Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-25

uiJ was resumed this morning by the HOUSE
Committee on the District OF Columbia.
Mr.. WATSON EXAMINED.
C. ". UmsOfl, secretary to the board oil
audit, was called. He testified that he had
been secretary to the board for about year
and continued as follows: Mr.. Chapman ha 4
claim for about 81 900; IL had been present
ed; there was considerable difficulty q bout
II; IL was sent TO the auditing department
thence transferred to the district engineer
and by him returned to the auditing Office
and from thence to my room, accom- pan led
by statement which was 10 be laid before
the board.
Mr. WATSON vIRTUoUs. AS He SAYS.
Chapman was almost a daily visitor at the
office. One day he came and as <c me about
his claim. and said If he could not get the
matter fixed before Monday be would be a
ruined man, and / would never see him
again, as he could not bear to survive the
disgrace OF failure TO meet his obligations
He did not. however, carry his threat into
execution, for on the Saturday following he
came in again. In the meantime he must
have had his conversation with Mr.. III am
link, who came to me and asked me about
the claim, wanting to know whether any
thing was done about IL. told him there
was not. Hamlink asked me whether il
would be safe TO buy the claim. told him |
did not wish 10 be interrOgated about the
matter in that way. Chapman again came
TO me and told me about Hamlink's offer 20
get the claim through fer 81, 400. / asked him
how much he would have TO pay MesSrS. l. ay
& Co. He said twenty per cent. / said then.
eff you pay Hamlink SLIGO, or pay Lay 20
either way" This is where Chapman must
have misunderstood me. He thea said, II
would rather YOU would make the money.
Tor you have always been good friend to
me-"
MIR. WATSON NOT THAT SORT OF MAN.
told him he must not speak 10 me in Tn u
way. Chapman was in q frame of MUD at
that time hardly At for the transaction OF
business. am utterly pOTerleSS in my pO
sttion as secretary to aid anybody in The
way Chapman intimated, for have nothing
claims. All do is TO refer the different com
muntcatiOEs as they come TO the divisions
where they belong. Hamlink is an insurance
agent; he had no regular business as q cIaim
agent, but had bought an order for some
money due some contractors. lido not recO!-
lect whether Chapman came to me on the
same day HamlinH had been there To see me
Or not. l never said anything 10 Chapman
about Hamlink bavlng peculiar facilities
for getting claims passed.. L did not advise
him to employ Hamlink. / never said to
Chapman that if he gave the matter to Ham
link The zee would not al stick to his fingers
BY Mr.. Tayler:-State what | said To Mr.
Chapman in regard to his claim being held
up.
a. You said that 1t was held up by your
direction.
HOW LONG AUDITOR TAYLER AND sECRe-
TARY WATSON HAVE KNOWN EACH
OTHER.
Q How long have we known each other?
A Since 1916 or 1871
Witness stated that he called for an inves-
iigatiOn into the Chapman matter as sOOn
as had the affidavit read 10 him, which was
The first he knew of the charge.
Witness then explained the mode Of trans
acting business in the auditors Office. He
further testified that Cnapmal's affidavit
did not prejudice his claim. On the con-
traTy, he had the sympathy OF the whole Of
flee on account OF his financial EN- oarrass-
mentS.
THE FOLLOWING LETTER, WRITTEN BY
DIR. BRODHEAD,
was read:
JULY nth.
Hon. Il. ". Tu1Ecr-Ds0 Tdyleg:-I have
carcially read every paper In Caapmau's
case. Something is certainly equita5ly dGe
him, and if you can find that The law Wll'
sanction an allowance, l will take my pa
Of the responsibility. His wife ives to e
me to-day in tears and half distracted. a.
her house is to be sold on the Z0Jh instant
She has nine children under II. l w0nlI not
let her 60 to you. but preferred MI #atosoa
BECKETT d WILLIAMS ACCOUNTS.
Thomas H. Williams, COlurei, swOrn.--Arn OF
The firm OF Beckett 4 Williams; had several
contracts under the board OF public work;
my firm did work for the board from its
organization up 10 1871 or -. At the time
the board went out OF power we mad settled
up with the Old board as firm. hal = clam
Ia equity against the board, because they
paid me IN certificates and not j. money. /
Cont know of any allowance that has been
made our firm siace: gave power OF 8ctor-
ney at one time TO collect money FOR the firm
TO Geo. W. Stickney, actuary o. the Freed
mans bank. All he collected was from The
old board OF public WORKS, and nothing from
the board of audi.
y POWER OF attorney was real signed by
Beckett TO Ii. j. Mc LaugHiin, to collect IN Jaev
due tie firm of Beckett X Williams; also a
receipt for money received from the bOari ~
Mclaughlin Oh account of work done by the
firm of Beckett Williams.
Witness recognized the signature of Beckett
to the power OF attorney, but sand he did not
know anything about the paper, however.
Witness cOItiDued:-The reading of the
paper this morning is the first Knowledge I
have of any power Of attorney having been
given TO Mclaughlin by Beckett on account
OF cur firm. Beckett, | think, has ali tue
books of the old firm.
AT half past eleven o'clock the committee
adjourned until Monday at ten q. Ia.
WHAT Mr.. BLINKHoRN SAYS HE SAID.
Mr.. j. a. BllBkiOTn, a witness in the Dis
trict investigation, whose testimony was OF
character TO make an intelligent abstract
OF the same rather difficult, thinks VIIk
STAR report yesterday does not do him eE-
act justice, and himself furnishes for publ
cation lucid explanation OF what ne did
say, which we print verbatim 0S follows.
'He stated that Danil Hannau'S accol
were all correct with the exception OF GER
I in deduction make from his Bill by
water Registrar Lubey-but he had done 4
large amount for The Evans Concrete co
but owing TO them drawing material and
furntElug olhereut su6cOltractOrs they had
got their account all miXet-9nd that ne had
done work for Yep. Jones in square 1Gi
amounting 10 500 for which he had 10 sue
a'O uSG hci got it-and that during eXami-
nation OF Board OF Audit account by experts
their was a sign place upon door no al nit
lance and that 2gain paste over sign put
up 'he that enters here leave all hone be
hind Witness was going down IL st. Hew-
EFT b6iled him and after some conversation
propose 10 compromise, &c &C.