The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-06-06
WASHINGTON.
The Kerr Investigation.

WASHINGTON, June b.-Ihe Subj nui-
ciary Committee met this morning at ten
o'clock, but through Misunderstanding
about the hour Of meeting neither Blaine
nor Frye were present and the committee
adjourned till tomorrow.
The Committee on Expenditures in the
War Department to-day continued the
Investigation into the charges against
Speaker Kerr.
MarylT. Murray testified that she had
resided on Capital Hill since 1865, and
kept boarders there. In December, 1865,
Lawrence Harney hired room at my
house, and in 1886 he also hat4. room
there with his, wife, and both took meals
there.
Mr.. Danford raised point % 10 how
far the committee would go into this
part OF the matter, taking the ground
that the witness could not be contradict
ed on al immaterial or collateral ques-
ton.
MIR. Elliott, counsel for Kerr, replied,
taking the ground that the witness was
competent TO show by the antecsdents OF
the witness that he was not u competent
witness.
MIR. Blackburn said that il Harney
had deliberately sworn falsely as to his
married life, the committee was entitled
10 know whether such was fact.
Mr.. Daniord repeated his objection,
and asked whether this committee was
no, bound by the same rules that court
would enforce, and whether the witness
would not be entitled toprOtcctiOn.
Mr.. Blackburn said that the committee
was not bound by the strict technical
rules that govern courts. The question
was us to the date Of Harncy'S marriage,
and II il could be shown that he had
perjured himself, it would impeach his
crcdibility as witness.
Mr.. Elliott referred to the testi-
mony taken on the ID inst, in which
llarnCy said he was married in July,
1867, TO Annie Pryor and that he had no
wife when he was here as assistant door
keeper.
Mr.. Elliott quoted Judge Story to show
that il witness does not testify Correct
ly in relation to, a fact about which he
could not be mistaken, he is not entitled
to evidence.
CIymer also took the ground that it was
competant to pursue the question so as 10
show the character Of man, for il Har1
ney was not married at the time he board
ed with Mrs. Murray, he lived in adul-
ferrous intercourse with woman. Then
Clymer asked the following question OF
Mrs. Murray:
Did you have any doubt whether the
the woman who lived with Harney at
your house was his wife. A. 4
would not have boarded them il |
had thought they were not married, and
il had found out that they deceived me
| would have got rid Of them. keep a
respectable boarding house, and would
not have boarded man and woman who
were not married for 800 day.
A. p. Green was recalled.I lie contra
dicled Harney's testimony in several
particulars, and said he did not believe
that Harncy ever paid Speaker Kerr u
cent Of the money that he (Green) paid
to lIarncy.
J.S. Moore testified to his interview
with Harvey in New York in regard to
the anonymous letter sent TO Kerr, when
uarney said George Bliss was crossing
him, that Bliss and Johnny Dayen.
port wanted to make political capital
out Of the charge against Kerr, and that
theywere both id rascals. II appeared
from Moores testimony that Kerr,
through the advice OF his friends, en-
gagged Sidney Webster y find ont tue
writer OF the anonymous letter, so as to
have the writer prosecuted, it being
thought that the bringing OF the matter
before criminal court would have the
effect OF furnishing the conspirators.
A written statement from Speaker
Kerr was read by Mr.. Elliott in the
presence Of the Speaker. He repeats that
he never consciously knew Harney; never
talked with him on business matters, and
that Harney never certainly offered or
gave him any money-the statement was
utterly and wickedly false. The Speaker
explained at length the circumstances
attending the appointment OF Green.