The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-15
MI. Pendleton Before the War De
partmenr Committee.


ment Committee to-day, and gave cir
cumstantial account of his connection
with the Kentucky Central Railroad, and
with the collection of its claim for trans
pertation services He testified that he
was paid by the company fifty per cent
of the amount recovered through his
agency, and also received about $4,000
additional, to be paid by him TO A. Il.
Ransom, who had been clerk in the
company's service, and who assisted in
tho preparation of the claim. He testi-
fled with emphasis that he never PAID one
dollar to any person connected with the
Government, or TO any member of Bel
knaps family, or to anyone else except
t. Ransom.
During the examination Mr.. Pendle.
ton 50 d that neither Mrs. Marsh nor
Mrs. Bowers travelled with him and his
family in Europe, and the publication
that he had private conversation with
any member of the committee before he
testified was infsmcusly false.
His information about the Kentucky
Central railroad claim, was that It had
been presented to Secretary Stanton, but
not to any other secretary. be aid not
understand that Secretary Stanton's ac-
ton concerning the claim was rejec-
tion of it.
Question-Did yon interest yourself
with Secretary Belknap TO have the
claim referred to Gen. Dunn? Answer
i do not know how it came to be re-.
ferred.
Q. On what basis was the claim origi-
nslly rejected2 A. l could only tell
from the papers; have an impression
it was an original report from Gen.
Meigs. Ny impression is l went to see
Gen. Meigs when / was here, and had a
conversation with hinton the subject.
and having replied to his argument,
Gen. Meigs told me the claim ought
not to be paid, it having once
been before the War Department and
not allowed. He did not think
it ought to bo re-opened. The witness
was uncertain as to whether the COM
pany allowed him $4,000 or 100000.
Mr.. Bass remarked to Mr.. Pendleton
that he understood him to be the admin
istrator of the Bowler estate, represent
ing three .fiths Of the railroad property,
and vet as such administrator he made
a bargain for himself, as President OF
the company, with the remaining stock.
holders, BY which he was benefited to
the extent of more than half of the
claim, receiving $4,000 for his services.
Mr.. Pendleton said if the committe al
lowed him $50 900, the company received
s6S,OOO of the claim, and # the company
allowed him 100000 the company re-
ceived $4,000:
C.P. Wunnell, clerk of the Treas
ury Department, presented the warrants
by which the claim was paid. The first
is PAYABLE to Mr.. Pend 'eton for $50, 900,
dated June y, 1871, endorsed by George
II. Pendleton-Payt to the FIRST National
Bank .fNew York. The second is for
$4,000; same date. The third is for
1868; same date; endorsed by Pendle-
ton, to be paid to the National Bank of
X entucky.
Wunnell testified All the papers
were filed in the Third Auditors Of
fee; the warrants, or acquisitions, have
been in his hands for several years. The
warrants are countersigned by Egerter,
Auditor and Second Comptroller, and
were issued on requisitlon Of the Secre-
tary of War. All the busieoss was
transacted on the same date, the 18th of
June, 1871. The warrants are marked
special"
A. Pransom, Auditor OF the'K 'Kentucky
Central railroad, testified, but what he
said was not of general interest.
Senator Stevenson having been re-
quested to appear before.the committee,
testified as follows: That he
was one one of the stockholder OF Ken
lucky Central Railroad had been direc-
ter since 1868 and also general counsellor
of the company; Pendleton was employ
ed 10 take charge OF the collection Of
the claims Of the Company, for which he
was to receive 80 per cent; the Senator
was present when the argument WAS
made and when the account was settled,
but he had no knowledge Of the mode
and manner OF settlement. As one
manager OF tho road he endeavored
settlements as just and fair, and was g lad
to get the money. The Bowler estate
owned four tifths of the entire stock.
Mrs. Bowler endorsed the settlement for
herself and her infant children, for whom
she is guardian. Mrs. Kief, who is the
next largest stockholder, was delighted ~
the settlement EVERYBODY interested in
the road was pleased. as they considered
il lust so much money made Mr.. Bow
Ter, in bis life time said he would sell
his interest for FIVE cents OF the dollar.
The Senator said he thought it was as
Just = claim as ever presented. Bridges
had been burned and tasin. damaged,
and the rebels had seized the road and
worked it for thirty days. The Senator
had regarded it a good claim. but hard
TO get. He heard that Stanton and
Meigs had decided adversely TO tho
claim. lie was gratifed and little sur
prised when it went through, It having
been hanging SO long.
General Boynton was then presented
and was sworn. He wished it TO be un.
derstood that be appeared here volunta-
rily and not by subpoena.
The chairman alluded 10 q Dispatch IN
the New York Herald 0. the sth, and
also Of the 10Th, Of March. the founds-
tion Of which had been furnished TO Mr
Nordhof, correspondent in chief Of the
Herald, By Gen. Boynton and published
on the latters authority. The witness
said he had no personal knowledge OF
truth Of the statements, but held himself
responsible for what Mr. Nordhof print
ei in the Herald, so FAR a. it confOrmed
TO the manifold copy which he gave
that gentleman the next day. The
statement va, ressserted on the wit
nesses responsibility. TIE witness
having been asked By the chair
man TO give the name Of his informant
responded that be would likefrIt TO tell
how be came 10 publish the information
The Chairman said be wanted the
name OF his informant first.
The witness replied that ne did not
obtain the statement from the man who
would verify it.
Mr. Blackburn said they were entitled
to cstsg rial answer.
thu ~ !.