The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-06
THE KERR INVESTIGATION.
Attempt Impeach the Character
of Harvey.

WASHINGTON, June 5.-The committee today
continued the investigation into the char &c
against Mr.. Kerr.
Testimony of Mary Murray
Mary 7. Murray testified that she has been
residing on Capitol Hill since 1866, and has
kept boarders there. In December, 1866, Law.
renee barney hired room at her house, and
In 1866 he also had room there with bis wife
and they both took their meals there
Danford raised point as to how far the com.
mittee would go into this part of the matter.
taking the ground that the witness could not
be contradicted on an immateral or collateral
question.
Elliott, counsel for Kerr, replied, taking the
ground that it was proper to show by the an
tecedents of the witness that he was not COM
petent witness.
Blackburn said that if Harvey had deliber-
ately sworn falsely as to his married life, the
committee were entitled to know whether such
was fact
Danford repeated his objection and asked
whether this committee was not bound by the
same rules that court would enforce, and
whether witness would not be entitled to
protection, and Blackburn replied that the
committee was not bound by the strict tech
nical rules which govern courts. The ques-
tion was as to the date of Harney's marriage,
and If it could be shown that lie perjured him
self, it would impeach his credibility as wit
ness.
Elliott referred to the testimony taken on the
ID inst, in which Harvey said that he was
married In July, 1867, to Annie Prior. and tn at
he had no wife when he was here as an assis-
tant doorkeeper. He quoted Judge Story to
show that If the witness does not testify cor
rectly in relation to a fact about which he
could not be mistaken, he is not entitled to
credence.
Clymer also took the ground that it was COM
petent to pursue the question SO as to show the
character of the man, for if Harvey was not
married at the time he boarded with Mrs Muir
ray, he lived in adulterous intercourse with a
woman there.
Clymer asked Mrs. Murray, "Did you have
any doubt whether the woman who lived with
Harvey at your house was his wife?" and she
answered, 81 would not have boarded them if
/! had thought they were not married, and if
had found out that they had deceived me,
would have got rid of them"
Testimony of Green md Moore.
A. p. Green was recalled aud contradcted
Harney's testimony in seveihl particulars. He
said that be did not believe that Harvey ever
Harvey by Green.
j. S. Moore testified to the interview with
barney In New York, in regard to the auony-
nous letter sent to Mr.. Kerr, when Harvey
said that George Bliss was crowding him, that
Bliss and Johnny Davenport wanted to make
political capital out of the charge against Kerr,
and that they were both bad rascals and scoun-
drels.
1t appeared from Moore's testimony that Mr.
Kerr, through the advice of friends engaged
Sidney Webster to find out the writer of the
anonymous letter so as to have the writer pros
ecuted, it being thought that bringing the mat.
ter before the criminal court would have the
effect of Furnishing conspiracy.
Speaker Kerr's Statement.
A written statement from Mr. Kerr was read
BY Mr.. Elliott in the presence of the Speaker.
He repeats that he never consciously knew
HafDaV faIkad with bpa;o
matters, and that Harvey never certainly offer
ed or gave him any money, and explains at
length the circumstances attending abe ap-
pointment of Green.