The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-15
TnE KENTUCKY RAILRoID CLAIM.
What Mr.. Pendl"ton Knows About II The
Charge of Bribery Denied.

wAsIrINGToN, March li.-Thc Hon. Geo.
II. Pendloton was before tho Committee on Ex-
pendltnres In the War Department to-day, and
gave cIrcumstantia account OF his connection
with the Kentucky Central Railroad and with
tho collection of its claim for transportation ser
vices. lie testified that he was paid by the com
pany 80 per cent OF the amount recovered
through his agency, and also received $4,000 ad-
ditional to be paid by him to A. II. RANSOM who
had been clerk In the company, who assisted
him In the preparation Of the claim. He testified
with emphasis that he never paid one dollar to
any person connected with the Government, or
to any member OF Mr. Belknap's family, or To
any one else, except to kansom A.. No..
nor Mrs. Bower travelled with him and his
family In Europe, nor did he meet Nr. Clymer
while travelling In Europe and tho publication
that he had a private conversation with any
member Of the committee before no testified
WIS infamously false.
on cross.examination Mr.. Pendleton said that
no had paid over TO the Kentucky Central Rail
road Company S6S,Oco through the Northern
Bank Of Kentu,k \ draft for S50,OO0 deposit
cd with the Commercial Bank Of Cincinnati
went to his own credit. draft Of S3O.0O0 on
tho First National Bank OF Cincinnati was
drawn in money and usod - nay some drafts
| from his family, who wore travelling In Europe,
and TO pay OF certain debts On the same day
| on which he received tho money he started to
| Join his family In Europe. 1hoy were not travel
| linz with Mrs. Marsh or Mira. Bower. As admin
| istrntor of the Bowler estate he had made con
tract with himself as President OF the Ken
lucky Central Railroad Company to collect this
| claim, whereby ho received $4,000 and the road
Gen Doynton this afternoon presented him
self before the committee aud said he had no
personal knowledge OF the truth OF the state
| ment he furnisned to MIR. Nordhor, the corre-
spondent OF the Neic York Herald. lie said he
the Hon. Jeremiah II. Wilson, who referred
| him to the Hon. Mr.. Shellabsrger, who referred
man gave him the Information referred to In
the Herald dispatches, on condition that he
would not use his name Col Grafton gave as
| bis authority Gen. Ktddoo U. :. A., with whom
| the Chairman of the committee travelled, and
with whom the Chairman conversed on the sub
| Ject OF the Inquiry. The amount OF Col. Graf
on's:ststemept was this;
That Gen. kiddoo was one OF . party,with Mr.
Bowers (afterward drs. Belkn ipl, and Mrs. ely.
| mer. who made somo pSr,s OF the tour OF Eu
rope toGether. The witness obtained the i'm
preston that they all travelled together at the
| same time.
The witness learned from Col. Grafton
| that when Mr.. aud Mrs Marsh testified tn, re was
| y conference at the Arlington Hotel at which
| Mrs. Marsh, Mrs. Beknsp, and several otbei
| psrsonsiwere present, all ofthem being acquaint
ances, and most OF them knowing the fact,
| which Mr.. Clymer's committee were instructed
to inquire into; that at that meeting Mrs. Marsh
| In talking OF various transactions OF whicl
she hnd knowledge, alluded to statements II
circulation In regard to the so-caled Pendletor
| tral Railroad: that Mrs Belknap said the storic:
| we're gross exagserations; that while 1t haC
| been believed among some OF her friends tha
she received t70,0OO from that claim, she had. II
fact, obtained only about half that amouni
| that the fiiends OF Mrs. Marsh asserted that 4
she was even brought before the committee sh,
| would undoubtedly testify to the main fact,
| given above, and Col. Grafton further informed
| the witness that Gen. KIddoo had gone to Mr.
Clymer and sala " Here Is case agains
Pendleton OF a character sim ar to that
| OF Marsh and he was reminded that
| II he had determined TO bring DelknaI
| down he could not justly decline to bring Pen
dleton too. and that MIR. Clymer asserted that h,
| had not sufficient data To reach Pendleton, and
| furthe er that Mr. Cymer was pressed with the re
| Joinder that Mrs. Marsh would testify TO It. and
| that the records Of the department wouiC
throw some light on the case. Now, the onl,
| way to summon Mrs. Marsh, and she
would tell all about the Interview. The witness
| understood subpoena was obtained for Mrs
Marsh, but before It could be served she wen
| to Canada.
After the story came back In printed form, Mr.
| Clymer made his personal explanation. The
| witness subsequently met Col. Grafton, who In.
| formed him that the points could be sustained
| The witness said he never had any communica
tIon with Gen. kiddoo personally The witness
| repeated he did not know the facts except b.
hearsay and In the manner he had stated n
Length, as he never had any communication will
Gan tddOD-