Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-06-06

neither Blaine nor Frye were present
and the committee adjourned till to-
morrow.
The committee ON expenditures in the
war department. to-day continued Its
Investigation into the charges against
Speaker Kerr. r--,
Mary T. Murray testified that che had
resided on Capitol Hill since 1865, and
kept borders there in December, 1855;
Lawrence Harney hired room at bel
house In 1856; he also had room there
with his wife, and both took their meals
there. -
Mr.. DanforCi raised point as to how
far the committee would go into this
part OF the matter, taking the ground
that the witness cauld not be contra
dicted on an immsterial or collateral
question.
Mr.. Elliott, counsel for Kerr, replied,
taking the ground that it was cOmpes
tent to show by the antecedents OF the
witness that he was not q competent
witness. E "a Z
Mr.. BIackbusn said If Harney had de-
IiberAteiy sworn falsely as to his mar.
ried life the committee was entitled to
know whether such was the fact.
Mr.. Danford repeated his objection,
and ssked whether this committee was
not houni by some rules that court
would enforce, and whether the witness
would not be entitled to protection.
Mr.. Blackburn said that the commit
tee was not bound by strict technical
rules that govern courts; the question
was to the date of Harnsy's marriage,
and II it could be shown that he had
peijdred himself, 1t would impeach his
crednlity Gs q witness.
Mr.. Elliott referred to the testimony
taken on the second instant, in which
Harney said that he was married in
July, 1867, to Annie Pryor, and that he
had no wife when he was here as assist
ant doorkeeper. MF. Elliott quoted
Judge Storey to show that If witness
does not testify correctly in relation to a
fact about which he could not be mis-
taken, he is not entitled to credence.
Mr.. Clymer also took the ground that
it was competent to pursue the qusstiOn
so as to chow the character Of the man,
for IL Harney was not married at the
time he boarded with Mrs. MuIIy,
he lived in adulterous intercourse with q
woman there.
Mr.. Clymer asked the question of Mrs.
Murray: "Did you have any doubt
whether the woman who lived with
Hsrney at your house was his wife?"
Ans.-l would not have boarded them
if l had thought they were not married;
and II I had found out they had deceived
me, / would have got rid Of them. /
keep q respectable bosrdiDghoIlse, and
would not have boarded q man and
woman who were not married for one
hundred dollars a day.
A. 2, Greene was recalled, and contra.
dicted Harney's testimony in several
particulars, and said he did not believe
HArney ever paid Spssker Kerr cent
of money Green paid to Harney.
J.S. Moore testified to his interview
with Harney, in New York, in regard
to ths anonymous letter sent to Kerr,
when Harvey said George Bliss was
crowding him, and that Bliss and Johnny
Davenport wanted to make political
capital out of the charge against Kerr,
and that they were both damned rascals
and scOundrels.
1t appeared from MoOre's testimony
that Kerr, through the advice Of friends,
engaged Sidney Webster to ind out the
writer of the anonymous letter, 30 as to
have the writer prosecuted, it being
thought that bringing the matter before
q criminal court would have the effect OF
furnishing the conspiracy.
A following statement from Speaker
Kerr was read by Mr.. Elliott in the
presence Of the speaker. He repeats that
be never consciously knew Harney; that
he never talked with him on business
matters, and that Harney certainly
never offered or gave him any money
he statement was utterly and wiekedly
fslse The speaker explains at length
the circumst stRnces attending the appoint
ment Of Greene. xoo- r
aWhen / entered co6iSSress in 1850, L
understood that some klnG OF re-or-
ganixation Of the army was In nro.
gress, and that considerable number OIL
lieutenants were to be appointed in some
way; did not understand that this was
to be done under the provisions OF any
pre-existing law, or Of any department
regulation authorized by such law, but
that Il was being done under some
voluntary regulation made by the de-
psrtment; did not understand that
the appointment was legal right vested
in REPRESENTATIVES,, or q duty imposed on
them by law, like the appointment oi
c>dets- TO the academy, but rather Q
nriyiIege given them by the war depart
n1ent. / remember seeing In the public
uress department order on the subject ;
fhe terms don't remember well; !
know / regarded the appointment as
dgle to my district and 6tsste in prefer
ence to all others, II application was
made: remember quite distinctly that
I offered a recommendation to two oi
INV constituents st different times--in
1895 TO Colonel T. J. jackson, and
Another whoSs name feel quite conf1'
dent was Major Thomas Morrison, both
OF whom had rendered gallant service
IN the volunteer army; l am put IN
dnubt as to the tender OF the place 70
Morrison, by the fact thst he, rs learn
through my law partner at home, thinks
fhat the offer of the appointment was
u1ade TO him In 1857 instead of 1856; u
am mistaken at all 1t is only as to the
name. L ana clear in my recollection
that / offered il TO two Federal soldiers
whom I regarded as worthy and compe
tent. these gentlemen, however, both
declined: / ana not aware thst any
Democratic soldier ever applied to ME
for the place: / absolutely know that
held the appointment at the service ol
fine people of my district OF
STATE. IL any should apply
but none applied, not one OF whom
4 have the slightest recollection, When
tbe long session of congress wss well sd
yanced, and the time for these appoint,
ments was passing away. was called
ON by A. p. Greene, Of New York. /,
is possible that he was first. introduced
TO me by Esrney, but II he was l hAV.
no recollection CT the fact; this only
know: I did never, xnda, any efreum'
stances, or at any period OF my Life, cor,
sojOusiy know thu man Harney; neyel
talked with hipl In any conversation
that could have gone beyond the meres
expressions Of the day. be nsEer wa
| at INV Toonl, he never visited me any
where, / never talked with him on any
business % after whatever, Snc he neve
paid me, or proposed to pay nae oa:
benny of money fOT sny purpose In th'
| world, His statement on that subject l
utterly and wickadly false. 1t is slmpl!
| impossible that could have talked Will
him OH q matter 50 fatally involving
honor, official dscency and persona
saf..v, and not have retained vivi'
Tscoiiscts-aa Of the fact; but wss tptrO
duesI 10 some Nsv TO Greene, and Il.
Tee0llection IL that the at interview W
had was op one pl ths sofas ia the AN 0
J the house during 8 session Of the house,