I,wrencs Harvey hired room at her house.
In 1866 no also had a room there with his wife,
and both took their meals there.
Mr.. Danford raised the point that the witness
nIlrney) could not be contradcted on an i'm
mater / or a collateral question.
Mr. blackburn said that IL Harvey had DELHI
erately sworn falsely as to his married life, the
committee was entitled to know whether such
was the fact.
Mr.. Elliott referred to tho testimony taken on
The FL Inst, In which Harvey said he was mar
red In july, 1867, to Annie Prior and that he
had no Sife when he was here as assistant door
keeper. Mr. Elicit quoted Judge Story to show
that II witness does net testify correctly In re-
istion TO fact about which hid could not DC mis-
taken, he Ia not entitled to credence.
Mr.. Clymer also took ground that It was conf
petent to pursue a question, so az to show the
character Of the man, for II Harvey was not
married at the time be b. arded with Mrs. MUIR
raw. he lived In aduterous intercourse Win
woman there.
Mr Clymer 90 Mrs, Murray Did you have any doubt
whether the woman VINO nyed with Harvey at your
NOUS W,s MnrnsS~ would not have boarded them had
,nnn,f tncy were moi married. and II had found out
tha they had deceived me would have got rid of them
keep rcspectaOlc boarding house, and would not
have boarded man and woman who were not married
for tlOo day
CoNrRADICTINo HARVEY.
Gen Augustus p. Greene testified that he
never heard any conversation between Harvey
and Kerr outside OF the PRODUCTION Of him by
Harvey VS. too tar on to hear their converse
tiou. Mr.. Kerr did not say that he must OBTAIN
additional recommendations from Democrats.
He said he would like to have recomme md stions
Of prominent men addressed to MIN personally.
Ne Nv Ks+4 I HsSs Ace asss
Harvey to buy commission for him as
an original proposition. The proposition
he did not think he could have made propo-
silion g. Harvey to corrupt member Of Con-
gress. He never mentioned the money TRANSACT
tion with Harvey to an, BODY. Harvey said To
him that the payment OF monev would be
speedy way OF procuri9x the appointment OF
be rppointed, he sccordinely made his arrange.
m:nts win Harvey. He told Harvey he had
ftJJ which he would give for the place. Harvey
ncver sent TO him for the difference between
$40 and $3.50 The witness apped to the Hon.
gentleman di1 nothing Tor him. After further
testimony contradictins Harvey la some par
Harvey ever paid Mr.. Kerr cent Of the money
he paid to hun.
THE ANONYMOUS NOTE.
J. s. Moore testified that Speaker Kerr in
formed him that he had received an ANONYMOUS
note to this effect:
rumor !, circulating IN New YORK that one Harney,
~ i es TO % asG e iGr s
ihe army, ha,Isy may DC summoned Docs not want
At tSe suggestion OF the witness, the Speaker
made COPY Of the ANONYMOUS note. and the
witness went to New York. There he saw Har-
ney, and taking from his pocket the copy Of the
note he told Harvey that ne bad Just come from
Washington, and was friend OF Mr.. Kerr. Har-
ney shook n little 10 his hand when 1t was shown
20 him. Harvey said he did not send II to Mr.
Kerr, mad not Inspired u, and knew uothing
ABOUT Il. Harvey did not want to talk about IT,
IN Ia In
reply to toe question why he should 90 To
the lawyer, Harvey said his own lips were
sealed. witness finally went to Harneys Jaw
Ter. Judge Dittenhoener, and said that Harvey
had sent him there TIE Judge, after read
was the lawyer Of william A. Daring, who was
10 trouble about the Third Avenue Savings
q. HG. Take esas him a. "as
KIND OF protege OF Bliss. Daring had COM
planned to the Judge that the newspapers had
been persccuting him. and said he now had
sonethna to SHUT them up; The Judge asked
Darling what good scandal against Speaker
was not the way to agnt the case. but Mr.. bar.
ling said he was going to have the charge against
Thus all the Judge said he knew about the
subject.
AFTER THE ANONYMOUS WRITER
The witness testified that at a conference In
Represent tive Morrison's room between the
Speaker, Senator Mcdonald, the hon. Scott
Lord, md Mr.. Thompson Of New York, It was
anonymous letter was al indictaOle offence in
New York, they would engage n lawyer to trace
fore "a criminal court. The witn.ss was advised
BY Speaker Kerr to return to New York and en-
gage Sidney Webster to prosecute the case In
tue most vigorous manner. The next morning
he went to New York, saw Mr.. Webster, and
gave him the anonymous note. Mr.. Webster
sent out detectives to mad the writer OF the let
ter This would. no doubt, have been done II
the present Investigation had not interfered
with II. In q letter TO the Speaker, dated Custom
use, New York, April 81, 1870, Mr.. Moore said
vent tHs morning to the Appraisers ONCE and
ulnery Department. II showed Mr. maTney COW Of
r. alony.9a, slip you received on Iursd.y lsst Mr..
zen or inspired the writing Of IT, lie how ever betrayed
a6jcet u the rnmo2. he mos s-s u nsua ,
BE- ~ IL ne hands Of his legal adviser Judge DIen
eeHanly under tue Circumstances, declined. rnen he
Gs District Attorney Of New YoSs, ana Nj Dsrps. he
nApp aser have hunted up tue appointment OF 4. +.
po ' 9TSysse e 10 od nave pr9eared 6reene p
@y.inAMr 6lss and NJ Dariiar wanted nm 10 20 to
ss 10 te,,fs T. out there not the slightest doubt In
Icsane eomm,ee o'Ss new va as Ha.sr GGioye
y. highest DOUBT or fear thu subject most sin.
y.. iI On , GaysF compute. aPg9nied TO "a
tleaf in.s matter up. ~
Ia further testimony Mr.. Moore said Harvey.
Mnlie 10 New York. said TO him that, now that
paiHus had gone away there were remaining
pegtge bliss and johnny Davenport VINO were
Sil msn and scoundrsls, and Harvey said he too
,,f,.t..t 80 ~ away Tue witness told Harvey
.uit u ruum med he would have to TESTIFY be-
~" me committee. The witness asked Harvey
Nuere preeue was. and received as a reply, "
nave not seen Greene lately. lie has gone 10
sre ~ 49, ana took to drink when 1 left N :"
~ II fney repeated TO witness that Bliss and
pa'ehn]u wanted to make political capital out
Al a, We hefr scandal, and were ID scoundrels
the SPEAKERS STATEMENT.
Inc Sneaker came into the committee room
pulte itehie' ana presented the following state
mohl' winch was ad by Mr.. Elliott
when c4tered Congress IN 1866, understood that
.LI ~ reorganization Of the army is 10 prog
we,. Ial ntl COnslderabo number OF lleutenAnts
a., " me- lppolnted. Ia the same way | did not un.
otaNl mat IL was TO be done uuder the proVisons
$50 P'thNuns law, or OF any department reguia.
a.lI If' hY such Law, but lnat IL being done
NJ 'yN' Voluntary regulation made by the depart
So N.l DOT az oerrtAnu that the appointment was
ga Ilkhl vested Ia the Representative, or duty
est.', " Nt'i iih ~ Jaw, IKE the appointment Of
tt..,, D, lTiifs, uut rather a privilege given
bWn' TIC var ID pHrlmrut. remember seeing II the
h. 49,. F''s toMe department Oraer subject
N, .s ~ "Nth DO not recOllect. IL is well
dir, IVA, .Nled the appointment as due to my
~ 1lAte 70 preference 70 al others, n spphca.
or'rNt uAit remember quite distinctly that /
uels. l.' NAut LNA'lpu TO Two Of my Conhtt uents
A. 'ati'ui .A's iu 1850 Col Thomas j jackson aud
Tl.n.. a. .' ihI- itfl qulte confident Mai r
tcr,c' N..f' h hnih OF whom had rendered ga INT
u..,.l t. tN liiecr army. tn put IA a. ubt a. TO
a. -.Nl n lt place ,D Morrison nj tue fact that he
n. - "NFn Day AN partner at home, thiuks mat
V4tI-.t t a. ,luIneut Was made HIN la 1867