Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-30
The Charge Against Speaker Kerr.

"
After our report of the examination of
Lawrence Harvey before The Committee ON
Expenditures Ia the War Department closed
Yesterday, he was cross examined at length
oy TX. Elliott, counsel for Mr. Kerr.
witness testified that he did not mention
money 10 Mr.. Kerr at the first interyIew nor
old ne tbink that Mr.. Kerr supposed he was
actions between them. He, however, had
minated to Mr.. Kerr that he would reward
hlm for his trouble. When Mr.. Kerr recei we'd
me- dne money he said he would go TO the War
Tlght away: Pending the appointment Mr..
Kerr said IL was all right. Witness never
before the time mentioned approached Mr..
best OF terms with bin. He meant kind of
friendly regard. Mr.. Kerr knew his name
and called him by IL.
that you made the arrangement?
A. Within ten days. Mr.. Kerr never to
my knowledge spoke to Greene about money
matters. MI. Kerr lived Oh street, have
forgotten the name, next to Pennsylvania
avenue, on the left. He occupied a large
back room where the interview took place.
q. Did you not say that rather than make
the statement you would resign the place
\. Yes.
@. Was not the pressure intended to make
you give statement or clear out of office?
A. did not care for the 8 500 salary, as
can obtain employment outside.
z. Did you not make your first statement
rather as threat TO ingratiste yourself in
toe favor OF your employers?
A. There was no occasion for that.
Q. By Representative Clymer.-You never
said that District Attorney Bliss and DlrI-
irg crowded you, and that there was great
pressure to induce you to make the state
ment?
Witness denied that be had said so.
Ins examination for the day being at an
end,
SPEAKER ErRR
said he did not want to retire without saying
few words, and asked TO be sworn. This
having been done he said: al only want
to remark to-day that I deny every
material statement made by this witness
affecting my personal honor and Off ial
integrity. That's all. II / were In sufficient
cumstances which led to this investigation
in connection with the anonymous letter /
received, but do not feel able to do so to-
day. will further say that consciously L
never knew this witness IN my life, but do
not say, or wish TO be understood as saying
that he did not introduce Green to me. do
not know six doorkeepers about this House
now, though they are supposed to be my po-
litical friends. / never consciously ex-
changed one minutes conversation be-
tween Heaven and earth with that per-
tiny room, as he has stated, and of course
never received any money from him, nor
from any one else
PAPERS RELATIVE TO AUGUSTUS p.
GREENE.
The first was a descriptive list datei June
II, 1sG6, and signed by Mr.. Kerr, recommend
ing Greene 10 be appointed second lieuten-
ant in the army, and certifying Greene was
personally known to him as person of
good character, and that he believed Greene
was mentally, morally and physically quail
flied to perform the duty of a lieutenant in
the U. s. army. The next paper produced
was also dated June r. 1866, and was from
Nelson Tay Tor, addressed to the War depart
ment, as king the return of the papers he had
filed in favor OF Greene. These papers were
returned and afterwards given by Greene to
Mr.. Kerr. The third paper was one filed
with the President by Hon. Myer Strouse,
fourth paper was addressed to the Secretary
of War by Mr.. Kerr, dated July 81, 1866, as
follows: "Will you have the kindness to
send the commission of Augustus p. Greene
to his address at Madison avenue, New
York city. He was nominated by me-"
And the fifth was as follows:
"HoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wash
lnglon, ID. c., April IS, 1s76-General e. ID.
Townsend. Adylndat GenerOl:-My Dear Sir:
May trouble you to inform me whether
there is now in the army q man named Au-
gustus p. Greene, OF the rank of first lieuten-
is not In the army now, whether he was in
the last four or five years, and how he got
out? Your attention will greatly oblige me-
Ihave the honor to be, very truly, yours,
To this the Adjutant General replied that
Augustus p. Greene was first lieutenant In
the 4th artillery, and was dismissed the SER
vice by the ser tence of a court martial on
March 2Sih, 1873. He was appointed in the
regular army on July 20, 1866. He had pre-
viOusly served as an officer of volu ulcers.
The committee adjourned till Wednesday
a 4 ~